Air fryer or multicooker: which is better?

Modern kitchen appliances make it possible to prepare dishes of any complexity quickly and easily, even for those who are very superficially familiar with cooking. Household appliances save time and make it possible to change or diversify the family diet - a real benefit. It’s easy to get confused among the range of such kitchen helpers, especially if the options are similar to each other. A striking example: the similarity between a multicooker and an air fryer.

What is the difference between an air fryer and a multicooker?

Both of these appliances are designed for cooking.. Precisely cooking, not heating and defrosting like a microwave oven. With both appliances, you can, if desired, completely replace the stove, which takes up a lot of space in the kitchen. The main difference is the method of preparation and functionality.

The difference is that multicooker positioned as an attribute of a person leading a healthy lifestyle. This was facilitated by steaming modes, the absence of fat in the process, convenient functions for cooking vegetables, etc.A multicooker is used both in a large family and in a small apartment inhabited by one person who wants to eat well without wasting time.

IMPORTANT!

Dimensions matter if the kitchen is small or there are not enough drawers to store utensils. Models of kitchen appliances are very diverse, but basically a multicooker is larger than an air fryer.

Air fryer suitable for heavier dishes, most often meat. It is possible to cook several dishes at the same time, but the main purpose of the device is to replace the grill at home, significantly protecting it and reducing the amount of fat.

Comparing functionality

All of the above does not mean that a multicooker is better than an air fryer and vice versa - they are simply designed for different purposes. When choosing such a universal assistant for your kitchen, it is better to find out in advance how exactly they can be useful to you.

Air fryer functions

As a multifunctional appliance, the air fryer can do a lot. They can even replace a microwave oven, but since heating is a non-main function, this will not always be a rational solution.

The technique works on the principle of heating air inside a glass vessel. There are also several grates inside.

Main functions:

1. Cooking several dishes at once.
2. Drying berries (berries, fruits, mushrooms).
3. Smoking products (some multicookers also have this, but it is much less common).
4. Sterilization of small jars (up to 1 liter).

Multicooker functions

A slow cooker is a real family hearth. Depending on the model and cost of the equipment, you will be offered many modes with which you can prepare tasty and healthy food every day without difficulty.

It is a closed container with partitions and other elements that correspond to cooking modes. All you need to do is load the ingredients, set up the program and wait a little.

Main functions:

1. Great possibilities for steaming food, which is very useful and necessary for preparing most dietary dishes.
2. Pie cooking mode.
3. Kneading the dough.
4. Steaming porridge.
5. Making soups.

The variety of modes is truly amazing. You can cook almost anything in a slow cooker.

What is the difference between food cooked in a slow cooker and food in an air fryer?

If the slow cooker has an advantage in terms of a healthy way of cooking, it is not as significant as most people think. Cooking meat is only one mode of the air fryer, which also occurs without the use of oil.

IMPORTANT!

Food from a multicooker can turn out tastier due to the ability of the technique to combine different methods of processing products during cooking, which not every convection oven can do.

An air grill can offer meat dishes, vegetables and other dishes suitable for stewing and frying, almost perfectly simulating a real grill.

Advantages and disadvantages of an air fryer

This technique is most suitable for lovers of specific dishes that are not easy to prepare in a multicooker designed for healthy eating.

Advantages:

• takes up little space;
• with its help you can please yourself with not the most healthy, but very tasty dishes;
• a convection oven of sufficient size can easily replace a barbecue or a large grill at a picnic;
• You can put any material inside, including metal.

However, its owners should be careful and follow all safety rules when handling the device.

Flaws:

• the central part of the air fryer becomes quite hot - this can be dangerous;
• Food prepared using the parka method may disappoint you in taste and degree of readiness.

Advantages and disadvantages of a multicooker

It would seem, what could be the disadvantages of such a wonderful device? Still, this technique will not satisfy some gastronomic needs - it is not intended.

Advantages:

• You can also take it with you on a long picnic or on a hike if you have a portable power source.
• Completely safe - no external elements heat up.
• The list of recipes for multicookers is literally endless; every day something new is posted online.
• Multicookers are produced in different volumes (from one liter to four). For example, buying a three-liter device for one person is not very profitable, but for a family with several children, on the contrary, small-sized equipment is not suitable.
• The likelihood of food spoiling is minimal. Nothing can boil out of the device, and nothing can burn inside - the program maintains the ideal temperature and other conditions, eliminating the need for control.

IMPORTANT!

Most modern models have the ability to keep food warm inside the container. This can be very convenient for family members who go to school and work at different times.

Flaws:

• some multicookers are quite large;
• If the inside of the multicooker is lined with Teflon or other fragile materials, you will have to buy silicone utensils - a spoon and several spatulas - to interact with it.

What should you choose – a multicooker or an air fryer?

Carefully consider your needs, the needs of your family, and your desire to cook. If you want as much automation of your work as possible, a large selection of recipes, the most healthy diet and saving time and space, then your choice is a multicooker.

If you are interested in some tasty, but not very healthy dishes, you often go to nature or just like to cook outdoors, choose an air fryer, you won’t go wrong.