Martin Lewis warns people about using air fryers instead of ovens to cook food

Martin Lewis is known for his insightful financial advice, and this time he has turned his attention to the popular kitchen appliance – the air fryer. While many have jumped on the air fryer bandwagon due to its health benefits and lower operating costs, Martin Lewis has a different perspective. Let’s explore his honest opinion on air fryers and whether they live up to the hype.

Martin Lewis shared his views on air fryers in a recent episode of The Martin Lewis podcast. He explained that ovens can often be cheaper to use than air fryers. Unlike microwaves that provide consistent heat, ovens heat up to the highest temperature and then provide intermittent bursts of heat to maintain it. This means ovens don’t continuously operate at full power, resulting in cost savings.

However, Martin Lewis acknowledges that there are scenarios where air fryers or microwaves are more cost-effective. For example, if you’re cooking a single jacket potato, the air fryer or microwave would be the cheaper option. But constantly crunching the numbers to determine the most cost-efficient choice for different amounts of food isn’t practical for most people.

To simplify things, Martin Lewis provides an equation to calculate the cost efficiency of kitchen appliances. By finding the wattage of the appliance, determining the power consumption, and multiplying it by the cost per hour of use, you can compare costs. This equation applies not just to ovens but also to air fryers.

Backing up Martin’s opinion, The Money Edit states that the average running cost of an oven is 21p, whereas an air fryer costs only 13.6p. However, more powerful air fryer models can have higher running costs. Additionally, the quantity of food being cooked is an important factor to consider.

In conclusion, Martin Lewis suggests that for small and simple dishes, it may be more cost-effective to use the microwave or air fryer. However, for larger meals or roasts, the oven can offer better value for money.

Martin Lewis is known for his financial expertise and has also provided valuable advice on the use of debit cards. He recommends switching to credit cards for the added fraud protection they offer.

So, before you invest in an air fryer, consider the size of your meals and the cost efficiency. It’s important to make informed decisions that align with your needs and budget.