Fried food is undeniably delicious. However, we all know that we should avoid the oil and fat that comes with a deep-fried dinner. That’s why air fryers have become so popular in recent years: they give food the same crunchy texture without excessive amounts of oil.
Kitchen appliances make up most of the electricity bill in the average home. For instance, an electric oven may use between 2,000 and 3,000 watts.
An air fryer is an excellent alternative to a conventional oven enabling you to cook dinner using considerably less electricity.
But how energy-efficient are air fryers, really?
How Many Watts Do You Need for an Air Fryer?
Air fryers typically use 800 to 2,000 watts of power, depending on the model and manufacturer. Smaller fryers typically use fewer watts, while larger models consume more electricity.
Check your air fryer’s product label, manual, or manufacturer’s website to determine its exact starting and running watts.
Small Air Fryers
Small fryers are rated at around 800 to 1,200 watts. Compact fryers are perfect for one or two-person households. They use much less energy than larger models and can be an excellent choice for those who want to save money on electricity bills.
The wattage is low enough to use a relatively small off-grid power solution to take your air fryer camping or during a power outage.
For example, the EcoFlow DELTA 2 Power Station can easily support an air fryer and 90% of other home appliances. Add two 220W Bifacial Portable Solar Panels, and take your home comforts off-grid — even for extended periods.
Medium Air Fryers
Medium air fryers may have a wattage from 1,200 to 1,500 watts. They can hold around 3 to 5 quarts of food, making them the perfect size for small families.
A medium fryer strikes a good balance between energy consumption and usability—it will be quieter than large models but cook faster than a smaller option.
Large Air Fryers
Large air fryers use the most watts, with models rated between 1,500 and 2,000 watts. It’s still less than a conventional electric oven, which consumes 2,000 to 5,000 watts. Still, it will add to your electricity bill.
Most large fryers hold 6 to 8 quarts of food, but some extra-large models can hold 20 or more.
Large air fryers are best suited for large families or commercial applications like food trucks and restaurants. They consume more energy than an average household air fryer, so only purchase one if you need the extra power or cooking space.
If you’re concerned about the potential impact on your electric bill, you can consider running it on a renewable energy solution like the DELTA Pro solar generator. It combines a portable power station with one or more 400W Portable Solar Panels to generate clean, renewable electricity from the sun.
With 3600W of AC output (7200W starting watts with X-Boost), it can run large air fryers and other cooking appliances simultaneously.
How Many Amps Do Air Fryers Use?
A typical household air fryer may use anywhere between 800 and 2,000 watts of power.
You can use the wattage to figure out the amps that a specific air fryer uses with this formula:
Amps (A) = Watts (W) / Voltage (V)
Here is the calculation for an 800-watt air fryer:
Amps = 800 W / 120 V = 6.67 A
And for a 2,000-watt air fryer:
Amps = 2,000 W / 120 V = 16.67 A
These are approximate values; the actual amperage can vary depending on the specific model and voltage supply. Consult your air fryer’s manual or specifications for precise information, as they usually provide rated power in watts and amps.
Also, the actual amps that the fryer draws will change according to its heat setting. Setting a low cooking temperature will consume fewer amps than cooking on full heat.
The right portable power station can supply power to even the largest fryers in an off-grid situation. The EcoFlow DELTA Pro has an output rating of 30 amps (3600 watts) of 120V AC power. It can power a large air fryer and other appliances simultaneously.
Factors That Affect Air Fryers’ Energy Usage
In most cases, an air fryer won’t consume its rated wattage — at least not all the time. The wattage listed by the manufacturer represents the maximum wattage the appliance will use while operating.
Numerous factors can impact the actual amount of electricity — measured in watt-hours/kilowatt hours (Wh/kWh) — an air fryer will use over time.
Those factors include:
- Cooking temperature
- Frequency of use
- Efficiency
- Food quantity
- Manufacturing quality
Let’s take a look.
Cooking Temperature
Most air fryers have a dial or keypad that allows you to set the cooking temperature. When you raise the temperature, you increase the operating wattage of the fryer. Higher cooking temperatures lead to higher energy usage.
Usage Frequency
An air fryer’s energy consumption directly correlates with how often you use it. If you only use your fryer once per week, it will use much less power than the same model used daily.
Cooking Time
Your cooking times also affect energy consumption. It will take longer to fry a thin filet of salmon than to fry an entire chicken breast. The longer you use the fryer — at the same temperature — the more electricity it consumes.
The good news is that you can reduce cooking times by being smart about what food you’re preparing.
Efficiency
High-efficiency air fryers will utilise gaskets and other insulation to prevent heat from escaping. In addition, they use higher-quality heating elements that require less energy to produce the same amount of heat.
Food Quantity
Electricity consumption will fluctuate depending on the quantity of food you’re cooking. If the basket is packed to the brim with frozen food, the machine will have to work harder to cook the food. The fryer will use less energy if you reheat a small amount of food or cook something at room temperature instead of frozen.
Maintenance
As you use your air fryer, grease, and other debris can build up. To keep it functioning at maximum efficiency, clean and maintain the fryer frequently. Consult the instruction manual for your model to determine the best cleaning method.
Wattage
Operating a 2000-watt fryer for 10 minutes will consume approximately twice as much energy as a 1000-watt air fryer running for the same amount of time.
If you have a small household, choosing a lower-wattage model can help reduce the energy usage of your air fryer.
FAQs
Do Air Fryers Use a Lot of Electricity?
Air fryers use a low amount of electricity when compared to alternatives like full-size ovens. With short cooking times and small sizes, most air fryers will not use much electricity. The actual energy consumption will depend on usage patterns, cooking temperature, efficiency, and other factors.
Are Air Fryers More Efficient Than Ovens?
Air fryers are typically more efficient than traditional ovens. Most air fryers use convection heating to circulate hot air around the food rather than relying on radiant heat like conventional ovens — which is considerably more efficient. Air fryers are also much smaller in size, which means far less space needs to be heated to cook your food.
What Size Generator Do I Need For an Air Fryer?
To power an air fryer, you need a generator that produces enough electricity to meet the starting and running watts required. Keep in mind that the generator’s AC output must meet or exceed the total wattage of all the appliances you wish to operate simultaneously.
If you’re looking to power multiple high-wattage appliances at the same time, consider the EcoFlow Whole Home Generator. It comes in numerous configurations and can supply up to 7200W of operating electricity simultaneously.
Conclusion
An air fryer’s wattage will vary widely depending on the size, efficiency, maintenance, and other factors. Most air fryers are rated between 800 and 2,000 watts, but their actual electricity consumption also depends on the temperature setting and amount of food.
An air fryer can be an exceptional cooking tool during a power outage, camping trip, or any other situation where a conventional oven is impractical.
Not only that, air fryers offer the same texture and mouthfeel of deep-fried food — without all the extra oil and fat.
If you’re trying to be healthier — and more energy independent — air fryers are easy to operate with EcoFlow portable power stations, with or without solar panels.
Check out our solar and battery storage solutions — and air fry off-grid today!
