can air fryers cause cancer?
Air fryers are relatively new appliances that are designed to replace traditional deep frying. They can be used to cook various food items, but they can also affect the nutritional content of the food.
Despite the advantages of certain food items, it's still important to remember that the type of food that you eat is more important than the way it's prepared.
How can they be harmful?
High heat cooking produces compounds that can cause cancer.
Air frying is a safe method of cooking food, but it can cause the development of a dangerous compound known as acrylamide. This can occur when food is cooked at high heat.
The types of food impact the risk of cancer
It's believed that the rising cases of cancer among young people are due to the increasing number of Americans who are overweight. However, air-fried food is still a healthy option when used sparingly.
Since air fryers are used to prepare food, they often contain high-fat content meats and processed food. This contributes to weight gain even though they use less oil.
Air fryers are great for low-heat cooking and are not replacing traditional methods of cooking.
Related: What Are The Pros And Cons Of Air Fryer
Benefits of cooking with air fryers
Also, air fryers are safer to use than deep fryers. Although they still get hot, they are not at risk of burning and causing a splash.
Despite the various risks, air fryers are still very beneficial in terms of preparing food. They can also lower the overall fat content of the food.
What’s the verdict?
Although air fryers are not considered cancer-proof, they can still cause cancer depending on how they are used. They can generate dangerous compounds while cooking food at high heat.
Basics
Air fryers became popular in 2010. Since people tend to enjoy deep-fried food, their rapid rise in popularity led to the development of their own unique cooking style.
Related: What Cannot Be Cooked In Air Fryer?
How They Work
Basically, an air fryer is a type of oven that uses a fan to circulate hot air around a food. The oil droplets and other cooking components are removed from the food to allow it to crisp.
Air Fryers vs. Deep Frying
Although both methods are safer than traditional deep-fried food, the use of oil can cause cancer-causing effects if it's used too long.
Oils, Calories, and Obesity
High levels of fat and oils have calories. This contributes to the increasing prevalence of obesity in the US.
Air fryers are generally less oil-intensive than deep fryers. In one study, cooking French fries with an air fryer resulted in 75% less fat.
Carcinogens
One particular concern about using oil-based cooking methods is the formation of carcinogenic substances.
Being exposed to oils during cooking can cause cancer-causing oxidative stress. This damage can affect the DNA of cells.
Metastatic disease is the main cause of death for people with breast cancer. Around a third of breast cancers will eventually recur after they're diagnosed with stage 4.
A study investigated the possibility that repeated exposure to reheated oil could promote the spread of breast cancer in mice. The researchers found that the oil particles were linked to the cancer cells' spread to the lungs.
A study conducted by researchers revealed that reheated oil can increase the risk of colon cancer in mice. The results of this study are not yet applicable to humans.
Acrylamides
Currently, acrylamide is considered a 2A carcinogen, though recent studies have shown that it does not appear to cause cancer among humans.
These are chemicals that are formed when starches are cooked at high temperatures.
Since air fryers require a longer cooking time to complete, they were feared that they would contain higher traces of acrylamide in food. However, a study in 2020 found that air frying could help minimize acrylamide formation.
A study conducted by researchers revealed that using a solution of various compounds, such as calcium lactate, sodium chloride, vitamin B2, and citric acid, reduced the formation of these harmful chemicals by 90%.
Potential for Food Poisoning
A 2019 study analyzed the risk of food poisoning when cooked in air fryers, a traditional oven, a deep fryer, and a toaster oven. The researchers discovered that the former's cooking instructions did not prevent food poisoning.
Food poisoning is a common illness in the US. About 48 million people get sick each year.
Cholesterol Oxidation Products
A study revealed that adding spices to fish before it was cooked reduced the production of COPs.
High-heat cooking methods are known to cause the formation of COPs, which are linked to various chronic diseases.
Aesthetics
Some people prefer the texture of air frying food, as it leaves a pleasant taste.
A Word From Very well
Although air fryers can be commonly used for preparing fried food, many of the processed and refined products that are commonly fried in this method are not the ideal choices for reducing cancer risk.
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