Air fryers have become a kitchen staple, and it’s not hard to see why. They’re quick, convenient and, when used for smaller portions, can use less electricity than a conventional oven. With electricity costs continuing to put pressure on household budgets, even small changes to how we cook can make a difference.
But just how much electricity does an air fryer actually use compared with an oven? And does switching to an air fryer really translate into savings on your electricity bill? We compare air fryer vs oven to find out which appliance uses less electricity and when each one makes the most sense.
Air fryer vs oven: Which uses less electricity
Let’s be real: air fryers are practically smaller, more compact versions of convection ovens. Their compact design makes it easier to cook food more quickly – unlike convection ovens that need to be preheated for a good 20 or 30 minutes before cooking foods for another 20 to 60 minutes. Air fryers also operate at a lower energy uses than ovens – anywhere around 0.3kWh and 0.6kWh compared to 1.5kWh and 2.8kWh. This translates to using three to five times less electricity per meal, especially if you’re making smaller portions.
However, those factors aren’t the only ones influencing electricity usage. Electricity usage is influenced by a handful of factors, including: cooking time, appliance wattage, preheating requirements, age of the appliance, and user behaviour. So, unfortunately, we can’t just look for lower appliance energy uses and then expect to see our bills reduced at the end of the month.
While it’s true that air fryers can save you electricity per meal, their impact directly depends on the size of your household. Most air fryers are most efficient for cooking small to medium portions, frozen foods, quick proteins and veggies, and for reheating meals. They aren’t the perfect substitution for stove-top or oven cooking.
And if you’re making double or triple batches for dinner in the air fryer, then you’re most probably using the same, if not more, electricity than your stove or oven.
So it all comes down to perspective. If you have a small household, then yes, your air fryer will most likely save you a few bucks on your electricity bill, but if you’re constantly using it to make larger portions for a much larger household, then you’re likely going to spend the same at the end of the month.
The most important factor that will save you money is cooking times. If you can reduce your cooking time or switch to gas, you will see a reduced electricity bill at the end of the month. Think about incorporating these tips into your cooking routines:
- Defrost frozen food before starting the cooking process
- Avoid unnecessary preheating
- Batch cook when possible
- Minimise heat loss during cooking (i.e. avoid opening the oven door during cooking for a sneak peek)
- Choose meals that only need one to two pots or pans to cook
- Make use of pantry items to reduce the time it takes to cook from scratch (it’s nice, but it’s also nice and costly)
- Use one or two appliances to cook with (the less electricity you’re using, the better)
While technically air fryers do save you money per batch cooked, they aren’t miracle workers. And so aren’t ovens – but boy, they really are worth it when making your mom’s slow-cooked lamb for Sunday lunch.
