Air fryers and pressure cookers have their pros and cons, but what is the difference between air fryer and pressure cooker?
Which unit makes a better kitchen appliance?
In today’s article, we’re going to give you a thorough comparison of air fryer vs instant pot (also known as the pressure cooker).
So that you know which one will benefit your kitchen most.
Without further ado, let’s get started!
What Is The Difference Between Air Fryer and Pressure Cooker?
The key difference between air fryer and instant pot is that, while the air fryer circulates heated air.
The pressure cooker operates by building up inner pressure, raising the temperature up to the point where it cooks food.
In other words, the air fryer is like a convection oven but a lot smaller.
Similarities – air fryers
Some people wonder whether you can use an air fryer as a substitute for a pressure cooker and vice versa.
Unfortunately, since the two items serve different purposes, they cannot be used to replace one another. However, one can complement the other very well.
In terms of similarity, both units need a high temperature for cooking. Thus, they require an amount of liquid to cook.
pressure cookers
The biggest thing they share in common is the cooking time. It is lessened to a certain extent while the food is still conserved enough energy and nutrition for your body.
These kitchen appliances feature various settings that allow you to have your food to your liking, either crunchy or moist.
Differences Between Air Fryer And Pressure CookerDifferences
To understand the difference between air fryer and pressure cooker, let’s take a look at these features.
Cooking Mechanism – Differences
Both units indeed need heat to cook food. However, their cooking mechanisms are far different from each other.
Air fryers utilize the circulation of air for cooking food. Inside of an air fryer, you’ll find a fan and a heating component.
When you turn on the machine, these internal parts work together to circulate hot air at a rapid speed through the chamber of the fryer.
As for pressure cookers, they work based on the principles of steam pressure.
The unit requires you to add liquid (water, broth, etc.) then close the lid tightly.
Once the liquid inside the sealed pot starts to boil, it creates pressure as steam cannot get out.
The increased pressure ensures your food is cooked faster and more evenly than conventional cooking methods.
Portability – Best
Air fryers often come in small sizes, making them more portable than pressure cookers.
Most fryers have a capacity of 6-quart, which is enough for a small batch of fries or 5 drumsticks.
On the other hand, pressure cookers offer a larger capacity, with the biggest size being 15+ quarts.
So, would you want to carry a 15-quart appliance around, on a road trip or picnic? We didn’t think so.
But since the pressure cooker is larger, you can add all the ingredients at once, speeding up the cooking time up to half.
Safety Concerns – Instant pot
While cooking with a pressure cooker, you ought to make sure the lid is entirely closed. Some cookers won’t start until tightly sealed.
Once the unit is done cooking, pressure can be released via a valve found on top of the lid.
Do not stand too close to this valve when it’s letting the pressure out as the heat can burn you, despite the slow release.
A thing about pressure cookers is, the lid cannot be opened while cooking.
You’ll injure yourself should you open the lid during the cooking process, so take caution.
On the contrary, air fryers allow you to take out the basket to check up on the food when cooking.
But the outer layer of the machine will be extremely hot, increasing your chance of getting burned while doing so.
We suggest you be extra careful when handling these two kitchen gadgets to avoid the risk of injuries.
Maintenance
The air fryer outweighs the pressure cooker in terms of maintenance. Because of the compact size, it is a lot easier to keep the unit clean.
Not to mention, the basket that comes with the air fryer is removable, making sure you can thoroughly clean every build-up inside after cooking.
Simply use a wet cloth to wipe off the surface, and your fryer is good to go again.
In contrast, a pressure cooker requires more effort when cleaning due to the type of food you make.
Thus, the exterior parts also need constant attention to ensure the lid is sealed properly.
Price – Air Fryers
Most air fryers, regardless of their sizes, are quite affordable when compared to traditional fryers.
It is the reason why many people have started to consider it.
Air Fryer: Advantages, disadvantages.
Consumer scores by function
. Durability: 9.7Score
. Temperature Control: 9.8Score
. Versatility: 9.8Score
Technical Stats
. Included:100 Recipes
. Power: 1700W
. Voltage: AC 120V
. Cooking Functions: 13
. Capacity: 5.8QT
. Control: Digital
. The customer reviews for the product: 4.7/5 stars [ 46,281 ratings]
Go to the best air fryer on Amazon.
Advantages of the air fryer:
. Cook healthier.
. Easy to use.
. Perfect for heating up.
. Space-saving.
. Tidy much faster.
. Flexibility.
. User friendly.
. Multipurpose.
. Prepare faster and more effectively.
. Does not smell.
. Keep your kitchen area fresh.
. Conserve money.
Saves Time: Thanks to its special working mechanism, the air fryer helps save time compared to conventional ways of cooking.
Saves Energy: The air fryer aids in reducing your electric bills compared with when you use an electric cooktop.
Thanks to the compact design, not only will the food be cooked faster but the energy consumption is also lessened.
Saves money: Now that the oil amount is lowered down to 5-10%, you won’t have to spend as much money on cooking oil anymore.
Price: Compared to traditional fryers, the majority of air fryers are more affordable.
Healthy: Since you won’t need as much oil as you do with conventional fryers, your food is cooked in a much healthier way, with fat and cholesterol decreased.
Disadvantages of the air fryer:
Taste: The food cooked in an air fryer won’t be as crispy and tasty due to the lack of oil.
Plus, it may even turn dry if you don’t watch it continuously.
It will take several tries with the settings until you can find one to suit your liking.
Size: Most fryers come in a small size. This means they can only cook for a few people, while commercial-sized units are able to make several pounds of food.
Our evaluation: The Air Fryer is perfect for small households and single users. Hectic single parents, university students, senior, and those residing in small spaces can really benefit from the air fryer.
Electric pressure cooker: Advantages, disadvantages.
Consumer scores by function
. Durability: 9.5 Score
. Versatility: 9.5 Score
. Quality of material: 9.8 Score
Technical Stats
. Quart Size: 6,8 QT
. Pre-set Temperatures: 48
. Control Type Dial and Button
. Pressure Cooking Time: Up to 8 hours
. Safety (UL/ULC certified)10+ Safety Features
. The customer reviews for the product: 4.7/5 stars [ 2,285 ratings]
Go To The Best Electric Pressure Cooker On Amazon.
Advantages of pressure cookers:
. Keeps the heat of the food for a longer time.
. Numerous functions in one gadget.
. Maintain the natural taste of food.
. The main benefit is definitely the substantial time cost savings.
. Energy consumption dropped sharply.
. Very easy to use and clean.
Working mechanism: Typically, pressure cookers are rather easy to use. You only need to press one button and wait. Thus, they also come with a detailed user manual.
Versatile: A pressure cooker can cook quite a range of foods compared to an air fryer.
Size: Pressure cookers can cover a large amount of food. If you have a family of 5 or 6 people, the pressure cooker is no doubt the best kitchen appliance to have.
Energy Efficient: The steam working mechanism allows you to make food faster while not consuming much electricity.
Disadvantages of pressure cookers:
Monitoring Food: You cannot watch over your food once it has been placed inside the cooker.
If you mess up the preparation phase, it is likely that you will have to start everything over.
Safety Concerns: After you’re done cooking, you will have to wait sometime before you can open the lid.
If you’re not careful, you can even burn yourself.
Different Ingredients: Not all ingredients are the same, which means they need different cooking times.
Price: Pressure cookers are often more expensive than air fryers.
You can even buy two air fryers with the same amount of money you pay for a reasonably-priced cooker.
Our evaluation: Using the multipurpose electrical pressure cooker for cooking is a great method everybody should attempt.
To date, there are super-tech pressure cookers, specifically helpful for those unknown or those who want to cook with controlled temperatures.
Air Fryer Vs. Pressure Cooker: Which One is Better?
So, you’re probably wondering, “Should I buy an air fryer or an instant pot?”.
It is a tough call to choose between an air fryer and a pressure cooker. Essentially, it depends on your needs and also likings in food.
Both units are extremely effective at getting the job done, which is providing healthy meals without taking up too much time.
Usually, the air fryer is smaller, so if you have limited kitchen space, an air fryer should be your go-to.
Pressure cookers, on the other hand, are bigger and also more expensive.
If you’re shopping on a budget, the air fryer will make a good option to keep the costs down a bit.
Can You Air Fry Using a Pressure Cooker?
It can be tempting to air fry with a pressure cooker; nonetheless, you should never try to do so.
Besides the safety concerns, pressure cookers just aren’t qualified to provide the high temperature needed to fry food.
Air frying using a pressure cooker will not only damage internal parts of your cookware but also cause risks of explosions.
So, you either have to buy a new pressure cooker or get yourself badly injured.
In Closing
There you have it, the answer to the question, “What is the difference between air fryer and pressure cooker?”.
Each cookware has its pros and cons.
Essentially, it only comes down to your methods of cooking and how you like your food to be to choose an air fryer or pressure cooker.
Thanks for reading!
Source: silkroadrestaurant.org
Category: BLOG
Hi, I’m Iolanda I am a mother of two and know how to whip up satisfying dishes for friends and family in a seemingly effortless way. The blog goal is reader-oriented, So We are always looking for the newest information about the best products on the market to offer product reviews and tutorials to assist users.Have Fun on The Website
