If you’re on the lookout for a new oven, it can be hard to know what type of oven is best. Especially if you’re wanting to know if you can you use a convection oven as an air fryer as these things are becoming extremely popular!
A convection oven is a type of oven that circulates hot air around the food to allow for even cooking on all sides. But how does it compare to using an air fryer, which is designed to cook by circulating hot air? It’s not really possible to use a convection oven as a substitute for an air fryer, because the two appliances are designed for very different types of cooking methods. In this article, we’ll look at some tips and tricks about when each appliance would be more useful.
What is a convection oven and how does it work
A convection oven is a type of oven that circulates hot air around the food to allow for even cooking on all sides.
Depending on the type, a convection oven can cook up to 30% faster than other traditional ovens because it cooks more evenly. That means it cooks up your dish faster without compromising any taste or texture!
In addition, by moving hot air around the food in a circular motion, convection ovens are excellent for making crispy pizzas and baked goods. They’re also less likely to scorch or dry items out.
A convection oven will typically have an electric fan that uses the airflow from the fan to make this happen. The fan is usually located at the back or top of the oven chamber (depending on your model). The fan is often controlled with a knob, and you can turn it to increase or decrease the airflow.
How does an air fryer compare to a convection oven
Air fryers are designed to cook food by circulating hot air. They cook food in a way that is similar to deep frying. However, air fryers use less oil than deep frying and they have a timer, so you can set it and forget about it.
The air in the fryer circulates at 300 degrees Fahrenheit, which is about the same as an oven’s convection function at 300 degrees Fahrenheit. So air fryers work like convection ovens that circulate hot air around the food to help cooking on all sides.
They do a good job of cooking meat and certain other types of foods. So how does an air fryer compare to using a convection oven?
A convection oven is different from an air fryer because it cooks food more slowly at a lower temperature, which reduces cooking time and makes the flavors fully develop.
When should you use each appliance
An air fryer is a good tool to use for cooking a wide range of foods. If you’re looking to cook meat, fries, and other foods quickly, an air fryer is an appliance for you. It also works well to make frozen foods taste crispy and fresh again.
A convection oven cooks food more slowly than an air fryer, which does make it better for some types of cooking. A convection oven is perfect for baking anything from bread to casseroles because it heats the hot air around the food, ensuring that it cooks evenly on all sides.
Tips for using your new appliances
Use your convection oven as a substitute for an air fryer in these scenarios:
1) If you’re busy and don’t have much time for cooking.
2) If you want to use less oil while cooking food.
3) If you’re looking for crispy fries, cookies, or cake.
Use your air fryer as a substitute for a convection oven if:
1) If you want to use less oil while cooking food.
2) If you’re looking for crispy fries, cookies, or cake.
Convection Oven vs Air Fryer – which one is better for you!
As the name suggests, a convection oven circulates hot air around the food to allow for even cooking on all sides.
Convection ovens do not cook by circulating hot air as an air fryer does; rather, they use gas or electric heating elements to heat up an oven cavity and surround the food with radiant heat.
This means that convection ovens are best suited for cooking things that require indirect heat and high temperatures like bread, pizzas, meat pies, pastries, and cookies.
On the other hand, an air fryer is best for recipes that require dry frying or stir-frying since it uses circulating hot air to cook your food. There is also no need to add any oil or butter when using an air fryer to cook food.
What is the difference between convection and air frying?
With a convection oven, the heating elements are on the inside of the cavity. That means you’re cooking with radiant heat and not hot air like an air fryer does. You need to use indirect cooking methods that require higher temperatures with a convection oven because it doesn’t have circulating hot air, however, it is great for baking bread or cookies!
An air fryer circulates hot air around food in order to cook it up quickly and evenly without putting additional fat into your food (usually). It works better for dry frying techniques like stir-frying your favourite vegetables or meats.
However, when making bread or brownies in an oven, they would normally be baked at 325 degrees. You cannot use an air fryer for this because it’s either not hot enough or it would burn your food. Cooking with a convection oven can be tricky, but it is very affordable and small, making it great to have around the kitchen!
Do you need an air fryer if you have a convection oven?
You don’t need an air fryer if you have a convection oven. A convection oven is an oven that allows hot air to circulate around the food, which cooks it more evenly on all sides.
In some ways, this is similar to how an air fryer works, because it also circulates hot air around food to allow it to cook evenly. However, you can’t use a convection oven as a substitute for an air fryer in most cases because the two appliances have different uses.
Convection baking on the top and bottom heating elements makes your food more even than just using one of those elements.
It’s not possible to do this with an air fryer without using preheating, which isn’t necessary when cooking with a convection oven.
Recommended Article: Can you cook more than 1 thing in an air fryer?
Do convection ovens and air fryers work on the same principle?
Convection ovens and air fryers work on very different principles. An oven is designed to heat the food from the inside out, which means there are hot air currents that circulate around the food.
This also means that foods need more time to cook in a convection oven, because the oven needs time to warm up.
In contrast, an air fryer works by circulating very hot air around the food, which is why it cooks faster than a convection oven.
Final Thoughts to Can you use a Convection oven as an Air Fryer!
The convection oven is a type of oven that circulates hot air around the food to allow for even cooking on all sides.
While it’s not really possible to use this as an alternative for an air fryer, because they are designed for different types of cooking methods, you can learn more about how each appliance works in order to make your decision easier.
We hope these tips help shed some light on the differences between convection and Air Fryers so you’ll know which one will work best with your current lifestyle or kitchen setup!
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FAQs
Can I use my convection oven like 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.
What is the advantage of an air fryer over a convection oven? ›Air fryers cook quicker than convection ovens and don't require heating a large appliance, like your full-sized oven. Their perforated racks also allow fat to drip onto the drip pan so your food doesn't absorb excess oil, which minimizes calories and becomes crispier since it is more dry.
How do you turn a convection oven into an air fryer? ›So, how do you make your convection oven cook like an air fryer? Simple. Turn the knob or button that controls the oven fan "on". Then, just cook as you normally would if you were going to use an air fryer.
Is baking in a convection oven the same as air frying? ›Air fryers also use a fan to circulate hot air around food in the same way a convection oven does, only air fryers are typically smaller and the fan circulates air faster in an air fryer. These little fryers preheat fast and use a fryer basket or perforated tray to help circulate the air and decrease cooking time.
Does a convection oven make food crispy? ›Recipes that Are Even Better Cooked In a Convection Oven
A convection oven will make it faster and crispier.
- Battered foods. Avoid placing wet batter in the air fryer. ...
- Fresh greens. Leafy greens like spinach will cook unevenly because the machine uses high-speed air. ...
- Whole roasts. ...
- Cheese. ...
- Raw grains. ...
- Hamburgers. ...
- Toast. ...
- Popcorn.
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.
How to air fry chicken in a convection oven? ›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).
Can you put aluminum foil in an air fryer convection oven? ›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.
Can you use foil in an air fryer convection oven? ›It is absolutely safe to use aluminum foil in your air fryer. In fact, it can make cooking with the air fryer easier.
Which is healthier air fryer or convection 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.
What is best cooked in a convection oven? ›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.
Do you have to flip food in a convection oven? ›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?
Which foods should you not bake using the convection setting? ›Avoid convection baking foods like cakes, quick breads, custards and other delicate desserts and pastries.
Can I fry an egg in an air fryer? ›Simply crack 2-3 eggs into individual lightly buttered pie dishes. If no pie dishes are available, use greased ramekins. Air-fry for 3-5 minutes at 190C, or until eggs are fried to your liking. Carefully remove from basket and slip onto a plate, using a spatula.
Why is Airfryer not healthy? ›Not only does air frying still run the risk of creating acrylamides, but polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heterocyclic amines can result from all high-heat cooking with meat. These compounds have associations with cancer risk, according to the National Cancer Institute .
Can you put raw meat in Airfryer? ›It is safe to cook raw meat in the air fryer if it is fully defrosted, seasoned, and monitored. Some fully cooked foods, including chicken tenders or fries, can be placed frozen in the air fryer. However, with raw meat, it's recommended to thoroughly defrost to allow more even cooking and a tasty final product.
What temperature do you air fry in a convection oven? ›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.
Why doesn t my chicken get crispy in 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.
Can you put paper towel in air fryer? ›Putting paper towels in an air fryer is not recommended as it can potentially cause a fire hazard. Additionally, the paper towel may not allow proper air circulation within the fryer, resulting in uneven cooking. Using the tray or basket with the air fryer is better for optimal cooking results.
Can you put glass in an air fryer? ›
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.
What can an air fryer do that a convection oven cant? ›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.
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.
Why can't you use aluminum foil in a convection oven? ›Foil is heat resistant, but 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.
Can you use metal pans in air fryer? ›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.
Do chefs like convection ovens? ›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.
Can you cook a pizza in a convection oven? ›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.
Can you put a cookie sheet in a convection 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.
What can I use as a substitute for air fryer? ›More and more range ovens, wall ovens, and toaster ovens that have convection now come with air-fry settings. Convection, which constantly circulates hot air using one or more fans, is the same technology behind countertop air fryers.
Do you need special pans for air fryer oven? ›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.
What is the alternative to air fryer? ›
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.
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.
Why should you not use foil in a convection oven? ›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.