Air fryers have become incredibly popular in recent years as a healthy alternative to deep frying. When cooking with an air fryer, it’s important to adjust traditional cooking times to account for the rapid air circulation technology that air fryers use. There isn’t an exact formula for converting between standard oven times and air fryer times, but there are some general guidelines you can follow.
Why cooking times differ between ovens and air fryers
Standard ovens rely on radiant heat that slowly transfers from the oven walls to the food. This results in somewhat uneven heating, so it takes longer for the heat to fully penetrate the food. Air fryers use a convection process, rapidly circulating hot air around the food. This allows the food to cook much faster, while still achieving a crispy finished product.
Some key advantages of air fryers:
- Very fast preheat time of 3-5 minutes
- Rapid air circulation cooks food quickly
- Less added oil needed compared to deep frying
- Food gets crispy and browned as if deep fried
- More control over cooking temperature than an oven
The circulating hot air in an air fryer cooks foods much faster than the radiant heat of an oven. So when converting standard oven recipes to an air fryer, cooking times need to be reduced considerably to prevent overcooking.
General tips for converting oven times to air fryer times
While cooking times can vary based on the specific air fryer model, here are some general guidelines for converting oven recipes to air fryer cooking times:
- Reduce cooking time by 50% for most foods. For example, if recipe calls for baking chicken for 1 hour, reduce to 30 minutes in the air fryer.
- For foods that take under 20 minutes to bake, reduce time by 25%. If baked good cooks for 15 minutes in the oven, bake for around 11 minutes in air fryer.
- Check food frequently as it cooks and adjust time as needed. Air fryers often cook faster than estimated.
- Meat, poultry and dense foods like casseroles may need time reduced by 60% or more.
- Thicker or denser batters and doughs may only require a time reduction of 25%.
- Decrease oven temperature by 50° F when using an air fryer. So 350° F oven temp = 300° F air fryer temp.
- Always use recommended air fryer temperatures, even if lower than oven temp.
These conversions are just general guidelines. You may need to experiment to find the perfect timing for your specific model of air fryer and types of food you are cooking. Let’s look at some example cooking time conversions for specific foods.
Air fryer time conversion examples
Fresh or frozen chicken pieces
Chicken pieces like breasts, thighs, drumsticks and wings typically take 45-60 minutes to bake in the oven at 350° F. Try starting with 25-30 minutes in an air fryer and checking frequently until chicken is fully cooked. The air fryer time could be as little as 15-20 minutes.
Chicken nuggets or tenders from frozen
Frozen chicken nuggets or strips often bake for 18-20 minutes at 400° F in the oven. Try starting with 8-12 minutes in the air fryer, depending on amount. Check frequently as air fryers sometimes cook frozen foods faster than expected.
Fresh or frozen fish fillets
Fish fillets bake for 15-20 minutes at 400°F in the oven. Try starting with 6-10 minutes in an air fryer, depending on thickness. Check often as fish fillets can overcook quickly.
French fries from fresh potatoes
Homemade oven-baked fries take about 30 minutes at 400°F, sometimes up to 45 minutes for thicker cuts. In an air fryer, fresh hand-cut fries take about 15-18 minutes at 350°F. Start checking at 12 minutes for your preferred level of doneness.
French fries from frozen
Frozen fries bake for about 25-30 minutes at 425°F in the oven. Try starting with 10-12 minutes in an air fryer, shaking halfway. Check often to avoid burning.
Fresh chicken wings
Oven-baked wings take 45-60 minutes. Reduce air fryer time to 15-30 minutes at 375°F for crispy wings, checking frequently and turning wings halfway.
Pizza rolls or eggrolls from frozen
These oven-baked appetizers take 14-18 minutes. Try air frying for 6-10 minutes, shaking basket halfway through. Always check for doneness before removing.
Meatloaf
A meatloaf bakes for 45-60 minutes in the oven. Try reducing air fryer time to 20-30 minutes at 350°F, checking for doneness with a meat thermometer before removing.
Sausage or veggie patties
Oven-baked patties typically need 30-35 minutes. Try air frying patties for 10-15 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking.
Boxed mac and cheese
Pre-made mac and cheese bakes for 45-60 minutes. Reduce air fryer cooking time to 15-20 minutes at 300°F, stirring halfway through.
Tips for converting oven recipes to air fryer cooking
Here are some additional tips to help convert oven recipes for successful air fryer cooking:
- Cut ingredients into smaller pieces to help them cook faster. Chunks of meat or vegetables no larger than 1-inch.
- Use a little oil or cooking spray to help browning and crisping in the air fryer.
- Foods may cook faster than estimated so watch your air fryer carefully.
- Turn or shake foods halfway through air fryer cooking time.
- Brush or spritz a little oil on foods for browning if needed while cooking.
- Use a meat thermometer or toothpick test for doneness; do not rely solely on time.
- Let foods rest for 5 minutes before serving for best results.
Air fryer cooking time chart
Here is a general air fryer cooking time chart that gives estimated conversions for common foods. Always check for proper doneness.
| Food | Oven Time | Air Fryer Time |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken pieces, bone-in | 45-60 min (350°F) | 18-30 min (370°F) |
| Chicken pieces, boneless | 30-40 min (375°F) | 10-15 min (370°F) |
| Chicken strips or nuggets | 18-20 min (400°F) | 8-12 min (370°F) |
| Fish fillets | 15-20 min (400°F) | 6-10 min (390°F) |
| Fresh french fries | 30 min (400°F) | 18 min (370°F) |
| Frozen french fries | 25-30 min (425°F) | 10-15 min (400°F) |
| Fresh chicken wings | 45-60 min (375°F) | 15-30 min (375°F) |
| Pizza rolls | 14-16 min (425°F) | 8-10 min (390°F) |
| Meatloaf | 45-60 min (350°F) | 20-30 min (350°F) |
| Sausage patties | 30-35 min (350°F) | 10-15 min (370°F) |
| Mac and cheese | 45-60 min (350°F) | 15-20 min (300°F) |
Tips for cooking meats in an air fryer
Cooking meats in an air fryer allows you to achieve a crispy, browned exterior while keeping the interior moist and juicy. Here are some tips for success:
- Cut meats into smaller pieces or thin slices so they cook quickly.
- Coat meats lightly in oil or cooking spray to promote browning.
- Brush meats with a little oil halfway through cooking if needed.
- Cook meats at higher air fryer temperatures, 375°F to 400°F.
- Allow meats to rest 5-10 minutes before serving.
- Use a meat thermometer to confirm meats are fully cooked.
- Trim excess fat from meats to prevent smoking.
- Pat meats dry so they brown vs. steam in the air fryer.
- Avoid overcrowding meats in the air fryer basket.
- Turn or shake basket halfway through cooking.
With the right technique, the rapid air circulation of an air fryer can cook meats very quickly while still yielding moist, tender results.
Tips for cooking vegetables in an air fryer
Air fryers are great for getting fresh or frozen vegetables crispy fast. Follow these tips for the best results:
- Cut vegetables into small uniform pieces for even cooking.
- Toss vegetables in a little oil or cooking spray before air frying.
- Spread vegetables out in a single layer in the basket.
- Cook vegetables at 375°F to 400°F turning halfway through.
- Brushing with a little oil midway thru cooking can help veggies brown.
- Spritz vegetables with oil if they start to dry out in the air fryer.
- Softer vegetables like zucchini may require lower temps near 300°F.
- Allow 5 minutes resting time for vegetables after removing from appliance.
The super hot air circulation makes an air fryer ideal for getting vegetables crispy browned on the outside while keeping them tender yet cooked through.
Common air fryer cooking temperatures
Air fryers circulate air at very high speeds, so you will use lower temperatures than a convection oven. Here are some guidelines for common air fryer temperatures:
- 300-325°F: Delicate foods like fish, lean meats, vegetables
- 350°F: Most baked goods like fries, nuggets, wings, veggies
- 375-400°F: Meats, poultry, reheating fried foods
- Max temperature: Steaks, chops and other quick-cooking meats
Always refer to your air fryer manual for recommended temperatures based on your specific appliance.
Common mistakes using an air fryer
Here are some of the most common mistakes to avoid when using an air fryer:
- Overfilling the basket which prevents air circulation
- Not reducing oven times enough
- Cooking at oven temps rather than lower air fryer temps
- Not checking for doneness early enough
- Not preheating fully before adding food
- Putting in wet ingredients vs. drying food surfaces first
- Leaving appliance unattended as cooking times are short
- Forgetting to shake or flip foods during cooking
- Using batter or dough that is too thick
- Allowing batter to pool vs. spreading evenly in the basket
Following the manufacturer’s instructions for your specific model and using these air fryer cooking guidelines will help avoid these common pitfalls.
Tips for reheating leftovers in an air fryer
Air fryers are great for quickly reheating leftovers. Here are some tips:
- Use air fryer temperatures of 300°F to 350°F to reheat most foods.
- Slice dense items like meatloaf into thinner pieces before reheating.
- Portion fried foods like fries, nuggets or eggrolls into smaller servings for quick reheating.
- Spritz a bit of oil on leftovers to recrisp the exterior in the air fryer.
- Stir or flip leftovers halfway through reheating time in the basket.
- Allow casseroles or dishes with sauce to rest 2-3 minutes before serving.
- Use a thermometer or poke test to confirm foods are fully hot before eating.
Reheating leftovers in an air fryer takes only a fraction of the time of using a conventional oven. Just be cautious not to overcook the food.
Cleaning tips for air fryers
Here are some tips for cleaning your air fryer:
- Unplug before cleaning and allow appliance to fully cool.
- Wipe down the outside with a soft cloth and mild detergent.
- Don’t submerge the appliance or use excessive water.
- The basket and crisping plate are often dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.
- Baking soda helps remove grease and burnt-on food residue.
- For stubborn debris, simmer water with vinegar in fryer basket.
- Avoid metal scouring pads or abrasive cleaners.
- If smells linger, air fry empty for 5 minutes at 400°F.
By regularly cleaning your air fryer after each use, you can keep it looking and smelling fresh.
Conclusion
Cooking with an air fryer requires some adjustment from traditional oven cooking times. The super hot, rapid air circulation can cook foods much faster than a standard oven. With some trial and error and these general guidelines, you can successfully adapt just about any oven recipe to work in an air fryer. Refer to your air fryer manual for specific recommendations and enjoy the quick cooking convenience of air fried foods!