AI Insight
This cross-sectional study of 384 cohabiting adults in Istanbul, Turkey found that air fryer ownership was associated with higher cooking and food preparation skills and more equal distribution of kitchen tasks between partners, but not with better adherence to a Mediterranean diet. Air fryer owners also had longer education duration and lower BMI compared to non-owners, while women scored higher than men on cooking skills and diet quality regardless of ownership status. Mediterranean diet adherence was primarily linked to older age and regular exercise rather than kitchen appliance ownership.
Why it matters
The findings suggest that air fryer adoption may be part of a broader pattern of culinary engagement and more equitable household labor distribution, rather than a simple substitute for traditional cooking methods. Understanding the relationship between kitchen technology, cooking skills, and household dynamics could inform public health strategies around food preparation and diet quality.
Understand the Science
by Zeynep Begüm Kalyoncu Atasoy, Eylem Coşkun, Sinem Çekirdekoğlu, Saimenur Durmaz, Halit Tanju Besler
Air fryers are increasingly used in home kitchens, yet their relationships with domestic culinary labour and diet quality remain unclear. This cross-sectional study included cohabiting adults in Istanbul, Türkiye, with one respondent recruited per household (N = 384; 50% women); 192 participants (50%) reported owning an air fryer. Cooking and food preparation skills were assessed using a validated 33-item scale (14-item cooking skills and 19-item food skills subscales), and Mediterranean diet adherence was assessed using MEDAS. Group comparisons and robust regression models were performed. Compared with non-owners, owners had longer education duration (median 14 vs 12 years) and lower BMI (median 25.7 vs 27.4 kg/m²) (both p < 0.001). Women scored higher than men on cooking skills, food skills, and MEDAS within both ownership strata (all p < 0.01). In robust regression models, air fryer ownership was positively associated with cooking skills (β = 4.253, p = 0.028) and food skills (β = 6.589, p = 0.004). Higher MEDAS scores were associated with older age (β = 0.049 per year, p < 0.001) and regular exercise (β = 1.873, p < 0.001), whereas male sex (β=−1.311, p < 0.001), lower perceived income, and regular smoking were associated with lower MEDAS scores (p < 0.05). Air fryer owners also more frequently reported equal sharing with a spouse for selected routine kitchen tasks, particularly table setting, meal preparation, and dishwashing. Air fryer ownership was associated with higher cooking- and food-skill scores and with more equal sharing of some kitchen tasks, but not with Mediterranean diet adherence.