How Many Watts Does An Air Fryer Use? [Quick Answer and Cooking Tips]

Air Fryers are strong kitchen appliances. The wattage for air fryers depends completely on the brand and the model that you buy. 

They are able to quickly cook up any kind of food, leaving it crispy, golden, and delicious. 

But have you ever wondered how many watts an air fryer actually uses? Do you wonder if your air fryer is using too much energy? 

Or maybe you worry that your air fryer isn’t compatible with your cooking space. 

Air fryer wattage relies majorly on the type of air fryer brand and model. Most air fryers use between 1200 – 1500 watts.

In this article, we will explore why air fryers use up the wattage and electricity that they do. Then we'll cover three different kinds of air fryers with different wattages.

Read on to better understand energy usage in air fryers and which ones are the most economical options. 

Air Fryer Wattage 

A key benefit of owning an air fryer is the fact that it is energy-light. To give you an idea of a general range, most air fryers use from about 1200 – 1500 watts. 

Air fryers that use more watts tend to support higher cooking temperatures. Air fryers that contain a lower wattage capacity, you guessed it, primarily cook at lower temperatures. 

What Are Watts and Why Are They Important? 

If saving a bit of money interests you, knowing how much energy your appliance is using is a great way to track costs.

If you are living in a college dorm or in a camper, then knowing the wattage of your air fryer is important. 

You may even be thinking, “what is a watt?” 

A watt is a measure of electrical power. 

Watts are important because if you know the watt capacity of your air fryer, you can easily monitor how much money you are spending on energy. 

I’ve given a formula for how to do this below.

How To Calculate Your Air Fryer’s Wattage

1. Multiply the air fryer’s wattage by the number of hours it is in use per day. 

• For my air fryer that would mean 1400 x .42 (if I used it for 25 minutes per day). 

• This would equal 588 watt hours per day.  

2. This gives you the number of watt-hours used each day, which you will need for the next calculation.

3. Kilowatt hours is what is usually shown on an electricity bill (at least this is the case for my bill!). 1 kilowatt equals 1,000 watts. In order to find out the number of kilowatts simply divide the total watt hours by 1,000. 

• 588 watt hours / 1,000 = 0.588 kilowatt hours per day

4. Let’s see how much this would be over a month, so the calculation is now 0.588 x 30 days = 17.64 kilowatt hours.

5. Next you will need to find out how much your energy supplier charges per kilowatt hour. Simply take that amount and multiply it by the total of kilowatt hours used per month.

There you have it, a quick how-to for calculating your air fryer’s energy usage (and how much that will cost your piggy bank) per month!

How Does an Air Fryer Actually Work? 

With today’s technological advancements, kitchen cooking has become vastly more energy efficient. Contrary to the name, air fryers don’t actually fry food in the same way a deep fryer does for instance.  

When connected, air fryers heat up a cord which then heats up air inside the cooking chamber. The fans in the fryer then move the air at top speed around the food. This maneuver leaves the food cooked evenly. 

Related: Can You Put Oil In An Air Fryer? [How To Do It & FAQ]

Cooking With High Wattage Vs Cooking With Low Wattage 

The amount of energy used by air fryers is relatively low compared to: 

Convection Oven

Can range anywhere from 2000 to 5000 watts. 

Microwave

They range anywhere from 600 to 900 watts. In my opinion, the results you get from microwaving your food do not beat the results you get from using an air fryer to reheat your food. 

Deep Fryer

Appliances like the Fry Daddy use a lot of watts to fry food. To put it into perspective, a commercial deep fryer can use up to 5000 watts for deep frying!

Ever wondered what would happen if you put ice in a deep fryer? Find out now!

Air Frying Vs Conventional Methods 

Air fryers typically deliver better results than other energy efficient cooking mechanisms such as microwaves. Another added bonus of air fryers is that the energy focuses on cooking the food and not heating up the chamber. 

Air fryers such as Philips, NuWave, and Tefal range from anywhere from 1300 to 1600 depending on the air fryer range and model. These can vary from more economical appliances to more complex ones. 

We’ve added a quick chart below so you can see the wattage for a variety of different affordable air fryers below.  

Want to buy an air fryer but unsure of where to begin? Read Philips Air Fryer VS. NuWave to see which air fryer is best for your kitchen.

I Have Bought My Air Fryer, Where Can I Find the Wattage? 

If you have already purchased an air fryer, but are looking to find the wattage on the appliance, have a look either: 

1. In the instruction manual 
2. At the very bottom of your air fryer (you will need to gently turn it over to see it)
3. Or, if you still can’t find it, you may need to contact the manufacturer

I have shown a photo of my Philips Air Fryer down below: 

If you look closely, you can see where it says the appliance is 1400 watts. 

Did you know you can fry chicken without flour? Learn how in our article: Can You Fry Chicken Without Flour? [Full How-To Guide + FAQs].

How Many Watts are Necessary to Cook Certain Foods?

You’ll need different wattages for various foods. Let’s start with what lower wattages are capable of and then keep moving up.

800 - 900 Watts: Veggies

Best for common vegetables such as: 

• Broccoli
• Carrots
• Onions

Vegetables tend to need around 800 to 900 watts to properly cook. Low wattage here allows for the food to moisten and radiate heat at a quicker rate. 

900 - 1000 Watts: Fried Foods

One can easily cook more complex fried foods such as fries, mozzarella cheese sticks, or delicious chicken nuggets. 

The lower wattage allows for a slow and steady cook. 

1000 - 1200 Watts: Meats and Other Proteins 

Protein rich foods need a higher wattage to cook.

Wattage any lower than the 1000 - 1200 range leaves room for bacteria to grow, which can result in food poisoning. 

Remember to check that your kitchen can support appliances that use this level of wattage. 

1200 – 1300 Watts: Perfectly Roasted Nuts 

At 1200 – 1300 watts it is possible to perfectly roast nuts, cashews, walnuts, sesame seeds, you name it. 

You are able to also reheat food at this level without burning it. 

1400 – 1500 Watts: Baked Goods 

One of the best things about an air fryer is its versatility. 

Cooking at 1400 - 1500 watts is enough to bake delicious muffins, cupcakes, and my favorite… Southern buttermilk biscuits! 

Related: What is the difference between Roasting and Baking?

Reheating Foods in the Air Fryer 

I absolutely recommend you reheat foods in the air fryer. Not only will your food heat evenly, you may even get that coveted crispy and golden outer texture.

We’ve written how-to guides on reheating food in our articles: How To Reheat A Burrito Without A Microwave [3 Different Methods] & How To Reheat Nachos Quickly With No Hassle!

Tips to Use Less Energy While Air Frying 

I try to be as environmentally conscious as possible when cooking. Although I am not perfect, I know that it is important for the planet. 

I’ve provided a short how-to list on ensuring you remain as sustainable as possible in the kitchen. 

Tip 1: Unplug Your Air Fryer After Use

When you've finished using your air fryer it is important to ensure you unplug it from the socket. Appliances left plugged in, that you may not use every day, still use energy.

Tip 2: Be Mindful When Prepping Food

To save more energy while cooking, try cooking in batches and then freeze or refrigerate the leftovers. You can always reheat the food the next day using the air fryer. 

Tip 3: Try to Shorten Cooking Times

Next time you use your air fryer, try chopping the food into smaller pieces. Once you have done this, you will be able to halve your cooking times which will inevitably mean less energy waste. 

Need a new kitchen knife? Discover: German vs. Japanese Knives: Who Makes the Best?

Closing Thoughts 

Watts are a way to measure electrical power. The higher the wattage in your air fryer, the higher the temperatures it can withstand. 

Most standard air fryers fall between 1200 – 1500 watts. This range allows for the air fryer to cook various foods such as vegetables, meats, and even nuts. 

Remember that the amount of watts your air fryer uses depends on the recipe you’re preparing as well as which model air fry you are using. Assessing the wattage in your air fryer is a good way to monitor your energy usage. 

We’d love to hear about your experience with air frying. 

Do you find yourself wanting to be more economical while cooking? 

Add your feedback in the comments below!