Experts caution against using air fryers instead of ovens

 

Material Quality: Lower‑quality devices may use cheaper plastics or coatings which degrade, risk releasing harmful compounds, or have poor durability. (Some caution around “cheap air fryers” having questionable non-stick coatings.) While direct citations on toxic emissions are less clear, concerns have been raised generally in discussion forums.

Kitchen Advising

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5. Energy / Environmental Impact Beyond Usage

 

Frequent use of many devices adds up: manufacturing, disposal, and materials used in air fryers are environmental costs. Critics argue that if you already have a functioning oven (especially convection oven), buying and using another appliance may be a less sustainable choice.

Kitchen Advising

 

Also, some air fryers require more electricity per minute than ovens when cooking certain volume of food, because achieving crispness often involves high heat or short bursts of high intensity. If usage is always small, maybe fine; but many users adopt them for many tasks, increasing cumulative load.

JOE.co.uk

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Trade‑offs: When Air Fryers Are Less Appropriate Than Ovens

 

Putting the cautions in context: there are specific situations where ovens are clearly preferable.

 

Situation Why Oven Tends to Be Better

Large meals (roasts, baking trays, multiple items at once) Ovens can cook larger quantities in one go; air fryers often need multiple batches, which takes more time and energy.

Baking (cakes, breads, pastries) Ovens provide more stable temperature, gentle radiant heat, and more space. Air fryers may bake, but usually with limitations (size, depth, crust development).

Slow‑roasted or braised dishes Longer, lower temperature cooking benefits from oven’s consistent environment.

Multi‑function use (grill, broil, bake, roast) Ovens (especially with convection options) are more versatile.

When texture and moisture retention matter (e.g. thick meats, fish, vegetables) Ovens allow better control of humidity, positioning, and slower temperature ramping.

How Experts Suggest We Use Both — “Not Instead, But In Balance”

 

What many experts recommend is not entirely abandoning the oven, but learning how to use each appliance optimally. Here’s what they suggest:

 

Calculate Energy Cost / Wattage

— Before choosing which appliance to use, check the wattage, estimate energy usage for the duration you’ll cook, multiply by your electricity rate. Martin Lewis recommends doing this to decide whether a meal is more economical in an oven or air fryer.

The Scotsman

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