Air fryers aren’t a cause of cancer, but air frying does produce certain compounds, such as acrylamide. This is considered a “probable” carcinogen and can cause cancer. Does this mean your air fryer can increase your cancer risk?
This article covers the benefits of air fryers and how they affect your potential to develop cancers.
Benefits of Air Frying
Air fryers offer a lot of health benefits, including the following:
Oils, Calories, and Obesity
In general, a lot less oil is required when cooking with an air fryer than with a deep fryer. In some cases, only a small amount of cooking spray is necessary, and when added to breading, a teaspoon might be sufficient.
In one study, french fries cooked with an air fryer had 75% less fat than those cooked by deep-frying. Oils and fats contain calories, and the intake of excess calories can result in obesity. Furthermore, rising obesity rates are believed to be connected to the increasing appearance of cancers in young people.
Carcinogens and Reheated Oil
Air fryers limit the need to reheat previously used oil. When cooking oil is reheated, it results in breakdown products (hydrolyzed, oxidized, etc.) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
A review of studies has also connected reheated cooking oil to breast, colon, lung, and prostate cancers.
Air Fryers and Cancer
One major concern about any cooking method is the formation of carcinogens during the process, such as acrylamide. Certain individuals also worry that air fryers could be bad for you because the longer cooking time allows these substances to form.
Acrylamides
Acrylamides are chemicals that are formed in a reaction between the amino acid asparagine and sugars when starches are cooked at high temperatures. Since air fryers need longer cooking times, there is a concern that the acrylamide content of the foods could be higher in air fryer-cooked products.
How Do You Prevent Acrylamide in My Air Fryer?
You can reduce the amount of acrylamide in air-fried food by cooking it quickly. Also, avoid overfilling your air-fryer, which will require extra cooking time.
Conclusion
When properly used, air fryers are not dangerous. However, there is some concern that air-fried food could harm your health. This is because it could increase the acrylamide levels in your food. That said, studies have still been unable to establish a strong connection between these substances and cancer.
