Air fryer owners issued major warning over one mistake that could cost them their homes

Air fryers have been on the kitchen gadget scene for a hot minute now, and it's clear the hype around the time-saving devices isn't dying down anytime soon.

Whether you fancy a quick meal courtesy of your local supermarket's frozen food aisle, a load of chicken wings, or a bowl of chips cooked to the optimum crispy level - it's clear that air fryers are your best bet when it comes to effortlessly cooking up your food in a mere matter of minutes.

However, these bits of kitchen kit aren't without their cons, as air fryer owners have been issued a major warning over one seriously crucial mistake that could cost them their homes.

Air fryer owners, listen up! (Ali Majdfar / Getty Images)

Now, there is a temptation to cram as much food as possible into your air fryer compartment drawer for the sake of speed and convenience.

However, insurer Aviva has warned against doing so, given an alarming concerning trend in home insurance claims related to air fryer fires over the past four years.

Some incidents have even resulted in extensive fire and smoke damage.

The insurer also commissioned a survey by Censuswide, which found that many people do not always follow guidelines and advice when using their air fryer, with only around a fifth (21 per cent) saying they strictly follow the manual provided with their gadget.

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

Be sure to not overload your air fryer drawers! (mikroman6 / Getty Images)

Hannah Davidson, senior underwriting manager at Aviva, explained: "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 continued: "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."

So, maybe think twice before chucking an entire bag of frozen fries into your tiny air fryer drawer...