The verdict. Generally, an air fryer is cheaper to use than the oven, but this is not always the case.
Generally, an average air fryer is cheaper to use than an average oven. The difference is about 50% less total energy used, without even taking into account the shorter time needed to cook in an air fryer vs an oven.
The microwave is cheaper to run – so if you are only looking to use an appliance solely based on costs, then a microwave will help keep those energy bills as low as possible for cooking. Some people have both because of the different uses that they have – so you may decide to opt for the air-fryer for some uses.
An air fryer can help add air frying or convection baking capabilities to your kitchen and offers a convenient size when preparing a single batch of chicken wings, bacon, salmon, zucchini fries or other fried favorites. However, an air fryer can't replace a conventional oven when it comes to capacity.
Based on 2023 electricity prices (taken from averages in NSW) it will cost around $0.50-$0.60 to run an Air Fryer for an hour. An electric oven will cost around around $1.20-$2 to run. The running cost will depend on your electricity deal and how powerful your oven and air fryer is.
Using slow cookers, microwaves and air fryers when you can, are all great options for low-maintenance, low-cost, low-carbon cooking. Microwaves: When comes to cooking quickly and cheaply, microwaves are going to be your best friend.
Use a slow cooker for some meals instead of the oven as slow cookers are more energy efficient despite being used for longer periods of time. Batch cook meals and freeze or chill the leftovers so that they can later be reheated in the microwave.
The downside
Air-frying also produces high temperatures at a very rapid rate, thus making it extremely easy to burn food. And charred food may be carcinogenic. In addition, Cucuzza adds, because most devices cook 1 to 3 pounds of food at a time, it can be challenging to air-fry meals for a large family.
Air fryers cook quicker than convection ovens and don't require heating a large appliance, like your full-sized oven. Their perforated racks also allow fat to drip onto the drip pan so your food doesn't absorb excess oil, which minimizes calories and becomes crispier since it is more dry.
The average air fryer uses about 1,500 watts of power. That's about the same as a coffee maker or a toaster oven. So yes, air fryers do use quite a bit of electricity.
Is it cheaper to use an air fryer than a microwave? Both appliances are fairly energy efficient when compared with lots of other kitchen machines (such as energy-sucking washing machines or ovens), but as mentioned, most experts agree that microwaves tend to be cheaper to run than air fryers.
The difference is about 50% less total energy used, and that's before factoring in the shorter total time needed for most food when cooked in an air fryer versus the big oven. Here's how we got that figure and a breakdown of how much you can save using your air fryer instead of the oven.
An air fryer gives foods that crispy, fried quality that a microwave just can't replicate. An air fryer is also a healthier option and speeds up the cooking time.
Air Fryer Frozen Chips
Add the frozen chips to the air fryer basket and set off at 200C (400F) and cook for 8 to 20 minutes (depending on the size of the chips), shaking halfway through to prevent them from sticking to the basket. What is this? Pretty simple!
Research shows that air fryers are more energy efficient than using an oven and that means savings on energy bills. They are healthier than deep frying or using an oil-soaked frying pan so there are some health benefits too.
Air-fryers cook food fast at a really high temperature with a fan. A typical air-fryer (1,000W) costs just 34p per hour, which is roughly the same wattage and energy consumption as a conventional oven, but it heats up quickly and you can cook meals in a fraction of the time, making it a great-value cooking method.
Why Roast Vegetables in an Air Fryer. Air fryers cook much faster than ovens. Most recipes taking less than half the time it takes in an oven. The end results are evenly roasted vegetables that are healthy, with fewer calories.
Just as in a standard oven, it is perfectly safe to use aluminum foil in the air fryer.
Toasting bread in the air fryer is about as easy as it gets. Add the bread to the air fryer and cook at 390ºF until toasted to your liking. For me, this is around 4-5 minutes. Don't forget to flip halfway through for even toasting!
The pros at WIRED agree. According to their appliance expert, Samantha Cooper, “[air fryers] are loud … don't do anything significantly better than an oven … and they also require bumping your toaster and coffeemaker onto a storage shelf.”
The pros are that air fryers are versatile, easy-to-use, and very quick allowing you to make healthier food efficiently in your own kitchen. Despite this, these rather large devices quickly take up space on your kitchen counter or in your cupboards and can be tricky to clean.
Microwaves, slow cookers, electric pressure cookers and air fryers all consume significantly less energy than ovens, so using these instead, if possible, will save you money. “Microwaves are particularly energy efficient,” Dr Reynolds says.
Microwave. When compared with an electric oven, which is “the most energy-intensive way of cooking” small meals, “microwaves are relatively cheap cooking appliances”. Research from Utilita identifies that it costs just 8p per day to run a microwave.
Energy experts found that a slow cooker is the cheapest cooking appliance to use, only costing 5p per hour to run. Most slow cookers are also quite large, meaning that you can cook large quantities of food at one – unlike air fryers or microwaves.