Martin Lewis has encouraged people to make a change to how they use their household appliances, saying an air fryer can be a lot more efficient and cheaper than a main oven for smaller meals. Speaking on his BBC podcast, the consumer expert addressed a common kitchen misunderstanding caused by the appliance's name.
Air fryer 'is a misnomer'
The discussion began after fans of the show were asked to send in stories about expensive items they had bought but never used. One listener with a disability explained they bought an air fryer hoping it would "make my life easier" when making meals, but felt stuck because they do not eat fried food and "can't think of any use of it." They said: "I suppose it'll be a standby if my halogen oven bowl breaks."
Mr Lewis stepped in to say there may be some confusion. "The name is a misnomer," he explained. "An air fryer is basically a hot air circulating mini oven. You put a little bit of oil in there to help things cook, but it's not really frying. It's basically a mini oven."
'A lot more efficient'
Because of how the appliance works, he pointed out that it can offer a cheaper way to prepare everyday meals. Mr Lewis said: "If you are cooking smaller amounts, it can be a lot more efficient and cheaper than putting it in your main oven just because you're cooking smaller amounts for a less period, and therefore the wattage isn't as high, and it can be a really efficient way to cook."
He urged the listener to give the device another chance: "So you may be misjudging your air fryer, I suspect. I think your air fryer may not be what you think it is, and maybe as you've got it and you've not used it, it's worth trying it." However, Mr Lewis noted that an air fryer isn't always the cheapest option for every meal. He explained: "Where I tend not to suggest using an air fryer is if you're cooking big things for lots of people, in which case putting it all in one heated oven will tend to be cheaper than time after time after time in the air fryer."
Reduce your energy usage
Appliance repair experts agree that changing how you cook can help lower home energy costs. Ian Palmer-Smith, from repair group Domestic & General, said: "One of the best ways to reduce your energy usage across the colder months is to switch up your cooking styles and use more energy-efficient appliances."
Whilst ovens and microwaves are the most popular cooking appliances, slow cookers cut down cooking time by using less energy and producing less heat. It is thought that slow cookers typically only use around the same amount of energy as a lightbulb. He also praised air fryers, saying: "Air fryers are another great choice when looking to cut energy as their cooking times are generally much shorter, so consider trying out some new recipes this year or invest in an air fryer to help in the long run."
