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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is an air fryer cheaper than using an oven?

39 replies

EezyOozy · 11/04/2022 20:19

Shamelessly posting here for traffic and as no idea where else to put this.

We have a big standard (10 year old) under counter electric oven. In light of the current, obscene, electricity charges I'm doing everything I can to save money.

One bad thing I still do is use the oven for cooking not very much. Oven chips, or just a garlic baguette. Sometimes we do need the full oven but I'm fairly sure that when just doing the kids tea I could use a countertop thing like an air fryer. I can't find any direct comparisons in terms of energy used ... does anybody know? It must save a fair bit?

Thanks 🙏

OP posts:
RagzRebooted · 11/04/2022 20:21

Yes, of course. It's a smaller space to heat and cooks quicker. We use our air fryer a lot, so the oven only gets used if lots of things need cooking.

RagzRebooted · 11/04/2022 20:25

My (huge) air fryer is 1700w, the oven is 2500w. Oven takes longer to get to temperature and the food takes longer to cook, plus more heat seems to be lost from the oven (bigger area) so definitely less efficient.
Also, the DCs love the air fryer and use it all the time for things like freezer shite and mini pizzas, toasties etc.

Titterofwit · 11/04/2022 20:27

I cant remember when I last used my main oven. The air fryer gets used for whatever i can cram into it. I can do full meals for several people by using the microwave and airfryer in tandem.
Lovely. Not so much washing up as the basket in the airfryer holds most things so no need for another tray.

Belkell · 11/04/2022 20:27

Yes, it’s noticeably cheaper. Plus it goes ping and shuts off when done. We had a phase of forgetting to turn the oven off, which prompted our airfryer purchase.

Seashor · 11/04/2022 20:28

Yes and they are brilliant

RipleysVest · 11/04/2022 20:29

I have 2 airfryers, my new ninja duo and my older tefal that I planned on binning when I bought the ninja but I just use them both now and hardly ever use my oven!

RagzRebooted · 11/04/2022 20:29

Actually may be wrong on the oven wattage, I used an online estimate, but even if they were the same, the air fryer would be cheaper as it's quicker.
I also bought a pressure cooker (Instant pot) as it means I can cook things faster so should also be more efficient. I made a tomato sauce in 30 mins that tasted like I'd been simmering it all day.

hassletassle · 11/04/2022 20:29

Great I am sold. Is it worth getting a large one like op mentioned , or just a bog standard? We are family of 4 but the kids often eat earlier, so usually I'm cooking for two at a time.

hassletassle · 11/04/2022 20:30

The kids have pizzas a lot. Can you get a normal sized oven pizza in a standard sized one ?

jesusmaryjosephandtheweedonkey · 11/04/2022 21:29

I've got the Ninja 15 in 1 health grill and air fryer.
I really recommend it

redbigbananafeet · 11/04/2022 21:30

@RagzRebooted

My (huge) air fryer is 1700w, the oven is 2500w. Oven takes longer to get to temperature and the food takes longer to cook, plus more heat seems to be lost from the oven (bigger area) so definitely less efficient. Also, the DCs love the air fryer and use it all the time for things like freezer shite and mini pizzas, toasties etc.
freezer shite - love it Grin
RagzRebooted · 11/04/2022 22:30

@hassletassle

The kids have pizzas a lot. Can you get a normal sized oven pizza in a standard sized one ?
No. I don't buy oven pizzas unless we're all having them, the DCs have to make pizza with whatever we have (pitta, muffins, bread, naans).
RagzRebooted · 11/04/2022 22:32

@hassletassle

Great I am sold. Is it worth getting a large one like op mentioned , or just a bog standard? We are family of 4 but the kids often eat earlier, so usually I'm cooking for two at a time.
Mine is a 5.5l one, I can roast a whole chicken, can cook 20 sausages or 40 nuggets or a whole bag of wedges.
MadisonAvenue · 11/04/2022 23:05

Get the largest capacity, I have an Instant Pot Vortex which is 5.7l. Anything smaller would be too small for the four adults in our house.

Like others I rarely use my oven now if what I’m cooking will fit in the air fryer. I don’t even bother to let it heat up to the correct temperature before putting the food in as it heats up so quickly, I just put the food in, sort out the setting and press start.

You can even boil eggs, without water, in them.

Yolande7 · 12/04/2022 00:48

I read an article about that somewhere. It said that it depends on the time. Ovens are much better insulated and only heat part of the time (some only 1/4 of the time), so for something that takes a while to cook, the oven is more efficient and cheaper. For things that cook quickly, the air fryer is cheaper.

Roselilly36 · 12/04/2022 05:03

I bought an airfryer two weeks ago, absolutely brilliant, oven chips cook much nicer & quicker, sausages also cook lovely. Ours is Cosori 5.5l, square in shape, doesn’t take up too must space. Brilliant, so easy to use & clean, wish I had bought one years ago. Buy the largest, in cooking capacity you have space for.

Keithlovessmash · 12/04/2022 05:59

My air fryer is one of the big ones that looks like an oven with shelves in. It’s fabulous and I can’t remember the last time I used the oven.

I can’t stand the air fryers with the pull out drawer things.

ChoiceMummy · 12/04/2022 07:12

I just looked at airfryers and was shocked that everything that came up was about the increased cancer risk.

I think I'd rather a slightly bigger bill... Even though I don't want that!

Cleanbedlinen12 · 12/04/2022 07:17

What, in creased cancer risk? Now I need to Google that.
Re oven, my gran would always fill it up so roast plus rice pud. Bread for the week plus cakes. She’d never have stuck it on for one pizza!

Patchbatch · 12/04/2022 07:20

@ChoiceMummy

I just looked at airfryers and was shocked that everything that came up was about the increased cancer risk.

I think I'd rather a slightly bigger bill... Even though I don't want that!

The conclusion was that it was some models only and some starchy foods when cooked quickly will always release the cartigen- air fryer or traditionally fried.
UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername · 12/04/2022 07:27

Mine is arriving today Grin I have a 40-odd year old electric range which I'm assuming is horribly inefficient.

hassletassle · 12/04/2022 08:44

@Keithlovessmash can I ask what kind you have? I want one with shelves , not the little drawers !

thesunwillout · 12/04/2022 09:09

Have been contemplating this too.
But I have a gas cooker, so no idea if it would be cheaper given the rise in electricity prices.

Also been looking at those halogen oven things.
One review I read said they were more versatile than the air fryers.

Has anyone got a halogen spaceship thing?

hassletassle · 12/04/2022 09:25

@Keithlovessmash That's brilliant, quite affordable to. Thank you so much.

What is a halogen spaceship?!