"Are air fryers bad for you?" is a fair question given the hype. The honest answer: for most people they're a healthier way to cook than deep frying, with a couple of sensible points to keep in mind.
Key takeaways
Q: Are air fryers bad for you?
A: Not in themselves — they generally let you cook with far less oil than deep frying, which can mean less fat and fewer calories.
Q: Anything to be sensible about?
A: As with any high-heat cooking, don't overcook starchy foods to dark brown.
Why it's generally healthier
Air frying uses a fraction of the oil of deep frying — often just a spray — so air-fried versions of chips, wings and breaded foods tend to be lower in fat and calories than their deep-fried equivalents. It's the cooking method that's changed, not the food, and cutting back on large amounts of frying oil is a sensible step for most diets.
What to be sensible about
- Acrylamide — like all high-heat cooking, air frying starchy foods (chips, roast potatoes) very dark can form acrylamide; aim for golden, not brown. See the acrylamide question.
- It's still about the food — air-fried doesn't make everything "healthy"; balance is what matters.
- Use cookware as intended — follow the manufacturer's guidance on baskets and coatings.
This is general information, not medical or dietary advice — for personalised guidance, speak to a GP or registered dietitian.
Frequently asked questions
Are air fryers bad for you?
Not in themselves — they generally let you cook with far less oil than deep frying, which tends to mean less fat and fewer calories. It's a healthier method for many everyday foods.
Do air fryers have any health downsides?
The main thing to be sensible about, as with all high-heat cooking, is not overcooking starchy foods to dark brown, which can form acrylamide. Aim for golden, not brown.
Does air frying make food healthy?
It makes fried-style food lower in oil, but it doesn't transform what the food is — overall balance and variety still matter most.