空氣炸鍋是一種越來越受人歡迎的小家電。這種電器不僅能加快烹飪速度，還有多種功能，但它能取代傳統的烤箱嗎？本期節目介紹空氣炸鍋的工作原理及其能做出的美味佳肴。

詞匯：cooking 烹飪

For many time-poor, health-conscious people, the must-have kitchen gadget at the moment is an air fryer. From top chefs to humble students, many are singing the praises of the device that seems to be flying off the shelves at shops and online. One British department store reported sales increased by 400% in 2021. But are they really the best thing since sliced bread, or is the hype all just hot air?!

If you got one as a present, or bagged one in the sales, you'll already know the benefits. An air fryer avoids the need to deep-fry food in hot and often unhealthy oil. Instead, the food is cooked by having very hot air blown on it at high speed – it doesn't actually fry but bakes the food.

The technology sounds simple, and Dr Jakub Radzikowski, Culinary Education Designer at Imperial College London, told the BBC: "You could compare it to drying your hair with a hairdryer." The combination of a powerful fan and a smaller compartment makes the air fryer more efficient and reduces the time needed to pre-heat it. In addition, because the food is cooked in a basket, excess fat will drip to the bottom, so you don't have to eat it. And it's good to know air fryers use less energy than a conventional oven because of the shorter cooking times needed.

Some people may question how versatile they are and whether they can be used for cooking whole meals. But experts have prepared crispy sweet potato fries, chips, and chicken and fish, quickly and with good flavoursome results – cooked to perfection. Dr Jakub Radzikowski's favourite is chicken legs or thighs, which he says after 20 minutes gives you something that's "perfectly juicy inside" with a skin that is so crispy it "shatters like glass".

If this whets your appetite, remember that, because of the air fryer's size, there is a limit to the amount that can be cooked in them at one time. So your oven may still come in handy. But if you're on a budget or in a rush, it might be worth giving one a try and seeing what amazing meals you can serve up.

詞匯表

gadget 小器具
air fryer 空氣炸鍋
chef 廚師
singing the praises 大加贊揚
flying off the shelves 搶購一空，暢銷
the best thing since sliced bread 非常好的事物
hot air 大話
deep-fry 油炸
bake 烘烤，烘焙
fat 油，脂肪
oven 烤箱
versatile 多用途的
meal 一餐，一頓飯
crispy 酥脆的
flavoursome 美味的
cooked to perfection （飯菜）燒得恰到好處
juicy 多汁的
whet your appetite 勾起興趣
serve up 做出飯菜，盛飯，分菜

測驗與練習

1.  閱讀課文并回答問題。

1. How much did one British department store say sales of air fryers had increased by in 2021?

2. True or false? Air fryers deep-fry the food in hot air.

3. What happens to the excess fat from food cooked in an air fryer?

4. Why do air fryers use less energy?

5. What might be a limitation to cooking a whole meal in an air fryer?

2.  選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。

1. My boss says I'll get a bonus soon, but I think that's just _______.

crispy                               fat                             hot air                            versatile

2. Dan claims his new electric bike is _______.

the best thing since sliced bread                      the best thing since slicing bread

the best sliced bread                                        the best thing since bread sliced

3. This jacket is very _______ – I can wear it to a party or to the office.

flavoursome                     versatile                   crispy                             gadget

4. This steak is very tasty and _______.

cooking to perfection                                        cook to perfection             

cooked to perfect                                              cooked to perfection

5. These sausages have too much _______ in them – I won't buy them again.

deep-fry                            fat                             flavoursome                   hot air

答案

1. 閱讀課文并回答問題。 

1. How much did one British department store say sales of air fryers had increased by in 2021?
One British department store reported sales increased by 400% in 2021.

2. True or false? Air fryers deep-fry the food in hot air.
False. Air dryers avoid the need to deep-fry food and use hot air to cook instead.

3. What happens to the excess fat from food cooked in an air fryer?
Because the food in an air fryer is cooked in a basket, excess fat will drip to the bottom.

4. Why do air fryers use less energy?
Air fryers use less energy because of the shorter cooking times needed.

5. What might be a limitation to cooking a whole meal in an air fryer?
Because of their size, there is a limit to the amount that can be cooked in them at one time.

2.  選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。

1. My boss says I'll get a bonus soon, but I think that's just hot air.

2. Dan claims his new electric bike is the best thing since sliced bread.

3. This jacket is very versatile – I can wear it to a party or to the office.

4. This steak is very tasty and cooked to perfection.

5. These sausages have too much fat in them – I won't buy them again.