Air fryers have been hailed as the answer to cheaper cooking, quicker dinners and, apparently, every problem we've ever had in the kitchen.
But are they actually cheaper to run than an oven?
The short answer: often, yes. But not always.
For smaller meals and shorter cooking times, an air fryer can use less electricity because you're heating a much smaller space. But if you're feeding the whole family and running four batches of chips? Your oven might finally get its moment.
Here's what you need to know.
Why Can an Air Fryer Be Cheaper?
Air fryers and fan ovens work in a similar way, circulating hot air around your food.
The big difference is size. An air fryer has a much smaller space to heat and can often cook food more quickly, with little to no preheating required.
And when it comes to cost, it's not just wattage that matters. How long the appliance is running makes a big difference too.
You can estimate the cost with:
Power in kW x time used in hours x your electricity unit rate = approximate running cost
For example, using Ofgem's July to September 2026 average Direct Debit electricity rate of 26.11p per kWh:
1,500W air fryer for 20 minutes = around 13p
2,500W electric oven for 45 minutes = around 49p
Of course, that's an example rather than a guarantee. Appliance wattages, cooking times and electricity tariffs all vary, so check yours for a more accurate comparison.
Air Fryer vs Oven: Which Should You Use?
An air fryer generally makes sense for:
- Smaller portions
- Meals for one or two
- Chips, chicken, fish and vegetables
- Frozen food
- Reheating leftovers
- Anything that would otherwise involve heating an entire oven for one tray
Heating the whole oven for six chicken nuggets? Bit dramatic.
Your oven may make more sense for:
- Big family meals
- Multiple trays
- Batch cooking
- Large roasts
- Anything requiring several consecutive air fryer batches
If you're running your air fryer four times to avoid switching the oven on, you may have slightly missed the point.
Single or Double Drawer Air Fryer?
If you're cooking for one or two, a compact single-drawer air fryer could be all you need.
Feeding more people? A larger or double-drawer model lets you cook more at once, with some models allowing different foods to cook at separate temperatures and timings.
So, smaller doesn't automatically mean better.
The most economical choice is generally the air fryer that suits the amount of food you actually cook.
Digital vs Analogue Air Fryers
This one's more about convenience than electricity use.
Analogue air fryers keep things simple, usually with manual temperature and timer dials.
Digital air fryers can offer more precise controls, displays and preset cooking programmes.
Does a touchscreen magically make your chips cheaper? Sadly not.
For running costs, pay more attention to wattage, capacity and how long you'll actually use it.
What About Halogen Air Fryers?
Halogen air fryers use a halogen heating element alongside circulating hot air, often inside a larger glass cooking bowl.
They're another handy option for quick cooking, but don't assume "halogen" automatically means cheaper. Again, compare the wattage, capacity and cooking time with the alternative you'd normally use.
How to Make an Air Fryer Cheaper to Run
A few small habits can help:
- Choose the right capacity for your household
- Avoid unnecessary preheating
- Cook multiple foods together where possible
- Don't overcrowd the basket and restrict airflow
- Avoid constantly opening it to check your food
- Keep it clean for good airflow
- Use the oven when you're cooking enough food to justify it
Basically, use the right appliance for the job. Revolutionary, we know.
So, Is an Air Fryer Cheaper Than an Oven?
For smaller portions and quicker meals, an air fryer will often cost less to run than a conventional electric oven.
For bigger meals, the answer isn't quite as simple. If you can cook everything in the oven at once, that may make more sense than running several air fryer batches.
The real money-saving trick isn't choosing Team Air Fryer or Team Oven. It's knowing when to use each.
Daewoo has air fryers ranging from compact single-drawer models to larger and dual-drawer options, making it easier to find one that suits how much you actually cook.
Because there's no point buying an 11L beast if dinner is usually two fish fingers.
