Experts give safety warning to everyone who owns an air fryer

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All hail the air fryer, a genius device that's made home cooking after long arduous days a walk in the park.

But whether you own a top of the range Ninja or a budget device from Asda or Lidl, there's a safety issue that you really need to listen to when it comes to using the gadgets.

The cost-efficient devices have boomed in recent years. With them being smaller than a conventional oven, an air fryer allows you to cook food quicker and by using less energy - a double win when it comes to your electricity bill.

They're a godsend for crispy home-cooked chips, with the inventors of the air fryer even revealing how to get them cooked to perfection.

You shouldn't cook everything and anything in them, though.

According to experts, there's one favourite ready to spell chaos in your kitchen if you whack it in an air fryer.

Aside from that, there's another key piece of advice air fryer loves need to take on board to keep themselves safe.

Chicken being cooked in an air fryer. Getty Stock Images

Ultimately it comes down to whether you keep your air fryer plugged in.

Some will put theirs away when not using them due to their sheer size, while others may well keep them on the kitchen top like kettle, given how much they are now used.

There's a safety risk here as well as a cost issue to consider.

James Longley, managing director at Utility Bidder, says: "Air fryers, like many other kitchen appliances, continue to draw electricity even when not actively in use if they remain plugged in.

Air fryers can carry risks. Getty Stock Images

"Although the power consumption when turned off is relatively low compared to when the appliance is actively cooking, it can still contribute to energy wastage and pose potential safety risks if left unattended for extended periods."

Lydia Mallinson, marketing manager at ZWILLING, adds: "As long as the mains plug is plugged into the socket, live voltage exists in any appliance – including air fryers – even if the appliance is switched off."

Never overfill an air fryer. Getty Stock Images

Lydia also advises you should unplug the air fryer before cleaning it to keep yourself safe at all times, especially if using water which is a huge conductor of electricity.

When it comes to costs, it feels like it might be time to treat it as you do other 'zombie' devices.

Keeping them on standby or plugged in and switched on, such as your washing machine or tumble dryer, is simply eating away at the pennies in your bank account. Turn them off.

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Tom Earnshaw

Tom joined LADbible in 2024, specialising in SEO and trending content. He moved to the company from Reach plc where he enjoyed spells as a content editor and senior reporter for one of the country's most-read local news brands, LancsLive. When he's not in work, Tom spends his adult life as a suffering Manchester United supporter after a childhood filled with trebles and Premier League titles. You can't have it all forever, I suppose.

@TREarnshaw