Serious confrontation: air grill or electric grill, which is better?

The abundance of household appliances for the kitchen allows you to prepare delicious food at home.

For example, even a person who is completely far from cooking can cook on an air grill or electric grill. juicy steak, grilled fish or fried vegetables until crispy.

At the same time, air and electric grills have functional differences between them that may influence the buyer's choice.

Air grill: features of the device and operating principle

An air grill is a multifunctional kitchen appliance that Various foods are prepared by circulating hot air streams: meat, fish, vegetables, sandwiches, porridge and soups.

The device consists of from a glass bowl (flask), a metal ring in it, a stand, a lid and a special control panel.

The operating principle of an air grill is simple: The heating element brings the temperature to the required degree.

The convector distributes heated air over all the contents, due to which the products are baked, fried, boiled (depending on the selected mode) evenly on all sides.

In this case, not only the mode, but also the temperature and air flow speed are regulated. Most models are equipped with a timer.

Differences between different species

Main differences professional and household air grills consist of the features of the heating element, the presence/absence of design elements, as well as functional capabilities.

Depending on the type of heating element, devices are:

• based on heating element (most models);
• based on a halogen glass-ceramic lamp (more environmentally friendly, but with a shorter working life);
• with a carbon heater (demonstrate the longest service life).

Functional differences between air grills consist of a range of cooking options, including:

• baking and roasting;
• heating;
• defrosting;
• drying fruits, berries, mushrooms;
• steam cooking;
• smoking, etc.

Electric grill and its capabilities

An electric grill is a technical device for cooking food, where the thermal processing of products achieved during frying on a special grill.

The grill is heated by a heating element that operates using electricity.

Depending on the type of product, the heating element can be located below or above (and also on both sides)The temperature is regulated both manually and set in the parameters of one of the modes.

The electric grill itself is usually made of stainless steel coated with a non-stick layer.

Varieties

There are two types of electric grills:

• contact;
• contactless.

Contact type models resemble grill pan, can be one-sided or two-sided. They are good because do not emit smoke - they are easy to use in the home kitchen. With the help of such models, not only meat or fish are cooked, but also omelettes, sandwiches, pastries.

Contactless grills are distinguished by their design in that have an open spiral. Food cooked on such a grill tastes like food cooked “from a campfire”, however, there is also a significant drawback - "smoke" of the device. The devices are more convenient to use outdoors or in a kitchen with a powerful hood.

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Electric grill or air grill: what is the difference, which is better?

Method of thermal processing of food — the main difference between an electric grill and an air grill. This factor directly affects the taste characteristics of the dishes: food from an air grill will be evenly fried, baked or steamed on all sides, which will preserve its juiciness. At the same time, it is the electric grill that can give the taste and aroma of food in the barbecue style, saturate the products with the smell of a fire.

Photo 1. Dishes cooked on a contact electric grill. They have characteristic stripes from being fried.

Advantages and disadvantages of an electric grill

The advantages include:

• grilling and the ability to preserve the "smoky" smell;
• defrosting and reheating food;
• except meat, fish, vegetables and sandwiches on the electric grill You can also cook porridge.

Disadvantages of an electric grill:

• unlike an air grill, does not guarantee uniform roasting;
• its functionality is quite limited by design features;
• "smoke" the product causes inconvenience when used in a home kitchen;

Pros and cons of an air grill

The positive aspects of using an air grill include:

• device multitasking: several different dishes can be cooked at the same time;

Photo 2. The process of cooking in an air grill. Due to the fact that the device has tiers, you can cook several dishes at once.

• versatility of products: suitable for baking, stewing, drying, smoking, defrosting, cooking food, which, unlike an electric grill, allows you to replace a lot of other devices in the home kitchen;
• the dishes are being prepared no oil or fat, which is suitable for adherents of healthy eating;
• unlike an electric grill does not emit smoke or other odors.

However, the air grill also has its disadvantages:

• slow warm up dishes;
• steamed dishes turn out much worse in it than in a steamer;
• no way in an air fryer it will not be possible to fry/bake food with a smoky flavor;
• high energy consumption, and, as a consequence, uneconomical when used frequently.

Useful video

Watch the video, which demonstrates the process of cooking meat with potatoes in an air grill, and explains how exactly to cook using the device.

What to choose: comparison of devices, differences between them

From the above it becomes obvious that the choice between an air grill and an electric grill should be, First of all, based on the intended purpose of the device. Air grills are more modern and functional devices, as they offer a lot of options for cooking food, and thus can replace several household kitchen appliances at once. This is very convenient when using the design regularly in cooking for the whole family.

If the grill will be used less frequently, and, in most cases, on outdoor picnics, it is better to opt for an electric grill. In addition, they will cost less.