An energy expert has revealed the kitchen appliance that could help Brits reduce their energy bills in 2025.
The air fryer, a versatile gadget capable of reheating leftovers, crisping frozen food, baking cakes and even cooking full roast dinners, is often touted as an energy-saving alternative to traditional ovens.
However, with the impending rise in the energy price cap from January, households are on the hunt for the most energy-efficient way to prepare their favourite dishes.
Traditional ovens, found in nearly every UK home, consume around 500 to 1000 watts per hour, costing approximately 12p to 25p per hour of use depending on size and wattage.
In contrast, air fryers use about 900 to 2000 watts per hour, costing between 22p to 49p per hour of use.
While this may seem more expensive, it’s important to note that air fryers have shorter cooking times, potentially reducing the overall cost per cook, reports Lancs Live.
However, Bionic’s recent research revealed that slow cookers, a popular winter appliance in the UK known for their extended cooking times and minimal energy consumption, are the ultimate money-saving solution.
In the UK, the average slow cooker consumes between 70 to 250 watts per hour, costing roughly 2p to 6p per hour of use, depending on the appliance’s size and wattage.
Bionic’s Energy Expert, Les Roberts, said: “The data shows that despite much longer cooking times, slow cookers are consistently one of the most energy and cost-efficient ways to cook, costing as little as 5p to use.
“Air fryers have been revealed to have one of the least cost-efficient prices per hour, clocking in at a surprising 22p to 49p per hour, often coming in higher than the cost of using your oven, despite being commonly associated with one of the most energy-efficient cooking methods.
“However, with air fryers, it is important to remember that cooking times are often halved, with the average air fryer cooking time clocking in at 30 minutes.
“The data reflects the current energy price cap, although it’s important to know from January 1 to March 31, 2025, the price cap will be increasing and energy for a typical household paying by Direct Debit will go up by 1.2% to £1,738 per year.”
