Air fryer or oven

Every appliance in the kitchen adds something to the electricity bill.

Some air fryers can roast and grill as well as crisp food. You can compare what each costs to run in your own kitchen with three numbers.

What decides the running cost

National Energy Action, the national charity that helps people with their energy bills, explains the cost of any appliance in three parts. They are the power it draws, the price of each unit of electricity, and how long it runs.

The power rating is in watts, and a kilowatt is 1,000 watts. A 1 kilowatt appliance running for one hour uses one kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity. Suppliers charge you by the kWh.

To find the cost per hour, multiply the wattage by your unit rate in pence and divide by 1,000. Divide that by 60 for the cost per minute.

Typical wattages

The charity's leaflet gives typical ratings. An electric oven is about 2,000 to 2,400 watts. An air fryer is about 1,400 to 1,800 watts.

An oven has a thermostat, so it uses different amounts of power as it cooks. The charity calls its numbers a rough guide. Makes, models and the age of an appliance all change the answer.

To compare your own, time a normal meal in each and use the method above with each appliance's wattage.

Finding your unit rate

Your electricity unit rate is on your energy bill, and your supplier must tell you it if you ask. People on prepayment meters can ask their supplier too.

Ofgem, the energy regulator, sets the price cap for standard variable tariffs. It caps the unit rate and the daily standing charge, and it changes every three months. People on a fixed tariff pay the rate they agreed for that period.

Cooking food safely

The Food Standards Agency asks people to follow the cooking times and temperatures on the recipe or the pack. Food should be steaming hot all the way through.

For chicken, cut into the thickest part. There should be no pink meat, and the juices should run clear. A clean food thermometer gives a firmer answer. The middle of the food should reach 70°C for 2 minutes.

For chips and roast potatoes, the agency suggests aiming for a golden yellow colour or lighter. Longer cooking at higher temperatures forms more acrylamide. The agency recommends that we all eat less of it, as a precaution.

Using an air fryer safely

Electrical Safety First, the electrical safety charity, suggests buying from a reputable retailer rather than a third-party seller online. The air fryer should have a standard UK 3-pin plug and fuse.

Register it with the maker, so they can contact you about a recall.
Keep within the maximum fill level.
Keep the cable away from hot surfaces and worktop edges.
Stay nearby while it cooks, and unplug it when you finish.
Let it cool for at least 30 minutes before you clean it.

The charity advises against paper in an air fryer unless the maker's instructions allow it. Loose paper can touch the heating element and catch fire. If you notice an unusual smell or noise, switch it off and contact the retailer or maker.