2018 Spring & Garden

Page 28 2018 Spring Home & Garden LINCOLN DAILY NEWS May 2, 2018 Air fryer? What is an air fryer? Phillips Air Fryer? There was a point in time when a fryer was something only owned by restaurants and other food-oriented businesses. A fryer was a giant, oil-filled machine used for serving something relatively greasy, and usually faster than other methods of preparation. This left the average consumer with the option of pan- frying at home, which isn’t really the same thing. Today, people can buy an air fryer for their home. An air fryer is typically much smaller than the relatively giant fryers found in restaurants. An air fryer can usually sit on a countertop, right next to the toaster oven and the coffee pot. An air fryer is different from a regular fryer, in that it does not require oil to heat food. According to this demonstration video, a heating element usually placed above the food radiates heat, which fills the cooking chamber. A small fan pulls the hot air back up and then pushes it out away from the chamber. The heat is then pulled back in via an air guide, creating a repeating heating cycle. Only the bottom of the basket is open to the air. This means that the placement of the food helps to heat itself as the hot air passes through it and around it over and over. The heat is able to reach every part of the serving, even if the food sits in a pile. Food in an air fryer does not need to be turned, as it is being heated from every angle at the same time. Air fryers also have an exhaust system to control the pressure that builds up over time in such a machine. The exhaust system removes a small bit of air from the fryer, which creates a small undercurrent. Steam and smoke are then filtered and released, much like a vent in microwave dinners. Air-fried food is not much different from deep-fried food. Air-fried food is less greasy than deep-fried food, due to a lack of oil used in cooking. Some air fryers still call for a small bit of oil, depending on the recipe. Even then, these machines use far less oil than a conventional deep fryer. TRU 3 Crock Buffet The crock pot is typically a staple in most kitchens, offering a method to simmer foods at low temperatures over long periods of time. A crock pot is sometimes referred to as a slow cooker, and is usually thought of as a large device that takes up a lot of counter space. Most crock pots are taken up by one meal or side dish at a time. Continued ■ ■