Households who cook their food using an air fryer have been told to brace for increasing charges ahead of Ofgem’s latest energy price cap hike, which comes into effect on April 1, 2025
Brits who love to rustle up their dinner in the air fryer have been warned over increasing charges. The nifty kitchen appliances, which have spiralled in popularity in recent years, are often touted as a cheaper, healthier, and more convenient means of cooking food, compared to a conventional oven.
They’re compact, don’t require as much oil, and use less energy when it comes to crisping up those late-night cravings for beige food. According to the Express, the average air fryer uses anything between 800 watts and 2,000 watts per hour – depending on the make and model.
Under Ofgem’s current energy price cap, this means the average air fryer costs just 35p to run for a full hour, working out at £127.03 per year (based on running the appliance for one hour each day). However, with the price cap slated to increase next month (April), using our trusted air fryers will come at an extra cost.
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How much does it cost to run an air fryer?
From April 1, the price cap will jump by 6.4 per cent, meaning the average dual fuel household paying by direct debit will see their annual energy bill increase from £1,738 a year to £1,849 from – a rise of £111 a year, or £9.25 a month. As previously reported, this marks the third increase in energy bills in recent months, after the price cap went up by 10 per cent in October, followed by another 1.2 per cent rise in January.
The Express reports that, based on the new price cap, the cost of running an air fryer will therefore spike to 38p per hour, an overall increase of £11.09 for the year – to £138.12 (based on using for one hour every day). Still, the devices are considerably cheaper than using a conventional oven, which tends to use between 2,000 to 5,000 watts on average.
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Comparison site Go Compare says it costs roughly ’49p an hour to run an average oven’, which is significantly higher than the air fryer. “Don’t forget, people love air fryers because of how quickly they cook food which means they use less energy,” the experts added. “[For example], a bag of frozen chips takes 20 to 25 minutes in an oven, whereas in an air fryer, it takes eight to 20 minutes.”
However, if you’re cooking up large meals with various elements – it can sometimes work out more cost-effective to use the oven. Despite the appliance costing more to run per hour, ovens can hold substantially more food than your air-fryer – which overall can mean less energy is used.
Ofgem’s incoming energy price cap will only impact those who aren’t on fixed-term energy deals. At the time of writing, several suppliers are offering fixed tariffs well below the April price cap, including E.on, So Energy, and Outfox the Market.
Contrary to popular belief, the Ofgem price cap doesn’t put a limit on how much your monthly energy bill costs. Instead, it sets the maximum unit price you can be charged for both gas and electricity, as well as the maximum daily standing charge (this is a fixed fee that you pay to be connected to the grid, even if you use no energy on certain days).
There are around 22 million people currently covered by the price cap. You can contact your current energy supplier to see what type of tariff you’re on, and to check you’re not being charged above the maximum rates allowed under the price cap.
*This article does not constitute financial advice. Always read the full terms and conditions before signing a fixed-term tariff or changing energy suppliers. Early exit fees may apply.
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