Air Fryer vs. Convection Oven: Are They the Same? (2023)

FAQs

Can I use my convection oven as an air fryer? ›

Yes, your convection oven allows you to air fry and still achieve the same results. In fact, there are additional benefits to using your convection oven, such as convenience courtesy of their extra cooking capacity. Both convection ovens and air fryers use a convection fan to circulate hot air around the food.

The main difference between an air fryer and convection oven lies in the size, with a convection oven generally having more space for cooking larger amounts of food at one time (e.g., the difference between cooking eight mini scones or 16 full-size scones).

When it comes to overall cooking time, air fryers are typically faster than ovens. For example, chicken nuggets will cook in about 15 minutes in an air fryer, while they would take 20-25 minutes in an oven. Similarly, french fries will cook in about 15-20 minutes in an air fryer versus 25-30 minutes in an oven.

Due to the efficient method in which they create and circulate heat, air fryers require absolutely no oil. They're able to crisp up your food simply by how hot the interior gets. However, with little to no oil being added to your dish or meal, it can be just as healthy as being baked in a convection oven.

The main difference comes down to size. Because air fryers are smaller, they heat up to a more intense heat more quickly. If you're cooking for one or two or don't mind cooking in batches, use an air fryer. But if you're cooking for a crowd, it's easier and more convenient to use a convection oven.

Recipes that Are Even Better Cooked In a Convection Oven

A convection oven will make it faster and crispier.

Convection Oven: 400°F (204°C) for 11-13 minutes. Product must be fully cooked for food safety and quality. For best results: cook from frozen state using recommended time and temperature. Spread frozen fries in a single layer on a flat baking sheet or pan.

You can also use the air fryer to make baked goods. Baking food in the air fryer can be beneficial because you'll save time by not having to preheat the oven. It's also a good choice for people who are avoiding firing up the oven during hot summer months or if you only want to make a few cookies at a time.

The Benefits of an Air Frying Oven

An air frying oven has more capacity, saving you time and allowing you to cook more food at once so that there's always enough for the whole family. A Frigidaire Air Fry Oven does more than just air fry, so one appliance works harder for you.

After testing a variety of temperatures, I found that 375 degrees F is the best temperature for air frying chicken. Because the air fryer uses convection heat, you do not need to set it as high as you would an oven (in a regular oven, 425 degrees F is best for baking chicken, like Bacon Wrapped Chicken Breast).

Which is cheaper convection or air fryer? ›

Generally, an air fryer is cheaper to use than the oven, but this is not always the case. An oven costs 21p to use on average and a 800W air fryer costs 13.6p to use. But if you own an air fryer that is a lot more powerful, you could be using near enough the same energy as an oven.

The second major difference is function. An air fryer rapidly circulates heated air to cook and crisp up a range of foods. A conventional, non-convection oven uses still air to cook food.

The Ninja^® Foodi^™ Digital Air Fry Oven is an air fryer, convection oven, and toaster oven all in one. Get extra-large capacity without sacrificing counter space with its unique design that allows you to flip it up against your backsplash when not in use.

The halogen oven

Halogen ovens work by halogen bulbs in the lid releasing infrared heat which is circulated around a glass bowl by fans. Like air fryers, halogen ovens help to save energy in your home, cutting down your electricity bills.

A convection oven can perform all the functions of a microwave and has some additional features. A convection oven is more energy-efficient than an oven, toaster and griller (OTG). An OTG can grill, bake and toast but cannot be used to heat and defrost.

The air fryer is essentially a mini convection oven that creates a crunchy texture in food. They also have baskets, but in the case of using an oven, you could just put the food on a sheet pan. People generally put products and foods like fries, meatballs, mozzarella sticks, and chicken tenders in air fryers.

You can use any ovenproof dish or mold in the Airfryer, whether it is made of glass, ceramic, metal or silicone. You can also use silicone or paper cupcake cups or molds to bake cupcakes, muffins or small gratins.

Because they produce very even heat, convection ovens eliminate "hot spots" in ovens, which means, for instance, that you do not need to rotate pans when baking cookies (although it's questionable whether this is a good idea even in a normal oven). Air Fryer vs. Toaster Oven: Which Should I Buy?

Convection cooking is ideal for foods that do better in a dry climate and where you want to encourage browning and crisping. So roasting meats, potatoes and vegetables are all ideal, and it's great for reheating things like fried chicken or baking pizza.

If it came down to one choice, the majority of professional chefs would opt for a convection oven because of the thermal control and evenness of cooking it provides. Because it heats more efficiently, a convection oven also reduces overall cooking time, which is a bonus in a busy restaurant setting.

When should I not use convection bake? ›

Avoid convection baking foods like cakes, quick breads, custards and other delicate desserts and pastries.

In a convection oven, bake the potatoes at 375 for 45 to 50 minutes and turn them halfway through the cooking time. Split open the potatoes and scoop out the cooked potato, being careful to keep the skins intact.

Yes, you can put aluminum foil in an air fryer. Tasteofhome.com explains that due to the air fryer's cooking process consisting of rushing hot air, your aluminum foil and the meal it's with will not be ruined by the air fryer.

To Air Fry Frozen Pizza: Preheat air fryer to 370 degrees. Cook frozen pizza for 6-8 minutes, or until cheese is melted and crust is crispy. Store-bought Pizza Crust: You can use small Boboli or flatbread crusts instead of pizza dough. Skip the step of baking the crust.

If the dish is oven-safe, made of borosilicate or tempered glass, it can work in an air fryer. However, if the dish is made of soda-lime glass, it can't withstand high temperatures in an air fryer.

Dry the outside of the food properly before you add oil. Do not use too much oil, as this will make the food less crispy and more fattening. Meat or poultry can be lightly brushed with oil or marinated to get the crispiest results.

What Temperature Do You Air Fry in A Convection Oven? A. The recommended temperature for air frying in a convection oven is 350 and 500 degrees Fahrenheit. However, you may need to adjust the cooking time depending on the food you are cooking.

Bacon is safe to cook in the air fryer, but you need to make sure that you use the proper temperature and that your air fryer is clean before you begin. The best bacon air fryer temperature is 350 degrees F. This will crisp the bacon without causing it to smoke or burn.

Can you cook frozen food in an air fryer? ›

Whether you're cooking finger foods for a party or serving up snacks for the fam; Air-Fryers are perfect for cooking frozen foods. Find cook times and temperatures quickly with this convenient easy-to-use chart.

That's because while foil is heat resistant, it isn't completely heat-proof. Using high heat with aluminum foil in the oven bottom could cause the foil to melt, permanently damaging your appliance.

A convection oven is perfect for baking pizza. Because the hot air from it moves around, your pizza cooks more quickly than in a conventional oven. Because of this, your pizza will be crisper and have a more even surface than when you bake it in a traditional oven.

To get the best results, use the convection setting when you're cooking or baking with low-sided dishes (such as a roasting pan or cookie sheet). As much as possible, you want to expose the surface area of your food to the circulating air.

The Ninja Air Fryer is a versatile and powerful kitchen appliance that allows you to cook a wide variety of dishes with minimal oil. It is really simple to use and quick to cook with. Everything comes out super crispy and yummy, making it a great addition to any kitchen.

Place: Place your frozen fries in the air fryer basket. Season: Spray with olive oil lightly and sprinkle with desired salt. Bake: Air fry at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Give the basket a good shake and cook for 5-8 minutes more or till done as you like them.

When using the air crisp lid for the Air Crisp, Bake / Roast, and Broil settings, then heat comes from the top. The main difference between the cooking methods is the fan speed.

Try a healthy twist on crispy pork chops, air fryer chicken recipes, or healthy fish recipes made entirely in the air fryer. Serve it up with air fryer veggies, like Brussels sprouts or green beans, for a meal that's both easy and good for you, too.

Can you put butter in an air fryer? Yes, you can put butter in an air fryer *. Cooking food with a lot of butter or other fat can make your air fryer * smoke, so please be aware of this if using a lot of butter. To avoid it, you can add a small amount of water to the drawer under the air fryer * basket.

If you have a convection oven or a toaster oven with a convection oven setting, you can use it to make any air fryer recipe — even the New York Times' Wirecutter column agrees that the best air fryer is actually a toaster oven!

How do you air fry in a GE convection oven? ›

Place pan in the oven, select Air Fry mode. Air Fry at 425°F for 10 minutes, flip, cook 5 minutes more. While Brussels sprouts are cooking make the aioli.

It is absolutely safe to use aluminum foil in your air fryer. In fact, it can make cooking with the air fryer easier.

Yes, you can put aluminum foil in an air fryer. No, you cannot put wax paper into an air fryer. Yes, parchment paper can be put into an air fryer.

Parchment paper can handle the heat inside your air fryer - up to 428°F (220°C). To get the best results, add the parchment paper to the air fryer basket at the same time as you add your ingredients. This prevents the paper from lifting up and coming into contact with the heating element while cooking.

Topline, air fryers just make cooking a whole lot quicker without compensating on delicious results, and food in some cases is even tastier than if you were to use your conventional oven or, try to keep it a lot healthier by using a microwave, subbing out oil or resorting to just boiling veggies...

To ensure that you achieve similar levels of crispy as you would with an air fryer, use a perforated tray or basket to allow the hot air to circulate thoroughly on the entire surface of the food. If you don't have a perforated tray or basket, use a dark or nonstick tray with low sides, or an oven-safe cooling rack.

Select the Air Fry function and set the temperature to 400°. While the oven is pre-heating cover a sheet pan like this with heavy-duty aluminum foil. On top of the foil place a sheet of parchment paper and two slices of bread. Next, separate the bacon and lay it out evenly on the Ready Cook Air Fry Tray.

You might also use an aluminum pan to cook in, which is also okay to use in the air fryer. Disposable foil pans can be a great way to reheat food in the air fryer, like lasagna or a casserole.

Air Fryer vs Convection Oven

An air fryer or a countertop oven on the air fry setting usually circulates the air a bit faster than in a convection oven. This can sometimes give you a crispier finish that is just a bit closer to an actual deep fried finish, depending on your recipe.

What are the best foods to cook in air fryer? ›

Veggies like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, potatoes, zucchini, mushrooms & onions, and cauliflower all turn out incredible in the air fryer. You can also make your main dish IN the air fryer. It works magic with proteins like tofu, chicken drumsticks, meatballs, pork chops, fried chicken… even steak.

Depending upon the sturdiness of the glass dish, you can decide whether Glass Pyrex can be used in an air fryer. If the dish is oven-safe, made of borosilicate or tempered glass, it can work in an air fryer. However, if the dish is made of soda-lime glass, it can't withstand high temperatures in an air fryer.