- Air fryers consume less energy over a year than both gas and electric ovens
- Most air fryers use between 800 and 1,800 watts (W)
- Air fryers aren’t great for cooking large quantities and can’t fully replace ovens
- Nearly a third (32%) of UK air fryer owners have noticed a decrease in their energy bills
Air fryers have taken the world by storm, and it seems like every household has one – if not, two.
Not only are they convenient, but you cook for less, saving you time and money on your energy bills. Therefore, why wouldn’t you use them everyday?
An oven alone now costs almost £300 a year to run, if not more if you’re cooking a roast dinner every Sunday. But an air fryer can help reduce these costs by at least cooking your roast potatoes and vegetables. Some can even cook your chicken, beef or lamb.
They are an increasingly popular solution. According to a recent survey by Expert Reviews, UK air fryer popularity is continuing to grow, with 56% of UK households now owning one – that’s an 11% increase from 2023.
But are they actually energy efficient, or are you better off sticking to your oven and stove? Read on and find out.
How energy efficient are air fryers?
Running an air fryer in the UK can cost roughly 17p per 30-minute use for a typical 1,500W model, but this varies based on the appliance’s wattage and your household’s electricity rate, according to USwitch.
Cooking time is fairly short with an air fryer, usually taking around 25 to 30 minutes. Some models off you a 10 minute cooking window on a higher temperature. Fish, for example, can take under 10 minutes, but baked potatoes can take up to 45 minutes. In general though, the short cooking time is great in terms of energy efficiency, because the less time an electrical appliance is on, the less energy it consumes.
Air fryers owe their short cooking times to their small size and super convection, which provides a large volume of hot air to the chamber. Small spaces generally take less time to heat up, and most air fryers only have a capacity of 2l to 6l.
Ovens, on the other hand, have an average capacity of 60 to 70l, which takes longer to heat and cook food. An oven’s average cooking time is usually 30 minutes longer than an air fryer’s, which means it consumes more energy, and for longer periods, leading to higher costs.
Do air fryers use a lot of electricity?
Air fryers don’t use a lot of electricity, with most requiring between 800 and 1,800 watts (W) to run, though some large models need more.
Air fryers also use less electricity than electric ovens, which typically use around 2,200W to 5,000W, and therefore cost more to run.
As a rule of thumb, the larger your appliance is, the more electricity it will use. However, some models are more energy efficient than others, so make sure you check the size and wattage of your appliance.
Are air fryers better for the environment than ovens?
Air fryers are usually better for the environment than ovens because they’re more energy efficient – and lower energy usage means lower carbon emissions.
Although a large portion of the UK’s electricity comes from renewable sources, with more than 43% coming from wind, solar, biomass, and hydropower, the majority of its energy still comes from fossil fuels, such as natural gas. So the less energy you consume, the better.
If you’re part of the minority of British households that own a gas oven, you should know that these are worse than both electric ovens and air fryers for the environment and your health, as they emit harmful air pollutants.
Are air fryers economical?
Yes, air fryers are economical – especially when compared to ovens. The average 1,500W air fryer will cost you around 17p per 30 minutes, according to USwitch.
By contrast, the average 2,200W electric oven costs around 85p per hour, and will typically need that full hour to first heat up and then cook your food. This means if you buy a £150 air fryer and use it everyday instead of your oven, you’ll break even in around half a year.
Nearly a third (32%) of UK air fryer owners have noticed a decrease in their energy bills, according to a recent Expert Reviews survey. The survey also found that over a third of UK adults purchase fewer takeaway meals due to owning an air fryer.
There are some caveats though. If you have a large family, or are batch cooking in big quantities, it might be more economical to use an oven. This is because some large air fryers – or repeated use of the same small one – can use about the same amount of energy, or more, as an oven.
What’s the most energy efficient air fryer?
The most energy efficient air fryer will be the one that uses the least amount of energy, relative to its capacity. So look for lower wattage, and keep capacity in mind.
Most small air fryers (1l to 2l in capacity) are very energy efficient, since they typically run on between 800W and 1,000W. Tower air fryers are a popular affordable option, and they have a model that runs on 800W for a 1.5l capacity.
For bigger air fryers that have nearly the same capacity of an oven, but don’t use as much electricity, Ninja air fryers can be a good option. For example, the Ninja Air Fryer MAX AF160UK only uses 1,750W and fits 5.2L.
Even if your air fryer has a wattage approaching 2,000W, remember that it will be cheaper to run than an oven in most cases, as it will cook food in a shorter amount of time.
Are air fryers worth it in the UK?
Yes, air fryers are definitely worth it in the UK, as they’re an easy, economical way to cut back on both energy usage and cooking time.
Air fryers can cost between £50 to £250, depending on the brand, model, size and wattage. But, you could break even on it in a few months to a year if you use it instead of your oven.
Plus, if you own a gas cooker, investing in an air fryer is also a great way to reduce your carbon footprint when cooking. It’s also cheaper to buy an air fryer than to replace your gas cooker with an electric one.
Want to learn more about how electricity is used in your home? Read our article on The seven household appliances that use the most electricity.
Next steps
- It’s good practice to be conscious of how much energy our everyday appliances consume, and it’s even more important when energy prices are high.
- Air fryers are both time and energy efficient. Although they might not be able to cook a full Sunday roast as well as an oven, but they are a good alternative for everyday use.
- It’s generally cheaper to run an air fryer than an oven. A 1,500 W air fryer will currently cost 17p per 30 minutes of run time, or around 51p per hour. A 2,200 W electric oven, on the other hand, will cost 85p per hour.
- Gas ovens are cheaper to run than air fryers, costing around 23p per hour (on a 10.3p per kWh rate), but because you have to run them for longer in order to cook food, it works out as more expensive over time.
- Air fryers use less electricity than many other household appliances. They typically use between 800W and 1,800W – larger models will typically have a higher wattage and so use more electricity. For comparison, a typical microwave uses 600W to 1,000W, and electric ovens can use up to 5,000W.
- Air fryers are an energy efficient and economical way to quickly cook smaller quantities of food. They are cheaper and quicker to use than an oven, but may not be the best option for large families or batch cookers because of their limited capacity.
