'Serious' air fryer warning issued as experts say common mistake should be avoided

Over the past couple of years, more and more people have been ditching their ovens in favour of the handy air fryer.

These countertop gadgets have soared in popularity recently, as they offer a quicker and more convenient way to cook food compared to more traditional methods.

They're often healthier too, and tend to use less energy, making them the perfect choice for anyone looking to cut down on bills.

So it's no surprise that they're officially more popular than ovens, according to new survey figures from the Good Food Nation study, which found that air fryers are now the third most used appliance in British kitchens after toasters and microwave ovens.

However, experts are now urging households to avoid one easy-to-overlook mistake, in order to avoid any potential fires.

“If there was any doubt air fryers were here to stay, these latest figures show they are now a staple part of our kitchen set up,” Luke Osborne, Deputy Technical Director at Electrical Safety First said.

But people are being warned to ensure they are using the devices correctly to reduce their risk of an accidental fire occurring, with fires in the kitchen still accounting for a large percentage of overall electrical fires across the country every year.

The charity has revealed some of the most important dos and don’ts of air fryer use to ensure the millions of households using them do so safely - and a major no-go is putting oil in your appliance.

Experts say that any build up of oil and food can present a risk, as it can be fuel for a fire. However, keeping your air fryer clean will prevent this and as an added bonus, make your food taste even better too.

According to Good Housekeeping, too much oil in your air fryer can also create a lot of unnecessary smoke - but if you do need a little oil for your dish, put it on the food itself and not directly in the drawer.

Luke has also shone a light on a few other safety precautions that you should always take when cooking with your air fryer.

He said: "Always register the product to make sure you are contactable in the event a fault is detected by the manufacturer. Never overfill your air fryer and never plug the appliance into an extension lead to avoid potential overheating.

"Make sure you keep your power cords away from hot surfaces to avoid damaging cables, which could pose a serious fire risk and always refer to the manufacturer’s instructions when it comes to cleaning your device."

The charity is also urging consumers to check that their air fryer has not been subject to a safety notice or product recall.

A handful of air fryers have been issued with a safety notice or product recall in recent years, with the dangers ranging from a serious risk of electric shock to fire.

Consumers can check if an air fryer has been recalled using the charity’s product recall checker.