Energy and running costs
Air Fryer vs Oven: The Cost to Cook 20 Common Foods
Published by the RecipeAirFryer editorial team · How we source times · Updated
Cooking one of 20 common foods costs an average of 13.7p in an air fryer and 36.0p in an electric oven at the UK price cap for October to December 2026. At the US average rate the figures are 9.5¢ and 25.0¢. The gap comes mostly from the oven's longer preheat and higher wattage, so it is widest on quick foods.
Key findings
- The cheapest food on the list is cookies, at 6.6p (4.6¢) in the air fryer.
- The most expensive is whole chicken, at 38.2p (26.5¢) in the air fryer and 85.0p (59.1¢) in the oven.
- The air fryer uses 70% less energy than the oven for cookies and 55% less for whole chicken. The saving shrinks as the cook gets longer.
- Every figure is an upper limit, because both appliances cycle their element once they are hot.
- Cookies6.6p
- Broccoli7.9p
- Bacon8.6p
- Steak9.2p
- Pork Chops9.9p
- Brussels Sprouts11.2p
- Roasted Vegetables12.5p
- Chicken Breast15.1p
- Crispy Chicken Wings17.8p
- Baked Potato28.3p
Every second food from the full table, cheapest first.
The full table: 20 foods, two appliances, two countries
The foods are ordered from the shortest cook to the longest. Each name links to the recipe the time comes from.
| Food | Air fryer time | Air fryer (UK) | Oven (UK) | Air fryer (US) | Oven (US) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cookies | 7 min | 6.6p | 21.8p | 4.6¢ | 15.2¢ |
| Pizza | 8 min | 7.2p | 23.2p | 5.0¢ | 16.1¢ |
| Broccoli | 9 min | 7.9p | 24.5p | 5.5¢ | 17.0¢ |
| Salmon | 10 min | 8.6p | 25.8p | 6.0¢ | 17.9¢ |
| Bacon | 10 min | 8.6p | 25.8p | 6.0¢ | 17.9¢ |
| Cod | 11 min | 9.2p | 27.1p | 6.4¢ | 18.9¢ |
| Steak | 11 min | 9.2p | 27.1p | 6.4¢ | 18.9¢ |
| Burgers | 11 min | 9.2p | 27.1p | 6.4¢ | 18.9¢ |
| Pork Chops | 12 min | 9.9p | 28.4p | 6.9¢ | 19.8¢ |
| Sausages | 14 min | 11.2p | 31.1p | 7.8¢ | 21.6¢ |
| Brussels Sprouts | 14 min | 11.2p | 31.1p | 7.8¢ | 21.6¢ |
| Sweet Potato Fries | 16 min | 12.5p | 33.7p | 8.7¢ | 23.4¢ |
| Roasted Vegetables | 16 min | 12.5p | 33.7p | 8.7¢ | 23.4¢ |
| French Fries | 18 min | 13.8p | 36.3p | 9.6¢ | 25.3¢ |
| Chicken Breast | 20 min | 15.1p | 39.0p | 10.5¢ | 27.1¢ |
| Chicken Thighs | 24 min | 17.8p | 44.2p | 12.4¢ | 30.8¢ |
| Crispy Chicken Wings | 24 min | 17.8p | 44.2p | 12.4¢ | 30.8¢ |
| Crispy Roast Potatoes | 25 min | 18.4p | 45.5p | 12.8¢ | 31.7¢ |
| Baked Potato | 40 min | 28.3p | 65.3p | 19.7¢ | 45.4¢ |
| Whole Chicken | 55 min | 38.2p | 85.0p | 26.5¢ | 59.1¢ |
Why quick foods show the biggest saving
An oven spends 12 minutes heating a large empty box before the food goes in. On a 7-minute cook that preheat is a large share of the total energy, so the air fryer comes out 70% cheaper. On a 55-minute cook the preheat matters less and the saving falls to 55%.
The comparison also assumes one basket of food. If the meal needs three batches in the air fryer and one tray in the oven, the oven can win. Our batch-cooking study works out where that point is.
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
Is an air fryer cheaper to run than an oven?
For one basket of food, yes. Across 20 common foods the air fryer averages 13.7p per cook against 36.0p for an electric oven at the UK price cap, and 9.5¢ against 25.0¢ at the US average rate.
How much does it cost to cook chicken in an air fryer?
Chicken breast costs about 15.1p or 10.5¢ per cook, and a whole chicken about 38.2p or 26.5¢, using a 1,500 W air fryer.
Are these costs exact?
No. They are upper limits calculated from rated wattage and cooking minutes. Thermostats switch the element off once the appliance is hot, so a real cook uses less. The difference between the two appliances is a better guide than either number alone.