How does an air fryer work? Explaining its function, purpose and menu options.

Taking hours to prepare a wonderful dinner can be difficult for those without proper cooking expertise, recipes, tools or time. That is where air fryers come in. They can make cooking easier while still allowing for healthy and tasty recipes — even including vegan, as seen on veggiebalance.com.

Air fryers are quick, easy to use and relatively cheap, ranging from $36 to $200 on Target.com, to purchase. Higher-end models will cost more. Still, given they cost less than a full-fledged conventional oven and require less upkeep, over 25 million were sold from January 2020 to December 2021, according to The NDP Group.

Get your meals delivered to you: Kick takeout to the curb in 2022 with these meal delivery service deals

Just curious?: We try to answer some of life's everyday questions

How does an air fryer work?

Now to the good stuff. After plugging in the device, locate the basket or tray inside the air fryer; it will carry your food as it is air fried. The food inside the machine will be engulfed in hot air, created by the inside heating element and fan, to cook quickly, all while avoiding the dangers of deep frying, says mrappliance.ca. Select your desired time and temperature for your food to be fried, then let it do its work.

While air fryers don't need as much oil as deep fryers, “1 or 2 teaspoons of oil,” depending on what you're making, is often necessary to make the food crisp, according to tasteofhome.com.

The cooking time is a convenience as well, with times ranging from 5 to 45 minutes, as listed on tasteofhome.com. Apreparedkitchen.com says air fryers cook faster than toaster ovens.

Cleanup, despite not being completely eliminated, is minimal. Dissecting the device after unplugging it, then proceeding to clean each individual part, while being sure to keep the main unit dry, will result in a working and sanitary air fryer. Be sure to let the device cool down before touching the inner workings. Tasteofhome.com’s site provides a cleaning guide.

Get that air fryer you've always wanted: The best air fryers of 2022

Make more with less: 5 cheap, versatile foods to stock up on now

What can you use an air fryer for?

An air fryer is only as good as the ingredients you are planning to use. Breakfasts, lunches, desserts, snacks and frozen foods are potential options with further examples on tasteofhome.com.

Not everything should be put into an air fryer, though. Foodnetwork.com says leafy greens, cheese and bacon should be kept away. Other foods that are better cooked outside of an air fryer are also listed on foodnetwork.com

Even if you’re not looking to make a complete meal, your personal air fryer can be used to reheat food for leftovers, says tasteofhome.com.

Interested in improving your cooking?: 8 cookbooks for people who don't know how to cook

Improve your kitchen for cheap: 15 best-selling small appliances that reviewers love

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How does an air fryer work? Explaining its function and meal options