Air Fryers debuted in 2010 with great popularity overtime they became like many small kitchen appliances do, just something else to store.  However, when the pandemic hit and people were stuck at home with restaurant closures and limited dining options, people began cooking more and more at home.  The Air Fryer made a resurgence with people craving the fried food taste at home minus all the fat and calories.  The Boone and Kenton County FCS Agents contacted the Bracken FCS Agent to teach a class on Air Fryers both virtually and Face to Face.  With the pandemic some clientele still preferred the virtual class, so both options were offered.  Bracken County had taught this class in tri-county area many times before and it still remains a highly requested class. I partnered with Tara McCarty Mason County FCS program assistant, as we are both avid users of the Air Fryer.  By offering cooking classes it allows the participants an opportunity to learn new methods of cooking and making informed purchasing decisions.  The Air Fryer is a healthy alternative to traditional frying, by reducing the fat and calorie content.  We began each class going over the Air Fryer, why it is a better choice and how to use one.   The second half of the class was demonstrating how to cook an entire meal in the Air Fryer.  When the Air Fryer first came out, people thought it was just for frozen foods, we wanted to show people how versatile it is.  Some of the comments from the class were:

1. “I didn’t realize how many things you could cook in the air fryer”
2. “ All of it was beneficial and I will be using my fryer a lot more often”
3. “It’s a good source of eliminating unnecessary fats which make for a more healthier meal”
4. “I was on the fence about purchasing one but now I’m sold”
5. “ Learned the differences in the types of Air Fryers”
6. “ I will use mine more often because of health benefit of low fat”
7. “I am going to unbox and try my air fryer this weekend”
8. “Awesome information session!”
9. “So informative”
10. “ I will use mine more often”
11. “I will use mine more often because of the health benefit of low fat”

The post evaluation showed that as a result of the class 90% of the participants that owned an Air Fryer, stated they were going to use theirs more often and that they now feel comfortable to use it.  By using the air fryer more often, the participants will be choosing a low fat and healthier alternative cooking method.