You might be one of the many people rethinking your appliance choices these days. With energy prices soaring, finding ways to save on electricity bills has become a hot topic. This leaves a lot of folks wondering, which is better: an air fryer vs gas oven? Maybe you’re even in the market for new appliances and are debating between these two.
When comparing costs, it's important to consider the electric oven costs, which are generally higher due to greater energy consumption compared to air fryers.
Many homeowners find themselves pondering whether adding an air fryer to their existing kitchen setup will really make a difference. The appeal is strong – faster cooking times and crispier food with less oil.
But if you already have a trusty gas oven, you might hesitate to spend the money or add clutter to your countertops. Below you will find a breakdown of both to help with your choices, so read on for more!
Air Fryer versus Gas Oven: A Breakdown
Air fryers have garnered praise for their ability to quickly whip up delicious fried favorites. They are also significantly smaller and less energy-intensive compared to ovens. This sounds pretty good, right?
However, the choice between an air fryer and a gas oven isn’t as straightforward as it might seem. It all depends on your cooking habits, needs, and priorities.
Energy Consumption and Cost Savings
You’ll see a lot of articles claiming air fryers can save you money on energy bills. This is because they use significantly less power than full-size ovens, particularly electric ovens.
For instance, a typical air fryer uses around 1,500 watts, like this top-rated Ninja 4-quart air fryer, whereas electric ovens average around 3,000 watts, leading to higher energy consumption and costs.
Electric oven costs can be significantly higher, with an average cost of roughly 50 cents an hour to run, compared to 25 cents for an hour of air fryer use. However, if you’re trying to reduce your reliance on fossil fuels, remember that air fryers still use electricity.
So how much can you save with an air fryer versus a gas oven? Using national average electricity prices from 2020, an electric oven would cost roughly 50 cents an hour to run. A 1,500-watt air fryer would cost 25 cents for an hour of use, based on the same national average electricity rate. You can compare your local electricity prices to natural gas to determine actual cost savings.
At first glance, this makes air fryers seem like the cheaper option. However, the cost savings are much less dramatic when compared to gas ovens. This is especially true since gas is often cheaper than electricity.
Plus, air fryers have a smaller cooking chamber than gas ovens. They’re ideal for quick meals for one or two people but lack the capacity for larger meals, depending on the model. This makes a gas oven a better choice if you frequently cook family-sized dishes.
Here’s a surprising statistic: nearly a third of air fryer owners in the UK reported seeing a decrease in their energy bills. While the UK still relies on fossil fuels, their use of renewable sources is increasing. The UK generates 38.2% of its electricity from renewable sources, so those cost savings could really increase as that percentage grows.
Related: How Many Watts Does an Air Fryer Use? Energy Facts Revealed
Cooking Times and Versatility
One undeniable benefit of air fryers is they drastically shorten cook times. They don’t need to preheat like conventional ovens, making them perfect for weeknight dinners or fast meals. For example, frozen French fries cooked in a gas oven can take around 20 minutes (after preheating).
However, an air fryer delivers crispy fries in just 8 minutes. While air fryers do have some downsides in terms of size and functionality, they excel when it comes to speedy cooking. Imagine oven-quality results in a fraction of the time – what’s not to love?
An oven air fryer, in particular, offers the performance and advantages of traditional air fryers while allowing for even cooking of larger quantities of food. It is important not to overcrowd the cooking tray for optimal results.
Now, what about versatility? You’ve probably seen dozens of air fryer recipes online for everything from appetizers to desserts. It seems there’s nothing you can’t cook in these miniature ovens. But let’s be real, you might need both an air fryer and a gas oven to satisfy all your cooking needs.
Let’s face it, the air fryer can’t accommodate a whole turkey for Thanksgiving or a batch of cookies for the bake sale.
You will likely find yourself reaching for your gas oven if you frequently engage in certain types of cooking. If you do lots of large-scale baking, a roast chicken every Sunday, or love casseroles, then your gas oven will remain a kitchen staple.
Also read: How To Preheat Air Fryer: Simple Steps & Guide
Overall Cost and Practicality
Here’s something to think about: even though you save a bit on energy, those savings may not make up for the initial cost of the air fryer. How much does an air fryer cost? Prices vary greatly depending on brand, size, and features.
However, when considering the total operating costs over time, electric ovens tend to be more expensive due to their higher energy consumption. Calculating the total operating costs can highlight the economic benefits of air fryers.
Air fryers can range anywhere from $100 to $500. Luckily, there are lots of deals to be found.
Whether an air fryer makes sense for you also depends on your existing kitchen setup. Are you short on counter space or don’t need another bulky appliance? If so, perhaps sticking with your gas oven would be more practical. You could even upgrade to a modern electric range with a built-in air fry mode.
Air Fryer Pros
- Speedy cook times, no preheating required.
- Cooks crispy food using little to no oil.
- Often more compact and convenient for smaller households or portions.
- Could reduce energy consumption and bills.
- Simple and easy to use.
Air Fryer Cons
- Not suitable for large families, meals, or baked goods.
- Still runs on electricity.
- Purchase costs can vary greatly, initial investment required.
- Countertop space constraints.
Gas Oven Pros
- More versatility for a wider variety of recipes.
- Suitable for large batches and baked goods.
- Often a more cost-effective solution if you already own a gas range.
Gas Oven Cons
- Slower cook times due to preheating.
- Gas stoves emit pollutants like nitrogen dioxide that could contaminate indoor air.
- Higher energy usage compared to air fryers.
Cooking Times Comparison
Let’s look at some popular dishes and compare the average cooking time in an air fryer versus a gas oven. Keep in mind you'll also need to factor in roughly 10 to 15 minutes of preheating time for the gas oven, which will increase overall energy use. To make this comparison easier for you, I’ve put this data in a table for easy viewing.
| Food | Air Fryer (minutes) | Gas Oven (minutes with preheat) |
| Chicken Thighs | 20-25 | 50-55 |
| Chicken Wings | 10-12 | 50-55 |
| Salmon | 5-7 | 22-27 |
| Brussels Sprouts | 15-18 | 50-55 |
| Bacon | 5-10 | 30-35 |
| French Fries (from scratch) | 10-20 | 50-60 |
| French Fries (frozen) | 6-8 | 28-33 |
FAQs
On average, a gas oven uses more energy than an air fryer. Traditional gas ovens typically use around 18,000 BTUs (British Thermal Units) per hour, according to CNET. A standard air fryer consumes roughly 1,500 watts per hour. How does this translate to your energy bill? In simple terms, you're likely to save more money if you frequently opt for the air fryer over your gas oven.
Yes, air fryers can cut energy usage and costs significantly due to their shorter cooking times and efficient use of energy, especially compared to large gas ovens.
Most air fryers have a high energy rating due to their efficient use of power and ability to cook food quickly.
Convection ovens are similar to oven air fryers but typically less energy-efficient due to their larger size and longer cooking times. However, oven air fryers offer precise adjustments to avoid burning edges and can outperform traditional bake modes, allowing for even cooking of larger quantities of food.
Air fryers are more energy-efficient, have faster cooking times, and are better suited for smaller portions, making them ideal for quick meals.
Super convection refers to the powerful fan in some air fryers that circulates hot air more effectively, resulting in faster, more even cooking.
Conclusion
If you’re trying to decide if an air fryer is the right tool for your kitchen, this guide gives you all the key points to think about. As you can see, there are definite advantages to both options, with each having its pros and cons.
While air fryers offer speedy cooking, they might not make financial sense if you already have a gas oven. So don't feel like you have to replace your perfectly good gas oven just to be trendy. On the other hand, if you prefer cooking speedily and with little to no extra effort, having an air fryer might be the best thing since sliced bread. It is up to you!
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