Martin Lewis is known for providing expert financial advice, but this time he has a warning about a common kitchen appliance – the air fryer. In a recent episode of The Martin Lewis podcast, Lewis shared his opinion on why ovens may actually be a more cost-efficient option compared to air fryers.
The air fryer has gained popularity, especially during the pandemic when people are looking for healthier cooking options and ways to save money. It is advertised as a healthier alternative to frying and is also said to be more cost-effective than traditional ovens. However, Lewis suggests that we may have overlooked some important factors when it comes to the true cost of using an air fryer.
Lewis explains that ovens provide consistent heat, while air fryers warm up to the highest temperature and only provide bursts of heat to maintain it. This means that ovens are not constantly using maximum power, resulting in lower energy consumption. In certain scenarios, ovens can be more cost-efficient than air fryers. For example, if you were cooking a full roast dinner with multiple jacket potatoes, it would be cheaper to use the oven rather than the microwave, as the microwave would require more time and energy for each additional potato.
However, Lewis clarifies that this is not a complete condemnation of air fryers. If you were cooking a small amount of food, such as one jacket potato, the air fryer or microwave would be the cheaper option. But constantly calculating and comparing costs for different amounts of food can be inconvenient. Lewis even provides a useful equation to help determine the cost efficiency of kitchen appliances, based on their wattage and usage time.
Lewis is not the only one concerned about the cost of using air fryers. The Money Edit supports his findings and concludes that ovens have a higher average running cost compared to air fryers. However, it’s important to note that more powerful air fryers will naturally have higher running costs.
In conclusion, if you’re cooking something small and simple, like a single jacket potato, it’s probably cheaper to use the microwave or air fryer. But for larger meals and more extensive cooking, ovens may be the more cost-efficient option. It’s always good to consider the wattage, quantity of food, and running costs when making a decision.
This warning from Martin Lewis adds to his expert opinions on financial matters, such as the dangers of using debit cards and the benefits of using credit cards for fraud protection.
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