Lighten Up

If you've had an air fryer in your online cart since the start of the pandemic, it's time to commit. Let's just say it'll change your life.

- ELIZABETH SHAW

It happens all the time: A cooking fad or kitchen gadget rockets to it-girl status and then flames out. That is not the case with the air fryer. This miracle of a tool (which delivers crispy crunch with minimal fat) adds incredible dimension to your cooking. Even if you rolled your eyes initially, now's the time to hop on the bandwagon. Five reasons why:

1. Buy back time

Because they're more compact and efficient than your traditional oven, air fryers drastically lessen cooking duration for many recipes. Lauren Manaker, MS, RDN, LD, registered dietitian and author of Fueling Male Fertility, agrees: "I didn't realize how quickly I could cook my favorite foods. Sides and main meals that my entire family loves come to life in 10 minutes or so!"

2. Save money

Cooking in a fraction of time means you're also saving energy. Consider this: It's mid-July and you're craving cookies. You turn on the oven and then compensate by turning up the AC. Not so with an air fryer. An added bonus: Since cooking is faster than ever, you'll likely dine out less often. That's a win-win for your health and your wallet.

3. Ratchet up the nutrition

Many brands promote that air frying can decrease a recipe's total fat by up to 75 percent. This, of course, depends on what you're making but it's largely true. When you submerge or deep-fry items in gobs of oil, they retain fat and calories. Air-fried foods, on the other hand, use just a tablespoon or so of oil.

4. Eat more veggies