Air fryers are a home cook’s best friend – but be aware of covering you food in one item (Image: Getty)
promise its users a quicker and more efficient way of their meals, while keeping their prices as low as possible.
However, there are a number of mistakes you could be making without realising it – and it could be affecting the quality of your
If you’re not aware, a simple mistake could lead to a cooking disaster, ruining your food, but also damaging your
It’s not uncommon to seal your food, whether that be in foil or baking paper, to help lock in moisture.
However these methods are best reserved for traditional cooking appliances, such as ovens.
Wrapping food in foil and cooking in the air fryer could lead to a food disaster (Image: Getty)
By wrapping your food in foil, you can keep your food juicy, but also protect it from overcooking, and prevent over-browing, or in some cases, burning.
Foil can also help to reduce mess, needing less time for cleaning up. But this technique should be avoided in the air fryer.
An air fryer comes with a cooking chamber, a heating element and a fan.
The heating element generates the heat and the fan circulates the hot air around the cooking chamber, making sure the hot air reaches all sides of the food, cooking it thoroughly and evenly.
If you’ve sealed your food in foil, the foil can act as a barrier and block the airflow from the heating element, stopping food from cooking properly.
This could lead to undercooked or unevenly cooked food.
However if you’re determined to use foil, there is a way to get around any food disasters.
Instead of sealing your food completely in foil, consider leaving a hole.
Cutting a hole in the foil can help circulate the air, resulting in a better, more even cook.
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Consider cutting a hole in the foil to help circulate the air around the food more evenly (Image: Getty)
shared its findings on the cost of air fryers in comparison to electric and gas ovens.
Cost was based on the October 2024 price cap (24.5p/kWh electricity, 6.24p/kWh gas).
A smaller, compact air fryer with an energy rating between 0.8 to two kWh costs between 20p to 49p per hour, costing £40 to £98 per year to use.
In contrast, a larger model air fryer with a rating between 1.8 to 2.8 kWh costs 44p to 69p to run per hour. This will cost between £88 and £138 for the year.
When it comes to ovens, electric ovens with an energy rating of between two to five kWh will cost between 49p to £1.23 to run per hour. This racks up to between £98 and £246 to run per year.