To understand how air fryers can be so efficient, we must first understand how they work. The time it takes to reach cooking temperatures is one feature that distinguishes an air fryer from other appliances.
However, Air fryers use very little electricity. They use less energy and, when compared to an oven, reduce cooking times by up to 25%, allowing an air fryer to cook for a shorter period.
To truly understand the power consumed and the cost of an appliance, you must consider both the initial cost, the cost of using the appliance, the time it’s been running or and the wattage it has been using. A purchase may appear to be a bargain at first if the product is inexpensive, but if the cost of running the product is high, it will eventually balance out.
As a result, it’s critical to consider all aspects of the purchase before diving in head first. In the case of air fryers, they are well-known and marketed as such. Labeling something as cost-effective, in my opinion, does not provide nearly enough information.
For this reason, I have done some research on air fryers’ electricity consumption and hopefully, you’ll get all the answers you’re looking for, so keep on reading:
What Is An Air Fryer?
Air fryers are a relatively new technological innovation. They were first introduced in 2005 for commercial kitchens but quickly found a consumer market.
An Air Fryer is a piece of kitchen equipment that uses hot air to cook food. It is powered by electricity and circulates hot air around the food using a convection mechanism, which aids in the cooking process.
Here is some top of the market brands that you can consider:
| Brands | Price |
| Max XL Air Fryer | $129.99 |
| Vortex Plus Clear Cook | $99.00 |
| 7-Quart Electric Air Fryer | $93.63 |
How Does An Air Fryer Work?
Kitchen appliances such as air fryers, conventional ovens, and coffee machines have become more efficient in recent years. Unlike a single electric burner that used to consume nearly five amps, today’s kitchen gadgets are much more power-efficient. The same is true for air fryers, whose power consumption is determined by wattage.
When connected to a power outlet, the Air Fryer heats the heating cord, which in turn heats the air in the cooking chamber. This heated air, when circulated inside the chamber at high speeds with the assistance of the fan(s) present, evenly cooks the food.
Does The Air Fryer Use A Lot Of Electricity?
No, the air fryer doesn’t use a lot of electricity.
You should always check on the box for wattage consumption, however, do not be alarmed by the high wattage reading. Although they accept high current, it is only for a short period. When compared to other electrical appliances, the electric cost of an air fryer is quite low.
Food cooks faster in an air fryer than in an oven or on a stovetop. One of the primary reasons is a small chamber with a powerful rotating fan that distributes the heat generated by the heating element evenly throughout the food.
What Is The Energy Consumption Of An Air Fryer?
Most air fryers that are currently available on the market (Philips, Nuwave, GoWise) use energy at an average measure of 1500 watts. This is not high at all, and even if you use your air fryer every day, you will not have to pay high electricity bills.
Don’t believe me? Keep on reading to figure out how:
How Many Amperes Does Air Fryer Consume?
When using a high-power air fryer that runs at around 1,700 watts, you can expect it to use around 15 amps of power. This figure is around 9 amps per branch for smaller fryers.
It depends on the size of the air fryer and how demanding it is in terms of power consumption.
What Is The Wattage Of An Air Fryer?
Air fryers are typically powered by 1200-1500 watts.
The wattage of the air fryer affects its performance, but because temperature and time are adjustable, there should be no discernible difference between a 1200-watt air fryer and a 1500-watt air fryer.
After spending a couple of hours researching the wattage of air fryers online, it appears that the majority of air fryers operate at 1400 watts.
A good wattage for an air fryer is around 1400 watts.
Going lower than 1400, possibly as low as 1200, isn’t necessarily a bad thing; however, the lower you go, the less power the air fryer has, and the cooking times will be longer as a result.
Are Air Fryers Ecologically Friendly?
Air fryers use little energy, so it’s ecologically friendly.
But to determine the efficiency of an air fryer, we must compare it to other appliances such as a conventional oven, deep fryer, microwave oven, and so on.
Air fryers are the most energy-efficient of all of these appliances. The average air fryer consumes 1400 watts, whereas most ovens begin at 2000 W. Furthermore, when cooking in an oven, we must preheat the oven for at least 15 minutes, whereas in an air fryer, this time is reduced to 5 minutes. Considering the other appliances used for the same purpose, we can conclude that air fryers are more energy efficient.
What Are the Potential Safety Issues With Air Fryers?
An air fryer can be dangerous if not used properly because it generates heat, which can cause fires. A few potential safety issues have been given below.
Place your air fryer on a level surface, away from other appliances and items that high temperatures can damage.
Finally, remember to turn off the appliance when it is not in use and never leave it unattended while cooking food. Other safety concerns about air fryers include- Electrical Shock. Always make sure the appliance’s surface is dry before placing anything directly on it. The greasy moisture could shock you.
How Much Does An Air Fryer Costs To Operate?
A conventional oven costs about 30 cents per hour at a rate of around 2.3 kWh, whereas an air fryer costs about half of that and uses only about 1500 watts per hour. This means that the average hourly cost of using an air fryer is around 15 cents.
This means you’d be spending less than a dollar per hour of running your air fryer. Now that’s what you call saving!
Are Air Fryers Considered Economical?
Air fryers are not only cost-effective but also convenient. The only thing you will have to pay for is the initial cost. What about the rest? You breeze right through. That is because they offer a 25% reduction in cooking time, which is excellent for our wallet.
Air fryers are convenient home appliances. They are not costly to use or maintain. Let’s look at some of their advantages in terms of cost.
Because they are small, they circulate heat more quickly. Air fryers’ small, compact sizes allow heat to circulate more quickly through them, cooking your food faster.
They are simple to clean – This is a significant feature of air fryers that contributes to their low cost of ownership. They are very simple to clean after each use.
They require little maintenance – If you’re concerned about the high cost of maintaining your air fryer, you can rest easy. For air fryers, it’s basically fried food, rest, fry food, rest, rinse, and repeat.
FAQS
How Does The Air Fryer Help In Cutting Cost?
Several answers will help you understand why your electricity bill has increased so little and how the air fryer helps in cutting the cost:
- Their use of less heat – less heat equals less energy consumption, so Air Fryers save money on energy.
- Adjustable wattage – Some air fryers now have wattages that can be adjusted to meet our specific needs.
- They use only a spoon of oil, whereas a deep fryer would use more than 20 times that amount. As a result, we can conserve more resources.
Do Air Fryer Cook Food Faster Than Convention Oven?
Air fryers cook foods much faster than traditional gas or electric stoves due to the smaller cooking chamber and super convection. Often in less than half the time, it takes to prepare a comparable recipe in a full oven.
Do Your Air Fryers Need Pre-Heat?
Preheating a full-size oven takes at least 10 minutes, usually 12 to 15 minutes. Preheating requires as much (or more) energy as cooking itself.
Given that an air fryer does the work of an oven in half the time (even faster when preheat time is factored in), 300 hours of cooking in a standard oven over a year would most likely take less than 150 hours in an air fryer.
Here is a video explaining the concept of how much electricity is being used by an air fryer:
Final Thoughts
- Air fryers are excellent energy savers that do not raise your utility bills.
- This is because, despite the high wattage requirement, they are only used for a short period. Using the above-mentioned formulas, you can calculate your electricity consumption and cost.
- Air fryers are, in my opinion, fantastic kitchen appliances that can help you significantly reduce the amount of oil you need to cook with while also, in some cases, drastically reducing your cooking time.
- Air fryers are true power savers, cramming a lot of functionality into a small space. They can assist us in reducing our electricity bills and energy costs.
- If you’re short on time but want to eat healthy, air-frying healthy meals is a great option. They are a worthwhile investment.