Air Fryer vs Deep Frying

Short answer: deep frying in a karahi still gives the richest taste, but an air fryer comes close for most snacks with a spoon of oil instead of a litre.

Updated 14 November 2026

Taste and texture

Air fried fries, nuggets, wings and frozen samosas come out crisp and golden. Wet batter like pakora batter does not work well, because it drips through the basket before it sets. Use a thicker batter or a crumb coat instead.

Oil and health

Deep frying soaks food in oil. An air fryer needs about a spoon of oil, or none for frozen snacks, so you eat far less fat. This matters most in Ramadan, when fried food is on the table every day.

Cost of oil

Cooking oil and ghee are a big part of the monthly kitchen budget in Pakistan, and oil used for deep frying is often thrown away. With an air fryer that cost almost disappears, and the electricity for a 20 minute batch is about 25 rupees at 50 rupees a unit on a 1500 W fryer.

Safety

No pot of hot oil on the stove, no splashes and no risk of an oil fire. That makes an air fryer safer in homes with children.