People replacing air fryers with cheaper alternative that's just as healthy

Air fryers have become popular in Ireland for their ability to cook healthier meals and their energy-saving benefits, especially during the cost of living crisis. However, halogen ovens are emerging as a cheaper alternative, offering similar cooking efficiency at a fraction of the price, with rave reviews from budget-conscious shoppers.

A lot of Irish households have invested in air fryers in recent years in a bid to eat healthier and save on energy bills.

Air fryers have soared in popularity primarily because of their ability to prepare fried-like foods with significantly less oil. The appliance uses hot air circulation to cook food, which reduces the need for excessive fats, therefore slashing the calories and saturated fat typically swimming in fried food.

Besides their health benefits, air fryers also promise to be more economical than using an oven. Many households across Ireland are struggling with the ongoing cost of living crisis, and air fryers can cook food faster, which means reduced energy consumption and lower electricity bills.

The downside to air fryers' popularity is that they regularly fly off shelves - But thrifty shoppers are now raving over an alternative that's even cheaper and widely available. Halogen ovens are said to be an "amazing" alternative to air fryers, and at a fraction of the price.

READ MORE: Ireland weather: Monster Atlantic storm prompts ominous 12 hour warning from Met Eireann

READ MORE: Nine electricity myths busted - from leaving heating on low all day to kettle error

Budget-savvy buyers can snap up a 'Quest White Halogen Oven - 12 Litre' from Guineys for a cool €49.95, while Amazon has a Daewood 17-litre one that's currently on offer at just €40.65, down from its original price of €47.91.

The Amazon one, which has over 6,000 happy reviews to back it up, goes by the mouthful name 'Daewoo Manual Air Fryer, Healthy Halogen For Baking, Roasting And Grilling, Cook Flavourful Food Without The Oil, 60 Minute Timer, All Round Viewing And Accessories Included, Family Sized, 17 Litres'.

One elated customer gushed: "I've had this for just under a week and honestly don't know how I got by without it. Heats faster and cooks more efficiently (and cheaply) than my oven, I've cooked several meals for a family of 3 including lasagnes, roast potatoes, chicken etc, everything has come out perfect except the pizza where the base was soft but I think a decent pizza tray will fix that. ".

Another thrilled user shared their love for the product, saying: "There is nothing to dislike. Really easy to use. Quick, very cost effective. The glass bowl is easy to keep clean. Also makes great toast."

A third satisfied shopper claimed: "I have had this halogen cooker for nearly a month now and I am pleased to say that it is proving to be very efficient and you can cook such a wide range of items. It is particularly useful when you only want small quantities of several items, I managed to fit beef burgers, garlic bread and oven chips in to the cleverly thought out baskets and shelves provided."

Other reviews said: "Efficient and very easy to use", "Very happy with it, for the price it is great" and "we love this product, we cook everything in it".

Essentially, a halogen oven comprises a glass bowl topped with a lid sporting a fan and halogen bulbs. Once active, the halogen bulbs emit infrared radiation generating heat, while the fan ensures hot air travels evenly across and around the grub, leading to a scrumptious cook.

Last year, Energia's research pointed out that if households aimed to slash electricity bills, getting friendly with microwaves and air fryers was the way forward. A team of experts has crunched the numbers to reveal the exact electricity usage and cost per hour for common kitchen appliances.

Oven

The average energy usage (wattage) for an oven is 1575, meaning it costs €0.58 to run per hour.

Air Fryer

The average energy usage (wattage) for an airfryer is 1500, meaning it costs €0.56 to run per hour. Therefore, using an air fryer for 30 minutes would cost €0.28.

Microwave

The average energy usage (wattage) for an airfryer is 1750, meaning it costs €0.65 to run per hour. Therefore, using a microwave for five minutes would cost €0.05.

A spokesperson said: "Using a microwave uses a lot less energy than a conventional oven. Microwaves only heat the food, not the air around it. What might take 20 minutes to reheat in the oven for 0.21c could take you 10 minutes in the microwave at a cost of 0.10c with your microwave."

"Meanwhile, using an airfryer for an hour costs 55c whereas using an oven for an hour is 57c. However, using an air fryer for 15 minutes uses over 40% less energy than 1 hour of oven use. This is because air fryers' smaller size tend to maximise airflow and heat your food even quicker than an oven."

Sign up to the Irish Mirror'sdaily newsletter hereand get breaking news and top stories direct to your inbox.