CLAIMS FOR DAMAGE relating to air fryers are running into tens of thousands of pounds on average, with costs running as high as £80,000 (€96,000), an insurance giant in the UK has warned.

Aviva said it has seen some significant home insurance claims in the UK relating to air fryer fires over the past four years, with claimants sustaining considerable fire and smoke damage to their homes.

However, it is understood that no reports of air fryer fires have been reported to Aviva in Ireland.

The average claim for 2024 in the UK amounted to £29,555 (€35,640) and in one case dealt with by the insurer, an air fryer fire caused £80,000 worth of damage to a kitchen after spreading and setting the entire room alight, destroying the kitchen ceiling, walls, cupboards and their contents, a washing machine and a television.

Aviva said that in some cases, claimants have described seeing flames erupting from collapsing and melting air fryers, destroying the surfaces on which they were placed.

It has also dealt with several claims where air fryers had been placed on hobs, accidentally switching the hob on and inadvertently setting the air fryer ablaze.

In one incident, a hungry dog was responsible for a hob being accidentally switched on.

The insurer also commissioned a survey by UK consultants Censuswide, which found that around two-thirds (68%) of people in the research own an air fryer.

Nearly a fifth (19%) of people surveyed said they had encountered potential or actual fire hazards in their homes because of one, such as smoke, overheating or scorching.

The research also indicated that many people do not always follow guidelines and advice when using their air fryer, with only around a fifth (21%) saying they strictly follow the manual provided with their item.

Some people in the survey admitted to regularly over-filling their air fryer and some used it in a non-ventilated area such as a cupboard, according to the survey of 2,000 people in December.

Hannah Davidson, senior underwriting manager at Aviva, said: “With the increasing popularity of air fryers, it’s crucial that users are aware of the associated fire risks.

“Aviva’s survey shows that nearly one in five UK residents have encountered fire-related issues with air fryers, from smoking and overheating to explosions and fires. This, alongside our claims insights, underscores the need for constant vigilance.”

She added: “Simple practices such as not leaving air fryers unattended, avoiding excessive amounts of oil when cooking, placing air fryers on non-flammable surfaces, and ensuring proper ventilation during use can significantly reduce fire risks. Keeping a fire blanket and a small fire extinguisher in the kitchen is also good practice.

“In the unfortunate event of an air fryer fire, never throw water on an electrical fire. Instead, use a fire blanket or a fire extinguisher rated for electrical fires, and call the fire brigade if necessary.”

Aviva has also reminded people to clean their air fryer regularly, as doing so can prevent the build-up of grease and food particles, which may ignite during use and cause a fire.

It has also encouraged people to regularly inspect the power cord and plug for any signs of damage and to avoid overfilling the air fryer and allow enough space for air to circulate around the food for even cooking.