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Martin Lewis Warns: Air Fryers Aren’t Always Cheaper Than Ovens
Air fryers have exploded in popularity, hailed as the savvy cook’s energy-saving saviour amid soaring energy bills. They’re praised for using less power than traditional ovens. But money expert Martin Lewis has issued a sharp warning: swapping your oven for an air fryer or microwave might not always save you cash.
Why Air Fryers Can Cost More Than You Think
“An oven typically runs at around 2,000 watts,” Lewis explained on his podcast. “Microwaves provide consistent heat, while ovens take longer to heat up but don’t run at full power constantly.”
He highlighted how microwaving a jacket potato for 10 minutes is cheaper than roasting one in the oven for 90 minutes. However, if you cook multiple items, like a roast dinner, using an air fryer or microwave could cost more, since microwaves heat items one at a time, requiring longer cooking for batches.
His simple tip: check your appliance’s wattage, convert to kilowatts, then multiply by 34p per hour to estimate running costs.
Which? Backs Air Fryers for Small Cooking Jobs
Consumer watchdog Which? agrees air fryers are often the cheapest way to cook smaller portions. Emily Seymour, Which?’s energy editor, said: “We’ve seen a surge in interest for air fryers and small appliances lately—and our tests show they can cost less to cook certain foods than ovens.”
But she also cautioned that for large quantities, the oven still wins. “Cost savings disappear if you need to cook in batches.”
The Bottom Line: Air Fryers Save Energy — but Only Sometimes
- Air fryers use less energy than ovens for small meals
- Microwaves shine on single items, but struggle with batches
- Ovens are cheaper for cooking large quantities in one go
So, if you’re cooking solo or whipping up quick snacks, an air fryer could slash your bills. But for family roasts or batch cooking, your trusty oven is still the wallet-friendly champ.
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