Both air fryers and pressure cookers are versatile kitchen work tools that can save you time and effort when preparing food. Both gadgets are designed to prepare food efficiently in a matter of minutes. However, there are some glaring differences between the two that impact how they are used.
Comparison of Pressure Cooker vs Air Fryer
For instance, both pressure cookers and air fryers serve completely different tasks, which means that they may not be substituted for each other. It is worth noting though, that both can be used in conjunction with one another to produce high-quality results.
How do air fryers work?
All air fryers come equipped with a heating component and a fan. Through the convention system, the heating component and the fan work together to circulate hot air at intense speeds through the chamber of the fryer. When food is left in this environment, it cooks with a crispy texture on the outside and a juicy, moist interior on the inside.
While you can still get the same results as a deep fryer, an air fryer utilizes approximately 80% less oil, which makes it more effective and healthier for frying food items. Air fryers are also generally more lightweight and smaller compared to most deep fryers, which means that they require less time to reach optimal temperatures. Fryers usually come with adjustable timers and temperatures so that the user can pre-program the gadget to suit their needs.
How do pressure cookers work?
Pressure cookers are generally designed with an inner pot and a lid. All pressure cookers must have a tight seal for them to function properly. Pressure cookers must also contain some type of cooking liquid such as a broth or water for steam to be created. Once the liquid inside the inner pot starts to boil, the steam that is created inside the container causes the pressure inside the cooker to intensify.
Owing to the increased pressure in the pot, the temperature also rises considerably, allowing food to cook much faster and more evenly. This high-pressure environment must be maintained at all times. As such, this means that unlike air fryers, pressure cookers cannot be opened mid-way the cooking process so that the progress of the food items inside can be checked.
Opening the sealed lid would cause the built-up pressure to escape, which would render the whole gadget impractical. Pressure cookers can only be opened once the pressure cooker has completed the cooking process. The pressure inside the cooker has to be released so that the lid can then be opened safely. Pressure is released slowly through the small valve that is typically located on top of the lid.
Can you air fry using a pressure cooker?
You should never attempt to air fry anything in a pressure cooker. Sadly, pressure cookers just are not designed to withstand the high temperatures that allow food to fry. If you attempted to fry using a pressure cooker, you would end up damaging essential parts and components of the cooker, which would leave your pressure cooker unable to work. In worse case scenarios, explosions have also been known to happen when individuals attempt to air fry using a pressure cooker.