The Cost of Running an Air Fryer vs. a Traditional Oven: A Detailed Comparison
Air fryers are flying off the shelves because they're touted as cheaper alternatives to traditional ovens. But how much does it really cost to run an air fryer? Can it save you money, or is it just a myth? In this article, we'll compare the Morphy Richards Health Fryer, priced around £100, to a standard electric fan oven.
Why Not Use Your Regular Oven?
You might wonder why not use a perfectly good oven. To compare energy usage accurately, we had to transport a secondhand oven across town, thanks to a very confused Uber driver. This setup allows us to monitor energy usage effectively.
The Experiment: Cooking Chicken Breasts
For this test, we're cooking two chicken breasts according to the manufacturer's instructions for both appliances. Both devices need time to preheat. The air fryer's smaller chamber means it should preheat faster—in just 3 minutes compared to the oven's 10 minutes.
Cooking Process and Results
- Air Fryer: Preheated in 3 minutes, cooked the chicken in 22 minutes.
- Oven: Preheated in 10 minutes, cooked the chicken in 25 minutes, but needed an additional 5 minutes.
Energy Usage and Cost
- Air Fryer: Used about 16p less electricity overall, taking 28 minutes in total.
- Oven: Took around 40 minutes.
Taste Test
- Air Fryer: Chicken was slightly dry.
- Oven: Chicken was juicier but took longer to cook.
Additional Recipes
Fish Fingers and Chips:
- The air fryer required separate batches, making the process longer.
- The oven was more straightforward but less efficient.
- The air fryer was still cheaper by 13p.
Full Roast Dinner:
- Both appliances produced similar results in taste and texture.
- The air fryer was more time-consuming due to the need to change the basket.
Cost Savings Analysis
Will an air fryer save you money? It depends on your cooking habits. For single meals like chicken breasts, switching to an air fryer four times a week could save you about £35 annually. For larger meals, savings take longer to accrue. According to our lab, you'd need to cook 476 chickens to recoup the £100 initial cost, but you’d save 182 hours of cooking time.
Conclusion
The savings from an air fryer vary based on usage. While it can save money and time for smaller meals, the return on investment for larger meals is slower. If you're considering an air fryer to combat rising fuel costs, you might want to explore other energy-efficient appliances like slow cookers or microwaves.
Next Steps
If you decide to buy an air fryer, choose the best one for your needs. Visit which.co.uk for detailed reviews, and sign up for the Weekly Scoop newsletter for home hacks, money-saving tips, and recipes.
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