Sous Vide vs Air Frying: Differences and Benefits

Sous vide cooking has been popular among foodies for a while now.

However, air frying is making its way into the mainstream of home cooks’ kitchens, which means that more people are trying out sous vide and air frying methods than ever before.

But with so many options, it can be difficult to decide which is best—Sous Vide or Air Frying?

In this post, we’ll break down the differences between the two techniques to help you determine which one is better for you—and how to make the most out of both methods.

What Is Sous Vide Cooking?

Sous vide is a French term meaning “under vacuum.” This type of cooking uses a special cooking device that creates a vacuum by removing air from inside the pot.

By doing this, foods can be cooked to exact temperatures, and then held at those temperatures without burning or drying out.

Foods are cooked in an even manner and retain their moisture and flavor. This is how sous vide was first used for cooking fish.

It’s also used for cooking poultry, pork, beef, lamb, vegetables, fruits, and even desserts. It’s easy to see why this method is becoming more popular. It’s quick, easy, and inexpensive.

Sous Vide Benefits

There are many benefits of sous vide cooking such as:

– You can cook to the exact temperature you want, whether it is warm, medium or hot.

– The food will not overcook or undercook.

– You don’t have to babysit your food.

– Food will be evenly cooked

– Food tastes great!

– Cooking with sous vide helps save time and money because you won’t have to do the “check” process of your food before eating.

– Low or no mess. No boiling pots, pans, or spatulas are required.

– Easy to clean up after cooking. Simply wipe down your countertops, plates, and utensils and toss them in the dishwasher.

– Cooks even when you’re away. You can cook ahead of time, and finish cooking while you’re out.

– More flavor. Sous vide cooking allows you to cook meats for longer, giving you better flavor and texture.

– Sous vide has health benefits. It is great for low-fat and high-protein dishes since it cooks foods evenly and without the need for stirring.

Sous Vide Cons

There are many disadvantages for sous vide cooking but the most popular are the following:

– Slow cooking time

– Expensive sous vide machines

– Cooking with water is not good for health.

What Is Air Frying?

This is a cooking method in which the food is cooked in the air, using hot air instead of heat.

Air frying is a method of cooking food without the use of oil or grease. Air fryers are also known as convection ovens or convection cookers.

Air fryers use hot air to cook food and do not need to use extra heat like an oven. This method has become very popular in recent years due to the many health benefits of using it.

Air Fryer Benefits

The advantages of air frying are that you don’t need to use any oil, you can cook anything, the food is more crispy, and it’s healthier than deep frying.

– You can make food more crispy with less oil.

– It is a healthy way to cook.

– You can make food more fast and easy.

– You can save your money.

– It is easy to clean and maintain.

– It helps you to make food healthier.

– You can use it to cook different types of food.

– You can use it to make different types of chips and waffles.

– You can save time for doing other chores.

– It is very portable.

– It does not take up too much space.

– You can do it in the kitchen with ease.

– It can be used as a tool for baking.

– You can cook and keep food hot.

– It can heat up the food at a very low temperature. 16

Air Fryer Cons

Cons of an air fryer are long list but some of the important one are;

– Not suitable for all food such as breads, cakes, and desserts.

– Can not be used to deep fry food.

– Can not use high temperatures such as 400 degrees Fahrenheit and above.

– Need to keep the oil at a proper level.

– The food will become soggy if it’s used often.

– The food may stick to the surface of the basket.

– Not suitable for use on an outdoor grill.

– The oil can go bad.

– The food may be burnt.

– Some foods need a certain temperature for cooking.

– The food is not crispy like when fried in a pan.

Differences and similarities between sous vide cooking and air frying

Sous Vide and Air Fry are similar in that they both have adjustable heat, are low-fat and can be used for a wide variety of foods.

The main difference between these two techniques is that sous vide uses a vacuum sealing system and air frying uses convection.

Both techniques are relatively new to the food industry and have been used primarily for large-scale commercial production.

Sous Vide is usually preferred over air frying because it allows you to cook foods in their own natural juices.

Air frying can cause the oils to turn rancid faster because of the high heat.

In sous vide cooking the food is sealed in a vacuum-sealed bag and then cooked in a water bath.

In air frying the food is fried in hot air. In both techniques, the food is first heated to a certain temperature, but the main difference is that air fryers are not as precise as sous vide.

Sous vide can be used to cook all kinds of foods including meats, fish, vegetables, and even desserts.

Air frying works best for frying eggs, french fries, and other foods that don’t require precise cooking like stir-fry.

Which one is best sous vide cooking or air frying?

It all depends on the item being cooked. I do not recommend air frying as it will make your food soggy and dry.

Sous vide cooking is far better for all foods. I have a set of T-fal cookers for all my sous vide needs. They are very easy to use.

I just throw them in the bath water when they are empty and turn it on to the desired temperature. I put the food in, wait until the desired time has passed, then turn off the cooker.

The food is fully cooked, so I can leave it in the cooker for another 3 to 4 hours if needed. It is great for slow-cooking items like chicken breast, turkey, pork chops, steak, and other meats.

Conclusion

Both air frying and sous vide are great techniques to use in the kitchen. However, they have very different advantages and disadvantages.

Air frying is a simple, affordable, and convenient way to get a delicious and healthy dish on the table quickly.

While it’s a great option for cooking large batches, it’s not necessarily an ideal choice for precise cooking or preparing small quantities.

Sous vide is a more precise method for cooking smaller quantities. It can be used for many different types of food and can also be done at a lower temperature than air frying. However, it’s a bit more expensive than air frying.

If you’re looking to improve your skills or want to get the most out of your new kitchen gadget, I recommend using both technologies.