Air fryer vs oven: Which is the right option for me?

With many of us swapping our oven for an air fryer a few nights a week, the handy kitchen appliance has become increasingly popular in households up and down the UK. Which is why it is not too surprising that searches for ‘air fryer vs oven’ have had consumers weighing up the pros and cons of them both, all while asking, “Are air fryers better than ovens?”

However, which one is superior? Or, more importantly, which is the best fit for you and your family?

The best air fryers can cut cooking times, energy bills and whip up a variety of dishes. But can, or should, it replace an oven? Here is everything you need to know when it comes to their cooking performance, energy efficiency, convenience and cost, to help you decide which is right for you.

Cooking performance and time

Depending on what you are looking to cook, bake or make, one option might be better than the other. “From a cooking performance perspective, air fryers excel at crisping and roasting smaller portions,” reveals Isabella Forgione, small appliance expert at AO. “Their convection technology circulates hot air rapidly, delivering golden, crunchy results in less time than an oven. For everyday meals like chips, chicken, or roasted veg, they’re hard to beat. That said, ovens still play an important role in the kitchen.”

“Ovens often do a better job at retaining moisture in dishes, which is better for baking cakes, slow-cooking casseroles, or roasting large joints of meat. They’re also better suited to layered or delicate dishes, such as lasagnes or soufflés, where precise, even heat is essential,” Forgione continues. Air fryer vs oven taste might be down to personal preference, but for crispiness and versatility, an air fryer is the way to go, whereas bigger batch sizes are possible in a conventional oven.

As for air fryer vs oven cooking times, air fryer cooking times are generally quicker. There is also the added benefit that most air fryer models do not need preheating, whereas ovens can take several minutes to heat up before you even start cooking. “They’re also compact, so food cooks faster overall compared to an oven’s larger cavity, which makes air fryers ideal for quick weeknight meals or when you just want a speedy snack,” Forgione affirms.

Energy use and efficiency

When it comes to air fryer vs oven energy use, the team at Which.co.uk have done the sums. And with energy bills on the rise, this is particularly important.

For example, after calculating the energy costs based on an electricity unit price of 26.35p per kWh – which is the average capped rate for direct debit customers from October 2025 – they discovered that a roast chicken will cost 14p in an air fryer, compared to 30p in a built-in oven. There are also savings to be made when cooking chips (8p in an air fryer compared to 23p in an oven), a jacket potato (10p versus 29p) and a cake (6p versus 19p). And this price difference between the two can add up over time, especially if you are only cooking for one or two people.

Simply put, “air fryers typically use less energy because they run for shorter periods and only heat a small space, while ovens cost more to run but make sense for large family meals, where cooking everything in one go is more efficient,” Forgione admits.

Depending on the size of your air fryer basket or baskets, with certain models coming with one extra-large drawer if you need more space, or a double-stack design to allow you to cook several different dishes or foods at the same time, you might be limited by how much you can fit in an air fryer basket. So, if you regularly make large roasts or cook for family and friends, a traditional oven could be much more efficient.

Ease of use and cleaning

Again, depending on whether you are simply heating some quick leftovers or making a meal for one, compared to cooking larger family-sized portions or meal prepping, air fryers can feel a whole lot more convenient. Both are undoubtedly easy to use, with ovens and air fryers often coming with simple dials and buttons to allow you to adjust the temperature and controls with ease.

If you have not used an air fryer before, it might take a few attempts to get used to setting the time, temperature, and potentially using the baskets simultaneously, if you have a dual basket model. But this should soon become second nature.

You will also want to take into consideration how much counter space you have in your kitchen, or if you want to have the appliance out on display all year round. Compact air fryers can slot in quite easily and even be stored away out of sight when not in use, but larger models and air fryer ovens can be much bulkier and stop you from being able to make use of your counter to chop and prep food.

As for which one is easier to clean, when was the last time that you gave your oven a thorough clean? It is often one of our least favourite cleaning tasks. Not only do you have to remove the racks and scrub the inside and door, but you have to wash each tray you use after every meal. “Many modern ovens come with clever settings to make cleaning easier. Such as pyrolytic technology, which absorbs greases and then gets turned to ash. All you have to do is wipe everything with a damp cloth afterwards, only taking a few minutes,” Forgione admits. However, if you have an older oven, it can be much more of a fuss.

In comparison, air fryers typically have dishwasher-safe baskets and trays, so clean-up is as simple as loading the dishwasher – just double-check that yours is suitable for dishwashing before doing so. You can always give the trays and baskets a quick dip in some soapy water, too.

Discover our full guide on how to clean an air fryer

Cost of running and air fryer vs oven

Air fryers are typically more inexpensive to buy than an oven, with plenty of the bestselling and most popular models available at entry-level prices. In our roundup of the best air fryers UK, the most affordable were under £100, with many going on sale throughout the year and during the likes of Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day to make them more economical. You may even want to invest in an air fryer oven – if you have the countertop space to do so – to give you the benefits of having multiple trays and racks without having to purchase a convection oven.

If you have just moved into a new home or your existing oven is only a few years old, you will likely not need to invest in a traditional oven anytime soon. However, ovens are a bigger investment than an air fryer, with them ranging in price from around £200 all the way up to £1000 and more, depending on the specifications. Saying that, “they’re also a long-term kitchen staple. You simply can’t host a Sunday roast or bake for a crowd without one,” Forgione suggests.

Which is healthier?

If you have been wondering, is an air fryer healthier than an oven or weighing up the pros of cooking in an air fryer vs a convection oven, it is not quite as cut and dry as it seems. “From a health perspective, air fryers reduce oil use, but you can achieve much the same in an oven with a light spray of oil,” explains Dean Harper, chef at Harper Fine Dining. Therefore, an air fryer is not inherently healthier than an oven.

Yes, “you can get that crispy, fried-style finish with little to no oil in an air fryer, which is a big win for households wanting to cut back on fat without losing flavour,” Forgione adds. “Ovens are also a healthy way to cook, as baking and roasting both work well with minimal oil. However, air fryers make it more accessible and fuss-free.”

Essentially, when it comes to an air fryer vs oven UK, Forgione concludes, “air fryers and ovens both have their advantages and in most kitchens, they end up working best side by side rather than in competition. The choice really comes down to how you cook, who you’re cooking for, and the type of meals you’re preparing.” Which is why many households will no doubt benefit from having both at their disposal.