Brits ditch air fryers in favour of alternative that's cheap to run and healthy

19 October 2023 , 16:28

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There's a new popular alternative to air fryers and they are even cheaper (Image: Getty Images)

There has been a surge in the popularity of air fryers in recent years and it's common to spot them in most kitchens nowadays. Known for their rapid cooking as well as a healthier alternative due to not needing much cooking oil, there's no surprise people have been loving them.

However, there has been a new gadget people have been flocking to buy - and the best part? They're a fraction of the price and still a healthy alternative. Also said to be easier to get your hands on than an air fryer, people have been praising the efficiency and ease of halogen ovens.

Halogen ovens are ultimately a glass bowl with a lid and halogen bulbs with a fan. When on, beams of infrared radiations are sent out which create the heat and are circulated around the food with the fan which cooks the food inside and they're said to be an "amazing alternative".

As many people strive to keep bills down, they will look for the most cost-effective appliances, and experts at Energia revealed to The Irish Mirror the appliances which are costing the most on electricity bills. By calculating how much electricity appliances are used per hour, it's clear why people are ditching their ovens.

According to the experts, they revealed that the average energy usage (wattage) for an oven is 1575, meaning it costs 50p to run per hour. An air fryer usage is 1500 meaning it costs 43p to run per hour, so therefore, using an air fryer for 30 minutes would cost 22p and a microwave wattage is 1750, meaning 57p to run per hour. So using a microwave for five minutes would cost 0.04p.

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The halogen ovens are widely available online from Amazon, and you can get your hands on a Daewood 17-litre one for £38.84. People were quick to share their reviews of the product praising how easy and efficient it is and ranking at an impressive 4.4 out of five it's a clear winner.

One satisfied customer wrote: "I've had this for just under a week and honestly don't know how I got by without it. Heats faster and cooks more efficiently (and cheaply) than my oven, I’ve cooked several meals for a family of three including lasagnas, roast potatoes, chicken etc, everything has come out perfect except the pizza where the base was soft but I think a decent pizza tray will fix that," while another one wrote: "There is nothing to dislike. Really easy to use. Quick, very cost effective. The glass bowl is easy to keep clean. Also makes great toast." Alternatively, Argos also sell a 17-litre EMtronics model for £30.69.

Niamh Kirk