ARTICLE

How Your Air Fryer Can Save You Money

March 25, 2024 - 3 min read

As the cost of living continues to rise, many people are looking for new ways to save money. But did you know there’s a benchtop beauty that can help you out? Air fryer fans already know how handy they can be for quick and health-conscious cooking – but it turns out energy efficient small appliances can also boost your bank account.

“As well as dishing up quick weeknight dinners, sides and snacks, air fryers can use less electricity during cooking than larger appliances,” says Tracey Ellis, The Good Guys Buyer – Portable Appliances. “This means they can save you time and money, and can become your kitchen’s most valuable player.”

A hand adjusting a black dial on a white air fryer next to power point.

Why You Need An Air Fryer

Air fryers have become the go-to appliance of many busy households, thanks to their ability to deliver quick and tasty food without the use of oil. Wellness warriors, rejoice! Their simplicity also means they’re easy and safe to use for the younger members of the family – great for delegating those mid-week meals. Essentially, anything you make in a standard oven you can do in your air fryer; and their compact and portable nature means they’ve even become a staple in camp kitchens across the country!

With features including pre-set cook modes for easy entertaining, digital controls for precision cooking, and dual cooking drawers so you can make multiple meals at once, they truly are the little kitchen helpers that deliver big results.

Best-Value Air Fryers

Ninja Dual Zone Air Fryer
Russell Hobbs 8 Litre Satisfry Extra Large Air Fryer
Philips Air Fryer Essential Compact

Philips Air Fryer Essential Compact

How An Air Fryer Can Help With The Cost Of Living

To understand how an air fryer can save you money on your power bill, it’s important to understand how an air fryer works. First up, it’s important to note they don’t actually fry your food – hence those high fives on the healthy eating front. Instead, food is placed in a perforated basket and hot air is blown around the food. The sheer force of the air rapidly browns and cooks the food, and voila – you have delicious food, cooked quickly and without oil!

“The reason air fryers can cut power costs is that they’re very energy efficient,” says Tracey Ellis. “They use relatively little power to run and they cook extremely quickly – both those factors can add up to significant savings on your power bills.”

As well as offering energy efficiency, air fryers are great for whipping up “fakeaway” versions of your go-to takeaway treats, which means it costs less to eat your favourite fast foods at home.

Quick Snacks And Sides To Make In Your Air Fryer

Love hosting friends and family? The cost-of-living crisis doesn’t have to mean you abandon entertaining. To keep costs down, try these crowd-pleaser air fryer recipes!

Stuffed Cheesy Mushrooms

Button mushrooms deliver the perfect morsel, especially for carb-conscious guests. Gently wipe a 250g punnet of mushrooms, remove and discard stems. Stuff mushrooms with a mixture of softened cream cheese, grated sharp cheddar and Parmesan, minced garlic, and a dash of Worcestershire sauce. Season to taste. Air fry for 8 mins, or until the cheese is gooey. Yum!

Someone serving air fryer waffle potato fries and fried chicken from an air fryer basket.

Zucchini Chips

Deliciously crunchy, these zucchini chips pair well with aioli for dipping. Thinly slice a medium zucchini, then dip slices in beaten egg and a mixture of panko breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese. Lightly spray slices with oil, season to taste, then air fry in a single layer, turning once, for 10 mins, or until lightly golden.

Loaded Potato Skins

For a superquick, tasty side, use pre-cooked potatoes. Cut three large cooked potatoes in half lengthways. Scoop out half of the flesh, lightly spray the insides of the potatoes with oil, then top with bacon and your favourite cheese. Air fry for 8 mins, or until the cheese has melted. Top with sour cream and chopped chives to serve.

Mozzarella Sticks

Double-coated, these easy sticks are set to become a family favourite. For best results, start by cooling the mozzarella sticks on a paper-lined plate in the freezer for 30 mins. Next, coat sticks in all-purpose flour, then roll in beaten egg, followed by panko breadcrumbs mixed with salt, onion powder and smoked paprika. Cool sticks in freezer for 30 mins. Coat in egg and breadcrumbs again, then air fry for 8 mins, or until golden.

Garlic Prawns

An Aussie summer staple, garlic prawns are packed with protein and quick to make in an air fryer. To serve six, use around 300g of fresh or frozen prawns. Toss prawns in a mixture of melted butter, olive oil, minced garlic, a dash of lemon juice, chopped fresh herbs like thyme or parsley, and seasoning. Transfer to air fryer and cook for 8 mins. Serve with lemon wedges.

Make entertaining easy and save on your power bills by buying an air fryer from The Good Guys! Head in-store or shop online and find out how you could earn StoreCash – just one way we help you Pay Less Every day.

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