Is it cheaper to run an air fryer or an oven?

Key takeaways

• Air fryers run at 800-2,000W, costing about 15p per use, adding up to £54.75 per year if used daily.

• Ovens run at 2,200-5,000W, costing around 21p per use, adding up to £76.65 per year if used daily.

• Choosing the right appliance depends on your cooking habits. Air fryers are economical for small, quick meals. Ovens are better for large batches and microwaves are the cheapest for reheating and simple dishes.

How much does it cost to run an air fryer?

A typical air fryer runs at 800-2000W, according to the Energy Saving Trust.  

That means a 600g chicken breast costs 15p under the current price cap. This adds up to £54.75 per year, if you use it once a day, or £109.50 if you’re air-frying lunch and dinner.

And because of the variety of food you can cook with an air fryer – plus the other benefits on offer, like quicker meals and less oil use – there’s every chance you really will use it that much.

However, there’s one key downside here: air fryers aren’t very big. Generally, that 15p will stretch to cook enough for one or two meals at a time. But if you’re cooking four meals or for the entire family, then you’ll need to double those costs.

How much does it cost to use an oven?

Standard electric ovens run at 2,200-5,000W, which the Energy Saving Trust estimates will cost around 21p per use.

That’s £76.65 per year if you use your oven once a day – noticeably more than an air fryer.

The reason it’s so much more expensive is because there’s a larger space to heat and because they tend to be switched on for longer.

But all that room means that it can actually be more cost-efficient to cook using the oven, because you can cook more meals at once. With a single 22p use, you could easily cook four to six meals, such as big lasagnes, pies, sheet pan meals, or a roast dinner.

So, if you want to cook a lot in one go or for the entire family, an oven may actually be better value than an air fryer.

What about a microwave?

Microwaves are a little lower powered than other types of oven, at 700-1,200W. The Energy Saving Trust estimates it costs around 4p per use (so, £14.60 per year if you use yours once a day).

So it’s remarkably cheap to run. But there are limitations – not all food can be cooked in the microwave. Chips go soggy, pizza goes floppy, and meat may not cook through. An electric oven or air fryer is best in those cases.

But for dishes where crispiness isn’t a concern – like cooking ready meals, re-heating leftover lasagne, or steaming veg – the microwave may well be the better choice in terms of energy costs.

Will an air fryer save you money?

It all depends on how you cook – but it just might.

If you’re only cooking one or two meals at a time, and making food that cooks quickly and nicely in an air fryer, then yes, an air fryer may be more economical and help you save on your energy bills. Think chicken, fish, freezer food, potatoes, pastries, and more.

But if you need to cook for a large household – or like to batch cook or meal prep for later – it may in fact be cheaper to do it all in the oven. Then, you can re-heat your extra batches later in the cheapest-to-run cooking appliance of all, the microwave.

It’s hard to compare like-for-like here, especially when you look at the full spectrum of meals you might want to prepare, and the different models of air fryer and oven you may be comparing. But overall, this is a generally good principle to follow.

More ways to save on your energy:

• Running an energy price comparison

• More tips for reducing your energy usage

• Keeping your home warm in winter