Air fryers have become very fashionable and their main hook is that it is much healthier to cook in them than to fry in oil. We always avoid frying, and if it has to be done, we recommend extra virgin olive oil or high oleic sunflower oil and then remove all the excess oil. But that's a lot more calories than fries without oil.
Making French fries without oil is perfectly possible; in fact, it saves us a few extra calories. Frying in oil adds a lot of calories to food, so today we're going to tackle the opposite and find out how many calories are in 100 grams of oil-free French fries.
It may seem very obvious to say that frying in vegetable oil (only extra virgin olive oil or high oleic sunflower oil is recommended) increases calories, but many times we don't realize it and we end up frying potatoes, vegetables, breaded , cheese sticks, nuggets, and even donuts and pastries, and by the end of the week our extra calories have multiplied by 3.
That is why today we will clear up doubts and we will be much clearer about what appliance is going to enter the house in the coming days, that is if we want to reduce the intake of fats and calories for the rest of our lives and improve our health in the long term.
Fries without oil vs with oil
Air fryers are all the rage, there's no denying it, not only because they're so affordable, but also because they really do cook food well, leaving it crispy and without that unnecessary excess fat. Admittedly, there are differences in flavor, and the crispiness of the potatoes isn't exactly the same, but that can be remedied by using a touch of oil and getting the hang of adjusting the hot air setting and cooking times. Also, for best results, it's best not to fry large quantities at once.
But what's really important is knowing how many calories we save with this new method in our kitchen. Well, 100 grams of oil-free fries contain about 75 or 80 kilocalories , whereas frying them in oil can easily exceed 500 kilocalories.
The difference is enormous, making an air fryer a much healthier option than a pan with oil. This small appliance will significantly reduce the fat in our meals, helping us achieve our weight and fitness goals. Not only that, but we'll also lower our cholesterol and triglyceride levels, which are linked to heart attacks, high blood pressure, and atherosclerosis.
If we are immersed in a nutritional plan to lose weight, it is time to invest in an air fryer. In addition, it is not only suitable for chips, but also for fish, donuts, pasties, nuggets, cheese or hake sticks, vegetables, tequeños, breaded, mini-pizzas, food gratin, fried corn, etc. Sometimes it acts as an oven with circular air, which is why it is so versatile.