Watchdog Says 'healthy' Air Fryers Not Risk-free

The Consumer Council on Wednesday urged people not to overindulge in food cooked by air fryers, saying the high temperatures used to cook certain foods can produce cancer-causing substances.

The consumer watchdog said the appliances, which have been marketed as a convenient and healthy way to cook food, have become popular as more people avoid eating out amid the pandemic. It received 35 complaints about air fryers last year, compared to just six in 2019.

In a study, the council used air fryers from 12 different brands to cook French fries, according to their instruction manuals.

It found an exceedingly high level of acrylamide, a cancer-causing substance, in fries cooked by six of the air fryer models.

The chairwoman of the council’s research and testing committee, Professor Nora Tam, said although cooking food with an air fryer – which cooks food with a high-heat air vent – is healthier than deep frying in oil, cancer-causing substances can still be produced because of the high temperatures involved.

“That’s why we recommend to the consumer: you should not eat too much or too frequently, and you should watch out your size of serving,” Tam said. “And if you want to eat healthier, you can consider the cooking methods such as steaming and boiling.”

She said lowering the cooking temperature and shortening cooking times can reduce the level of acrylamide produced when air frying.