Yes, in most cases an air fryer uses less electricity than a conventional oven. It is smaller, heats up faster, and cooks food more quickly, so it draws power for less time. That said, it is not true for every meal, and the size of what you are cooking matters. Here is how the two compare, and what it means for your electricity bill.
What You Will Find in This Guide
- Whether air fryers really use less electricity
- Why they are more efficient for most meals
- When an oven is still the better choice
- What it costs to run each one
The Short Answer
For everyday cooking, an air fryer wins on electricity. A conventional oven has a large space to heat and usually needs 10 to 15 minutes to preheat before you even start. An air fryer heats a much smaller space almost instantly and cooks faster once it does. Even when the wattage is similar, the air fryer runs for less time, and less time means less electricity used.
Why Air Fryers Are More Efficient
Three things make the difference . First, size: there is far less air to heat inside an air fryer than inside an oven. Second, speed: rapid air circulation cooks food quicker, often around 20% faster than an oven. Third, preheating: most air fryers need only a few minutes, if any, against an oven's lengthy warm-up. A Bennett Read air fryer like the 10L model draws 1800W but cooks a family meal in a fraction of the time an oven would take.
When an Oven Still Makes Sense
An air fryer is not always the more efficient choice. If you are cooking a large roast, several trays at once, or a big batch for a crowd, a full-sized oven or an air fryer oven handles the volume in one go. The Bennett Read 25L Air Fryer Oven bridges the gap, with the capacity of a small oven and the efficiency of air fryer technology, so you get even cooking for bigger meals without heating a full oven. For one or two people, though, a standard air fryer is almost always cheaper to run.
What This Means for Your Bill
The maths is simple. Electricity is billed per kilowatt-hour, which is 1000 watts used for one hour. The 10L air fryer at 1800W running for 30 minutes uses 0.9 kWh, which is roughly R3 at current South African rates of around R3.30 per unit. A conventional oven left on for an hour to cook the same meal can easily use two to three times that. Over a month of regular cooking, the saving adds up.
So do air fryers use less electricity than ovens? For most everyday meals, yes, and often by a wide margin. Reserve the oven for the big cooks and let an air fryer handle the daily ones, and you will notice the difference on your bill. Explore the Bennett Read air fryer range to find the right size for your kitchen.
FAQ
What is the wattage of a power air fryer oven?
Most air fryer ovens draw between 1500 and 1800 watts, which is enough to cook quickly and efficiently. The Bennett Read 25L Air Fryer Oven, for example, uses 1700W across its heating elements. Higher wattage heats faster and suits larger capacities, while smaller air fryers use less power.
How much electricity does an air fryer oven use?
It depends on the wattage and how long you cook. A 1700W air fryer oven running for 30 minutes uses about 0.85 kWh, which is roughly R3 at current South African rates. Because it cooks faster than a conventional oven and needs little preheating, it usually uses less electricity overall.
Is a 1200W air fryer good?
Yes, a 1200W air fryer is a good choice, especially for one or two people. It uses less power and still cooks efficiently, though it may take slightly longer than a higher-wattage model and suits smaller portions. For families or batch cooking, a larger, more powerful air fryer is the better fit.
