Is an air fryer always the cheapest way to cook a meal?

Not always, but it is often one of the cheapest options for small and medium meals. The advantage shrinks when you need to cook larger portions.

When is the microwave cheapest?

It is usually cheapest for reheating, steaming, and smaller quick-cook jobs where browning is not important.

Cheapest Way to Cook a Meal

There is no single cheapest appliance for every meal. The right choice depends on portion size, cooking method, and whether you need browning, reheating, or a full oven cavity.

Updated March 2026. Default rate effective 1 April 2026 (Ofgem Q2 2026).

Practical answer

Use a microwave for reheating and simple one-bowl cooking, use an air fryer for crisping and smaller meals, and save the oven for larger portions, baking, and dishes that genuinely need the space.

Typical cost comparison

Typical cost comparison using current default assumptions
Appliance	Basis	Typical cost	Annual cost	Annual use
Microwave	Typical use	1.6p	£11.92	48.67 kWh
Air Fryer	Typical use	10.0p	£25.95	105.92 kWh
Oven	Typical use	30.6p	£79.84	325.89 kWh

Session costs depend on portion size, preheating, and how long the appliance actually runs. The best-value appliance can change once you are cooking for more people.

Match the appliance to the portion size

An oven heats a lot of empty space if you are only cooking one or two portions. That is why smaller appliances often look dramatically cheaper in one-meal comparisons.

Once you scale up to a larger tray, a roast, or several dishes at once, the oven starts to make more sense because the energy is spread across more food.

Speed matters because it changes energy use

Microwaves and air fryers usually win on electricity partly because they finish faster. Shorter cook times and less preheating mean less energy is burned before the food is ready.

That does not mean they replace everything. It means the oven should be a deliberate choice for the meals that need it, not the default for every weekday dinner.

Practical low-cost habits

Cook more than one item when the oven is already on, avoid unnecessary preheating, and use the microwave for reheating instead of running a full oven cavity.

For air fryers, overcrowding can slow cooking and reduce the efficiency advantage. Small batches are often cheaper, but only if you do not end up cooking the same food in several rounds.

Related comparisons

Air Fryer vs Oven

Compare air fryer vs oven running costs. Which is cheaper to cook with? Side-by-side electricity cost comparison using current UK energy prices.

Open comparison

Cheapest Way to Cook a Meal FAQs

Common questions about electricity costs and our calculators.