Households are shelving their air fryers in favour of another kitchen appliance that is cheaper to run, and just as healthy. One of the main reasons air fryers became a must-have kitchen gadget is because they require less oil than other cooking methods, and make chips and other potato foods crispy on the outside and fluffy in the middle.
They are also meant to be cheaper to run than an oven, and half the cooking time too. However, shoppers are now falling in love with another appliance that is just as healthy and cost-efficient.
Halogen ovens are by no means a new product but they are once again gaining the attention of shoppers. They cost less than some leading air fryers and consume 75% less electricity in comparison to conventional ovens, according to sustainability site Becco.
This one on Amazon has racked up over 7,500 reviews and has a pretty long name - it's called 'Daewoo Manual Air Fryer, Healthy Halogen For Baking, Roasting And Grilling, Cook Flavourful Food Without The Oil, 60 Minute Timer, All Round Viewing And Accessories Included, Family Sized, 17 Litres'. It's currently on sale, down from £39.99 to £34.98.
One reviewer said: "I’ve had this for just under a week and honestly don’t know how I got by without it. Heats faster and cooks more efficiently (and cheaply) than my oven, I’ve cooked several meals for a family of 3 including lasagnes, roast potatoes, chicken etc, everything has come out perfect except the pizza where the base was soft but I think a decent pizza tray will fix that. "
Another person explained: "There is nothing to dislike. Really easy to use. Quick, very cost effective. The glass bowl is easy to keep clean. Also makes great toast."
A third wrote: "I have had this halogen cooker for nearly a month now and I am pleased to say that it is proving to be very efficient and you can cook such a wide range of items. It is particularly useful when you only want small quantities of several items, I managed to fit beef burgers, garlic bread and oven chips in to the cleverly thought out baskets and shelves provided."
Research by Energia last year found that to save money on electricity bills, households should make use of microwaves and air fryers, the Irish Mirror reports. Their team of experts calculated exactly how much appliances use electricity-wise, and subsequently what that would look like cost-wise per hour of usage.
Oven
The average energy usage (wattage) for an oven is 1575, meaning it costs €0.58 to run per hour.
Air Fryer
The average energy usage (wattage) for an airfryer is 1500, meaning it costs €0.56 to run per hour. Therefore, using an air fryer for 30 minutes would cost €0.28.
Microwave
The average energy usage (wattage) for an airfryer is 1750, meaning it costs €0.65 to run per hour. Therefore, using a microwave for five minutes would cost €0.05.
A spokesperson said: “Using a microwave uses a lot less energy than a conventional oven. Microwaves only heat the food, not the air around it. What might take 20 minutes to reheat in the oven for 0.21c could take you 10 minutes in the microwave at a cost of 0.10c with your microwave.
“Meanwhile, using an airfryer for an hour costs 55c whereas using an oven for an hour is 57c. However, using an air fryer for 15 minutes uses over 40% less energy than 1 hour of oven use. This is because air fryers' smaller size tend to maximise airflow and heat your food even quicker than an oven.”
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FAQs
Summary. In conclusion, while air fryers offer certain benefits such as reduced calorie intake and faster cooking times, they are not without their limitations. Size constraints, limited cooking options, and concerns about crispiness are driving some people to look for alternatives.
Why are people shelving air fryers? ›
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Households are shelving their air fryers in favour of another kitchen appliance that is cheaper to run, and just as healthy.
What are people replacing air fryers with? ›
Instead of having multiple appliances crowding my countertop, the countertop oven does the work of many. It toasts bread and bagels, sure, but it also has the capability to do convection baking, air frying, dehydrating and dough proofing.
Is an air fryer cheaper to run? ›
It's a resounding yes. Not only do air fryers cook food faster, but they also use less energy per hour to run than conventional ovens. Whilst a typical 2200-watt electric oven costs about 85p per hour, a typical 1500-watt air fryer will cost about 51p.
What is the downside of an Airfryer? ›
Air fryers have a limited cooking capacity compared to traditional ovens or deep fryers, making them unsuitable for larger families or cooking larger portions.
What is the controversy with air fryers? ›
Increased air fryer recalls since 2021
But that doesn't mean air fryers pose no risk. Faulty wiring or user error can cause air fryers to overheat, burn the food inside or melt the machine itself, leading to several reported cases of kitchen fires and burns. To date, there have been no deaths reported.
Why don t chefs like air fryers? ›
The beauty of deep frying is that the food will get that instant hit of very hot (200°c) oil that seals the food, retaining the moisture of the food whilst forming a crispy crunchy outer. An air fryer, simply can't do this due to the limited amount of oil used.
What is better than an air fryer? ›
Air fryers have a smaller capacity than convection ovens; that's why they cook food faster. On the downside, they struggle with more than four portions (conversely, a convection oven can cook food for a crowd, thanks to multiple racks and generous surface area).
Is it really worth buying an air fryer? ›
Essentially, yes. Air fryers use fans to continuously circulate hot air, which cooks food evenly and quickly, and gets it wonderfully crispy.
What is the downfall of air fryers? ›
Despite their benefits, air fryers can have limited cooking capacity, take longer cook times, and struggle to achieve a truly crispy texture.
If you have a convection oven or a toaster oven with a convection oven setting, you can use it to make any air fryer recipe — even the New York Times' Wirecutter column agrees that the best air fryer is actually a toaster oven!
What is the cheapest way to cook food? ›
Using slow cookers, microwaves and air fryers when you can, are all great options for low-maintenance, low-cost, low-carbon cooking. Microwaves: When it comes to cooking quickly and cheaply, microwaves are going to be your best friend.
Which is better, an air fryer or a microwave? ›
A microwave heats and reheats food well. On the other hand, an air fryer gives foods that crispy, fried quality that a microwave just can't replicate. Plus, an air fryer can be a healthier way to cook while speeding up cooking times.
Are air fryers going out of fashion? ›
Anything that significantly reduces the litres of oil required for deep-fat frying is still an attractive prospect. Although air fryers have been around for more than a decade, Google Trends data shows interest climbed vertiginously in 2020, with little sign of slowing. Sales at John Lewis were up 400% in 2021.
Why don't people like air fryers? ›
Some say it's too good to be true, that you can't effectively “fry” something with a few tablespoons of oil and hot circulating air. Some say yeah, it works but it takes up too much countertop space for what it's worth. Some swear by it for a few things like frozen french fries and nuggets.
What is the problem with air fryer? ›
Issue: One of the most common problems with air fryers is the unit not heating up as it should, which results in undercooked or unevenly cooked food. Solution: Ensure that the air fryer is placed on a flat, stable surface. Also, make sure the basket is securely inserted and that the food is not overcrowded.
