Energy Efficient Air Fryer Ovens
While there’s probably one household in every neighbourhood who won’t stop raving about their air fryer and how it’s revolutionized their cooking habits, for the rest of us wondering whether it’s worth investing in this new kitchen gadget that could potentially take up valuable counter space, it’s important to think about how energy efficient it is. As a general rule, ovens tend to be more energy-efficient than air fryers because they heat up faster and cook food at a higher temperature than their smaller counterparts. However, if you’re a household that cooks in batches and is looking for an alternative to oven cooking then an air fryer might be a great choice.
Unlike the traditional oven, an air fryer isn’t limited to frying; it can roast, bake, grill and even reheat frozen foods too. The way it works is by circulating hot air around the food so that it gets cooked evenly without getting overcooked. This type of cooking also helps to reduce the amount of unhealthy fat in a meal, as it can still be crispy and tasty with less oil.
As well as saving on the amount of calories a meal contains, there are additional benefits to using an air fryer oven that can make it more energy efficient than an oven. For example, if you’re frying foods then you might want to consider adding a baking sheet to the inside of the appliance so that you don’t have to use oil when cooking. The baking tray will also help to reduce clean up too.
How Energy Efficient Are Air Fryer Ovens?
Another benefit of an air fryer is that it can save you time as you can cook multiple items at the same time. This is especially useful for meals that require varying temperatures, such as a crisp potato and a tender salmon steak; by having both of these dishes in the same oven you can ensure they are ready at the same time.
It’s also worth noting that an air fryer will lose heat when you open the door so it can sometimes consume more energy than an oven. If you’re unsure what your appliance’s wattage is then you can find out by reading the manual, or using an online tool like Uswitch to compare it with other appliances in your home such as a refrigerator and a washing machine.
While an air fryer can be more energy-efficient than the oven if you’re cooking in small quantities, a large air fryer will likely be more expensive to run than a standard oven. That’s because it has to be on for longer periods of time to get up to the right temperature.
However, if you’re buying an air fryer to save money on the running costs of your regular oven then it might be worth investing in one. Just remember that you will still be paying for the initial heating and warming up of your appliance as well as the power used to cook your meals so always do your research before making a purchase.
