Time tracking studies conducted in a test kitchen measured the performance of hot air fryers against conventional ovens for preparing frozen and fresh foods. Preheated air fryers cooked 450 grams of potato wedges in 14 minutes, while a standard residential oven required 26 minutes at the same core temperature.
The study also observed energy consumption. The compact device used 0.8 kilowatt-hours per cooking session compared to 1.5 kilowatt-hours for the larger oven. No preheating period was needed for five of the eight tested recipes, further shortening the total time from start to serving.
Smaller kitchens have shown particular interest in these appliances. Apartment residents reported that the device replaced two other countertop items: a toaster oven and a deep fryer. The combined footprint of the air fryer measured 23 centimeters by 30 centimeters, freeing up usable space in 87% of surveyed households.
