Adjusting Oven Cooking Times For Your Air Fryer

Air fryers cook food faster than traditional ovens, so you'll need to adjust the cooking time and temperature when converting an oven recipe. As a general rule, reduce the temperature by 25°F and the cooking time by 20%. For example, if an oven recipe says to cook at 180°C for 20 minutes, you'd set your air fryer to 180°C for 10 minutes. However, it's always best to start with a shorter cooking time and check your food frequently to avoid overcooking.

Reduce the cooking time by 20%

When converting an oven recipe to an air fryer, you need to reduce the cooking time by 20%. For example, if an oven recipe calls for 60 minutes, you can convert this to air fryer time by reducing the cooking time by 12 minutes (60 x 0.20 = 12).

It's important to remember that air fryers cook food faster than traditional ovens, so you should always keep an eye on your food as it cooks. You can do this by checking for doneness: insert a sharp knife or cake tester into the centre of your food, and if it comes out clean, it's ready.

If you're cooking frozen food in an air fryer, you should keep the suggested oven temperature the same but reduce the cooking time by 50%. For example, if an oven instruction says to cook at 180°C for 20 minutes, set your air fryer to 180°C for 10 minutes.

You should also reduce the temperature by 10-15°C when using an air fryer. This is because air frying food requires a lower cooking temperature than baking.

Reduce the temperature by 25°F

When converting an oven recipe to an air fryer, it's important to reduce the temperature by 25°F. This is because air frying food requires a lower cooking temperature than baking. For example, if an oven recipe calls for a temperature of 350°F, you would set your air fryer to 325°F.

It's worth noting that this temperature reduction is a general rule of thumb and may vary depending on the specific recipe and your air fryer model. Some recipes, especially those for baked goods, may require more precise temperature adjustments to ensure the best results. Therefore, it's always a good idea to consult a reliable air fryer conversion chart or calculator to ensure accurate temperature and time conversions for your specific recipe.

Additionally, when adjusting the temperature, it's crucial to keep in mind that air fryers cook food faster than traditional ovens. As a result, you may need to further reduce the cooking time by about 20%. For instance, if an oven recipe suggests a cooking time of 60 minutes, you would reduce it to 48 minutes for your air fryer. However, it's important to monitor your food closely during the cooking process, as you may need to make further adjustments depending on how your air fryer performs.

When cooking frozen food in an air fryer, it's generally recommended to maintain the same temperature as indicated for oven cooking but reduce the cooking time by 50%. For example, if the oven instructions suggest cooking at 350°F for 20 minutes, you would set your air fryer to 350°F but reduce the cooking time to 10 minutes. This adjustment accounts for the faster cooking time of frozen food in an air fryers compared to ovens.

Adjusting cooking times for frozen food

When cooking frozen food in an air fryer, you should keep the suggested oven temperature the same but reduce the typical oven cooking time by 50%. For example, if the oven instruction says to cook at 180°C for 20 minutes, set your air fryer to 180°C for 10 minutes. This adjustment is necessary because frozen food cooks faster in an air fryer than in an oven.

If you are cooking food that isn't breaded, it is recommended to add some moisture, such as a bit of oil or lemon juice, or cook it in a sauce to prevent it from drying out.

As a general rule, you should reduce the temperature by 25°F and the cooking time by 20% when converting an oven recipe to an air fryer recipe. For example, a recipe that calls for 60 minutes in the oven can be converted to air frying time by reducing the baking time by 12 minutes (60 mins x 0.20 = 12-minute reduction).

It is also recommended to reduce the suggested temperature for a conventional oven by 10-15°C.

How to check if your food is done

When converting an oven recipe to an air fryer, you need to reduce the cooking time by 20% and the temperature by 25°F. For example, if a recipe calls for 60 minutes in the oven, you can convert this to 48 minutes in the air fryer. Air fryers cook food faster than traditional ovens, so it's important to keep an eye on your food to avoid overcooking.

To check if your food is done, you can use a food thermometer to ensure it has reached the right temperature. Most air fryers will have an indicator light that turns on or changes colour once the desired temperature is reached. Some modern air fryers also have built-in timers that automatically alert you when they're ready. If your air fryer doesn't have these features, you can gauge readiness by familiarising yourself with its performance. Over time, you will learn how long it generally takes for your model to preheat and can check for noticeable changes, such as the sound of the fan or the heat radiating from the unit.

You should also check your food regularly to ensure it doesn't burn or dry out. If it's starting to burn, lower the temperature. If it looks dry, add a spritz of oil and lower the temperature. You may also need to shake or turn the food halfway through the cooking process for even results.

Adding moisture to prevent food from drying out

When adjusting oven cooking times for an air fryer, it's important to consider adding moisture to prevent food from drying out. Here are some tips to help you achieve moist and delicious results:

When cooking food that isn't breaded, consider adding a small amount of oil or lemon juice to the air fryer. Alternatively, cook the food in a sauce. This extra moisture will help prevent it from drying out, especially if you're cooking food that isn't breaded or battered.

Additionally, it's important to adjust the cooking temperature and time. As a general rule, reduce the oven temperature by 10-15°C or 25°F when using an air fryer. This reduction in temperature will help prevent overcooking and drying out.

Furthermore, reduce the cooking time by 20% to account for the faster cooking process of an air fryer. For example, if an oven recipe calls for 60 minutes, reduce the air frying time by 12 minutes (60 minutes x 0.20 = 12-minute reduction). By reducing the cooking time, you can avoid overcooking and drying out your food.

Remember to keep a close eye on your food as it cooks in the air fryer. You can always add more time or increase the temperature if needed. Checking frequently will help you achieve the perfect level of doneness without drying out your food.

Frequently asked questions