Best Oven To Air Fryer Conversions [+ Free Printables]

Are you struggling with your recipes that deal with oven-to-air fryer conversion? Worry no more. I will help simplify this mini convection oven’s calculations and provide useful air fryer tips to cook your favorite fried foods.

Feel free to download any printable charts offering oven-to-air fryer conversion, temperature, and cooking time charts. I hope you will find them useful for your air fryer recipes.

For more handy guides like this one, you should check out my How To’s section on my blog.

I cover topics like The Best Oil For Seasoning Cast-Iron Cookware, How To Boil Eggs In The Microwave, and How To Cut Radishes In 4 Different Ways.

Can You Use An Air Fryer As An Oven?

Are Air Fryers new?

Despite this technology being on the market for many decades, it seems like the air fryer is still unexplored. Many people still don’t understand how an air fryer works and what it can do. 

Is an Air Fryer an Oven?

Yes and no. So, first things first, can you use an air fryer as an oven?

In short, yes, you can. An air fryer is a compact oven with a powerful fan to circulate hot air. It offers a unique approach to cooking that uses less oil while still producing crispy, flavorful foods.

Nonetheless, you will need to implement several adjustments. These mainly revolve around baking times, temperatures, and air fryer settings. But by adjusting just one of these factors, you are already much closer to success!

Here is a chart that lists a variety of foods and their air fryer cooking temperature paired with their cooking time. Keep these air fryer tips close in case you ever need them.

Which Air Fryer Setting To Use For Baking?

What is baking compared to air frying?

To bake in an air fryer, it’s crucial to understand baking basics. In traditional ovens, baking uses dry, evenly distributed heat, typically between 300-360°F, allowing the leavening agent to rise.

Incorrect temperatures can lead to under-risen or burnt results. Unlike ovens, air fryers circulate hot air, requiring adjustments for effective baking. Knowing these differences aids in successful oven-to-air fryer recipe conversions.

Air Fryers Cook Faster

Using an air fryer means adapting to its faster cooking capability. Select the ‘bake’ setting if available, as it prevents air circulation.

Due to the air fryer’s smaller chamber and efficient heat application, baking happens more quickly, even without a fan.

Therefore, it’s often necessary to lower the temperature compared to conventional ovens. Regular checks during baking are essential to ensure proper cooking. Understanding these nuances is key for successful baking in an air fryer.

Adjusting Oven Time for Air Fryer Cooking

In most recipes, the baking time will always be for a conventional oven. Always keep that in mind when you use your air fryer recipes.

An oven temperature does not circulate hot air as well as an air fryer. Therefore, the cooking times will vary with the cooking temperature.

The rule of thumb you should always know is that an air fryer has a lower cooking temperature. Here is an air fryer tip: reduce the air fryer temperature by 25 degrees (F) and lower the cooking time by 20%.

For example, let’s say that the original recipe required you to bake (in an oven) at 360⁰F for 20 minutes. When switching from oven to air fryer, you will now bake at 335⁰F for 16 minutes.

Remember, you always check the progress of the baked item as it bakes. And if it is still raw after 16 minutes, you can bake the item for longer.

It is essential to recognize these features to adapt from the over-to-air fryer. Unlike an oven, an air fryer can utilize hot air circulation while cooking at a lower temperature. Therefore, be alert when using air fryers to ensure perfectly cooked food.

What about other Air Fryer Settings?

What about other oven settings like roasting, grilling, or braising? You can also use the rule of thumb laid out above.

Follow the air fryer conversion chart to determine your settings. There are no specific tricks or tips needed.

But the most challenging setting to replicate in an air fryer is baking. The others are pretty easy and foolproof.

Conventional Oven To Air Fryer – Common Temps And Times

Below are a few common baking temperatures and times I’ve converted for air fryers. These air fryer conversions will help reduce your time and let you start cooking delicious meals right away.

Baking Temps Oven To Air Fryer Conversion

280⁰F (140⁰C) = 255⁰F (125⁰C)

300⁰F (150⁰C) = 275⁰F (135⁰C)

320⁰F (160⁰C) = 295⁰F (145⁰C)

340⁰F (170⁰C) = 315⁰F (155⁰C)

360⁰F (180⁰C) = 335⁰F (165⁰C)

375⁰F (190⁰C) = 350⁰F (175⁰C)

Oven Cooking Time For Air Fryer Time

10 minutes = 8 minutes

12 minutes = 9 1/2 minutes

15 minutes = 12 minutes

16 minutes = 12-13 minutes

20 minutes = 16 minutes

22 minutes = 17 1/2 minutes

25 minutes = 20 minutes

30 minutes = 24 minutes

45 minutes = 36 minutes

60 minutes = 48 minutes

Check out this cool tool that helps you easily convert your oven to air fryer, Air Fryer Calculator.

Air Fryer Versus Oven Cooking Time Conversion For Frozen Food

Is It Possible Air Frying Frozen Foods?

Absolutely! Cooking frozen foods is a great feature of the air fryer possesses. The hot air circulation of the air fryer will defrost and cook the food without the hassle of waiting for it to thaw. The results of cooking frozen foods in an air fryer are just as delicious as cooking them from scratch.

If you are baking frozen food items, always keep in mind to compare the instructions on the packaging because an air fryer cooks faster than a traditional oven. The minimum baking temperature has to be 360 ⁰F (180 ⁰C).

Conversions to Consider for Frozen Food

If it is lower than this, the item will become soggy as it thaws. It would be best to have a temperature that allows excess moisture (from melting ice crystals) to evaporate quickly, leaving only a tender, juicy texture behind.

If the original oven baking temperature was below 360 ⁰F (180 ⁰C), set the air fryer temp to 360 ⁰F (180 ⁰C).

You should check the item’s progress as it thaws while air frying. The time may not be reduced because an item needs extra time to defrost. So, it will likely even out, and you can still use the original baking temperature as a reference.

Tips For Converting These Cooking Techniques

• Always preheat your air fryer properly, just like you would an oven.
• Depending on what you are baking, you may need to add some oil to the item. This is mainly for savory foods to give them color and an added crispy texture.
• Just like inside an oven, you should never overload the air fryer. This will make the items cook for longer and potentially uneven.
• You should also avoid stacking or overlapping items. This will make them cook unevenly, with some parts burning while others are still completely raw.
• You can line your air fryer basket with foil or non-stick baking paper. Never use wax paper because it is flammable. If you line the basket, remember to poke holes at the bottom so the air can circulate effectively.

Conclusion

Mastering the art of converting oven techniques to air fryer methods opens up culinary possibilities. The tips provided in this guide serve as your compass, ensuring a smooth transition and guaranteeing delicious results.

Simplifying these conversions equips you with the knowledge to use your air fryer confidently and efficiently. For added convenience, downloadable and printable air fryer conversion charts are included to aid you with a quick and hassle-free cooking experience.