According to Tufts University Health and Nutrition Letter, increasing the preparation of meals cooked at home can help reduce an individual’s sodium intake. Many of the new kitchen appliances on the market can aid in ease of meal preparation and also provide a nutritional boost. Web MD shares that by most measures, air frying is healthier than frying in oil, as it can cut calories by up to 80% and contain less fat. Penn State Cooperative Extension shares that meals made at home in a slow cooker eliminate the temptation to order take-out, which is often less nutritious, and more expensive. Finally, the Cleveland Clinic tells us that when using an electric pressure cooker, “this style of cooking is especially beneficial for those who lead a busy lifestyle but still wish to eat healthier in a more efficient way.” Questions on these three appliances continue to be among the top requests for information requested by clientele. Many consumers have purchased one or all these appliances and do not know how to use them

With those facts in mind, the Boone and Kenton County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agents developed and provided a 3-part Kitchen Appliance Series in the fall of 2021. The three sessions covered the topics of air fryers, slow cookers, and electric multi-cookers. 68 individuals attended at least one of these programs, with 50 returning a mail out survey sent four months after the program. As a result of these programs, participants reported:

62% are preparing healthier meals

50% are preparing more meals at home

44% reported cooking a wider variety of foods in the appliances

32% reported now understanding the benefits and disadvantages of using the slow cooker option on their multi cooker

18% changing slow cooking techniques after learning new food safety practices.

18% purchased a new appliance with information learned at the session, while several others reported not purchasing the appliance after learning more about it.

Attendees reported sharing information with 122 other individuals

One individual that since obtaining a quality air fryer, they have greatly reduced the use of their deep fryer, while one summed it up by saying, “very informative and made me more comfortable with the appliance.”