Martin Lewis Weighs In: Are Air Fryers Really Worth It?
Martin Lewis, the UK’s money-saving guru, has turned his attention from debit cards to a kitchen favorite: the air fryer. While these gadgets have surged in popularity—especially during lockdowns and amid rising living costs—Lewis isn’t entirely convinced they’re always the most economical choice.
Air Fryers vs. Ovens: The Real Costs
On a recent episode of The Martin Lewis Podcast, Lewis explained that ovens can sometimes be cheaper to run than air fryers. His reasoning? Unlike microwaves, which deliver consistent heat, ovens reach the desired temperature and then cycle their energy to maintain it, meaning they don’t operate at full power continuously.
For example, cooking a full roast dinner with several jacket potatoes is usually more cost-effective in an oven than cramming the same meal into a microwave or air fryer. Microwaves excel at individual portions, but handling multiple items at once can increase energy usage—and costs. Air fryers, on the other hand, are efficient for single servings but can become less practical for larger meals.
How to Calculate Appliance Energy Costs
Lewis offered a simple method to estimate energy usage: check the appliance’s wattage, convert it to kilowatt-hours, and multiply by your local electricity rate (for instance, 34p per kWh in the UK or $0.42 in the US).
Example: A 1,000W microwave running for 10 minutes uses about 1/6 kWh, costing roughly 6p ($0.07).
Average oven use: ~21p per session.
Standard air fryer: ~13.6p per use.
High-powered 2,000W air fryer: up to 34p per use.
Lewis emphasizes that the amount of food being cooked heavily influences which appliance is cheapest, echoing the point that no single device is always the most economical.
The Bottom Line
For small, simple meals, air fryers and microwaves generally win on cost and convenience. For larger portions or full dinners, ovens are often the smarter energy choice.
Martin Lewis’ advice continues his tradition of practical, everyday money tips. After previously warning about debit card risks and promoting credit cards for their fraud protections, he’s now helping households figure out whether that trendy air fryer is really saving pounds—or just taking up counter space.