This air fryer is the kitchen gadget you need for fat free fries

I don’t want to get too evangelical about a cooking appliance, but as a lover of fries who is #cleaneating for January, it’s hard not to get zealous about the air fryer.

I first discovered this magic contraption when I was scrolling through the vegan food porn on Instagram and came across perfect-looking sweet potato fries and guacamole. Oh, sweet potato, I thought. Why must you tempt me, Instagram?

If I roast sweet potato on these 28 – 35 degree days, the oven turns my already hot upstairs flat into a sauna. Plus, my small apartment then smells like potato for hours because it’s 35 degrees in here.

“Looks delicious,” I commented on the Instagram post, “but I don’t want to roast potatoes in this weather!”

The Insta-vegan chef responded blithely, “No need. That’s why I love my air fryer. Everyone needs one.”

Indeed.

A kitchen appliance that conveniently prepares sweet potato and pumpkin fries without an oven or oil? How had this bypassed my attention?

I’m someone who likes to have all the things. I’ve got a small tool that creates perfectly small balls out of melons (I’ve used this twice but just can’t throw it out in case I need to make an Instagram-perfect fruit salad at some point).

I’ve got a spiraliser, which I use at least four times a week because zoodles are 100% clean-eating, keto, paleo and vegan friendly and also pretty fun. I’ve flirted with a dehydrator but it was too much effort and I don’t have the patience to wait overnight for my food to be ready.

Apart from not heating my apartment at all during cooking, the air fryer prepares crispy, crunchy skinned fries or deliciously tender roast purple potato, or crispy tofu and chickpeas. Here’s the kicker: in half the time of an oven.

If you’re impatient and just want your dinner now when you get home, you need one of these stat.

Fortunately, in a world of over-priced, over-hyped products, you can get a budget friendly air fryer for under $70 at Kmart.

Air fryers work by circulating hot air (mine goes up to 200 degrees but some go up to 400). Anything you can deep fry, sautè, bake or grill can be prepared fat-free in your air fryer.

So, let’s be clear. That doesn’t make things calorie-free. There are recipes for donuts and chicken wings and French toast abound online but let’s be real: they’re healthier but still not healthy.

As a vegan, though, there’s so many delicious things that are fat-free and delicious when prepared using the air fryer. Sweet potato fries for a start.

I like a little blackening on the edge of my fries or wedges. I’m also partial to charred, crispy green beans and brussels sprouts. If you thought green veggies were bland, try air frying them. For real.

Live Kindly lists a whole lot of delectable, healthy vegan air fryer meals. The crispy tofu will become a weekly staple in your kitchen. If you don’t freak out over falafel, then we can’t be friends.

This recipe nails crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside flavourful traditional falafel so beloved of cafes and delis.

The How-To:

But back to the fat-free fries. Simply chop a sweet potato (or a couple, why not?) into either wedges or fine slices, or long, narrow French fry shards then toss into your air fryer and – voila! If you’re partial to onion rings with your fries, this fat-free version is my gift to you.

:: RELATED – Melbourne’s best vegan friendly lunch spots

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