There are multiple different types of oil you can use in your air fryer. Picking the right oil for the job is practically a trial and error situation. However, not to worry; we are here to help you along. Furthermore, the better the oil you use, the better for your air fryer. The convenience an air fryer brings to your cooking is unmatched. The best oil for air fryers like olive oil are discussed further along in the article.
What Is An Air Fryer
An air fryer is a gadget that mimics the effects of deep-frying by using little to no oil. You can air fry practically anything, including frozen food. Using hot air and a bit of science, you can deep fry foods at home very conveniently. Furthermore, it has multiple health benefits as it does not need to use any saturated fats for cooking your food.
The hot air in the air fryer quickly circulates all around the food and effectively cooks it to a crisp. The heat settings are easy to work around and make your cooking process more straightforward. Different air fryers have different settings depending on the price, model and make. Furthermore, most air fryers have a heat setting of between 325 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, which is perfect for air fryer oils like olive oil.
While most air fryers mention you can "spritz" oil on your pan, there are different types of oil to use in an air fryer, such as olive oil or avocado oil. However, while there is a vast majority, you have to ensure your olive oil also has a high smoking point so that it doesn't burn under the high temperatures of your air fryer. The best oil for air fryers has to pass the heat test first.
For perspective, the inside of your air fryer is hotter than a desert. So if your cooking oil has a high smoke point, then it will be suitable for use in your air fryer. Furthermore, most air fryers come with air fryer recipes that you can cook in the air fryer. But what they don't mention is that you can actually bake or roast in your air fryer.
Let's dive into the top 5 best oils for air fryers we have carefully selected for your convenience.
Best Oil For Air Fryers
1) Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Cold extracted
- A smooth blend with subtle notes of pepper and herbs
- Pressed and bottled in Italy
- Use for cooking, grilling, and in finishing dishes
- One 2-liter plastic bottle of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
This extra light olive oil is flavorful, spicy and adds taste to your food. Apart from cooking in an air fryer, you can use this extra light olive oil to grill, as a salad dressing, and cook many other things, including snacks like popcorn. Olive oil is a versatile oil and is also great in high temperatures. Furthermore, it is among one of the best oils to use for cooking.
Because this olive oil has been extracted without the use of heat or chemicals, it is a great oil for air frying. Not only is it healthy, but olive oil also contains monosaturated fats, which give it a high smoke point. However, it will not burn your food. This extra virgin olive oil hails from a long range of pepper and herb-infused oils to give any dish a specific yet delicious finishing.
Using an oil sprayer, you can spritz a little onto the air fryer basket and get to cooking deliciously infused olive oil dishes. Furthermore, olive oil has abundant benefits such as reducing inflammation, fighting Alzheimer's, antibacterial properties and reducing the risk of heart disease. Lastly, quality olive oil is one of the best fats you will ever have.
Pros
Cons
2) Nutiva Organic Avocado Oil
- Refined for neutral odor and flavor for use in any recipe where an avocado flavor is not desired
- Nutiva Organic, 100% Pure has a higher smoke point at 500°f and is perfect for frying and sautéing
- Nutiva partners with organic farmers to source the world’s finest fresh, organic avocados and stringently adheres to USDA certified...
- Nutiva organic Avocado oil is packaged in safe, convenient, BPA-free Packaging
- Nutiva organic Avocado oils are pure and made from organic avocados rich in potassium, folate and vitamins K, C and E
Most of the time, avocado oil is processed like vegetable oil but ends up being mixed in with chemicals. However, this all-organic avocado oil is steam-refined. It has a light taste, and its high smoke point ensures you can cook, grill, braise and broil. Furthermore, the high smoke point ensures that your food won't burn even at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
It also offers a more neutral flavour when used in roasted veggies. The chemical-free composition makes it a healthy monosaturated fat with multiple health benefits. Furthermore, using avocado oil for cooking improves your skin, keeping you looking youthful for longer. Aside from that, it also keeps your heart healthy.
Made from purely organic materials, the avocados are sourced worldwide to make the best avocado oil. If you have joint pain caused by arthritis, then this vegetable oil will help you immensely. Furthermore, it is suitable for cooking as it does not have the taste of avocado.
Pros
Cons
3) Healthy Origins Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
- It is a high quality healthy product
- During the summer months products may arrive warm but Amazon stores and ships products in accordance with manufacturers' recommendations,...
Suitable for vegans and vegetarians, this vegetable oil substitute not only tastes fantastic it can be used to cook food in your air fryer. Furthermore, it is loved by many people because it is also healthy and one of the best oils when cooking at high temperatures. You can cook all types of food with it, including homemade French fries.
Additionally, you don't need to refrigerate it, as it is purely organic and will not spoil. Because it is structurally unique from different oils, it raises good cholesterol levels in the body. It has a long shelf life and is a great oil for frying anything in high temperatures.
A few things to consider about coconut oil is that while it tastes incredible, you might not want the coconut taste in all your dishes. Apart from that, it is perfect for use in your air fryer. Using an oil sprayer, you can lightly dust the base of your air fryer basket and get to cooking your meal. You only require 1-2 tablespoons of coconut oil to cook.
Pros
Cons
4) Red Organic Palm Oil
- THE OPTIMAL SOLUTION : Made from hand harvested, carefully selected palm nuts. Our Premium red oil is cold pressed to maintain its Vitamins,...
- ALL-NATURAL: The palm oil for cooking follows the traditional extraction process used in Ghana for a freshly packed and organic bottled...
- MULTI-PURPOSE: One of the best parts about our organic red palm oil for cooking is that you can experiment with it preparing different types...
- UNIQUE BLEND: Our organic red palm oil is enriched with antioxidants packed with fatty acids, vitamins, and a unique taste that will delight...
- OUR PLEDGE: All our products check the highest quality standards, so you can be sure that the cooking palm oil will surpass your...
For added color and taste, this is one of the best oils in the market. Apart from being packed with antioxidants, it is also 100% vegan and contains no artificial additives or aftertaste. Therefore, it is suitable for use in an air fryer due to its high smoke point of about 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Furthermore, it is purely organic.
Palm organic oil is harvested from palm fruits and cold-pressed to eliminate any chemicals and pesticides. Additionally, it brings out the rich taste of food, and you can use it to create different international dishes. In addition, this oil is savory and is used all over the world for cooking because it maintains stability even in high temperatures.
Among the many uses of palm cooking oil for health and the skin, it has also been used in other food products and the cosmetic industry. Furthermore, it is also used to produce biodiesel fuel which is an excellent source of energy.
Pros
Cons
5) Baja Precious Sunflower Oil
Sunflower oil is one of the best selections of vegetable oil. Due to its ability to maintain stability at high temperatures, it is the best oil for air fryers. Fortunately, it has a high smoke point too. If you don't enjoy tasting your oil, this is the premium oil for you because it has almost no taste and is very healthy for your heart.
If you plan to cook with sunflower oil, then 1-2 tablespoons should be enough to grease your air fryer and prepare a tasty meal. Furthermore, the smoke point of sunflower oil is higher than most vegetable oils; therefore, it is excellent for cooking with. The monosaturated fat content in the oil is healthy for you.
What's more, sunflower organic oil does not contain any proteins, carbohydrates, sodium, or cholesterol. Before you purchase sunflower organic oil, you should ensure you will not be consuming it in excess. The primary reason for this is that it might release inflammatory compounds when heated for a long time. A little at a time is okay.
Pros
Cons
What Are The Upsides Of Having An Air Fryer?
Any gadget you buy will have characteristics that are worth it and some that might not work for you. Depending on your personal preference, we might not have a say. However, on the general side, there are a few pros and cons to owning an air fryer. Most of the time, however, an air fryer is an excellent addition to your kitchen. Here is what we like:
a) Safer Option
Cooking or deep frying food in an air dryer is safer compared to standing over the stove with a pot full of scalding hot oil. Not only is air frying safer, but it is also an excellent coking partner. There is not enough oil in an air fryer to burn or scald you. Additionally, other than air fried food, there is not much to worry about on these gadgets.
An air fryer can get very hot. However, despite the temperatures it can reach, there is no risk of spilling or splashing. If you don't place anything weighty on top of the air fryer, or leave it unattended, then it is a perfectly safe appliance. Furthermore, a stable countertop surface to place the air fryer is also a prerequisite to owning an air fryer.
b) Healthy Option
Compared to regularly fried foods, air fried foods are healthy because they don't require the use of much oil. Furthermore, regularly deep-fried foods contain saturated and unhealthy fats, which lead to obesity, compared to healthy oils such as extra virgin olive oil. In many instances, other cooking methods, such as roasting, are a better option than unhealthy fried foods.
Air frying does not affect the taste, smell or texture of your food. In fact, for the best air frying results, you should use very little oil, like extra light olive oil. Additionally, decreasing your oil intake is always a good idea. However, it would help if you try to keep in mind that there are healthy cooking oils with healthy fats that your body needs to function optimally.
c) Energy Efficient
Say hello to an environmentally-friendly cooking option. Yes, air dryers are energy efficient. Compared to convection ovens, air fryers are still more energy efficient because they don't require any time to pre-heat and cook food very quickly. This takes less electricity compared to pre-heating an oven and then cooking in it.
Air fryers are also more energy-efficient compared to any deep fryer. However, there is the issue of everyday use. If you use a deep fryer every day, then it's economical. However, if you don't use it every day, then an air fryer will do the trick. Furthermore, you save a lot of money on cooking oil when using an air fryer, depending on how much oil you use.
d) No Toxic Substances Form
When you use a deep fryer, toxic substances are a by-product of the food you fry. For example, a substance called acrylamide is potentially dangerous and has been linked to cancers such as pancreatic and breast cancer. Therefore, without knowing, when you ingest deep-fried foods, you are extensively exposed to the side effects of this toxic chemical.
Using an air dryer eliminates the formation of acrylamide. Furthermore, using the best oil for air fryers, such as extra virgin olive oil, significantly reduces the possibility of ingesting dangerous and toxic substances. Usually, high-heat cooking, such as in a deep fryer, significantly increases your chances of getting into contact with and ingesting acrylamide.
e) Faster
Of course, everyone loves a quick food fix and especially when they are hungry. An air fryer might be the answer to your slow-cooking convection oven. Additionally, air fryers can reach temperatures of over 3000 F in less than three minutes. This is way faster than a deep fryer or regular oven. Furthermore, the temperature remains consistent without interruptions.
Consistency in temperature and rapidly supplying heat inside the air fryer helps food to get ready quicker. Furthermore, air fryers are smaller, and therefore heat is quick to act and gives better contact to the food. Additionally, the rapid airflow is also faster to cook your food.
