AIR fryers have shot to popularity in recent years – but do you know how much it costs to run one?

You can buy them pretty cheap and they take up less space than an oven.

We revealed where you can get the cheapest ones.

But even if you get one for not much, it's important to factor in just how much it might cost to run it, especially with energy bills so high.

The good news though is that it's not much.

That will be music to the ears of households contending with soaring food prices and costly petrol.

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We explore exactly how much it would cost to have one of the quirky devices in your home.

How does an air fryer work?

When you use an air fryer, the food goes in a tray or basket and then the machine gets to work.

A heating element provides the heat needed while a fan distributes this around the food, helping it cook quickly and evenly.

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Between the heat and the drying effect of the fan, the food will become crispy – and plenty of people consider it to be a much more healthy way to prepare dinner.

How much does it cost to use?

The answer won't be the same for everyone, as what you pay for electricity will depend on your tariff and also how large and efficient your appliance is.

As with any appliance, a newer model is likely to be more efficient, and be cheaper to run than an older version.

The power of an air fryer is measured in watts, and this determines how much energy it uses – and the cost of using it.

But the more powerful the appliance, the quicker it will cook your food too.

The equation you need to work out the cost of using any appliance is: Cost = power (kilowatt) x cost of one kWh (pence) x the length of time (just the one off meal, or over a week or month.)

Some of the cheaper models will typically use around 900 watts.

Under the new price cap a kWh, which is 1000 watts, of energy costs 28p, but the short time you'll need the air fryer on means it won't be quite so costly to run.

Experts at Uswitch estimate using an air fryer for 15 minutes costs around 10p under the current price cap.

So if you used one every day for a year, you'd spend £36.50.

Under the frozen price cap and for the same duration, that cost goes up to 13p.

If used for 15 minutes every day for a year you'd be paying out £47.45.

Is it cheaper than using the oven?

Don't assume that your new gadget is going to save you money as well as calories.

Uswitch's Sarah said: “Depending on their size, some air fryers are similar in power to an oven, but the difference is the amount of time you need to use them."

For example, it can take 20 minutes to get your oven up to temperature, but most air fryers will be ready in just three minutes.

Plus, the cooking time in an air fryer is usually shorter because the area area is smaller, so heats up more quickly.

Two boneless chicken breasts may take 15-18 minutes to cook in an air fryer, compared to half an hour in an oven.

Sarah said: "That means the appliance won't be draining energy for as long a period, which could mean less of a strain on your bills in the long run.

Ovens aren't the biggest energy suck in the home, but they do guzzle a fair amount of electricity, especially if you use them often and for long periods of time.

An air fryer will be smaller and more energy-efficient than a full-sized oven, so you could save money on your bills if you used it for your midweek meals, and save the oven for a single batch-cooking session at the weekend.

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And we take a look at how much it costs to run a microwave too.

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