14 January 2023 , 16:53
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Air fryers are cooking up trouble for firefighters, with the number of blazes sparked by the appliances doubling in a year.
The must-have kitchen gadget, which claims to be seven times cheaper to run than an oven, has grown in popularity since energy bills started rocketing.
One price comparison website said sales were up 3,000% in the year to November 2022.
And retailer Currys said it sold 45,500 of the appliances in December alone.
Eight million homes are thought to have splashed out on the gadget in a bid to save cash. But research shows the number of fires they caused rose from 18 in 2021 to 37 last year.
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Rebecca described the terrifying moment her air fryer caught fire (Rebecca Sim/MEN Media)The true number may be far higher, however, as just 21 of the 51 fire services approached recorded incidents as air fryer-related.
One blaze in South West England was caused by a cat flicking on a plugged-in fryer. And this week, in Prestwich, Manchester, Rebecca Sim’s one-year-old Tower gadget burst into flames.
The retired school teacher, 52, said: “I was really shocked. I noticed the flickering and a plastic smell, so I knocked the switch off with a wooden spoon, unplugged it and smothered it with a damp tea towel.
“I picked it up and threw it out the back door where it turned in to an inferno.”
Air fryer users have been warned to be careful (Getty Images)Air fryers blow extreme heat around a compartment to cook food, similar to an oven. But an electric safety expert has warned users to be careful. Martyn Allen, of charity Electrical Safety First, said: “As more of these items are used in homes, it’s somewhat expected that accidents may occur – yet like all fires they can be a terrifying experience.”
Mr Allen said air fryers should never be overfilled or plugged into an extension lead and added: “Make sure you keep your power cords away from hot surfaces to avoid damaging cables, which could pose a serious fire risk.”
A spokesman for Tower said it was pleased Rebecca was OK after the fire earlier this week and requested to take a look at her air fryer.
He said: “Safety is of the utmost importance. A thorough investigation will help us understand the circumstances.”