Tillie Doyle
Air fryers and convection ovens are similar in that they both use fans to circulate hot air around food to cook it faster and make it crispier. However, air fryers are essentially mini convection ovens, and there are some key differences between the two appliances. Air fryers are countertop appliances, while convection ovens are built-in. The size of air fryers allows them to heat up faster and cook food quicker than full-sized ovens. Air fryers also include a drip tray to collect excess oil or moisture, reducing the amount of fat and calories consumed.
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What You'll Learn
Air fryer vs convection oven
Air fryers and convection ovens have a lot in common, but they also have some key differences. Both use fans to circulate hot air around the food, but air fryers are generally smaller and more portable, with a tall, narrow shape, and are designed to cook smaller portions. Convection ovens, on the other hand, are larger and have a greater capacity, making them more suitable for cooking for larger groups.
Air fryers circulate hot air around a small cooking area, which, combined with their compact size, means they can cook food faster than a convection oven. They also have a shorter preheat time. However, because of their size, air fryers can only cook about two servings at a time, and food may need to be stacked, which can affect cooking results.
Convection ovens are larger, with a wider interior rack that allows food to be spread out in a single layer, which is important for even cooking. They are better for cooking larger portions and are more versatile, with settings for baking, broiling, roasting, and more.
Air fryers are ideal for creating crispy, fried textures, and some convection ovens now come with an air fry setting, which can be the best of both worlds.
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Pros and cons of air fryers
Air fryers are small, versatile appliances that use a combination of rapid airflow and intense heat to cook food. They are touted as a healthier alternative to deep frying, as they require little to no oil and reduce the production of harmful chemicals associated with deep-fried foods.
Pros of Air Fryers
Air fryers have gained popularity due to their convenience, versatility, and health benefits. Here are some advantages of using an air fryer:
- Convenience and Speed: Air fryers are compact, easy to use, and preheat quickly. They cook food faster than conventional ovens, saving time and energy.
- Healthier Alternative: Air fryers produce crispy and flavorful dishes with significantly less oil than traditional deep frying, reducing the consumption of unhealthy fats. This cooking method also eliminates the production of acrylamide, a chemical compound linked to an increased risk of cancer.
- Versatility: While "fryer" is in the name, these appliances can do much more than frying. They can grill, bake, roast, and even reheat leftovers. Most models feature adjustable temperature settings, cooking modes, and preset programs, allowing for a wide range of recipes.
- Ease of Use and Cleanup: Air fryers are user-friendly and require minimal culinary expertise. They also have removable parts that are usually dishwasher-safe, making cleanup easy.
Cons of Air Fryers
While air fryers offer numerous benefits, there are also some drawbacks to consider:
- Limited Capacity: Air fryers have a relatively small cooking chamber or basket, limiting the amount of food that can be prepared at once. This can be inconvenient for larger families or when cooking for a gathering.
- Inconsistent Results: The hot air circulation in air fryers can sometimes lead to uneven browning or cooking. To address this, users may need to shake or flip the food during the cooking process, which can be inconvenient.
- Counter Space: For those with limited counter space, an additional appliance like an air fryer may not be ideal. However, some people choose to use their convection oven's settings and a crisper basket to air fry, saving counter space.
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Pros and cons of convection ovens
Convection ovens use fans to circulate hot air around the food, resulting in faster and more even cooking. This is different from traditional ovens, where the hot air is stationary, resulting in uneven cooking. The circulating hot air in a convection oven can help cook foods more quickly and more evenly.
Pros of Convection Ovens
- Cooks food evenly — Traditional ovens are often too hot in some areas and too cold in others. With a convection oven, you don't need to worry about your food being undercooked or overcooked in certain areas.
- Cooks food faster — The fan in the oven makes it possible to cook food faster and at lower temperatures, saving you money on your utilities.
- Efficient simultaneous cooking of multiple dishes — When you put multiple dishes in a convection oven, the oven sees them as one single item. You can even stack dishes on top of each other, and the food will still be cooked at the correct temperature.
- Place dishes anywhere in the oven — You can put dishes anywhere you want in a convection oven, and they will receive the same intensity of heat, unlike traditional ovens, which have uneven heat distribution, causing burning.
- Better browning and crisping — Circulating hot air from convection removes moisture from the surface of your food, leading to a crispier texture on items such as roasted vegetables and meats.
- Versatility — Whether you're roasting, baking, broiling, or dehydrating, a convection oven can handle it all. With the even heat distribution and faster cooking times, you can experiment with a wider range of recipes and techniques.
- Advanced cooking settings — Convection ovens often come with advanced cooking settings, such as defrost, warm, and self-clean, that make meal preparation even easier.
Cons of Convection Ovens
- Must adjust recipes — Most recipes are based on static cooking conditions in traditional ovens. When using a convection oven, you need to adjust the recipes, or else you can end up with burnt or overcooked food.
- Not ideal for certain baked goods — Some people who use convection ovens have complained that their cakes and breads don't rise as well as they do in a traditional oven.
- Learning curve — The fan in a convection oven can cause cooking times and temperatures to differ from traditional baking methods, which may take some time to adjust to.
- Cost — Convection ovens tend to be more expensive than traditional ovens, and the fan motor may require more energy, leading to higher electricity bills.
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Air frying in a convection oven
Air fryers and convection ovens both use fans to circulate heat and create crispy, fried food without deep frying. However, there are some differences between the two appliances. Countertop air fryer compartments are much smaller than an oven cavity, so food typically cooks faster. Air fryers also use optimized heat and airflow for a "fried" result.
If you don't have the counter space for an air fryer, using the convection feature on your full-size oven is a good alternative. You can get a crisper basket for as little as $25. The basket is designed to allow airflow under the food, and you can get even more air moving by placing your oven racks in adjacent positions and putting the included crumb tray on the lower rack. If you're worried about crumbs burning and smoking the next time you cook, place a sheet pan on the lower rack for more coverage.
While full-size convection ovens may cook more slowly than some compact, basket-style air fryers, this isn't always the case. One person reported getting the same results in the same amount of time with both their countertop air fryer and their full-size convection oven. However, full-size ovens can take up to twice as long, if not longer, to reach 400ºF (a standard air-fry temperature) than a countertop air fryer, and many basket-style air fryers don't require any preheating.
For the best results, use an oven with an air fry setting. If your convection oven doesn’t have this setting, you can still get crispy results with a few adjustments. Use a convection oven with an air fry basket or a pan with low sides to help ensure air circulates around the food while it cooks. Food air fries most evenly in the center of the oven, so make any necessary adjustments to rack placement before you start preheating. Lightly coat air-fried foods with oil to help promote browning, and always opt for breading rather than wet batter.
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Air fryer oven accessories
Air fryers and convection ovens both use fans to circulate heat and create crispy, fried food without deep-frying. However, air fryers cook food faster than convection ovens. If you already have a convection oven and are considering purchasing an air fryer, you may want to consider the benefits of having both appliances taking up space in your kitchen.
If you want to experiment with air frying without buying a new appliance, you can turn your oven into an air fryer with a few accessories and some adjustments. To get started, you will need a crisper basket or a perforated air fry basket, which will allow airflow under the food and help to achieve even browning. You can also use a pan with low sides to ensure air circulates around the food while it cooks. If you are worried about crumbs falling to the bottom of your oven, you can place a sheet pan on the lower rack.
There are also air fryer oven accessory sets available, which typically include a variety of tools such as rotisserie rods, steak cages, shallow mesh baskets, oven racks, drip pans, and silicone mitts. These sets can be a great way to get started with air frying in your oven, as they provide a range of tools to experiment with.
Overall, if you are considering purchasing an air fryer, it may be worth trying out some accessories with your convection oven first to see if air frying is right for you.
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Frequently asked questions
Air fryers are essentially mini convection ovens, but with some key differences. While they both use a fan to circulate hot air, the smaller size of the air fryer allows it to heat up faster and cook food quicker than a full-sized oven. Air fryers also have a large fan located on top of the appliance, and cook from the top down. They rarely have any heating elements on the bottom. Convection ovens, on the other hand, use a built-in heating mechanism to blow hot air via a fan that’s often located on the back or side of the oven.
Yes, you can use your convection oven as an air fryer. To get started, you need a crisper basket and a few expert tips. You can also get a bigger basket if you opt for one without the crumb rack.
Air fryers cook food faster and more evenly than convection ovens. They are also easier to clean, as most are dishwasher-safe. Air fryers are great for cooking smaller portions and reheating leftovers. They also require less oil than traditional oven-roasting and deep-frying methods, making them a healthier option.
