Air fryers have become a common sight in domestic kitchens, providing convenient and efficient cooking. As a result, it’s unsurprising that you could find yourself thinking about incorporating one into your setup when you’re on the road, especially as some campervans can have limited cooking facilities. But this leads to the question – can you use an air fryer in a campervan?
The best air fryer for a motorhome, just like one of the best microwaves for a campervan, could be a tempting kitchen appliance to add. The good news (and the short answer) is that yes, you can use an air fryer in a campervan. However, before you start packing your domestic appliance, there are some points to consider.
As with any of the gadgets you take on tour with you, the way the air fryer will be powered will need careful consideration – and the way you tour will influence this. If you’re planning to stay at a campsite in the UK or Europe, you will most likely have access to 230V electric hook-up. In the UK this is typically at 16A, but can sometimes be 10A. In contrast, if you’ve decided to take the ferry or Eurotunnel and will be touring in Europe, it can be as low as 6A.
Once you know what ampage your site provides, you can work out what wattage air fryer you can use with the following formula: Volts (V) x Amps (A) = Watts (W).
So say, for example, you’re at a site with 16A electric hookup, you will have a total of 3680W to play with (230 x 16 = 3680), allowing you to work out what appliances you can have running at the same time.
In contrast, this will drop to 2300W if it’s a 10A hook-up (230 x 10 = 2300W), and if it’s a 6A site, it goes down to 1380W (230 x 6 = 1380).
You will need to ensure that the input of the air fryer (which is usually higher than its output) is lower than the output of your chosen power source to ensure it can appropriately operate it. We would recommend sticking to an air fryer with a wattage of no higher than 1800w (assuming you have 16A electric hook-up) and avoid using it at the same time as other gadgets such as kettles and microwaves, otherwise, you could find yourself accidentally tripping the mains hook-up of your campsite.
However, for those who tour off-grid and without access to electric hook-up, an option with a lower wattage would be better, which is where the best low wattage air fryers can make a tempting choice. This is because you will be relying on a gadget such as a portable power station to run it – again, ensuring the input of the air fryer is lower than your power source’s output and within its capacity.
As well as ensuring your power source is capable of operating the appliance, you will want to think about the size you want and can accommodate. After all, you’re going to need to transport it and space can be a particular issue in a smaller ‘van, so ensure you have the room in a drawer or cupboard to store it in a place where you can easily reach it.
Something else you may wonder when you’re cooking is how to stop condensation in a campervan – don’t miss our guide where we talk you through the steps you can take.
Future Publishing Limited, the publisher of Practical Motorhome, provides the information in this article in good faith and makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. Individuals carrying out the instructions do so at their own risk and must exercise their independent judgement in determining the appropriateness of the advice to their circumstances. To the fullest extent permitted by law, neither Future nor its employees or agents shall have any liability in connection with the use of this information. Double check any warranty is not affected before proceeding with any DIY alterations.
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