# Air Fried Food brands are air-frying packaged snacks instead of frying or baking. By [Mishal Omar](https://www.trendhunter.com/MishalO) | Published Oct 28, 2021 | Category: [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/pro/category/lifestyle-trends) Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/air-fried ## Key Figures - Trend score: 4.6/10 - Evidence articles: 6 ## What is the Air Fried trend? **Air Fried:** Packaged snack foods are now touting that they were cooked by air-frying instead of standard frying or baking. This shift comes as more consumers are choosing to use air fryers at home in order to be more healthy without compromising on flavor. ## The consumer insight behind the Air Fried trend When it comes to snacking, health-conscious consumers are increasingly aware of what ingredients and methods of cooking are most nutritious. With the average consumer's enhanced knowledge on these subjects, brands are having to be more diligent in how they produce and label their products in order to better appeal to the informed consumer. ## At a Glance - Evidence: 6 featured examples - Articles from: Feb 23, 2021 to Feb 15, 2023 - Published: Oct 28, 2021 - Patterns: [Convergence](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/convergence) - Megatrends: [Hybridization](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/hybridization) ## Audience - Gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Themes within the Air Fried trend ### Air-frying The trend of using air-frying as a cooking method is increasing in packaged snack foods as health-conscious consumers seek guilt-free and nutrient-dense options. ### Organic and plant-based Increasingly health-conscious snacking consumers gravitate towards foods made with organic and plant-based ingredients for more sustainable and environmentally-friendly products. ### Innovative packaging Better-for-you snack brands are experimenting with new packaging options to increase sustainability, reduce carbon footprint, and promote more ecoconscious initiatives. ## What the Air Fried trend means for industry ### For Food manufacturing As consumers continue to demand healthier snack options, food manufacturing companies can innovate their products either by introducing new products that are organic, plant-based, and air-fried or by revising their recipes to cater to the growing health-friendly demands of consumers. ### For Packaging industry Packaging companies can join the food and snack industry in realizing more sustainable and environmentally-conscious packaging by providing innovative packaging options that reduce carbon footprint, are eco-friendly, and can preserve quality while extending shelf life of snacks. ### For Technology innovation With the rise of the air-frying trend in the snack industry, technology companies can capitalize by innovating new kitchen appliances that can meet the growing demand for healthy cooking methods while still providing tasty and nutrient-dense options. ## Workshop question How is your brand catering to the habits of the informed consumer? ## Trend signals for Air Fried Trend score 4.6 out of 10, from popularity 71%, activity 53%, freshness 14%. - Popularity: 71% - Activity: 53% - Freshness: 14% ## Examples of the Air Fried trend 6 featured examples from Feb 23, 2021 to Feb 15, 2023. - [Frozen Air-Fried Chicken Snacks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/air-fried-chicken-bites): Tyson Air Fried Chicken Bites Have 75% Less Fat Than Alternatives (Category: Marketing) Implication: The frozen food industry can leverage healthier options using new cooking techniques (such as air frying) to offer more innovative products to consumers. - [Air-Popped Sweet Potato Chips](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pop-bitties-sweet-potato-chips): Pop Bitties Sweet Potato Chips are Light, Crispy and Gluten-Free (Category: Lifestyle) Implication: Air-popped sweet potato chips expand the snack foods industry, offering an alternative and healthier option to traditional chips. - [Better-for-You Snack Puffs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/space-balls): LesserEvil's Space Balls are Made with Less Processed Ingredients (Category: Lifestyle) Implication: The healthy snack industry has the potential to expand and evolve as consumers become more health-conscious. - [Air-Fried Kettle Chips](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/air-fried-chips): Kettle Brand Unveiled its First Air-Fried CPG Snack Product (Category: Business) Implication: The snack food industry can take advantage of the growing trend of air-fried and healthier snack options, as well as the use of unique cooking methods to create new textures and f… - [Organic Melty Puff Snacks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/real-puffing): Ddoddomom's Real Puffing Snacks are Made with Organic Brown Rice (Category: Lifestyle) Implication: Growing market for organic food due to increased consumer demand for healthy and environmentally-friendly products like Ddoddomom's Real Puffing snacks. - [Milled Rice Puff Snacks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ddoddomom-rice-puff): The Ddoddomom Rice Puffs Come in Five Different Flavors (Category: Lifestyle) Implication: Companies can use the Ddoddomom rice puffs as inspiration to create healthy snack options that cater to a variety of flavors and dietary needs. ## Recent trend clusters - [Assisted Choices](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/weight-loss-medication-support) (Lifestyle) - [Storyline Sips](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/themed-drink-menus) (Lifestyle) - [Bedtime Cocoon](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/sleep-sensory-blocking) (Lifestyle) - [Source Signatures](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/oak-finish-whiskey) (Lifestyle) ## Trending in Lifestyle - [Mystery Packaging Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cow-not-laughing) - [Multi-Benefit Protein Shakes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/comes-in-three-flavors) - [Creator-Led Learning Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/learning-series) - [Accessible Fintech Pop-Ups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chequing-account) All articles: [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle)