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An air fryer consume less electricity compared to ovens. Most air fryers require between 800 and 1800 watts to run.
People often try to limit the use of kitchen appliances that consume high electrcity and cost them too much money. But should people worry about energy consumption while using air fryers? Do air fryers cost that much to make a dent in your wallet?
Today, we will look at these concerns so you can cook in peace without troubling thoughts bothering you. You must check my picks for the best energy efficient air fryers.
How Much Electricity Does An Air Fryer Use? [2023]
Typically, a family-size air fryer consumes 1,000 to 1,700 watts per hour, which converts to 1.0 to 1.7 kWh. Your actual electricity cost to run an air fryer depends on two factors:
- Your local utility rate per kWh of electricity.
- How long have you used the air fryer, the more you use it, the higher the operating cost.
Even if you use an air fryer for extended hours, its electricity consumption is much less compared to full-sized ovens.
Factors Impacting Air Fryer Electricity Consumption
We will discuss some key factors that impact an air fryer’s electricity consumption. At the end of this article, you will have enough knowledge to decide whether buying an air fryer is right for you.
Size of the Air Fryer
The size of the air fryer is one of the primary variables that estimate the electricity requirement of an air fryer. A larger air fryer suits big families or those who want to avoid batch cooking. An air fryer for a large family means a bigger basket and more cooking capacity, leading to more power consumption for heating and cooking food.
For instance, Ninja AF101, with a capacity of 4 quarts, operates at 1550 watts, while Ninja AF161, with 5.5 quarts, requires 1750 watts of power for its operations. As the capacity of a unit increases, so do its electricity requirements.
Air Fryer Functionality and Settings
Unlike in the past, today, air fryers come with smart features such as:
- Wi-Fi integration
- Shake reminder
- Multiple cook settings (toast, broil, dehydrate)
- Large displays that always shine bright
Their intuitive user interfaces allow you to make quick settings based on the food you are cooking. However, these value-added features in the air fryer also increase the unit’s power requirements. If the display on the air fryer is always ON and the interior light does not turn off until the food is cooked, the appliance will use more electricity.
Similarly, suppose there is more than one cooking option, such as in the Instant Pot’s Vortex Plus air fryer, which can air fry, bake, toast, roast, etc. In that case, each of these settings requires a different amount of electricity. Hence, buying a multi-functional air fryer might cost you more than a basic air frying unit.
Type of Food Cooked In The Air Fryer
Food cooked in the air fryer can impact electricity consumption in three ways.
- The amount of food
- The cooking duration
- The type of food cooked in the air fryer
All of these aspects are interlinked with each other…
Cooking two pounds of fries will take less time than cooking three pounds of fries (keep in mind the impact of unit size as mentioned above). Cooking one chicken breast in an air fryer may take fifteen minutes. In comparison, the cooking time may increase to twenty minutes when you cook two chicken breasts.
The food you cook in the air fryer also impacts the duration and energy usage. Cooking a basket full of chicken breasts takes more time and has a higher electricity usage than air frying a similar quantity of frozen fries. It is because the cooking time of a chicken breast is generally more than frozen fries.
Air Fryer Brand or Model
So far, we have established that the amount of electricity an air fryer uses depends on the size, functionality, cooking duration, amount and type of food cooked in the unit.
But often, air fryers with the same size, cooking settings, etc., have different power requirements. Kitcook and Ultrean air fryers have the same capacity, but their power requirements differ.
The former requires 1300 watts of power, while the latter operates at 1500 watts. So, power consumption also comes down to the manufacturer and the brand of the air fryer.
Do Air Fryers Use A Lot Of Electricity?
No, an air fryer does not require a lot of electricity. Heat gets circulated at high speed with the help of a fan, and food is cooked evenly within minutes. And since the cooking time is less than an oven or other conventional methods, using an air fryer is very cost-effective.
As per our research, a 4-quart air fryer costs about 25 to 30 cents per hour to run in Texas, United States. This cost is 50% less than an electric oven and 30% less than a gas oven.
An air fryer’s electricity expenses are lower than your other gigantic kitchen appliances. Irrespective of how high or low voltage power requires, this value doesn’t reflect much on the overall electrical cost of an air fryer.
Energy-Efficient Ways to Cook Food in an Air Fryer
We already know that food quantity and cooking duration impact an air fryer’s electricity consumption. However, there are energy-efficient ways to cook in an air fryer too.
- When cooking for more people, stacking the food using air fryer racks or basket splitters for cooking more than two ingredients is more energy-efficient than cooking in batches and running the air fryer twice.
- Buy an energy-efficient Low wattage air fryer.
- Understand your size requirements and buy accordingly.
- Consider buying a dual chamber unit if you don’t cook bulk frequently. An example is the Ninja Foodi air fryer.
- Switch off your air fryer when not in use. Keeping it on standby mode for a long time will impact your electricity bill.
- Keep the air fryer clean and remove the buildup and grease from the holes after every use, as a dirty air fryer takes longer to heat up and consumes more electricity.
Calculating The Cost Of Using An Air Fryer
Using the air fryer power consumption calculator, you can easily calculate the cost of using an air fryer. For this, follow the below-mentioned steps:
- Divide the power rating of your air fryer by 1000
- Multiply the answer by per unit cost of electricity in your area and the average electric rate per kWh
If your air fryer is rated at 1750 watts, and the electricity rate is 15 cents per Kw, your cost of operating an air fryer would be:
(1750 watts/1000) * 1 hour* 15 cents/kWh = 26.25 cents per hour of operation
To find out the monthly cost, multiply the cost per hour of operation by the number of hours you use your air fryer daily. Latter, multiply the answer by 30 (for a month). For instance:
26.25 cents per hour of operation*2*30=USD 15.75 per month
To sum up, the cost of running an air fryer depends on:
- Air fryer electricity requirement
- Hours of daily use
- Electricity rates in your city
ALSO LEARN:
Power Consumption Comparison Chart Of Kitchen Appliances
Please note that the power consumption values provided are approximate and can vary depending on the specific model, size, and usage.
| Appliance | Power Consumption Range (Watts) |
|---|---|
| Air Fryer | 1200-1800 |
| Electric Oven | 1800-5000 |
| Microwave Oven | 700-1500 |
| Electric Stove | 1200-3000 |
| Refrigerator | 100-800 |
| Dishwasher | 1200-2400 |
| Coffee Maker | 800-1500 |
| Blender | 300-1000 |
| Toaster | 800-1800 |
| Electric Kettle | 1200-1500 |
Air Fryer Electricity Usage Vs Oven
| Gas oven | Electric oven | Air fryer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost/Hour of Cooking | 35-40 cents | 50-55 cents | 25-30 cents |
If you compare the electricity usage of an Air fryer vs oven, you will find that an air fryer uses less electricity. Not only because it has less power requirement— on average, an air fryer runs on 1500 Watts, whereas an average microwave oven at home runs on 2300 watts—food also gets cooked faster in an air fryer.
So, on average, you will operate your air fryer for cooking food for shorter periods. However, an oven might be more economical if you frequently cook a large quantity of food.
FAQs
Does the Ninja Foodi use a lot of electricity?
Ninja Foodi air fryers vary in size, functionality, and wattage requirements. Therefore, their electricity consumption also varies. A large air fryer for a family of 5 with more functions and settings will use more electricity than a smaller unit. However, compared to other cooking appliances, it is quite an energy-efficient kitchen appliance.
Is it cheaper to use an air fryer or oven?
Yes, it is! An average in-home oven consumes more electricity than an air fryer because of its higher wattage requirement. Air fryers are much smaller, heat quickly, and cook faster than an oven. Therefore, air fryers are more energy efficient and much cheaper.
Wrapping Up!
So, is buying an Air fryer worth it? When it comes to electricity usage, an air fryer is worth buying. They are compact, which helps keep the heat confined. The compacted shape also heats the unit quickly and helps reduce the cooking time. Air fryers also have lower wattage requirements; hence, they are more power efficient. You can cut the Cost of running an air fryer by buying the air fryer according to your family and cooking needs. Also, by using the air fryer in the right way!