Is it cheaper to use an air fryer or a microwave?
The verdict
The microwave is cheaper to run – so if you are only looking to use an appliance solely based on costs, then a microwave will help keep those energy bills as low as possible for cooking.
The verdict. If you want to base your purchase or cooking option based solely on which is cheaper to run, then the microwave wins. But it is common to have both a microwave and an air fryer in the kitchen because you can use them for different purposes.
Yes, you can. The air fryer does an amazing job of reheating food, just check out some of our examples of doing so: Reheat Bread In Air Fryer. Reheat Steak In Air Fryer.
For example, if you use a 1500W air fryer for an average of one hour per day, it will use roughly 1.5 kilowatts of electricity when you use it. Most air fryers use between 1.4 and 1.7kWh (kilowatts of energy per hour).
Microwaves, slow cookers and air fryers
Using slow cookers, microwaves and air fryers when you can, are all great options for low-maintenance, low-cost, low-carbon cooking. Microwaves: When comes to cooking quickly and cheaply, microwaves are going to be your best friend.
The downside
Air-frying also produces high temperatures at a very rapid rate, thus making it extremely easy to burn food. And charred food may be carcinogenic. In addition, Cucuzza adds, because most devices cook 1 to 3 pounds of food at a time, it can be challenging to air-fry meals for a large family.
Reheating food in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to enjoy your favorite meals again. It's also a healthier option than reheating in the microwave.
"The air fryer took 20 minutes to cook the chicken and my smart meter read a usage of 0.43 kilowatt hours of electricity." That's 8.6p. It took around an hour to cook the potato through properly in the oven. That was 1.31 kilowatt hours, or 26.25p.
It cooks food quickly as compared to the microwave oven. An air fryer makes use of less energy than microwave ovens. Compact in size, so you need to cook food in small batches. Foods cooked in the air fryer are healthier as compared to deep-fried food.
You can use tin foil in an air fryer basket, you just need to make sure the foil doesn't cover all of the holes in the basket. Those holes are what allow the heat and air to push up from the heating element into the basket and then back down again as it cooks.
Can you put aluminum foil in an air fryer microwave?
The short answer is yes. While we all know that putting foil in a microwave is a no-no (and if you don't know, the flying sparks will remind you), air fryers don't work the same way. They use hot air instead of actual microwaves to create heat, so putting foil in an air fryer doesn't cause the same alarming spark show.
Air Fryers - 5p every 10 minutes (30p per hour)
Recent research has shown that cooking in an air fryer costs about half the price of cooking in an oven.
Because of the quicker cooking time and the smaller size of an air fryer compared to your oven, it's more energy efficient. This means that it's a more environmentally-friendly cooking option and one that'll save you money in the long run. It's a good cooking appliance to use if you want to minimise electricity bills.
Topline, air fryers just make cooking a whole lot quicker without compensating on delicious results, and food in some cases is even tastier than if you were to use your conventional oven or, try to keep it a lot healthier by using a microwave, subbing out oil or resorting to just boiling veggies...
- Apples.
- Bananas.
- Beans.
- Brown rice.
- Chicken.
- Chuck roast.
- Corn tortillas.
- Eggs.
Slow cooker
'In terms of appliances, it's one of most energy-efficient ways to cook. ' Even if you have it on all day, slowly braising beef shin, it will use 'about the same amount of energy as a lightbulb, cutting your energy consumption and saving a few bob in the process,' says Seymour.
Washing machines, dishwashers and tumble dryers account for 14% of a typical energy bill, taking the top spot in our list. The power needed to heat the water that they use pushes up consumption, making them energy-hungry household appliances.
With basket air fryers, there is no window, so it's impossible to see how your food is doing. Instead, you have to rely solely on the timer. Many times I've had to open the door, let out the precious heat, and pull out the tray just to see if something is cooked through.
Perfect Cook – When you want fried eggs sunny side up the air fryer cooks them perfectly. The golden runny yolk and tender egg whites will certainly brighten your breakfast. Fast – Cooking eggs in the air fryer takes on about 5 minutes, no preheating is needed.
Air fryers are popular because they are affordable, don't use as much oil as a traditional fryer, and heat food evenly and quickly. These appliances are much healthier than deep fryers and work more rapidly than a standard convection oven.
Can you do popcorn in an air fryer?
The Instructions. Start by lining the base of the air fryer basket with tin foil, allowing around half an inch around the sides. Next, add the popcorn kernels into it, ensuring they are in a single layer. Now, place the air fryer basket into the air fryer and cook for 8-9 minutes.
Yup, you guessed it. These appliances take the practicality of microwaving and pair it with the ever-so-popular air fryer to create a two-in-one appliance that handles both jobs.
The air fryer is a small convection oven that uses hot air to circulate around food, cooking it evenly and quickly. This is the perfect way to reheat steak because it will retain its juices and flavor, and won't dry out like it would if you were to reheat it in the microwave or in the oven.
The verdict
Generally, an air fryer is cheaper to use than the oven, but this is not always the case. An oven costs 21p to use on average and a 800W air fryer costs 13.6p to use. But if you own an air fryer that is a lot more powerful, you could be using near enough the same energy as an oven.
Whether you're cooking finger foods for a party or serving up snacks for the fam; Air-Fryers are perfect for cooking frozen foods. Find cook times and temperatures quickly with this convenient easy-to-use chart. Air Frying = cooking made simple.
For those who want the most energy-saving, look for the lowest wattage. That said, the Maxi-Matic Elite Compact Air Fryer is a great choice that only pulls 700 watts. Although it only has a 0.95 liter capacity, it's the most compact, energy-efficient option on the market.
Can you put microwave meals in an air fryer? Yes, you can cook ready meals in an air fryer, including TV dinners and Lean Cuisines!
It's crazy easy to reheat leftover pizza in the air fryer to perfection in 5 minutes. This is a game changer by air frying leftover pizza and you'll never want to re-heat in the microwave again. Also, it's way faster to air fry than using a regular oven.
Bundt cakes are ideally suited to air-fryer baking. To make it into a lemon Bundt cake: I make the batter, pour it into my lightly greased half-size (3-cup) Bundt pan, and place the pan into the fryer bucket. I select the bake setting (325°F with a 2-minute preheat) and set it for 40 minutes.
Bacon is safe to cook in the air fryer, but you need to make sure that you use the proper temperature and that your air fryer is clean before you begin. The best bacon air fryer temperature is 350 degrees F. This will crisp the bacon without causing it to smoke or burn.
Can I cook a pie in an air fryer?
Pies cook perfectly well in a normal oven, but you can also try them in your air fryer. Fiona says air-fried pies will work well, but because there is no bottom heating element, you may not get a crisp brown base.
As long as you have an air fryer, frozen steak is no problem. In fact, can be delicious. You can't always fire up the grill, but air frying can be a surprisingly simple way to prepare mouthwatering fresh steak. And some experts recommend cooking steak from frozen, as thawing can produce tougher meat.
Wrap the foil around the fish to make two parcels, with a gap above the fish but shallow enough to fit in your air fryer basket. Preheat the air fryer to 180C. Add the foil parcels to the preheated air fryer and air fry for 7-10 minutes, depending on the thickness of your fillets.
A great way to use your air-fryer and save money is to cook food in it that you would typically make in an oven like chips, chicken, fish and veggies. It'll cook more quickly, saving you both time and money.
It is absolutely safe to use aluminum foil in your air fryer. In fact, it can make cooking with the air fryer easier.
Experts praise air fryers for their versatility, energy-savings and the 'endless recipes' which are possible. Chefs and recipe developers weigh have also given kudos to their cleanliness, while some have admitted that they prefer a traditional oven for a 'full result'.
Air Fryers - 5p every 10 minutes (30p per hour)
Recent research has shown that cooking in an air fryer costs about half the price of cooking in an oven.
Air fryers, meanwhile, are more energy-efficient than most ovens due to the fact that they cook food much faster. The average air fryer wattage is 1kW, so using it for ten minutes would cost around 5p - working out at 30p per hour.
Pies cook perfectly well in a normal oven, but you can also try them in your air fryer. Fiona says air-fried pies will work well, but because there is no bottom heating element, you may not get a crisp brown base.