Air fryers have become a staple appliance in kitchens across the UK, but fire services are warning that a common mistake – leaving one on a cooker hob – can destroy a kitchen. Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service released a photograph showing the devastation caused by an air fryer blaze and cautioned: "It only takes a second."
Rapid rise of the air fryer
The appliance was first invented by Dutch engineer Fred van der Weij in 2006, with a prototype using "rapid air technology" to make crispy food with almost no oil. Since then, it has become a modern essential, with more than two thirds of UK households now owning one.
Data shows that half of households in the UK use their air fryer at least once a week, meaning it has overtaken the oven for everyday use. It is now the third most used appliance in British kitchens, behind toasters and microwaves.
Safety warnings from fire services
Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service previously advised that "user error" is the main cause of fires involving air fryers. Fire chiefs warned that in a 10-month period they attended nine air fryer fires. Station Manager Richard Booth explained: "Four of those incidents that we've attended - the air fryer has actually been sat on a hob in the kitchen and that hob has either been turned on deliberately, by someone not knowing that's not what they're meant to do, or accidentally."
Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service also shared a photograph of a kitchen devastated by a fire caused by an air fryer being left on a cooker hob. The service warned earlier this year: "Even for a moment, it's not worth the risk. Your hob is not your worktop. Keep it clear." In that incident, an air fryer was placed on the hob of an electric cooker, starting a kitchen fire in a flat. Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the kitchen.
Expert advice on safe use
Charity Electrical Safety First, which works to reduce and prevent damage, injuries and death caused by electricity, shared important rules for using the appliance. Luke Osborne, Deputy Technical Director at Electrical Safety First, said: "There are some vital steps you can take to protect yourself and save yourself a visit from the fire service. Always register the product to make sure you are contactable in the event a fault is detected by the manufacturer.
"Never overfill your air fryer and never plug the appliance into an extension lead to avoid potential overheating. Make sure you keep your power cords away from hot surfaces to avoid damaging cables, which could pose a serious fire risk and always refer to the manufacturer's instructions when it comes to cleaning your device."
The charity also advises waiting at least 30 minutes after use before cleaning the appliance. It warns that a handful of air fryers have been issued with a safety notice or product recall in recent years, with dangers ranging from a serious risk of electric shock to fire. People can check if their air fryer has been recalled using the charity's product recall checker.
Do's and don'ts of air fryer use
Electrical Safety First has shared its do's and don'ts for using an air fryer. The do's include keeping power cords away from hot surfaces, turning the appliance off at the socket when not in use, ensuring it's on a level surface where it won't be knocked off the counter, following the manufacturer's instructions, keeping an eye on it while in use, and turning it off immediately if you smell burning or hear unusual noises, then contacting the manufacturer. The don'ts include putting oil inside the fryer, immersing it in water, overfilling it (it should typically only be two thirds full), and plugging it into an extension lead, which could risk overloading the socket.
