Air fryer cost to run rises 30 percent with cleaning mistake – how to fix
Air fryers are officially the third most-used appliance in UK kitchens with more people now using them than a traditional oven.
The Good Food Nation survey found 58 percent of people use an air fryer, behind only toasters (77%) and microwaves (75%).
The number of air fryer users is up from 46% last year, the survey of 2,003 adults found.
The use of air fryers has shot up during the cost of living crisis due to the speed and energy efficiency compared to a conventional oven.
However, experts have warned households could be wasting energy by not keeping theirs clean.
Martin Senders, Phillips’ professional chef, said dirty air fryers use 10-30 percent more electricity, Keighley News reported.
He said: “Ideally, you should clean it after every use, though that’s not always the case for many of us with families to care for."
Instead of hunting down expensive cleaning products, Phillips recommends simply using bicarbonate of soda, washing up liquid and boiling water to soak the baskets.
Then after a few minutes, scrub them clean.
Air fryer safety
With air fryers now a staple appliance in the kitchen, charity Electrical Safety First has urged households to know how to avoid a risk of fire.
While cleaning is essential for efficiency, the charity urges users to wait 30 minutes after use so it has time to cool down.
Never use oil, and turn off at the socket when not using. (This will also reduce energy waste - we have written about vampire devices adding an extra £150 to energy bills, here.)
Luke Osborne, deputy technical director said: “Always register the product to make sure you are contactable in the event a fault is detected by the manufacturer.
"Never overfill your air fryer and never plug the appliance into an extension lead to avoid potential overheating.
"Make sure you keep your power cords away from hot surfaces to avoid damaging cables, which could pose a serious fire risk and always refer to the manufacturer’s instructions when it comes to cleaning your device.”
Top tips to keep safe when using an air fryer:
- Stay alert to burning smells (other than food) or unusual noises. If you notice them, switch the air fryer off immediately and contact the manufacturer/retailer.
- Don't use oil inside your air fryer.
- Stay alert for hot steam coming out of the air fryer.
- Never immerse the air fryer in water.
- Wait 30 minutes or more before you clean the air fryer.
- Keep power cords away from hot surfaces to avoid cable damage.
- Turn off the air fryer at the socket between uses.
- Never leave the air fryer unattended.
- Don't overfill your air fryer. Typically they should be under two-thirds full. Check your manual.
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