This easy air fryer hack could save you money on your electricity bill
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We all know that the cost of living is rising and it seems like every time we turn around there's another bill to pay.
And while there have been several money-saving ‘hacks’ circulating in social media, this one might just be our favourite so far!
From cancelling subscription services to less takeaway, it seems that people are cutting back on unnecessary spending in any way they can. But one area you may not have considered cutting back on is your home cooking. After all, cooking at home is usually cheaper than eating out… right?
You might not realise it, but firing up an electric oven to cook a meal can cost you as much as $3.72 per day, according to research by Canstar Blue.
Gas ovens come in cheaper, peaking at $2.58 per day.
Alan Pears, a Sustainability Expert at RMIT University in Melbourne, revealed a simple tip that can help save money on electricity bills.
He said that people can cut the cost of cooking by switching from a standard electric oven to an air fryer.
He mentioned several reasons why air fryers cost less to use than electric ovens, but it all boils down to how fast kitchen appliances heat up.
‘Air fryers use half of the electricity, and you get the same result,’ he explained.
The senior industry expert said: ‘An air fryer heats up in a few minutes, much faster than a conventional oven, while drawing about two-thirds as much instantaneous power.’
‘High airflow over food dramatically increases the rate of heat transfer to the food. Think about the “chill” effect of the cold, high-speed winter winds in reverse,’ he continued.
‘Fan-forced conventional ovens use this feature to some extent, but air fryers take it to another level: The higher the air speed, the greater the heat flow.’
Mr Pears explained that the ‘rapid crisping’ effect achieved by air fryers also reduces the evaporation of water from food.
‘Evaporating water when roasting food can be responsible for 20 per cent of conventional oven energy consumption.’
But the expert also said that when you cook several batches in an air fryer (which probably happens when feeding a large group of people at once), the savings gap closes.
Mr Pears suggested other cost-saving hacks, such as meal prepping and cooking in bulk, can help people reduce their spending on energy and food.
‘Shop around. Have a look at prices online and work out where the cheapest place to buy an item is.’
Finally, he said: ‘Check the unit cost to compare the price by weight of similar products. For example, it’s much cheaper to buy some fruits and vegetables separately rather than plastic-wrapped or pre-chopped packs.’
Well, members, there you go! Will you try out this ‘hack’? Comment down below your thoughts!
And while there have been several money-saving ‘hacks’ circulating in social media, this one might just be our favourite so far!
From cancelling subscription services to less takeaway, it seems that people are cutting back on unnecessary spending in any way they can. But one area you may not have considered cutting back on is your home cooking. After all, cooking at home is usually cheaper than eating out… right?
You might not realise it, but firing up an electric oven to cook a meal can cost you as much as $3.72 per day, according to research by Canstar Blue.
Gas ovens come in cheaper, peaking at $2.58 per day.
Rising electricity prices are making home cooking more expensive. Credit: RODNAE Productions in Pexels
Alan Pears, a Sustainability Expert at RMIT University in Melbourne, revealed a simple tip that can help save money on electricity bills.
He said that people can cut the cost of cooking by switching from a standard electric oven to an air fryer.
He mentioned several reasons why air fryers cost less to use than electric ovens, but it all boils down to how fast kitchen appliances heat up.
‘Air fryers use half of the electricity, and you get the same result,’ he explained.
The senior industry expert said: ‘An air fryer heats up in a few minutes, much faster than a conventional oven, while drawing about two-thirds as much instantaneous power.’
Switching to an air fryer can help reduce electricity bills. Credit: Shutterstock
‘High airflow over food dramatically increases the rate of heat transfer to the food. Think about the “chill” effect of the cold, high-speed winter winds in reverse,’ he continued.
‘Fan-forced conventional ovens use this feature to some extent, but air fryers take it to another level: The higher the air speed, the greater the heat flow.’
Mr Pears explained that the ‘rapid crisping’ effect achieved by air fryers also reduces the evaporation of water from food.
‘Evaporating water when roasting food can be responsible for 20 per cent of conventional oven energy consumption.’
But the expert also said that when you cook several batches in an air fryer (which probably happens when feeding a large group of people at once), the savings gap closes.
Mr Pears suggested other cost-saving hacks, such as meal prepping and cooking in bulk, can help people reduce their spending on energy and food.
‘Shop around. Have a look at prices online and work out where the cheapest place to buy an item is.’
Finally, he said: ‘Check the unit cost to compare the price by weight of similar products. For example, it’s much cheaper to buy some fruits and vegetables separately rather than plastic-wrapped or pre-chopped packs.’
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