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Energy costs are skyrocketing these days, making using electrical appliances for house chores very difficult. The kitchen is one of those places in the house where different types of machines are often used simultaneously.
Using your appliances less frequently is an option to reduce energy bills, another way is to opt for more energy-efficient appliances. An air fryer is one of those appliances advertised as more power-saving.
Are air fryers energy efficient beyond what their adverts say? We are about to explore this in detail. You must check our picks for the best energy efficient air fryers.
Are Air Fryers Energy Efficient?
Yes, air fryers are energy efficient, according to the recent estimates of Utilita— a UK-based electricity and gas supplier. Air fryers don’t consume much electricity because most have power ratings between 1000 and 1800 watts. However, their effect on your energy bill can be seen more prominently when compared with big ovens (gas or electric) in the house.
What Does It Mean To Be Energy Efficient?
According to experts at Energy Star, energy efficiency means a certain appliance requires less electricity to run and perform the same function compared to a less power-efficient unit. The goal of an energy-efficient device is to provide you with the maximum output using the least amount of energy.
In some cases, wastage and inefficiencies can cause household appliances to draw more electricity than they need to operate. In such a situation, these appliances cannot be considered highly efficient; hence they increase your energy cost. The crux of the matter is that energy-efficient appliances are brought home to reduce electricity costs.
How To Check The Energy Efficiency Of An Air Fryer
You can check the energy efficiency by doing simple math involving a few steps. Start with checking your appliance’s wattage; let’s say it is 1400W. Multiply the wattage by the number of hours it is used per day.
Finally, divide the answer by 1000. This is how you will get the per-day kWh of your air fryer. Now multiply the kWh by the rate you get the electricity from your supplier.
You can use the method above-mentioned to calculate the energy efficiency of different air fryers and compare them when buying them. The unit consuming the least amount of electricity, keeping the capacity constant, is the most energy efficient.
Air Fryer Vs Electric Oven Vs Gas Electricity Usage And Cost
The electricity usage and cost comparison among an air fryer, electric oven, and gas oven may not be as simple as it might look.
Several factors can influence the costs, such as the electricity costs in your area, the unit’s power rating, the appliance’s size, etc. For this reason, we have used averages and estimates to make the comparison practical and acceptable.
Calculating Air Fryer Cost
Air fryers are not expensive to run and their power ratings can vary depending on the size. Typically a smaller air fryer consumes less energy than a large air fryer. For instance, a standard 4 quart air fryer consumes about 1500 watts of power,
The average electricity cost in the US is about 23 cents per kWh in 2023. Whereas in the UK, the average per kWh cost of electricity is 34p per kWh.
Using the method of calculating the cost of electricity usage mentioned earlier in the article, here is what we get:
The cost of running an air fryer for one hour in the US:
1500 watts*1/1000 = 1.5kWh
1.5kWh*23 cents = 34 cents
The cost of running an air fryer for one hour in the UK:
1500 watts*1/1000 = 1.5kWh
1.5kWh* 34p = 51 pence
Considering this calculation, if you use your air fryer for one hour daily for a whole year, your energy cost of running the air fryer would be $124 in the US and around £186 in the UK.
Electrical Oven Cost
Most electric ovens need around 3000 watts of power for their operations, which is as much as half the average power rating of an air fryer. Based on this fact, we can say that an oven uses double the electricity an air fryer consumes.
The exact wattage of your oven can be found on the appliance tag of your oven or instruction booklet. Using the same calculation as mentioned above.
The cost of running an electric oven for one hour in the US:
3000 watts*1/1000 = 3kWh
3kWh*23 cents = 69 cents
The cost of running an electric oven for one hour in the UK:
3000 watts*1/1000 = 3kWh
3kWh*34p = 102 pence
If you use your oven for one hour daily for a year, you will have to pay roughly £379 in the UK and $250 in the US. These costs are approximately double that of using an air fryer for the same duration.
Gas Oven Cost
Calculating the cost of running a gas oven differs from that of an air fryer and an oven. To calculate the cost of using a gas oven, you need the energy ratings of your gas oven in Btu and the per therm cost of natural gas in your area.
Below is a step-by-step process for calculating the cost. The natural gas’s average price in the US is $2.3 per therm as of July 2023. Whereas, in the UK, it is 134.54 pence per therm.
The cost of running a gas oven for one hour in the US:
18,000-Btu/100,000=0.18
$2.3*0.18=$0.41 or 41 Cents
The cost of running a gas oven for one hour in the UK:
18,000-Btu/100,000=0.18
134.54p*0.18=24.2 p
If you use your gas oven for one hour every day for a year, you will have to pay $149 in the US and £88 in the UK.
| Country | Gas oven | Electric Oven | Air fryer | |||
| US | 41 cents | 69 cents | 34 cents | |||
| UK | 24.2 p | 102 pence | 51 pence | |||
| Yearly | $149 | £88 | $250 | £379 | $124 | £186 |
From the above comparison, we can see that overall, using an air fryer is much more cost-effective than an electric and a gas oven. The only exception is using gas ovens in the UK at the current gas prices. However, since you have to run your gas oven for much longer than an air fryer, eventually, using it becomes more expensive.
Factors Contributing To Reduced Cost Of Using Air Fryers
Many factors make using an air fryer more energy-efficient than an oven. We have listed some of them below.
An Air Fryer Cooks Faster
Air fryers have a small cooking space; therefore, they heat up pretty fast. The average cooking time of an air fryer is no more than 30 minutes.
On the contrary, a standard oven has an average capacity of 60 to 70 liters. In the case of a gas oven, it is often more than 100 liters. Therefore, its cooking time is at least 30 or more minutes more than an air fryer. As a result, an oven runs much longer to cook the same thing an air fryer does much more quickly, leading to higher energy consumption and costs.
A simple rule to remember when calculating the energy costs of an appliance is that the bigger the capacity of an appliance, the higher its energy consumption.
Here is a quick overview of the cooking time of an air fryer vs. an oven when making various dishes:
| Food type | temperature | Air fryer | Oven (including preheating) |
| Chicken wings | 375F | 20-25 | 40 |
| Bacon | 400°F | 5-10 | 20 |
| Chicken breast | 375 F | 23 | 30 |
| French fries (from scratch) | 400 F | 10-20 | 40-45 |
| French fries (frozen) | 400 F | 6-8 | 18-20 |
| Brussels sprouts | 350 F | 15-18 | 40 |
Source: Taste of Home for air fryer recipes and Food Network for oven recipes
Air Fryers Don’t Need Preheating
Not all air fryers need preheating time. Most air fryers start cooking when you plug them into an electric socket, making them more energy efficient. If an air fryer requires preheating, an average 2 or 3 quart air fryer only needs 2-3 minutes to preheat and start cooking.
In the case of electric or gas ovens, preheating is a must. An average oven takes around 15-20 minutes to preheat. In this way, if you use your oven for 300 hours to cook food throughout the year, you can do the same job in less than 150 hours by using an air fryer.
Air Fryers Don’t Leak Heat
Another factor that makes air fryers a more energy-saving appliance is that they don’t leak heat through their body. They don’t get as hot from the outside as an oven does. Hence, heat remains concentrated within the cooking chamber, contributing to faster cooking and less energy consumption.
When Using An Air Fryer Not Energy-Efficient
Though air fryers are a great option, they cannot be considered a complete replacement for an oven. There are many foods you might not want to make in an air fryer. For instance, when roasting a large Turkey on Thanksgiving or making a big lasagna, an air fryer might not be a suitable option.
Furthermore, if an air fryer is compact and requires batch cooking, it may consume more electricity than a standard oven through repeated use. So decide while considering these things and looking at your cooking needs.
List of 3 Low-Wattage Air Fryers in the UK and the USA
3 Most Power-Efficient Air Fryers in the UK
- Ninja Air Fryer AF100UK (1,550 Watts)
- Tefal ActiFry Air Fryer (1400 watt)
- Tower T17023 Air Fryer (1000 watt)
3 Most Power-Efficient Air Fryers in the US
- Ninja AF101 Air Fryer (1550 watts)
- Ultrean Air Fryer, 4.2 Quart air fryer (1500 watt)
- Magic Bullet MBA50100 Air Fryer (1300 watt)
Are Air Fryers Worth It In The UK?
Yes, buying an air fryer in the UK is a good decision. They are a great way to cut electricity costs and calorie intake.
While you can spend hundreds of dollars on an air fryer, you can also get a more economical unit, which might cost you even less than $100. If you use your air fryer every day instead of your oven, you can break even within a few months of its purchase.
Besides being economical, using an air fryer is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint by preferring it over your gas cooker. You are not using any gas, and since the cooking time of an air fryer is significantly short, your energy consumption is quite low too.
Wrapping Up!
An air fryer is more energy efficient as they cook in less time without requiring preheating. They might not be perfect for a big Sunday roast or a Thanksgiving turkey dinner, but they are ideal for routine use. Even if your air fryer’s wattage is around 2000 watts, remember, it will still be most economical to run it for everyday use compared to other cooking appliances.
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