Like it or not, we’re living in the age of the air fryer. What started as your one smug work colleague raving about crispy chicken wings has turned into a full-blown kitchen revolution sweeping across households globally.
And fair play. Air fryers are fast, fuss-free, and surprisingly versatile. From chips to salmon to that leftover pizza slice, just pop it in and let the hot air do the heavy lifting.
But despite the hype, the UK's Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis has weighed in with a warning: don’t ditch your oven completely just yet.
Speaking on The Martin Lewis Podcast, he explained (via Metro) that while air fryers (and microwaves, for that matter) can save you money, it all comes down to what, and how much, you’re cooking.
Lewis started by breaking down how different appliances use energy.
A microwave provides consistent heat directly to your food. An oven, on the other hand, ramps up to a high temp and then cycles to maintain it, meaning it’s not running at full power the entire time.
Now, when it comes to cooking something big (say, a full turkey or several big potatoes) he actually says using an oven might be cheaper than microwaving each potato individually. The more you pile into a microwave, the longer it has to run. Makes sense.
But if you’re just chucking in one spud? Your trusty air fryer (or microwave) is the cheaper bet.
Lewis got a bit mathsy, but here’s the rundown:
- Most ovens run around 2,000 watts.
- A microwave might be 1,000 watts.
- If you run a 1,000W microwave for 10 minutes, that’s roughly 9c in energy costs.
Apply the same logic to your air fryer: it depends on the wattage and how long you’re cooking. Various financial websites (including Go Compare) have done the maths and found:
- Average oven use: roughly 30c per session
- 800W air fryer use: roughly 20c per session
But, and here’s the catch, some air fryers have a much higher wattage. So don’t assume it’s always cheaper.
Lewis wrapped it up with a pretty straightforward rule of thumb: if you’re cooking something small and simple, stick with the microwave or air fryer, per the Daily Mail. If it’s a Thanksgiving roast situation, your oven may still be king.
So before you fire up your beloved air fryer for everything under the sun, just ask: “Is this really the most efficient choice?”
Your energy bill might thank you later!