In this modern age, there are a lot of new kitchen appliances have arrived on the market. These arrivals offer our cooking a new boost and style. An air fryer is a boost-creating appliance that provides healthier fried food. Here we discuss pressure cookers vs. air fryers, their benefits for cooking, and how they help in your cooking.
First, a question that arises in our mind is whether our pressure cooker and air fryer are working the same way. And when talking about air fryers vs. pressure cookers, we clarify their differences and find out which one you will benefit from the most. We have used a pressure cooker for a long time, while the air fryer only caught our attention a few years ago.
Difference between pressure cooker vs. air fryer
The main difference between the air fryer and the pressure cooker is that the pressure cooker depends on inner pressure, increasing the boiling point. In contrast, the air fryer is like a convection oven, which circulates heated air. The food is crispy in the air fryer, while the pressure cooker makes the food tender and juicy.
The pressure cooker is known for reducing cooking times. Both have different purposes for serving, so you can’t say they substitute for each other.
How to work a Pressure Cooker
There are two main parts of Pressure cookers a container and a lid; when we connect them, the pressure cooker is sealed shut. The meal should always contain a liquid in the pressure cooker, such as water. When the liquid starts to boil, the steam starts producing inside the sealed container, which causes the pressure inside the cooker to rise.
The instant pot forces any liquid inside to reach its boiling point much faster than a ventilated pot. The heating steam inside the pressure cooker is forced into the food because the internal pressure of the cooker makes the food cook faster. The pressure cooker cannot, like the air fryer.
When the pressure cooker is finished, the pressure inside the cooker has to be released before opening the lid from a small valve that opens up an output hole. This output hole will release the pressure from the container to the safe side. If you open the lid straight, it could be away could be dangerous.
Nowadays, electric pressure cookers are the most convenient and practical; they come with timers, digital displays, and built-in heating solutions. Cooking in a pressure cooker is easier; we place all the ingredients in the container, on the power, and let it do its magic.
The Benefits Of Pressure Cookers
The pressure cooker is a healthy way to protect nutrients. It can cook larger quantities in one session. The steaming helps keep the nutrients compared to other cooking processes. These pressure cookers can reach high temperatures quickly. They can cook large quantities at one time.
Pressure cookers can decrease 50% normal cooking times by saving energy. You can add many ingredients to speed up the cooking process. There are available in both large and small sizes. They are simple to use. Pressure cookers do not require supervision; only electricity is needed.
How to work an air fryer?
An air fryer works by hot air circulating the food at high speeds. There is a cooking chamber or basket inside an air fryer cooking The food. There is a heating element at the top of the basket, and above the heating element, a fan creates air circulation through the chamber.
So the air goes up through the basket and the food. The heated air moves all around the food, so it is like deep frying that the food is surrounded by heat at all times; it just was submerged in hot oil. Air fryers also have an exhaust vent to release air during the cooking process, like an oven.
Because the temperature rises during cooking, the venting off-air during the cooking method maintains the pressure from building inside the air fryer. With the help of the convection mechanism, a fan and a heating element circulate heated air through the chamber of the air fryer at high speed, and the circulating streams of hot air cook food.
It also allows you to adjust the time and temperature and can cook at temperatures near 400 degrees Fahrenheit. The rapid air technology makes the food crispy on the outside, While the flavor and texture of your food are similar to deep frying but with less oil.
Therefore the food has low calories, which can be helpful in both weight loss and adapting to a healthier lifestyle. Most air fryers have timers and temperatures which are adjustable.
Benefits Of Air Fryers
You can easily store it due to its compact design. Air fryers are more portable than pressure cookers. They can make your food crispy with just a tablespoon of oil. So because of less use of oil, the food is healthier. These come in affordable ranges.
Air fryers are smaller, so they are easier to clean. You can make the taste, texture, and appearance of deep-fried food without using oil. You can use it for baking, grilling, roasting, toasting, frying, dehydrating, reheating, and more.
Key Differences of food Between Air Fryers vs. Pressure Cookers
Air fryers make the surface of the food crispy by circulating dry heat, whereas pressure cooker makes the food juicy and tender by using moist heat. They are more portable than pressure cookers. Air fryers can be opened when cooking to check, stir and flip the food while the pressure cooker opens after releasing the pressure.
Air fryers are usually smaller and easier to clean than pressure cookers. The air fryer does not handle liquids, while Pressure cookers can make soups. Air fryers are better for deep fry, frying in a pan, cook in the oven or grill. On the other, Pressure cookers can be used for anything that you can steam, boil or cook on a stovetop.
Features of Pressure Cookers and Air Fryers
Size and Capacity:
The air fryer and pressure cooker both come in different sizes. The smallest air fryer can only handle 1-2 chicken breasts or enough french fries to satisfy 2 people. However, the largest air fryers have enough space for cooking for a large family or gathering.
Pressure cookers also have various sizes. Small sizes are 1-quart up to 35-40 quarts pressure cookers, and there are large in between them. Both these make them more suitable for a restaurant.
Performance:
Pressure cookers can cook everything that cooks in liquids, and they cook so much faster than any other appliance. The pressure cooker can also handle all of your ingredients simultaneously, while the air fryer cooks better with one or two ingredients.
Pressure cookers are more speedy than air fryers and conventional ovens. The basic air fryer can air fry, grill, roast, and bake; some models have rotisserie and dehydration functions. Both are versatile appliances capable of offering you great performance in less time than many other appliances.
Maintenance and Ease Of Use:
Both appliances have pre-programmed options for specific foods. So it is very easy to select a suitable preset, put the food in the appliance and start it. The more expensive models come with new options, but the basic models have a few presets.
When we talk about maintenance, the air fryers are easier to clean because they are small. The chamber of the air fryer is easily cleaned with a piece of wet cloth. Its parts are removable and can give a bath of soap and water after each use. At the same time, cleaning a pressure cooker is more time-consuming because it is larger.
Price:
There are many good-quality air fryers and pressure cookers available at affordable prices. Both appliances start at about $50-60 for the lowest models. The larger air fryers have more features and functions to be expensive. The price also depends on the specific model’s functions, features, and possibilities.
FAQS:
Do air fryers require oil?
No, air fryers do not require oil to make the food crisp. However, just a little bit of oil makes it crisp.
What size air fryer do I buy for a family?
It all depends on your family members; of course, a large-sized air fryer is a suitable option for larger families.
Is the pressure cooker safe?
Yes, a pressure cooker manufactured for home use comes with 3 safety features: high temperatures, high pressure, and steam.
Can you cook frozen food in an air fryer?
Yes, you can cook frozen food in an air fryer.
Are air fryers healthy?
Air fryers decrease the fat content of fried foods by up to 80%. Also, reducing calories is best for weight loss. So it is right to say that air fryers are a very healthy option compared to the regular deep fryer.