Do Air Fryers Use a Lot of Electricity? Complete Guide 2023
Are you buying or thinking of buying the popular Air fryers for the first time? Do your traditional fryers have enough capacity to handle oil and oily components? Are you tired of curbing your diet and still using oil-heated fryers?
Electrical Air fryers are just the answer to your woes. This kitchen countertop appliance can grill, broil, roast, dehydrate, steam, bake, and perform any other function you can think of in the least possible time without compromising flavor or nutritional value.
The food cooked in an electrical air fryer using a minimum of oil is generally healthier than the food cooked in traditional oil fryers because the electrical air fryer uses no or very little oil to cook the food to perfection.
Do Air Fryers Use a Lot of Electricity?
Air Fryer Energy Consumption
Recently, there has been an online debate about the power consumption of air fryers. This article explores all the factors contributing to the air fryer’s electrical usage.
Also, there have been concerns among buyers about the health-related factors of using these air fryers for longer periods. Let’s now look in more detail at electrical air fryers’ electrical consumption and health-related factors.
1) Air Fryer Size (Capacity) and Air Fryer Energy Usage
The size or capacity of the air fryer is one of the most important things to consider when it comes to electricity use. The size is a considerable feature of any air fryer since it directly depends on the amount of food you can cook in one go.
It is directly proportional to the size of your family; the number of mouths you need to feed at dinner greatly influences your decision to purchase a smaller or larger air fryer.
Electrical air fryers use air heating technology to cook food by heating the air space inside the air fryer; hence, the larger the air space or capacity of the air fryer, the greater the electrical consumption will be.
For example, the Ninja AF 101 Air Fryer can hold 4 quarts and run on 1550 watts. In contrast, another model from the same maker, the Ninja MAX XL(AF 161), having a capacity of 5.5 quarts, requires 1750 watts of electrical power to operate. So, a 35% increase in capacity requires a 12% increase in electricity compared to the model with a smaller capacity.
The proportion of the increase in electrical consumption related to capacity is not fixed and varies from model to model and manufacturer to manufacturer. Also, there are more factors impacting the air fryer’s energy usage than its capacity, which we will discuss below.
2) Air Fryer’s Setting and Air Fryer Electricity Consumption
Speaking of consuming power, a lot depends on the air fryer’s settings. Especially with modern-day air fryers and the multifunctional options provided to the users, the air fryer consumes electricity at varied rates.
For example, the Instant Pot’s Vortex Plus Fryer has various settings for cooking food by roasting, broiling, grilling or dehydrating. Each setting requires a different temperature and cooking duration to achieve the desired result. So, the food cooked with the help of various options consumes a different amount of electricity.
Similarly, the Chefman 6 L model has multifunctional capabilities to make the food cooked, rare, medium, or well done. All are monitored through its glass window, but the settings provided in the digital panel let you vary the fryer’s electricity consumption.
Again, the lesser the heating temperature and the less duration it is operating, the lesser will be electrical consumption of the air fryer and vice versa (this too varies from model to model and with different manufacturers)
Note: Most air fryers don’t have a power/watt varying indicator or setting button. Since it is pre-programmed by the manufacturer to give you the best cooking results.
3. 3) Type & Quantity of food and Electrical Consumption
Well, this factor of air fryer electric consumption is somewhat directly related to the previous two factors. The nature of food cooked in an air fryer largely impacts its power consumption. There are two major kinds:
- Basket Air Fryers: These air fryers use drawer-type baskets (generally smaller in size and capacity) for cooking and frying your food for your favorite snack time.
- Air Fryer Oven: The air fryers provide a typical oven-type structure and functionality, which can grill and roast the food (generally larger capacity) and consume more electrical power than the former type.
Another aspect is the quantity of food cooked. You can cook a single breast of chicken in 15 minutes or two breasts in 20 minutes, as a typical air fryer may take longer to cook larger quantities of food efficiently and ensure the best taste for your meal.
But sometimes, the amount of food you cook needs to be changed. E.g., if you need to serve 3 people for dinner, you must cook them regardless of the electricity used. In the circumstances like this, it’s possible to cook more food at once by adding compartments (using air fryer racks) to minimize the average cooking time of each unit and reduce time and electricity usage.
4) Same type, same settings, same food but variable electricity consumption
Comparing two air fryers of the same kind or brand might provide similar frying capacity, settings, and cooking time; however, different models may have varied power consumption.
For example, two models rated at 1200 watts and 1300 watts, respectively, from the same manufacturer consume electricity differently (even though the type, quantity of food, and everything else are the same). However, the 1300 watts still use 100 watts extra to cook the same food.
Just because you choose the high power rating Air fryer model, giving more consideration to the additional features, advanced technology, or added functionality of the 1300-watt model, it may cost you a large amount on your electricity bill annually.
5) Price of Electricity by various Electricity Distributors or Providers
The price of the electricity you are consuming is totally out of your hands when it comes to assessing the monthly or annual electrical power bill you are paying to the concerned authorities.
So, no matter what kind or model of air fryer you choose for your home, your electric bill could differ depending on how much the electrical unit costs or how much the power company charges you.
Still, in that case, choose a model with the right amount of power wattage (energy consumption)—not too high and not too low—to get the best results while keeping your wallet light.
Quick Comparission of Air fryer electricity usage
1. Air fryer vs. a cooktop energy usage
Your normal cooktop and air fryer consumes 1500 watts per hour at medium to high heat. Despite using the same amount of energy, air fryers have become increasingly popular due to their speed, convenience, and ability to produce food with a crunchy exterior without the added calories of oil-based cooking
2. Air fryer vs. oven energy usage
While a typical oven consumes around 2.3 kWh, or 2300 watts, an air fryer typically requires just about 1500 watts. This means that an air fryer is around 35% more energy efficient than an oven, making it an ideal option for those looking to reduce their carbon footprint and save money on electricity bills.
3. Air fryer vs. deep fryer energy usage
An average deep fryer uses 18,000 kWh per hour as opposed to the 1500 watts that an air fryer uses. This represents a significant difference in energy consumption, as it translates to a 93% reduction in electricity use when compared to deep frying
4. Air fryer vs. pressure cooker energy usage
As opposed to an air fryer, which consumes 1500 watts per hour, a pressure cooker only needs 1,000.. While the air fryer may seem to be more efficient on the surface, it is important to consider that the pressure cooker will cook food significantly faster than an air fryer
FAQs
Q.1 How much does it cost to run an electrical air fryer?
The debate over air fryer electricity usage revolves around the question, which refers to the dollars added to your electricity bill after you have started using the electric air fryer.
There is a simple formula through which you can easily calculate the all-important question, i.e., how much does it cost you to run an Electric Air Fryer on average i.e.
kWh (per hour) x unit cost = cost of electricity per hour
Here; kWh = rating of the Air fryer (for e.g. 1500 watt fryer is 1.5 kWh per hour
Unit Cost = Across the US, the average unit cost is $ 0.15 per unit
Practically, If a 1500 watt Air fryer operates for 30 minutes per day, then the average cost per day will be:
(1.5) kW x (0.5) hours x $ 0.15 /unit = $ 0.1125/day or $ 3.375 per month
Similarly, an Air fryer rated as high as 2400 watts, operating 1 hour per day, will have the following average operating cost :
(2.4) kW x (1) hours x $ 0.15 /unit = $ 0.36/day or $ 10.8 per month
Q.2 Is operating an Electrical Air fryer cheaper than operating an Electrical oven?
Electrical air fryers work on the principle of heating the circulation air inside the frying basket and maintaining a certain temperature to cook the food uniformly. On the other hand, an electric oven heats up to a certain temperature and stays at that temperature with the help of a thermostat.
In a way, the electric oven consumes less electrical energy as it does not require to be heated constantly once the desired temperature is reached. On the other hand, an air fryer only needs a much shorter amount of time to cook food, even though it needs a steady supply of electricity while cooking. Hence, all in all, an air fryer uses a lesser amount of electrical power than an electric oven.
Also, unlike an electric oven, you don’t have to preheat an air fryer before putting food in the fryer basket to cook it. And also, the air fryers are rated at almost half of the power rating as compared to the typical electrical oven (i.e., 1500 watt air fryer cooks an equivalent amount of food as 3000 watts of the electric oven).
Q.3 Does an Air fryer cause Cancer or other deadly/harmful diseases?
An Air fryer does not cause cancer; it helps prevent the cancerous elements because there is no involvement in heating the oil as with traditional deep fryers. Also, there is no way to reheat the oil, which can cause cancer and other diseases when cooking or frying food.
Certain foods, such as fries, can cause harmful diseases, but they can be avoided by cooking them differently.
Q.4 What are the major benefits of modern Electrical Air Fryers?
Modern-day air fryers are known to have multiple benefits to fulfill your culinary needs in every way possible, but the following benefits are most significant when it comes to the utility of these air fryers:
- Cooking Faster: Frying your favorite meals faster and regular methods of frying.
- Taste: Retain the best taste and not compromise on the health concern.
- Cleanliness: Accessories can be easily cleaned as most parts are detachable.
- Conserve Electricity: Air Fryers are known to have optimal electric consumption.
- Versatility: Prepare a wide variety of meals.
- Control Heat Emission: Emit less heat in surroundings and focus more on heating the circulation air.
Q.5 How many amps does an air fryer use?
A 1,700-watt air fryer will require 15 amps while operating. Smaller fryers need 9 amps. It depends on the air fryer’s size and power needs. Generally, the higher the wattage of your air fryer, the more amps it will use
Q.6 How much wattage does an air fryer use?
Air fryer wattage varies by size. Small, compact units need 800 watts; bigger family units use 2100 watts. A 3-cup air fryer averages 1500 watts.
The Conclusion:
This article details how to answer the important question, “Do Air Fryers Use a Lot of Electricity?” And it is likely a myth that says that the electrical consumption will be higher in an air fryer than in a deep oil fryer. It is just the opposite.
Keeping all the above necessary factors (related to electrical consumption) in check, you are destined to buy the ideal air fryer for your daily needs, which consumes the least amount of electric power to give you the best results.
Also, there is no chance that you may catch cancer or other potentially harmful diseases, cooking your food with an electrical air fryer daily, except for some foods (like fries), which may be cancerous if consumed regularly. Such foods may cause health issues irrespective of the home appliance through which you are cooking them.