Cooking instructions for using air fryers to be added to M&S products

Air fryer cooking instructions will be added to Marks & Spencer products as the biggest change in cooking habits since the microwave revolution of the 1980s gathers pace.

The move is being followed by supermarkets and brands, as the kitchen gadget experiences a massive surge in popularity, driven by the cost of living crisis.

Sales of the devices have surged by around 350 per cent year on year, as many households move away from more expensive and slower electric ovens and hobs.

Research by Which? shows that an air fryer can cook a perfect roast chicken for 18p in about 60 minutes, half the price and 16 minutes faster than an electric oven.

Air fryers – which rely on circulating a mist of oil at high temperatures – use far less oil than traditional deep fat fryers or frying pans, making them a healthier option too.

Nicola Mecrate-Butcher, head of marketing at M&S Food, said: ‘As more of our customers use air fryers, it is part of our plans to add cooking instructions to packaging this year.’

The Mail on Sunday revealed last weekend how McCain are adding instructions on packaging to show how to cook their frozen chips and other products in an air fryer.

‘Waitrose is looking at making a change to labels, while Aldi will shortly roll out ‘Suitable for Air Fryer’ labelling.

A survey by experts at Leatherhead Food Research found 30 per cent of households now own an air fryer, while 22 per cent of those that don’t plan to buy one.

Leatherhead’s Natasha Burton said: ‘This is becoming a mainstream cooking technique for a wide range of products. 

‘While chips are the most popular, we found that a quarter of owners also use their air fryers for wet fish and vegetables.

‘Being able to cook food more quickly, cheaply and with less fat is a winning combination for many people.

‘By including air fryer cooking instructions on-pack, manufacturers enable consumers to cook food safely and achieve the desired sensory qualities.’

Nicola Mecrate-Butcher, head of marketing at M&S Food, said it’s part of the brand’s plans to add cooking instructions