Air fryers are a relatively new invention on the market, so many people are still unsure whether it’s wise to invest in them. These appliances can cook food without oil which means healthier meals, and they have more cooking options than microwave ovens. But how much electricity do they use?
In this article, I will compare air fryers to microwaves and electric ovens to find the most affordable appliance that uses the least electricity. I will also discuss how to look for an energy-efficient air fryer and whether this appliance will raise your electric bill.
Does an Air Fryer Use More Electricity Than a Microwave?
Microwaves and air fryers serve different purposes in the kitchen. While microwaves are primarily used for reheating and defrosting food, air fryers are more versatile, allowing you to bake, roast, and fry with little to no oil. But which one uses more electricity?
In general, air fryers consume more electricity than microwaves. Most air fryers operate at over 1000 watts, with larger models reaching up to 1800 watts. In comparison, standard microwave ovens typically use between 600 and 1000 watts. Because air fryers also tend to take longer to cook food than microwaves, their overall energy consumption per use is higher.
For example, if you use a microwave that consumes 800 watts for 20 minutes a day and the average energy cost is $0.16 per kilowatt-hour, you’re spending about $0.04 per day or roughly $1.30 per month. If your air fryer uses double the wattage for the same amount of time, your cost could be around $2.60 per month or more.
That said, energy consumption isn’t the only factor to consider. While microwaves are faster and cheaper to run, they’re not ideal for achieving crispy textures or cooking certain foods thoroughly. Air fryers, on the other hand, offer a wider range of cooking capabilities and better results for many meals, which may justify the slightly higher electricity use.
So, if electricity costs are your main concern, microwaves are more efficient. But if you’re looking for better cooking results and versatility, an air fryer might be worth the extra energy.
Let’s take a closer look at how they work…
How Does an Air Fryer Work?
Air fryers use heating elements (much like conventional ovens) to generate heat. What sets them apart is their ability to reach high temperatures quickly, often exceeding 480°F (248°C) in just about 20 minutes.
But the real magic lies in the built-in fan. This fan circulates hot air rapidly around the cooking chamber, ensuring that heat is distributed evenly on all sides of the food. This process mimics the effect of deep frying by creating a crispy exterior without the need for excess oil.
Thanks to this fan-driven airflow, air fryers function similarly to convection ovens but in a more compact form. They cook faster, more evenly, and are perfect for small kitchens or quick meals, delivering crispy, golden results with minimal fuss.
How Does a Microwave Work?
Unlike conventional ovens or air fryers, microwave ovens don’t rely on an external heat source to cook food. Instead, they use electromagnetic waves (called microwaves) to agitate the water molecules within the food. As these molecules vibrate rapidly, they create friction, which in turn generates heat. This heat cooks the food from the inside out.
That’s the key difference: regular ovens and air fryers use external heat to cook food, while microwaves heat food internally by exciting its molecules.
This is also why aluminum foil is safe to use in air fryers but not in microwaves. In a microwave, metal can reflect the electromagnetic waves, leading to sparks, fire hazards, or damage to the appliance. Air fryers, however, work more like convection ovens, allowing aluminum foil to be used safely when done properly.
Air Fryer Electricity Usage vs. Oven
When comparing the electricity usage of air fryers and ovens, the difference is clear – air fryers are generally more energy-efficient.
Most air fryers use up to 1800 watts, and for most home cooking needs, anything higher isn’t necessary. In contrast, standard electric ovens start at around 2000 watts, with larger models reaching up to 5000 watts. Just by looking at wattage, it’s evident that ovens consume significantly more energy than air fryers.
To put it into perspective: If an average oven uses 3000 watts and runs for 20 minutes a day, it would cost you about $0.16 per day or approximately $4.87 per month (based on an energy rate of $0.16 per kilowatt hour). A medium-wattage air fryer, used for the same amount of time, might cost around $2.44 per month, nearly half the cost.
But wattage isn’t the only factor to consider.
Most oven recipes require preheating, which can add about 10 minutes to your cooking time (or more depending on the model). That’s extra electricity burned before you even start cooking. Air fryers, on the other hand, usually don’t need preheating, and if they do, they typically reach the desired temperature in just 2–3 minutes.
Air fryers also offer a healthier cooking option, as they require little to no oil while still achieving a crispy texture. Ovens often rely on oil or fat to get similar results.
The main downside to air fryers is their limited capacity, which makes them ideal for small portions or meals for one or two people. If you’re cooking for a larger group or preparing big items like a whole chicken or turkey, a full-sized oven is still the better option.
If you’re cooking small to medium-sized meals and want to save on your energy bill, the air fryer is the smarter and more efficient choice. But for large meals or batch cooking, your oven still holds its place in the kitchen.
How to Find an Energy-Efficient Air Fryer
As mentioned, most manufacturers offer air fryers that use between 1000 and 1500 watts. Their prices typically range from $70 to $160, depending on the model and features. Popular brands like Ninja Foodi or Cosori tend to be on the higher end of the price spectrum.
Choosing an energy-efficient air fryer can help you save money in the long run. One way to do this is by selecting a model with lower wattage. Lower-wattage models use less energy and still produce delicious results, they may just take a little longer to cook your meals.
To help you out, I’ve curated a list of affordable yet energy-efficient air fryers that you can easily find online, including on platforms like Amazon.
BELLA 2.9QT Touchscreen Air Fryer
This product is a 1400-watt air fryer, which promises to cook healthy food with no oil for up to four people. It is multifunctional – it bakes, broils, and reheats – and is easy to operate. Most importantly, it doesn’t need preheating and cooks your food fast and evenly.
Instant Vortex Plus 10-Quart Air Fryer
This air fryer is another medium-wattage appliance that requires very little or no preheating. It offers to bake, defrost, reheat, and broil your food, and it even has a rotisserie feature. The product uses 1500 watts, and its temperature goes from 90 to 400 °F (32 to 204 °C) in just a few minutes.
Will Air Fryers Raise Your Electric Bill?
You can use a formula to calculate how much energy your air fryer uses. You just need to find out how much it’s charged for electricity in your area. The most recent data for the average energy price of a kWh (kilowatt per hour) is $0.16 in the United States (as of April 2025).
With this information, you can easily calculate how much electricity your air fryer uses per hour with online calculators. Or, you can do it manually:
- Convert watts to kilowatts; divide 1500 watts (W) by 1000.
- Multiply this number by the time you’ll be using your air fryer. For example, 1.5 (kW) X 20 minutes.
- Divide this number by 60 to get kilowatts per hour; 1,5 (kW) X 20 min / 60 = 0.5 kWh.
- Multiply kilowatts per hour by the electricity price. For example, 0.5 kWh X $0.16.
Let’s say you purchased a 1500-watt air fryer. We’ll assume your air fryer runs for 20 minutes. This is 1.5 Kilowatts or 0.5 Kilowatts per hour (kWh).
We then multiply this by the electricity price ($0.16) and get $0.08 daily or $2.44 monthly. Yearly, running your air fryer would cost you $29.22.
This is little, but if you get a lower-wattage air fryer and don’t overuse it, you’ll pay even less. All this tells us air fryers can be affordable in the long run.
Conclusion
Air fryers are better than microwaves because most models can defrost food, whereas microwaves use less electricity but can’t bake tasty food. On the other hand, when compared to ovens, air fryers use less electricity but have a smaller cooking space.
How much you spend on electricity using an air fryer depends on three things:
- How often you use your air fryer
- Your air fryer’s wattage
- General electricity charge in your area
Getting a low-wattage product that doesn’t require preheating and using it occasionally can reduce your electric bill. For these reasons, air fryers are worth investing in.
