In the realm of modern kitchen cooking, the choice of cooking tools and methods significantly impacts the nutritional value of food. The air fryer oven, a versatile and popular emerging kitchen appliance, shows notable differences from traditional frying in terms of nutrition. Next, we will delve into the differences between the two in terms of nutrient retention and loss, especially the loss of vitamins B and C. Meanwhile, we will explore the retention of Omega - 3 fatty acids in salmon cooked in an air fryer oven through experiments.
Traditional frying requires submerging food completely in a large amount of oil. When frying at home, families typically use 500 milliliters or even more of cooking oil. Take French fries as an example. A serving of fries may absorb 100 - 150 grams of oil, which significantly increases the calorie content of the food. Excessive oil intake not only easily leads to obesity but also increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases in the long run. Moreover, vegetable oils such as soybean oil and corn oil, commonly used in traditional frying, are prone to produce harmful substances such as trans - fatty acids during repeated high - temperature use, further endangering health.
Multi - functional air fryer ovens combine the functions of air frying and baking, heating food using a hot air circulation technology. During cooking, only a very small amount of oil needs to be brushed on the surface of the food, and some foods can achieve a crispy texture similar to frying without adding any extra oil. For example, when baking chicken wings, only 5 - 10 milliliters of oil needs to be brushed on the surface of the wings. This characteristic of using little oil greatly reduces the calories of the food and minimizes the health risks associated with excessive oil intake. At the same time, due to the small amount of oil used, air fryer ovens are more suitable for using high - quality oils such as olive oil, which is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids, adding a healthy element to the cooking process.
-
Loss in Traditional Frying: The vitamin B complex is sensitive to heat and is extremely unstable in the high - temperature environment of traditional frying. For flour - based foods, during traditional frying, the loss rate of vitamin B1 can reach 40% - 60%, and the loss rate of vitamin B2 is about 20% - 30%. This is because high temperatures change the chemical structure of the vitamin B complex, rendering it inactive and unable to be effectively absorbed and utilized by the human body.
-
Retention in Air Fryer Ovens: The heating temperature of air fryer ovens is relatively low and uniform, causing less damage to the vitamin B complex in food. For example, after bread is baked in an air fryer oven, the loss rate of vitamin B1 is around 10% - 20%, and the loss rate of vitamin B2 is only 5% - 10%. This relatively gentle heating method maximally preserves the vitamin B complex in food, helping to maintain the body's normal metabolism and nervous system function.
-
Loss in Traditional Frying: Vitamin C is a water - soluble vitamin and is extremely sensitive to heat and oxygen. During traditional frying, the vitamin C in vegetables is greatly lost due to high temperatures and long - term contact with oil. For example, after broccoli is fried traditionally, the vitamin C loss rate is as high as 70% - 90%, almost completely depleted. This is because high temperatures accelerate the oxidation and decomposition of vitamin C, and at the same time, oil can dissolve part of vitamin C, leading to its significant loss.
-
Situation in Air Fryer Ovens: The rapid heating method of air fryer ovens reduces the contact time of food with high temperatures, which has an advantage in the retention of vitamin C. For example, after green peppers are simply baked in an air fryer oven, the vitamin C loss rate is 30% - 50%, retaining more vitamin C compared to traditional frying. This enables vegetables cooked in an air fryer oven to provide more vitamin C for the human body, enhancing immunity.
Omega - 3 fatty acids have numerous benefits for human health, including anti - inflammatory effects, protection of cardiovascular health, and promotion of brain development. Salmon is an excellent source of Omega - 3 fatty acids. This experiment aims to compare the retention of Omega - 3 fatty acids in salmon cooked by traditional frying and in an air fryer oven, providing a scientific basis for consumers to choose a healthier cooking method.
Salmon samples of the same weight and quality were selected and divided into two groups. One group was fried using the traditional method at an oil temperature of 180°C for 5 minutes; the other group was placed in an air fryer oven and baked at 180°C for 8 minutes. After the experiment, professional testing equipment was used to analyze the changes in the content of Omega - 3 fatty acids in the salmon samples.
For the salmon fried traditionally, the loss rate of Omega - 3 fatty acids reached 30% - 40%. This is because high - temperature frying causes the fatty acids in salmon to oxidize and decompose, resulting in a significant loss of Omega - 3 fatty acids. However, for the salmon baked in the air fryer oven, the loss rate of Omega - 3 fatty acids was only 10% - 20%. The hot air circulation system of the air fryer oven makes the salmon heat more evenly, avoiding the damage of local overheating to nutrients. At the same time, the shorter cooking time reduces the contact between Omega - 3 fatty acids and oxygen, reducing the risk of oxidation, thus better retaining this precious nutrient.
In conclusion, whether in terms of oil use, calorie control, the retention of vitamins B and C, or the impact on Omega - 3 fatty acids in salmon, the air fryer oven shows more outstanding nutritional advantages compared to traditional frying. The air fryer oven, with its unique cooking method, can retain the nutrition of food while satisfying people's pursuit of deliciousness. In the current era of pursuing a healthy diet, choosing a multi - functional and nutritious cooking tool like the air fryer oven is undoubtedly an added guarantee for a healthy life. And our HYSapientia air fryer oven, with its excellent performance, convenient operation, safe design, and easy - to - clean features, is the ideal choice for your kitchen.
