Air fryers are, without a doubt, the must-have kitchen gadget of 2024. Almost every kitchen these days has one. Even my husband is a huge fan, and he isn’t known for his enthusiasm for kitchen appliances! Air fryers can drastically cut down cooking times, saving you time and money.
Energy Efficient Air Fryers
Air fryers circulate hot air around the food, achieving a crispy layer without excessive oil. This not only promises healthier meals but also a reduction in energy consumption compared to traditional ovens.
A conventional oven warms a large space to cook food, which demands more energy. In contrast, air fryers are compact and require less energy to heat a smaller cooking area, leading to quicker heating times and lower electricity usage.
Running an air fryer can be cheaper over the long run compared to the electricity or gas demands of traditional ovens. In households where the oven is frequently used for small—to medium-sized meals, air fryers shine.
How Much Does An Air Fryer Cost To Run
An air fryer costs between 20p and 50p an hour to run, depending on the model and the wattage. Most air fryers are between 800 watts and 2000 watts. Single-drawer fryers use less energy than the larger two-drawer models.
Comparing Cooking Costs: Air-Fryer vs Traditional Methods
Compared to traditional cooking methods, air fryers are more cost-effective than conventional cookers and deep-fat fryers. Deep fryers, while effective for achieving that sought-after crispness, are notoriously inefficient in terms of energy use,
Traditional cookers cost 50-60p an hour to run but cook less quickly than an air fryer. On average, an air fryer cooks food 20% more quickly than conventional ovens.
Surprisingly, the cheapest cooking gadget is actually the microwave, which costs around 28p per hour to run. However, as it cooks food so quickly, it is very unlikely you will run a microwave for a whole hour. Of course, microwaves are limited in the food they can cook and won’t crisp things up in the same way as an air fryer.
Are Air Fryers Worth the Investment?
Air fryers vary in price, ranging from under £30 for a basic model to £300 for the latest cutting-edge model. The size you need will depend on the size of your family. As a guideline, small families of 1-2 people need an air fryer of 2-4 L in capacity, whereas a larger family will need up to 6 L or even more.
More expensive models tend to have more features such as digital controls, autocook features and synchronisation features for multi-drawer models. You can put different foods in each fryer basket and synchronise them to finish cooking simultaneously.
Whilst these extras are nice to have, they make little difference to the fryer’s cooking quality. It’s not essential to go for the most expensive model, and a budget air fryer works just as well for most families. Indeed, there is a lot to be said about the simplicity of a twist-dial single-basket fryer!
An air fryer’s initial cost is relatively moderate when considering its longevity and the benefits it offers, which encompass energy efficiency and healthier cooking alternatives. Its ability to slash energy consumption, coupled with reduced ongoing costs for cooking essentials, makes it a financially savvy addition to the modern kitchen.
Leave a Reply