We’re always looking for better and faster ways to prepare food. But, we don’t want to sacrifice the healthiness of the food in the process. Ergo, many people debate over whether an air fryer is better than a grill.
So, Air Fryer vs. Grill: which is better? The answer to this will largely depend on several factors that include the type of food and available space. For meats and vegetables, the grill will be the better option. But, if you want to make things crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, like fried chicken, then you’ll want to use an air fryer.
If you are still unsure of which one to get by the time you finish reading this article, then go for an air fryer-grill combo. Regardless, we’ll go through each type of cooking device so you can make the best decision for your next meal.
| Air Fryers | Grills | |
| Cooking Speed | Most food cooks in less than 30 minutes | Some items may take longer than 30 minutes to cook |
| Evenness in Cooking | Convection heat surrounds the food, cooking evenly | Manual flipping and turning of food may mean uneven cooking |
| Healthiness | Little to no fats/oils to cook food; about 70% to 80% less calories | Some oil/fat is necessary to cook |
| Versatility | Cooks a variety of foods from meat to baked goods | Limited cooking to vegetables and some meats |
| Taste ; Texture | Full of flavor without losing any taste; Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside | Full of flavor with a wonderful bit of crunchiness on the crust of the food and a charred taste |
| Space ; Storage | Convenient and compact; good for any size kitchen or space | Limited storage space and may not be practical for apartments |
| Other Features | Adjustable temperature settings, some come with timers and various preset cooking modes | Temperature gauge; more manual cooking experience |
| Ease of Cleaning | Detachable basket makes cleaning easier | Drip trays require soaking immediately after cooking |
| Heat Output | Very little heat emission | Heat will exude into the vicinity |
Air Frying
Air frying offers an alternative to using hot oil to deep-fry certain foods by convection heat, blasting hot air. This means you can make fried chicken, corn dogs, French fries, doughnuts and so much more with it. The resulting crispiness keeps meals healthy without sacrificing flavor or texture.
The Pros; Cons of Air Fryers
While you can cook things like steak and pork chops in an air fryer, you will have to either season or marinade the meat prior to cooking. Seasonings simply will not hold once the meat has finished cooking. But the use of fat will be minimal, which means the food that comes out is at its healthiest.
The temperature of an air fryer is much hotter than most other cooking methods and this translates to a quicker cooking time. Also, air fryers are compact and easy to have in smaller living spaces. They sit right on the counter and fit in cupboard spaces.
The only downside to most air fryers is that they don’t often have a large capacity. This means making smaller batches of food and it may not be practical for large families.
Air Fryers to Check Out
The following list of air fryers are some of the most popular and reliable on the market today.
- Any Ninja Air Fryer: These are perfect air fryers and Ninja offers a variety of sizes and types. Many combine several functions for cooking food that include broiling, dehydration, grilling, baking and so much more. Plus, they’re very affordable and have a model to fit any budget.
- Emeril Lagasse Power Air Fryer: This specialty air fryer that can cook anything from pizza to steak and it acts as a rotisserie. This comes very highly rated and recommended, with many users praising how wonderful this device actually is.
- Antarctic Star Air Fryer: For a basic and trustworthy air fryer, Anarctic Star’s model is ideal. It’s compact shape and size make it perfect and convenient for any kitchen. It can cook up to six quarts at one time, so small families can benefit from it as well.
The Benefits of a Grill
Grilling, on the other hand, is a classic and incomparable way to cook food. Whether gas, electric, infrared, charcoal or wood, grilling cooks very flavorful food that’s healthy. This is good for steaks, chops, naked chicken, a host of vegetables and so much more.
Indoor Grills
Electric and infrared grills are excellent for apartments that don’t allow gas, charcoal or wood grills. Even still, they can be quite pricey. But, the ones you can have indoors often have nifty bells and whistles that don’t come on traditional grills.
For instance, electric and infrared grills often have adjustable temperature controls. Also, they can achieve higher temperatures than ones you put outside. This means your food will cook quickly, accurately and have a ton of flavor.
However, because of their size and dimensions, grills are difficult to store in a logical way. This will be difficult for those who live in a small apartment. You may have limited counter space and not much in the way of kitchen cabinets. If this is your situation, a grill of any kind may be out of the question.
Grills to Check Out
The grills listed below are for indoor use and are ideal for almost any living arrangement. If you live in an apartment, make sure you clear these kinds of grills with management before you make a purchase.
- Chefman Indoor Grill: This electric and smokeless grill by Chefman is fabulous for apartment situations or large homes. The nonstick surface means you don’t need much oil and it’s dishwasher-safe, so it’s very easy to keep clean.
- Elite Gourmet EMG-980B: This grill model by Elite Gourmet is 14” around. This is ideal for singles living in small apartments or for college dorms. It cooks enough food for one person and the plate is removable for easy cleaning.
- Barton Infrared Indoor Grill: While a bit on the expensive side, this grill by Barton is topnotch for BBQ, grilling and broiling. Its nonstick surface and drip tray cooks healthy food while being easy to clean it all.
Comparing; Contrasting Air Fryers vs. Grills
Grills and air fryers are incredibly similar, it’s just that air fryers are more versatile. So, it really will come down to what kind of food you want to cook, the space you have, how fast you want your food cooked and how healthy you’re looking to make your food. Basically, the one that will be better will entirely rely on your preferences.
Considering Preferences
Therefore, if you want to cook food fast but you don’t want to use a lot of oil or fat, then go with an air fryer. Besides, air fryers can handle a wide range of foods. However, if you’re a meat-and-potatoes kind of person, using a grill will be perfect. Even if you live in a small apartment, you can get an electric or infrared grill.
In this way, the speed between either an air fryer or a grill will be scant by a few minutes. But, for the sake of argument, the air fryer will be faster and cook more even every time. Also, if you prefer crispier food, then an air fryer is better. So, if you’re a busy professional or college student, an air fryer will be your best friend.
Another plus for an air fryer above a grill is heat output. Because air fryers have inner temperature controls, there isn’t much excess heat that emits throughout your home. Grills, on the other hand, will exude quite a bit of heat into the vicinity. This may create overheating problems, especially if you live in a small apartment.
