YOU could be paying extra in energy simply by keeping your air fryer in the wrong place, an expert has warned.
Despite coming out of winter, energy bills remain a huge pressure on households across Britain.
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And energy rebate payments worth £66/67 a month that had been paid since October have now stopped.
Many savvy billpayers have swapped the oven for an air fryer in an effort to keep costs in check.
The gadget has become a must-have item for many families because it typically uses less energy to cook than heating up a traditional oven.
However, the exact location of your air fryer could impact your bill.
Nicholas Auckland, from Trade Radiators, said households need to consider where the cooking tool will work efficiently and effectively.
And it’s also important to make sure they don’t cause damage to themselves or other appliances, which could make them more expensive to run.
He told The Sun: “Air fryers should be placed on heat-resistant kitchen countertops, and at least 13cm away from the wall and other appliances/items.
“This is because air fryers can reach temperatures of 200c inside, so they emit a lot of heat and need to be kept away from non heat-resistant materials in order to prevent burning.”
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A 1,000W air fryer costs 34p to run for an hour, according to Nicholas.
This means if you were to cook a whole chicken, depending on size, it should take around 45 minutes to an hour to cook.
Therefore, costing 34p at most to cook the chicken.
However, Nicholas said that if an air fryer isn’t used correctly and placed in a suitable space, cooking time increases by half an hour.
In this case, it could cost an extra 9p to cook the chicken, instead of 34p.
It may not sound like much but an extra half an hour of cooking each day over a year (365 days) adds up to £32.04.
However, it’s not just the location of the air fryer that can impact how well it works.
Nicholas said: “Other factors also play a big role in how efficiently your air fryer works.
“For example, it’s important that you keep it clean, don’t overcrowd food and ensure that you empty baskets and shelves properly.”
If you don’t have your air fryer cooking efficiently it could add even more to bills.
How much does an air fryer cost to run?
The price you pay to run an air fryer will vary depending on your energy tariff, as well as how large and efficient your appliance is.
But as a general rule of thumb, a newer model is typically more efficient and cheaper to run than an older version.
The power of an air fryer is measured in watts, and this determines how much energy it uses – and the cost of using it.
The more powerful the appliance, the quicker it will cook your food.
A 1,000W air fryer typically costs just 17p to run for 30 minutes and 34p to run for an hour.
A 1,500W air fryer will set you back 26p for half an hour, and 51p for an hour’s use.
And a 1,800W gadget costs around 31p for 30 minutes, and 61p for 60 minutes – but you will likely have to use it for less time
Is an air fryer cheaper to use than an oven?
A 2kW oven costs around 34p to run for half an hour, or 38p for an hour’s use.
You could save 4p by running a 1,000W air fryer for an hour instead.
A 3.5kW oven costs around 60p to run for half an hour and £1.19 for an hour.
Again, you would save by using an air fryer.
If you are using an oven frequently and for longer periods of time, it could make financial sense to invest in an air fryer.
Then consider just using the oven for batch-cooking sessions.
For more ways to cut costs, a money-saving expert has explained the five things in your kitchen that are pushing up energy bills and how to save costs.
And here are four energy tweaks you can make in warmer weather to slash £1,740 off your bill.
Plus, we explain how to get help with bills if you are struggling.
