Advertise
International olive oil expert and judge, and member of the Scientific Society – Alexandria University.
Introduction: From family cuisine to the global economy
It started with a usual family discussion about the home budget and monthly expenses, when my wife asked to buy a device that she told me a lot about, stressing its importance in rationalizing oil consumption. Naturally, as someone who supports any savings approach, I agreed to discuss the idea. The device was the “Air Fryer” (Air Fryer). We sat down to calculate oil consumption rates before and after using this device, to realize its great importance not only for financial savings, but also for rationalizing the consumption of an important food resource.
Van der Wye introduced the first air fryer in Berlin in 2010 under the Philips brand. Since then, modern technology and scientific research have proven to be effective means of development and awareness raising, and even effective in changing lifestyles and inherited habits.
The change in cooking style is no longer just a luxury, but rather a shift from the traditional method of immersion frying (deep frying) to the use of modern technology that relies on hot air techniques.
With the global trend to reduce the use of vegetable oils in frying, air fryers are a vital step towards achieving a balance between global production of vegetable oils and increasing consumption resulting from population growth.
This step is doubly important when considering climate changes that negatively affect global oil production and cause fluctuating production rates. Therefore, this technological development is a crucial factor in bridging the gap between production and consumption.
On the health side, deep frying and reusing oil have significant risks. Due to the different “smoke point” (Smoke Point) of oils, oil may burn and form polymers when heated to high temperatures and repeated use.
This degradation leads to the formation of toxic hydrocarbons that may cause diseases, and may result in the toxic compound acrolein ($C_3H_4O$).
Due to the increase in oil prices and the decline in purchasing power in some countries, some food entrepreneurs may resort to frying several times with the same oil or mixing a new oil with an old one in order to save money, ignoring the harmful impact of these practices. Here comes the role of air fryers and their widespread use as a strong challenge to the traditional oil consumption pattern. This device has changed cooking habits in millions of homes.
On the other hand, the olive oil sector has seen a significant decline in its global consumption. It is estimated that about 210,000 tons of olive oil are not used annually, a huge figure equivalent to the total production of a country such as Portugal (the sixth largest producer in the world).
This effect increases when considering the limited position of olive oil in the global fat market. It currently accounts for only 1.3% of all animal and vegetable fats consumed globally (3.2 million tons compared to a total of 248 million tons). While per capita consumption of other fats is increasing, consumption of olive oil is declining, which maintains its market size thanks only to population growth rather than increased individual demand.
An analysis of the profile of the average olive oil consumer (average income) gives discouraging indicators. Despite its conviction that it is a healthy product, its consumption remains low. The consumer is often a middle-class man over the age of 49, with children, and tends to buy reliable brands in packaging that meets the needs of the family according to his purchasing power.
Its use is mainly limited to salad or sauce, while for the rest of its needs it depends on cheaper oils. Outside the home, the consumption of olive oil in restaurants is almost gone. This pattern highlights the difficulty of the olive oil sector communicating with young consumers (new generations) and its failure to diversify its culinary uses.
In general, olive oil is not used in deep frying due to its high price and consumer savings. However, it is necessary to reposition olive oil and enhance its value as a healthy, delicious, and sustainable product.
The best solution is to create a strategic alliance with air fryer manufacturers to promote its use within these modern techniques (such as using it for spraying or light fat) and promoting olive oil as an ideal companion for this health technology.
