When air fryers first made an appearance on the kitchen appliance scene, they were relatively small and used for nothing more than cooking chips or chicken nuggets in a healthier way. But today, you can find air fryer models of all shapes and sizes that offer various cooking functions.
While air fryers offer the modern chef numerous benefits, are they really better than the traditional conventional oven? Keep reading to find out.
Air Fryer Vs Conventional Ovens
When it comes to these two appliances, you will need to look at various aspects, such as size, energy efficiency, cooking speed and ease of use, before deciding which you’d prefer.
Does An Air Fryer Cook Faster Than An Oven?
Yes, an air fryer does cook faster than an oven – around 20% faster, to be precise. Air fryers also save time (and energy) due to the fact that, unlike an oven, they don’t need to be preheated.
Cooking speed is one of the greatest advantages offered by air fryers. This is due to its small size and the lower watt usage, which allows the appliance to heat up and cook food in a shorter period of time. This makes air fryers an excellent choice for anyone looking to whip up a quick snack or meal.
Air frying cooking times – how to calculate
If you know how long something will take to cook in an oven, you can easily calculate how long it will take in an air fryer. Simply reduce the cooking temperature by approximately 20°C/35°F, and the cooking time by around 20%.
Air Fryer Size vs Oven Size
Ovens are the larger of these two appliances, and the multiple racks inside make it easy to cook several dishes at once. This makes cooking for large groups of people far easier.
However, it must be said that air fryers have come a long way from the original two and three-man fryers. You can now find air fryers that are 12L or more in size, allowing them to cook 6-10 portions of food in one go.
Additionally, some of the more sophisticated types of air fryers allow you to cook different foods at the same time.
Does an air fryer use more electricity than an oven?
No, in fact, air fryers are more energy efficient than ovens. This is due to two factors, its size and the wattage it uses. The smaller size of an air fryer gives it the added advantage of being about to heat up faster, which means that it doesn’t consume as much electricity as a conventional oven.
Ovens need a lot more wattage to cook food, usually 2500 watts or more. Comparatively, an air fryer usually runs on 1400 watts to 2000 watts. This translates into faster cooking time for the air fryer, which contributes to its higher energy efficiency rating.
Cleaning An Air Fryer Vs Oven, Which Is Easier?
Cleaning an oven is a big task – one that most of us put off for as long as possible. Cleaning an air fryer, however, is far easier. More often than not, cleaning your air fryer will be as simple as taking out the interior basket, air flow rack or drip tray and washing it in hot, soapy water.
Air Fryers Vs Conventional Ovens: A Summary
Air fryers are all about convenience, and when compared to conventional ovens, they really do shine. They’re smaller in size, easy to clean, use far less electricity and cook food in a short amount of time. So what are you waiting for, it’s time to start browsing and choose the right air fryer for your kitchen.
