How does an air fryer work?
Air fryers use hot air circulation to cook food. This process mimics the effect of deep frying, but with the added benefit of using significantly less oil or fat.
Why has the popularity of air fryers increased over the past few years?
- They offer a much healthier way to ‘fry’ food.
- They cook a wide variety of food – including fresh vegetables, meat and fish, plus they can even bake, grill and roast.
- They heat up quickly and cook food faster – saving on electricity costs.
- They are easy to use and clean.
- Many come with additional safety features, like the ability to switch off when food is adequately cooked. So, the risk of overcooking food is limited.
Is cooking with an air fryer beneficial in supporting good kidney health?
- Air fryers can be really helpful to people with kidney disease, because they only require small amounts of oil to cook foods which are traditionally fried or roasted in much larger quantities of oil. Reducing fat intake is important for everybody, but especially important for people living with kidney disease.
- Many people who live with kidney disease can feel extreme fatigue and when they are tired, may feel less inclined to cook a meal from scratch, be tempted to skip meals altogether or eat shop-bought, higher-salt ready meals. An air fryer offers an easy way to cook a healthier, kidney-friendly meal from scratch in very little time.
You can use an air fryer to cook a variety of healthy foods that fit into a balanced, kidney friendly diet
- Vegetables like broccoli, peppers and potatoes can be roasted to perfection with minimal oil, while achieving a crispy texture.
- Lean meats such as chicken breasts, turkey meatballs and fish can be cooked evenly, making them juicy and flavourful without the need for excessive oil.
- Prepare tofu and tempeh, which absorb marinades well and become deliciously crisp in an air fryer.
- Legumes like chickpeas can be air-fried to create a crunchy, high-protein snack.
- Fruits like apple or pear slices can be lightly seasoned with spices such as cinnamon or nutmeg and air-fried for a healthy dessert or snack.
- Whole grains like brown rice can be combined with lentils, vegetables and herbs to make a veggie burger.
Cooking with an air fryer if you have kidney disease
People living with kidney disease are advised to eat less processed foods as they tend to have a much higher salt and fat content, which is harmful to people with kidney disease. An air fryer can cook whole foods more quickly than conventional cooking methods.
If you have been advised to lower your potassium intake:
- Pre-boil or par-boil high potassium vegetables, such as potatoes or sweet potatoes, before cooking in an air fryer.
- Remember to discard the cooking water used, as much of the potassium which has leached out of vegetables, is now in this water. Do not use it to make gravy or stock. Use fresh water instead.
- Rinse boiled potatoes under running cold water.
- After patting your potatoes dry with a clean cloth, try lightly coating them with fresh or dried herbs, or spices (avoiding any with added salt), before cooking for 10-20 minutes in an air fryer.
- Limit your use of pre-packaged sauce or herb mixes as these tend to have a high-salt content. Try replacing these with freshly squeezed lemon, fresh or dried herbs or spices.
- While air fryers can be used to reheat foods such as oven chips, these foods tend to contain unhealthy fats, salt and additives. They also lack important nutrients found in fresh foods. Eating too much processed foods can lead to health problems like obesity, heart disease and be especially hard on your kidneys.