Oven vs Air Fryer: Which is the better choice?

The food we consume is a big part of our lives, and so is the way we prepare it. A growing trend over the past couple of years has been the alternative use of air fryers. Air fryers increased in popularity thanks to the social media site TikTok, where content creators showed off the simplicity of the device and its results.

Air fryers leave a crispy finish and work at a much faster rate than a conventional oven. Both have their positives and negatives as you’re going to find out as we take a deep dive into which one is the better choice for you. Choosing wisely might transform your life, by making the process of cooking meals easier and tastier.

A fan-assisted oven is also known as a convection oven, and uses a fan in order to disperse heat evenly throughout the oven cavity. The fan is activated at the same time the heating systems are, it draws in cold air from the oven cavity. This heats the air up quickly and creates a continuous flow of heat which allows for efficient cooking.

True fan ovens differ from fan-assisted ones as they solely rely on the use of the fan, whereas fan-assisted combines heat elements and the fan. When switched on and set to a temperature, the fan kicks into action and pushes heated air throughout the oven cavity.

Multifunction ovens offer a wide range of functions, it uses heating elements, fans and cooking modes to increase variability. It offers a fan-assisted, true fan and conventional oven which allows you to cook how you like best.

Also known as a traditional oven, a conventional oven functions by using two heating elements which are at the top and bottom of the cavity. When the oven is switched on and is set correctly, these functions will begin to generate heat. It creates a ‘still’ air environment allowing for a consistent environment for cooking.

An air fryer is an alternative appliance that circulates hot air rapidly. Like an oven, you can set the temperature you want the air to be at. They have become popular in recent years thanks to social media platforms like TikTok, where creators have highlighted its results. 

Air fryers use a hot fan that sits above the food item, pushing air at a very fast rate. It creates heat quickly, meaning cooking time is often less than a standard oven. It doesn’t require any pre-heating, which is one of the reasons it has received so much praise because of its good efficiency. This leaves a much crispier finish, which is why it’s a favourite for chips and fried chicken.

Ovens generally have a good bit of room which allows their users to cook multiple different foods at once. This is hugely beneficial to those who live in big households or live in homes of multiple occupancy. Ovens are also a good choice for businesses as they can cook more food at once, maximising their production.

Versatility is very important when it comes to food, ovens allow for a wide range of different dishes. You can change the settings of your oven to give what you're cooking the best taste possible. This ranges from baking, roasting and more, which isn’t possible when using appliances like an air fryer.

As ovens have been a staple of any kitchen for many decades now, there are many unique designs to choose or get inspiration from. You can get an oven that fits well with a wooden, marble or metal-styled kitchen. They also come in all different shapes and sizes so there’s one available to suit your household needs.

Ovens are built into kitchens, meaning that they’re often designed to take up as little space as possible. Modern models particularly have them built into the walls, to make your kitchen feel more spacious.

According to the Consumer Council, ovens use around 2000 watts of energy per hour, which costs 59p. This makes it an expensive appliance to use, as meals often take longer to cook or heat up in an oven than they would an air fryer or microwave. Using your oven for an hour each day would end up costing you £215.35 per year, which takes a hefty chunk out of your annual wage.

Before an oven has the ability to cook or warm up food, it needs time to heat up. This can take up to ten minutes which after being out all day can be frustrating. It also means you’re spending money on energy costs whilst nothing is in the oven, which is a waste of money for the billpayer.

Some ovens respond very slowly to you changing the temperature, you may want to lower or increase the heat in order for the best results. However, it can sometimes be five to ten minutes before the temperature has changed completely. This has a negative effect, as it could lead to food coming out over or undercooked.

After a long day at work, a lot of people’s first task is deciding what they’re going to have for dinner. Ovens require at least ten minutes to preheat, which is frustrating for those who are tired and hungry. Air fryers however heat immediately meaning you save yourself ten minutes of waiting, resulting in you getting your dinner in front of you quicker.

When researching cooking times for different foods, you’ll find that an air fryer does a quicker job. This is because its fan pushes hot air much faster than an oven which allows cooking to be completed faster. 

Air fryers can be bought in small sizes which is great for people who live in properties with a small kitchen. Due to its portability, it can easily be stored away in a cupboard and then brought out when needed. It allows for a clean and less messy look to your kitchen, maximising space to ensure you can fit as much as possible.

An air fryer is cheaper to run than an oven as it uses around 1500 watts an hour compared to the 2000 an oven uses. To use an air fryer for an hour costs 45p, 14p cheaper than an oven. This is a 24% saving. It may not sound like much for just an hour, but using your air fryer for an hour a day over your oven will save you over £51 a year.

Cooking the correct sized portions can be tricky, it is very easy for you to cook too much or too little. Air fryers are great at letting you know how many portions you can get out of what you’re putting in. As when you purchase your air fryer it will tell you whether it is for one person, two people and so on.

As much as you can buy different-sized air fryers, they are much smaller than conventional ovens. So if you have a big household you might struggle to make big enough portions or will have to buy multiple air fryers. Certain shaped foods may also struggle to fit in the air fryer, big pieces of meat can often be too large.

Most air fryers come with a maximum amount of time you are allowed to leave your food to cook. Of course, you can always come back and restart the timer, but that could prove difficult if you’re away doing important tasks. This won’t affect everyone, but for some, it will become a real annoyance and something that could put them off using an air fryer altogether.

Air fryers are particularly popular for fried foods like chicken wings, chips and battered fish. It leaves a nice crispy texture, but also a lot of mess at the bottom and sides of the frying bowl. This can be extremely difficult to clean, especially if it is left for a long time.