If you’re thinking about getting an air fryer or just starting to use one, you might wonder if it uses a lot of electricity. In general, the answer is no. However, your fryer’s overall consumption will depend on several factors like its model and your cooking habits. We’re Teko.ph, the largest aircon and appliance services provider in the Philippines, and we’re here to give you a quick overview of an air fryer’s energy consumption.

How Does an Air Fryer Work?

In an air fryer, you put your food in a basket and place it inside the machine. You then close the lid and set your desired cooking temperature. The device will heat up using hot air and circulate it around your food, cooking it evenly without drying out its moisture. The result is often a crispy treat! 

The critical factor to cooking with it is how much heat you give them—the higher the temperature, the crispier your food will be. The more you use your air fryer, the more you can master controlling its temp settings.

How Much Electricity Does An Air Fryer Need?

The answer depends on how much time you use it and the specific model you have.

For instance, if we talk about per hour of operation, a typical air fryer takes 1.5 Kilowatt hours. The electric consumption range could be anything between 1-2 kilowatt-hours per hour of operation, depending on the specifications of your unit.

How to Determine the Daily Cost of Using an Air Fryer

Here’s how you calculate your unit’s consumption: 

1. Divide your power rating by 1000 to convert the Watt unit to Kilo-Watt.

2. Determine the number of hours you use the air fryer on a daily basis.

3. Determine the cost per Kilowatt-Hour in your area. Consult your power bill for this.

4. Follow this formula: (Watt Rating/1000) x Number of hours x Cost per kWh.

For example, let’s say your air fryer is rated at 1500 Watts. Let’s assume you’re using it for an hour a day, accumulated. As of this writing, the cost of electricity in NCR is approximately Php 10.46. The computation would look like this:

(1500 watts/1000) x  1 hour x 10.46 Php/kWh = per hour of operation. 

In this example, you can conclude that your air fryer costs you Php 15.69 per hour to operate. Simply adjust this amount should your usage time fluctuate. For the monthly cost, simply multiply this amount by 30 days, and you’ll arrive at a somewhat reliable estimate.

Take note, however, that the Watt rating of your air fryer refers to its wattage on the highest temperature setting. If you’re not frequently using that setting, the actual consumption might be lower than your calculated value.

Are Air Fryers Energy-Efficient?

The short answer is yes. 

The air fryer uses a convection system that circulates hot air around the food, which enables it to cook quickly without using a lot of oil. Because of the compact design, not much heat escapes the unit, so the temperature is maintained throughout. This means less energy is used.

In a nutshell, an air fryer uses about one-third less energy than an oven and half as much electricity as a microwave. It is, therefore, safe to say that it is an energy-efficient appliance.

To learn how much electricity your aircon uses, you may use this tool:  Aircon & Appliance Electricity Consumption Calculator