If you want to use less oil when preparing your French fries, you may be tempted by an oil-free fryer. But are they really healthier?
Oil-free fryers, also known as air fryers, have become very popular in recent years. They cook French fries with little or no oil and little odor, and are known for their healthy cooking. But what’s the reality?
The classic fryer VS oil-free fryer match-up
“Compared with conventional fryers, the fat content of oil-free fryers is much lower, at around 5% maximum, compared with 15% for a traditional fryer”, explains Fanny Baillancourt, dietician and nutritherapist.
In addition to this significant reduction in fat, the cooking temperature is also a little lower for hot-air fryers. “ 160 degrees Celsius instead of 200, which is better for nutrient preservation ”, explains the dietician. But this figure seems to vary according to fryer model.
What is certain, however, is that making French fries without oil, or with just one tablespoon of oil, logically consumes less fat than conventional fries. In this respect, hot-air fries are healthier and lower in calories.
In terms of taste, oil-free fries have a slightly different texture, which may or may not be to your liking. If you don’t eat French fries very often, and prefer a crisp texture and good taste, you may be better off with traditional French fries.
A negative point for oil-free fryers
However, for all fryers, whether traditional or oil-free, one negative point remains: too high a cooking temperature. ” Cooking above 120 degrees Celsius turns food brown. This causes a chemical reaction known as glycation, which is harmful to health. In particular, this phenomenon increases the risk of developing diabetes ,” warns Fanny Baillancourt.
High-temperature cooking and browning also produce acrylamides, molecules which, in high doses, can have carcinogenic effects. All types of fryer are affected by this negative effect.
Dietician’s recommendations
So, how should you eat your French fries to maintain a healthy diet? For the dietician, the oil-free fryer seems to be a good method, appreciated by many people who notice a fine quality of cooking. “ But it’s still a frying product! You shouldn’t deprive yourself of it, but eat it less often, every 15 days at most ”, she concludes.
The risk would therefore be to eat more French fries than before, thinking that they are oil-free and therefore better for your health. They remain a fatty product cooked at high temperatures, and should be eaten in moderation. Traditional French fries or oil-free French fries, don’t overdo it!
In a nutshell
According to dietician Fanny Baillancourt, oil-free fryers, or hot-air fryers, are popular for their healthy cooking with little oil.
-They reduce fat content to around 5%, compared with 15% for conventional fryers, and cook at a lower temperature of 160°C.
-Despite their advantages, they produce acrylamides at high temperatures, so eating French fries in moderation remains essential.
