Home cooks urged to reconsider air fryers for cooking over ovens due to potential health risks
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Air fryers have gained popularity in recent years due to their energy efficiency and ability to produce crispy, fried-like foods without the need for oil. However, their cost-effectiveness may depend on the type and quantity of food being cooked.
Energy Consumption
When it comes to energy consumption, air fryers are generally more efficient than ovens for cooking small to moderate amounts of food. This is because air fryers heat a smaller space and cook faster, consuming less energy. For instance, in UK cost comparisons, air fryers cost less to run than full-sized ovens for similar meals, with air fryers costing around £0.21 compared to higher costs for ovens [3].
Cooking Multiple Items and Large Meals
On the other hand, ovens are designed to cook multiple dishes simultaneously, making them more practical for larger meals that require several components, such as a full roast dinner. Although ovens may consume more energy, the cost-efficiency at scale might be better due to their ability to cook multiple items at once.
Microwaves vs. Air Fryers
Microwaves excel at quick heating and cooking simple foods with very low energy use. Multimode cookers combining microwave, convection, and air fry features exist, but some air fry features in combo units can be limited [2][4]. While air fryers achieve crispy textures that microwaves usually cannot, microwaves are faster and more energy-efficient for straightforward cooking tasks.
Versatility and Convenience
Air fryers offer a healthier alternative to deep frying and can produce crispy results without oil, while microwaves provide broader everyday functionality for reheating and cooking quick meals.
Making Your Air Fryer More Cost-Effective
To make your air fryer even more cost-effective, consider the following tips:
- Use the air fryer chamber to its maximum capacity: By filling the chamber to its capacity, you can cook multiple items at once, optimizing energy consumption.
- Opt for an air fryer with various cooking programs: Choosing an air fryer with different cooking programs can help optimize cooking time and temperatures, further reducing energy consumption.
- Clean the air fryer filter frequently: Regularly cleaning the air fryer filter can improve energy efficiency by allowing hot air to circulate more effectively.
- Cook multiple items at a time: Cooking multiple items at once in the air fryer can also optimize energy consumption.
- Choose a lower-wattage air fryer for households with two people: A smaller, lower-wattage air fryer is recommended for households with two people, as a larger air fryer requires more energy to achieve the same effect.
In summary, for small to medium single-item cooking, especially items benefiting from crispness like jacket potatoes, air fryers are often more cost-effective than ovens. For larger multi-item meals like roast dinners, ovens might be more practical despite somewhat higher energy costs. Microwaves are the most energy-efficient for quick heating but have limitations in delivering crispy textures typical of air frying [3][5]. Your choice depends on meal type, quantity, texture preference, and energy cost priorities.
[1] Lewis, M. (2021). Martin Lewis questions the cost-effectiveness of air fryers. The Money Saving Expert. Retrieved from https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2021/08/martin-lewis-questions-the-cost-effectiveness-of-air-fryers/
[2] CNET (2021). Air fryers vs. ovens: Which is better? Retrieved from https://www.cnet.com/home/kitchen/air-fryers/air-fryers-vs-ovens-which-is-better/
[3] GreenMatch (2022). How to make an air fryer more cost-effective. Retrieved from https://greenmatch.co.uk/blog/how-to-make-an-air-fryer-more-cost-effective/
[4] Cook's Illustrated (2021). Air fryer vs. oven: Which cooks better? Retrieved from https://www.cooksillustrated.com/how_to/articles/air_fryer_vs_oven_which_cooks_better
[5] Which? (2021). Air fryer vs microwave: Which is better for you? Retrieved from https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/air-fryers/article/air-fryer-vs-microwave-which-is-better-for-you
- The versatility of air fryers, which offer a healthier alternative to deep frying and can produce crispy results without oil, extends to the realm of news, food-and-drink, and lifestyle, as they are gaining popularity for their energy efficiency.
- In the realm of technology, modern air fryers exhibit advancements with various cooking programs and energy-saving features, making them cost-effective by optimizing cooking time and temperatures, and improving energy efficiency, especially for small to medium-sized single-item cooking.
