Does An Air Fryer Use Radiation To Cook?
As air fryers have grown in popularity in recent years, you may be considering buying one. So you may be thinking about how they cook your food.
Many people ask if air fryers use radiation like microwave ovens. Microwaves and air fryers are small countertop appliances that cook food quickly. But that is where the similarities end.
In this article, I will detail how air fryers work, answer if they are safe, and if they cause cancer.
Table of Contents
Does an air fryer use radiation to cook?
No, air fryers do not use radiation to cook food. No infrared radiation or electromagnetic radiation is emitted from air fryers.
Air fryers use convection to cook your food. They are closer to a traditional convection oven, with a fan added to circulate hot air.
How does an air fryer work?
Air fryers have in recent years become very popular. Part of their appeal is their ability to cook food in less time than other kitchen appliances. Air fryers achieve this by using rapid air technology. In our household cooking food fast is a key factor in using the air fryer. As is the fact that the food is always crispier than when using a conventional oven.
An air fryer is a small convection oven (fan-assisted oven). It has a heating element at the top with a fan above to circulate the very hot air. Air fryers are smaller than conventional convection ovens. This allows the air fryer cooking space to heat up quickly to high temperatures.
The fan sends very hot air down the sides of the air fryer cooking basket. When the air hits the bottom of the basket, it then comes back up through the middle. The basket contains your food.
The circulation of this hot air by the fan ensures all sides of the food come into contact with the hot air. The hot air removes the moisture from the outside of the food and starts the Maillard reaction.
The result is food that is evenly cooked and has a crispy coating. As an added benefit, air fryers cook your food with only a small amount of oil. Unlike deep frying or using frying pans. This reduces your calorie intake. Making cooking with an air fryer the healthier option.
How does the mechanical convection process cook my food?
As air fryers are small convection ovens with a fan, they have more in common with traditional convection or toaster ovens. Neither of which uses radiation to cook the food, unlike microwaves.
All three (air fryers, toaster ovens and convection ovens) use convection to cook your food. Convection is the process by which molecules are heated, move away from the heat source, and then replaced by cooler molecules. As the heated molecules move further away from the heat source they cool. The molecules subsequently return to the heat source to become heated again. This creates a current that is causing heat to be transferred within the oven or saucepan.
Mechanical convection is where the convection process is accelerated by a fan. Fan-assisted ovens cook food faster than those without a fan. Air fryers are smaller than traditional fan-assisted ovens, cooking food even faster.
What is the Maillard reaction?
The Maillard reaction is the chemical reaction that occurs on the surface of your food when it is cooked. It makes crispy food that is golden brown in color.
The reaction occurs on the surface of foods within a 280 F (140 c) and 330 F (165) temperature range.
The heat causes a chemical reaction between the amino acids and reduced sugars. These are contained in the food you are cooking.
Different foods will crisp and brown differently. This is because all foods do not have the same type or volume of sugars and amino acids. A sausage will have a different crispy texture, smell, and look after being air fried vs. a salmon fillet.
The Maillard reaction is not unique to air frying. Air frying causes it far faster than other cooking methods. This is because air fryers circulate hot air, and that air removes moisture from the surface of the food. Quickly creating the conditions for the Maillard effect to take place.
Are air fryers safe?
Yes, air fryers are safe, and they do not use radiation to cook your food.
Air fryers are safer than traditional fryers. Traditional fryers use a lot of oil. This oil is heated up to a high temperature. This can burn you if touched. The oil can also start a fire.
Most air fryers also have a timer. Once the time set has elapsed the air fryer turns off. This prevents food from becoming burnt if left on for longer than intended.
Air fryers do use high temperatures to cook your food. So as with all cooking methods, you should take care when using air fryers. Some simple common-sense safety precautions will help reduce the risk of any accidents. For example:
- Read the manufacturer’s instructions before use
- Use tongs to remove hot food
- Do not leave your air fryer unattended when cooking
- Put the air fryer out of reach of children
- Place your air fryer on a heatproof surface
Do air fryers cause cancer?
Air fryers do not cause cancer. The choice of food and how that food is cooked is what determines the scale of the cancer risk.
Air fryers like other cooking methods use high temperatures to cook your food. Doing so causes naturally occurring chemical reactions within your food. These chemical reactions can create by-products that are deemed to be harmful.
Many articles talk about how air fryers cause the formation of harmful compounds and the formation of acrylamide. Others may reference polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heterocyclic amines. The reality is most cooking methods do. The creation of these by-products is not exclusive to air fryers.
Acrylamide
Acrylamide is listed as a carcinogen. Acrylamide forms when starchy food like potatoes, french fries, cakes, biscuits, and bread is cooked above 245 F (120 c). It is not added to foods, it is created naturally when cooking food. As a result, Acrylamide will be created if you bake, fry, grill, toast, or roast these types of food.
A study in 2015 provided evidence that air frying reduced acrylamide content in fried potatoes by 90% vs. using a deep fryer.
To reduce the amount of acrylamide, air fry your food so it is a golden yellow color. This will reduce the amount of acrylamide created.
If you want to know more about Acrylamide and its health risks, the US Food & Drug Administration and the UK Food Standards Agency have more detailed information.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heterocyclic amines (HCAs)
PAHs and HCAs are formed when cooking meat at a high temperature. This is not exclusive to air frying. Most cooking methods will cause these chemicals to form.
If you want to know more about PAHs and HCAs and how to reduce them in cooking please read this fact sheet from the National Cancer Institute.
If air fryers do not emit radiation what does emit radiation in my kitchen?
The most likely emitter of radiation will be your microwave oven.
Microwave ovens use electromagnetic waves to generate heat in your food.
Can I replace my microwave with an air fryer?
It depends on what you use your microwave for. As Air fryers and microwaves cook your food in entirely different ways.
Air fryers are great for cooking your food from scratch. They also produce crispy foods thanks to the Maillard effect. Microwaves are more suited to defrosting or reheating pre-cooked food. Microwaves can heat liquids, something you would not do in an air fryer.
Related articles
You now know air fryers do not use radiation to cook your food.
If you are now thinking about buying an Air fryer here are some great articles you will find useful…
Air Fryer Pros, Cons, And Considerations – Details everything you need to be aware of before you buy an air fryer.
What Can And Can’t Go In An Air Fryer – A roundup article summarizing what you can and can’t use in an air fryer. With links to more detail on how to use certain materials and items safely.
