Contrary to common belief, a healthy diet does not necessarily have to be bland. Healthy food can be made quite interesting, provided you use the right method and recipe.
So, if you want to pursue a healthy diet without compromising on your favorite foods or flavor, you have come to the right place. Today we will discuss the two healthy cooking methods, air frying, and sautéing, while also discussing what sets them apart and which is the best for you.
The main difference between air frying and sautéing is that food is cooked with minimal oil using hot air in an air fryer for air frying. While for sautéing, you directly cook food in oil over a stove in either a pan or a skillet.
What is the difference between Air Frying and Sautéing?
Air frying is a cooking method that uses an appliance called the “Air Fryer” which uses minimal oil. Meanwhile, Sautéing is a cooking method that uses a cooking pan.
Any pan can be used, provided it is heated up to the right temperature. In air frying, we use minimal amounts of oil, while in sautéing, oil, fat, or butter is used at high temperatures to cook the ingredients.
What is Air Frying, and how does it work?
For Air Frying, you need an Air Fryer and some oil. The oil prevents the food from burning and provides a crispy texture. Air Frying is quite healthy as you need only a few drops of oil to cook food.
The basic principle behind Air Frying is the dissipation of hot air that passes through and around the food, which evenly cooks it.
The food to be cooked is placed inside a tray through which the hot air circulates. This hot air evenly cooks the food while also providing it with a crispy exterior, much similar to deep-frying while retaining the flavors of the food.
What is a Sautéing, and how does it work?
Sautéing, on the other hand, is a cooking method that focuses mostly on the technique and does not require any special kitchen appliance like Air Fryers.
For Sautéing, you only require a frying pan or a skillet. The method of preparation here is also a bit different than Air Frying.
Instead of hot air circulating in the basket, oil or fat is added to the frying pan, which is then heated to a high temperature. The food is added to this pan, tossed, and stirred until cooked. The high heat helps to caramelize the food’s surface, creating a golden brown color and adding flavor.
Sautéing also cooks the food quickly and evenly, making it a popular cooking method for vegetables, meat, poultry, and seafood.
Air Frying vs Sauteing: Main differences
Air frying and sautéing are great techniques for cooking various healthy and delicious foods. Following are some of the key differences between the two:
| Air Frying | Sautéing |
| Cooking time | |
| Air frying typically requires a longer cooking time than sautéing, as the hot air needs to circulate the food to cook it evenly. | Sautéing can be done quickly, as the food is cooked directly in contact with the hot pan. |
| Equipment needed | |
| Air frying requires a specialized appliance called an air fryer. | No special appliances are required for sautéing. It can be done with a basic frying pan or a skillet. |
| The texture of the food | |
| Air frying is often used to create a crispy texture on the outside of food. | Sautéing can create a range of textures depending on the food being cooked. |
| Cooking method | |
| Air frying involves cooking food by circulating hot air around it. | Sautéing, on the other hand, involves cooking food in a pan quickly in a small amount of oil or fat over high heat. |
| Healthiness | |
| Air frying is often considered a healthier alternative to traditional frying, as it requires less oil and can result in lower fat content in the final dish. | Sautéing, however, uses more oil or fat. This can increase the calorie and fat content of the food being cooked. |
Final verdict on Air Frying vs Sauteing
Both air frying and sautéing are great methods for cooking healthy and delicious food. Through air frying and sautéing, you can achieve different textures and flavors in food.
Both techniques have their advantages and disadvantages, and the choice of cooking method will depend on the specific dish you’re preparing and personal preference.
However, air frying is a healthier option as we use very little oil compared to sautéing.