Alright, let’s discuss small kitchen appliances. Every so often, new appliances come out claiming to change the way you cook. They might save you time or help you save money. Air fryers were very popular a while back. Now, you can find them on many kitchen counters, mainly because they’re great for quickly making crispy foods.
In all this discussion, an important question has emerged. Can this countertop appliance really compete with a built-in oven? Is it truly more cost-effective to use? Are there any compromises that need to be made? We wanted to get to the bottom of this. Can an air fryer really replace an oven for everyday cooking?
Therefore, we tested both machines! We compared the performance of air fryers and conventional ovens when cooking certain popular foods. Get ready to see where air fryers excel. At the same time, learn where ovens still have the upper hand.
1. **Air Fryer vs. Oven: Overall Energy and Cost Savings**: This is the question everyone is most concerned about. Can using an air fryer save money? Steph Kipling led a team to specifically test these issues. She stated that the answer is very clear: yes.
Research shows that using an air fryer can achieve significant energy savings. This is especially true when cooking small portions of food. Typically, an air fryer consumes only half the energy of an oven when performing the same task. For small portions, the cooking results from an air fryer are “just as delicious” as those from an oven. Therefore, you don’t have to sacrifice taste or texture to save costs. This makes you want to reach for the air fryer quickly, as there’s no need to preheat the entire oven for a snack.
However, there is one key point to consider: the quantity of food being cooked. An air fryer has significantly less space than a conventional oven. If you need to cook a large quantity of food, you will need to cook in multiple batches. In such cases, an oven may still be more cost-effective when cooking large quantities, as it can cook all the food at once.
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Features:
1. A VERSATILE AIR FRYER AND MULTI-COOKER COMBO: Elevates practically any meal, from air frying quick after-school snacks to roasting for large gatherings.
2. PERFECTLY DONE TOAST: Oven turns off automatically when the toast countown timer ends – no burnt toast! Indicator light is red while toasting, blue when timer ends and oven turns off. Place rack at indicated toast position for ideal results.
3. 25 COOKING PRE-SETS: Provide a variety of cooking methods: Ribs, Defrost, Bake, Toast, Chicken, Pizza, Pastry, Slow Cook, Roast, Reheat, and Keep Warm.
4. DUAL-SPEED FAN: Golden fried crisping at it’s finest with 360º superheated air circulation for your homemade cooking.
5. 26-QUART CAPACITY: This Extra-large 26-quart capacity countertop toaster is suitable for preparing food for 4–6 people with capacity to rotisserie a 6-lb chicken, bake a 12” pizza.
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2. **Air Fryer vs. Oven Test: Roast Chicken Results**: Now let’s take a look at the actual experimental results. We started with roast chicken, a classic dish. We cooked a chicken using both an air fryer and an oven. The comparison results are as follows: In the oven, the cooking time was 76 minutes. The electricity consumption was 1.157 kilowatt-hours. The cost was 30 pence. The result was a visually appealing chicken with golden, crispy skin. However, the meat was slightly dry.
Next, we used the air fryer. It cooked the same chicken much faster, completing the task in just 53 minutes! Energy consumption was significantly reduced to 0.54 kilowatt-hours. The cost was only 14 pence, less than half the cost of the oven. Importantly, the air fryer produced a perfect roasted chicken. The meat was described as “juicy, delicious, with a crispy golden crust.”
The cost difference may seem small at first glance. Each chicken saves only 15 pence. However, for a family, assuming one roast per week for a year, using the air fryer could save approximately £8.32 per week. However, size is a consideration. The air fryer’s basket capacity limits the chicken’s weight, so only smaller ones, around 1.3 kilograms, can be used. If planning a large roast meal with sides, the oven may still be more cost-effective.
3. **Air Fryer vs. Oven Test: Chips Results**: Next item: potato chips! This is a popular snack and side dish among the general public. We cooked two servings of frozen chips. The Air Fryer cooked them in 23 minutes. It used 0.287 kWh of electricity and cost only 8p. The oven took longer, 33 minutes. The oven took longer, taking 33 minutes, and used more energy, 0.863 kWh, at a cost of 22p. That’s a huge difference. The oven costs almost three times as much.
In terms of cooking results, both are good and bad. The air fryer produced chips that were “some fully cooked but some undercooked at the bottom”. This was despite shaking during the cooking process. The oven results were noted by some to be “a little too crispy.” As such, they were “fairly similar” as far as final results were concerned. Both had undercooked and overcooked chips.
Once again, the main drawback emphasized is the capacity of the fryer. Manufacturers of models recommend filling only half of the basket. A maximum of 500 grams of chips is allowed. This amount is enough only for two or three servings. If you want to feed several people or cook other food, the oven will provide more space. In this case, the overall price of the oven may be lower. This is because it avoids the energy consumption required for batch cooking.
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4. **Air Fryer vs. Oven Test: Jacket Potato Results**: The humble jacket potato is a true classic snack, and a potato that is soft on the inside and crispy on the outside is the basic standard. We tested both machines with humble jacket potato. It weighed about 200 grams. The air fryer produced excellent results in 48 minutes. It consumes just 0.392 kWh of electricity and costs just 10p.
An electric oven, by contrast, takes longer. It takes 68 minutes. It uses a whopping 1.084 kWh and costs 28p. Once again, the air fryer showed its efficiency, using only a third of the electricity of an electric oven. The quality of the cooking was checked. The potatoes cooked in the air fryer were “soft on the inside and tender on the outside with a crispy skin”. It received a perfect score of 5. The oven also performed well. The result was “well-cooked with a crispy skin”, which also scored 5 points.
Both devices produced the desired crispy exterior and fluffy interior. But for a potato, the air fryer does it faster and cheaper. However, size limitations remain a problem.
5. **Air Fryer vs. Oven Test: Cake Results**: For an air fryer, testing a cake may seem like a less obvious advantage. But we wanted to see how it performed. We baked a BASIC three-egg sponge cake with each of the two devices. in the oven in 56 minutes. The power consumption was 0.71 kWh and the cost was 18 pence. The cake turned out to be “slightly dense in the center, but well expanded.”
Now let’s see how the air fryer fared. It baked the cake faster, in just 33 minutes! It used less energy, only 0.223 kWh. It also costs an amazingly low 6p. Yes, 6 pence, whereas oven baking costs three times as much. The result? The air fryer made a “perfect cake, well risen and fluffy inside”. It received the highest quality score.
For this test, the air fryer again delivered impressive results. And at the lowest cost and in the shortest time. This makes the air fryer great for making delicious cakes quickly. You can avoid waiting or heating up the entire oven when a sudden craving for cake arises.
6. **Air Fryer + Microwave Baked Potato Hack: The Genius Speed Method**: Few things are as satisfying as a perfectly baked potato. Fluffy potatoes spurt inside, ready to be topped with toppings. The crust is crispy and delicious. Traditionally, it takes an hour or more to do this at home because the potatoes need to cook slowly in the oven. This method cleverly combines two cooking appliances, by using a microwave and an air fryer. While using two things sounds like a lot of work, trust us. We promise restaurant-quality baked potatoes in 10 to 12 minutes!
The microwave will quickly cook the inside of the potato first, until the potato is tender and fully cooked. This step saves you almost an hour of waiting time. Once the internal cooking is complete, the powerful air fryer takes over. It does what it does best, it fries them to an incredible crisp.
Here’s how this quick baked potato works. First, poke 10-12 air holes in the top of the potato with a fork. You can also add a little salt for extra base flavor. Then, put the potato in the microwave on high. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes, or until tender and cooked through. The time may vary depending on your microwave and the size of your potatoes, so you’ll need to watch carefully. Once microwaved, carefully cut the potatoes in half. Then toss with melted butter or olive oil. This helps the potato skins get nice and crispy.
Finally, place the potatoes in an air fryer. Air fry on high heat. They should be cooked skin side up for 2 minutes only. You will notice that the potatoes will start to get crispy when the heat comes out. Then turn the potatoes over and fry for another 2 minutes or until desired crispness.
7. **Choosing the Right Air Fryer Size is Key**: The size of the air fryer you have really matters, air fryers actually come in many sizes. But it has to be said they are always smaller than the regular ovens you see. Our tests show that an air fryer is great for cooking in small quantities. It cooks fast and costs less. However, for cooking in large quantities or for multiple people, it’s much less advantageous.
The cooking capacity of an air fryer varies from user to user, from 0.3 kg to 2.4 kg. If you are cooking for just one or two people, a smaller model may be fine. However, if you are cooking for a family or a variety of foods, you will need a larger model, i.e. you can go for a double decker air fryer.
8. **Estimating Appliance Running Costs (It’s Easier Than You Think!)**: Are you curious about how much your current appliance costs to run? Or want to guess how much a new appliance will cost before you buy it? You can easily estimate this at home by doing some simple math on the numbers. Be aware that it’s not entirely accurate. But it gives you a reliable idea of usage and cost. You only need two things to complete the calculation.
First you need to know the power rating of the appliance, which is usually measured in watts. Details can be learned by looking at the package or the manufacturer’s website. The other item is the current cost of electricity per kilowatt hour (kWh), and the information we’ve used shows an average cost of 25. 73p per kWh. Here’s a quick calculation. Take your power rating in watts and multiply it by the running time in hours. Then divide by 1,000. This gives you the energy consumption in kWh. Then multiply this kWh figure by the cost per kWh you know.
This figure of 25.73 pence will do the trick. Ta-da! You can then think about estimating the running costs. Remember, this is just an estimate, they don’t always run at maximum power current.
But it’s a good tool to use to compare the different machines you see.
I have to say that air fryers can cut down on some of the unnecessary fats and oils when cooking fried foods. It cooks the same crispy fried food and you will also notice that some of the excess fat inside the food comes out at the bottom. Although a bit flawed and there is no real way to judge it against an oven, it does open up a new way of cooking.
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