Energy and running costs
Air Fryer Energy Cost by Type of Meal
Published by the RecipeAirFryer editorial team · How we source times · Updated
The average lunch recipe costs 6.7p to cook in an air fryer at the UK price cap (4.7¢ at the US average rate), and the average holiday recipe costs 24.7p (17.2¢). Most everyday categories sit between 8.3p and 21.6p.
Key findings
- Lunch recipes are the cheapest to run, with an average cook of 7 minutes.
- Holiday recipes are the most expensive, with an average cook of 35 minutes.
- The average dinner recipe costs 11.8p or 8.2¢ in electricity.
- Across all 304 recipes the average cook is 14.8 minutes, which costs at most 11.7p or 8.2¢.
- Lunch6.7p
- Kids8.3p
- Appetizers8.5p
- Fish & Seafood8.6p
- Breakfast9.4p
- Dessert9.8p
- Beef11.1p
- Vegan11.4p
- Dinner11.8p
- Side Dishes12.6p
- Snacks13.4p
- Chicken15.4p
- Pork21.6p
- Holiday24.7p
Average cost by recipe category
Categories with fewer than five recipes are left out, because an average over two or three recipes says little.
| Category | Recipes | Average cook | Air fryer (UK) | Oven (UK) | Air fryer (US) | Oven (US) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lunch | 9 | 7.2 min | 6.7p | 22.1p | 4.7¢ | 15.4¢ |
| Kids | 5 | 9.6 min | 8.3p | 25.3p | 5.8¢ | 17.6¢ |
| Appetizers | 20 | 10 min | 8.5p | 25.7p | 5.9¢ | 17.9¢ |
| Fish & Seafood | 13 | 10 min | 8.6p | 25.8p | 6.0¢ | 17.9¢ |
| Breakfast | 31 | 11.3 min | 9.4p | 27.5p | 6.5¢ | 19.1¢ |
| Dessert | 34 | 11.9 min | 9.8p | 28.3p | 6.8¢ | 19.7¢ |
| Beef | 6 | 13.8 min | 11.1p | 30.8p | 7.7¢ | 21.5¢ |
| Vegan | 15 | 14.4 min | 11.4p | 31.6p | 8.0¢ | 22.0¢ |
| Dinner | 73 | 14.9 min | 11.8p | 32.3p | 8.2¢ | 22.4¢ |
| Side Dishes | 34 | 16.1 min | 12.6p | 33.9p | 8.8¢ | 23.6¢ |
| Snacks | 38 | 17.4 min | 13.4p | 35.5p | 9.3¢ | 24.7¢ |
| Chicken | 6 | 20.3 min | 15.4p | 39.4p | 10.7¢ | 27.4¢ |
| Pork | 9 | 29.8 min | 21.6p | 51.8p | 15.0¢ | 36.1¢ |
| Holiday | 8 | 34.5 min | 24.7p | 58.0p | 17.2¢ | 40.4¢ |
What drives the difference
Thickness. Breakfast and lunch recipes are thin or small: eggs, bacon, toasties, quesadillas. Roasts and slow pork cuts are thick, so heat takes longer to reach the centre.
Temperature has almost no effect on the calculated cost, because the calculation assumes the element is on throughout. In a real kitchen a lower temperature means the element rests more, so slow, cool cooks are overstated the most.
How these figures were worked out
Energy is calculated, not metered: rated wattage multiplied by minutes of use. The air fryer is taken as 1,500 W with a 3-minute preheat. The oven is taken as 2,400 W with a 12-minute preheat. These are the default figures in our running cost calculator.
Air fryer minutes come from the recipe page. Oven minutes are the air fryer minutes divided by 0.8, which is the site's standard conversion (an air fryer takes about 80% of the oven time).
Prices are 26.32p per kWh (Ofgem price cap, October to December 2026) and 18.31¢ per kWh (EIA U.S. residential average, July 2026). Standing charges and taxes other than those already in the unit rate are left out, because they do not change with how you cook.
Both appliances switch their element off and on once they reach temperature, so every figure here is an upper limit. The gap between the two is a fair guide; the absolute numbers on your bill will be lower. Check the rating plate on your own appliances and your own tariff, then use the calculator for a figure that fits your kitchen.
Sources
- Ofgem energy price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026 (26.32p per kWh, GB average, Direct Debit)
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A (18.31 cents per kWh, U.S. residential average, July 2026)
You may quote these figures with a link to this page. If you spot an error, tell us through the contact page and we will correct it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to cook dinner in an air fryer?
The average dinner recipe in our set cooks for 15 minutes, which costs at most 11.8p at the UK price cap or 8.2¢ at the US average rate.
What is the average air fryer cooking time?
Across 304 recipes the average cook is 14.8 minutes and the median is 11 minutes, not counting prep.
Which meals are cheapest to cook in an air fryer?
Lunch recipes, at an average of 6.7p or 4.7¢ per cook, because they are thin and quick.