Energy and running costs
What 21 Frozen Foods Cost to Cook in an Air Fryer and an Oven
Published by the RecipeAirFryer editorial team · How we source times · Updated
Frozen fries cost about 11.8p to cook in an air fryer at the UK price cap and 32.4p in an electric oven. At the US average rate that is 8.2¢ against 22.5¢. Across 21 frozen foods the air fryer averages 10.2p per cook and the oven 29.1p.
Key findings
- The cheapest frozen food to cook is frozen mozzarella sticks, at 6.6p or 4.6¢.
- The most expensive is frozen chicken breast, at 22.0p or 15.3¢, because it has to thaw and cook through.
- 15 of the 21 cook in 12 minutes or less.
- Frozen breaded food is where the air fryer saves the most, because the cook is short and the oven preheat dominates the oven figure.
- Frozen Mozzarella Sticks6.6p
- Frozen Bagel Bites6.6p
- Frozen Onion Rings7.2p
- Frozen Taquitos7.9p
- Frozen Spring Rolls8.6p
- Frozen Vegetables9.9p
- Frozen Chicken Strips (Tenders)9.9p
- Frozen Meatballs9.9p
- Frozen Burgers11.2p
- Frozen Sausages13.5p
- Frozen Chicken Breast22.0p
Every second food from the full table.
All 21 frozen foods
Cost is based on the midpoint of the time range, plus preheat.
| Food | Temperature | Time | Air fryer (UK) | Oven (UK) | Air fryer (US) | Oven (US) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frozen Mozzarella Sticks | 190°C / 375°F | 6-8 min | 6.6p | 21.8p | 4.6¢ | 15.2¢ |
| Frozen Pizza Rolls | 190°C / 375°F | 6-8 min | 6.6p | 21.8p | 4.6¢ | 15.2¢ |
| Frozen Bagel Bites | 180°C / 350°F | 6-8 min | 6.6p | 21.8p | 4.6¢ | 15.2¢ |
| Frozen Jalapeño Poppers | 190°C / 375°F | 6-9 min | 6.9p | 22.5p | 4.8¢ | 15.7¢ |
| Frozen Onion Rings | 200°C / 400°F | 6-10 min | 7.2p | 23.2p | 5.0¢ | 16.1¢ |
| Frozen Fish Fingers | 200°C / 400°F | 8-10 min | 7.9p | 24.5p | 5.5¢ | 17.0¢ |
| Frozen Taquitos | 200°C / 400°F | 8-10 min | 7.9p | 24.5p | 5.5¢ | 17.0¢ |
| Frozen Chicken Nuggets | 200°C / 400°F | 8-12 min | 8.6p | 25.8p | 6.0¢ | 17.9¢ |
| Frozen Spring Rolls | 190°C / 375°F | 8-12 min | 8.6p | 25.8p | 6.0¢ | 17.9¢ |
| Frozen Fish Fillets | 200°C / 400°F | 10-14 min | 9.9p | 28.4p | 6.9¢ | 19.8¢ |
| Frozen Vegetables | 190°C / 375°F | 10-14 min | 9.9p | 28.4p | 6.9¢ | 19.8¢ |
| Frozen Tater Tots | 200°C / 400°F | 10-14 min | 9.9p | 28.4p | 6.9¢ | 19.8¢ |
| Frozen Chicken Strips (Tenders) | 200°C / 400°F | 10-14 min | 9.9p | 28.4p | 6.9¢ | 19.8¢ |
| Frozen Egg Rolls | 190°C / 375°F | 10-14 min | 9.9p | 28.4p | 6.9¢ | 19.8¢ |
| Frozen Meatballs | 180°C / 350°F | 10-14 min | 9.9p | 28.4p | 6.9¢ | 19.8¢ |
| Frozen Hash Browns | 200°C / 400°F | 10-15 min | 10.2p | 29.1p | 7.1¢ | 20.2¢ |
| Frozen Burgers | 190°C / 375°F | 12-16 min | 11.2p | 31.1p | 7.8¢ | 21.6¢ |
| Frozen Fries (Chips) | 200°C / 400°F | 12-18 min | 11.8p | 32.4p | 8.2¢ | 22.5¢ |
| Frozen Sausages | 180°C / 350°F | 15-20 min | 13.5p | 35.7p | 9.4¢ | 24.8¢ |
| Frozen Chicken Wings | 190°C / 375°F | 24-30 min | 19.7p | 48.2p | 13.7¢ | 33.5¢ |
| Frozen Chicken Breast | 180°C / 350°F | 28-33 min | 22.0p | 52.8p | 15.3¢ | 36.7¢ |
Why frozen food suits the comparison
A bag of frozen chips or nuggets is usually one or two portions, which fits a basket in a single layer. That is the case where the air fryer has no batching penalty, so the saving in the table is close to what you would see.
A full family tray is different. If the oven tray would hold twice what the basket does, double the air fryer figure before comparing.
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.
For this study the air fryer minutes are the midpoint of the time range on each frozen food page.
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 frozen chips in an air fryer?
About 11.8p at the UK price cap or 8.2¢ at the US average rate, for 12-18 min at 200°C / 400°F plus a 3-minute preheat.
Is it cheaper to cook frozen food in an air fryer or an oven?
In an air fryer for one basket. The average across 21 frozen foods is 10.2p against 29.1p in the UK.
Do you need to thaw frozen food before air frying?
No. The times on our frozen pages are from frozen. Thawing breaded food first makes the coating soggy.