Lighten Up
Clean Eating|Summer 2022 / July - September 2022
If you've had an air fryer in your online cart since the start of the pandemic, it's time to commit. Let's just say it'll change your life.
ELIZABETH SHAW
Lighten Up

It happens all the time: A cooking fad or kitchen gadget rockets to it-girl status and then flames out. That is not the case with the air fryer. This miracle of a tool (which delivers crispy crunch with minimal fat) adds incredible dimension to your cooking. Even if you rolled your eyes initially, now's the time to hop on the bandwagon. Five reasons why:

1. Buy back time

Because they're more compact and efficient than your traditional oven, air fryers drastically lessen cooking duration for many recipes. Lauren Manaker, MS, RDN, LD, registered dietitian and author of Fueling Male Fertility, agrees: "I didn't realize how quickly I could cook my favorite foods. Sides and main meals that my entire family loves come to life in 10 minutes or so!"

2. Save money

Cooking in a fraction of time means you're also saving energy. Consider this: It's mid-July and you're craving cookies. You turn on the oven and then compensate by turning up the AC. Not so with an air fryer. An added bonus: Since cooking is faster than ever, you'll likely dine out less often. That's a win-win for your health and your wallet.

3. Ratchet up the nutrition

Many brands promote that air frying can decrease a recipe's total fat by up to 75 percent. This, of course, depends on what you're making but it's largely true. When you submerge or deep-fry items in gobs of oil, they retain fat and calories. Air-fried foods, on the other hand, use just a tablespoon or so of oil.

4. Eat more veggies

This story is from the Summer 2022 / July - September 2022 edition of Clean Eating.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the Summer 2022 / July - September 2022 edition of Clean Eating.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM CLEAN EATINGView All
Summer Lovin'
Clean Eating

Summer Lovin'

Bushels of berries, peaches, nectarines, cherries, plums and more beckon at the market. Buy them all and soak up the sun in these bejeweled desserts.

time-read
6 mins  |
Summer 2022 / July - September 2022
Into the Wild
Clean Eating

Into the Wild

Cooking along the 500-mile Colorado Trail taught Clean Eating editor Amanda M. Faison how to transform the campfire into a kitchen.

time-read
9 mins  |
Summer 2022 / July - September 2022
[ Three Ways ] Tropical Punch
Clean Eating

[ Three Ways ] Tropical Punch

Of African origin, hibiscus or Jamaican sorrel, is an important staple in West Indian and Mexican cooking. Hibiscus is sour enough to make you pucker and tropical enough to evoke the islands. Popularly brewed as a tea, the dried petals play well in savory or sweet recipes, too.

time-read
4 mins  |
Summer 2022 / July - September 2022
You Had Meat Tacos
Clean Eating

You Had Meat Tacos

"When it's done properly, taco should be a verb," declared Jonathan Gold, the late restaurant critic of the Los Angeles Times. Tacos are much more than a meal; they're an action.

time-read
10+ mins  |
Summer 2022 / July - September 2022
The Multitasker
Clean Eating

The Multitasker

Collagen usually makes headlines for its skin-saving benefits. But did you know that it's also an essential nutrient for joint health? (Especially if you sit at a desk all day.)

time-read
3 mins  |
Summer 2022 / July - September 2022
The Minimalist
Clean Eating

The Minimalist

Summer cooking is all about fresh and fast and avoiding the stove.

time-read
2 mins  |
Summer 2022 / July - September 2022
Lighten Up
Clean Eating

Lighten Up

If you've had an air fryer in your online cart since the start of the pandemic, it's time to commit. Let's just say it'll change your life.

time-read
5 mins  |
Summer 2022 / July - September 2022
JUST RIGHT
Clean Eating

JUST RIGHT

The classic low-country boil is a celebration of place, tradition and ratio.

time-read
3 mins  |
Summer 2022 / July - September 2022
Recovery Days
Clean Eating

Recovery Days

The mantra that food is fuel is gold, but food as refuel is equally valuable.

time-read
10 mins  |
Summer 2022 / July - September 2022
Lower your impact without sacrificing satisfaction.
Clean Eating

Lower your impact without sacrificing satisfaction.

Eat like a Reducetarian.

time-read
7 mins  |
Summer 2022 / July - September 2022