Many people ask: how to convert recipes from oven to air fryer. An air fryer is a versatile kitchen appliance that offers 3-in-1 functionalities: baking, grilling, and deep frying without using too much oil.
The air frying machine is pretty different from other cooking appliances, such as microwaves, ovens, and deep fryers, because it uses cutting-edge technology, “hot air circulation,” inside a sealed compartment to absorb moisture from the food’s crust, leading to more crispiness on the outside and tenderness on the inside.
Suppose you want to roast a chicken, potatoes, and vegetables for your family on the weekend. The general rule of thumb is to steam the veggies in a pan and cook the potatoes and chicken in the oven. Next, you will use a grill to achieve a perfect roast chicken and crispier potatoes.
Well, this can take a lot of time, and the appliances, such as an oven, etc., will use more energy. On the other hand, you can cook these items in an air fryer without using too much oil and in less time. So, air fryers allow you to achieve your cooking goals effortlessly.
The Difference between Air fryers and Ovens
Air fryers are advanced countertop appliances that use hot air circulation technology and act as a convection oven to cook food. The basket is an important component of the device that holds the food. The air fryer also has a heating element that produces intense heat and a fan that distributes hot air to cook the food.
Unlike deep frying machines, an air fryer does not require a large quantity of oil, making it a healthy alternative to various cooking appliances, including ovens. On the other hand, a conventional oven produces heat from the heating element and is powered by gas or electricity.
The heat produced by a conventional oven disperses slowly through the oven over time. Some ovens have fans that speed up the heating distribution inside them to cook food quickly. Still, an air fryer can cook food much quicker than a conventional oven.
Because the air fryer is smaller than a conventional oven, it can circulate hot air quickly and more evenly, leading to more crispiness on the outside. At the same time, an air fryer cooks food without hot spots, unlike ovens.
Air fryers are a healthy option for households than baking food in an oven. First, it does not require you to use oil for most recipes. Second, the intense heat does not lead to acrylamide formation, decreasing cancer risk, unlike conventional ovens.
Oven to Air Fryer – Recipe Conversion
The general rule of thumb is to lower the temperature of your air fryer by 25 to 50 degrees when converting recipes from oven to air fryer. For example, if the original recipe requires a cooking temperature of 450 degrees in the oven, you can cook it in your fryer by lowering the temperature to 375 degrees.
Although the temperature settings for each recipe are different, some recipes, such as roasted potatoes and meats, require higher temperatures. However, experts recommend not cooking any food item above 350 degrees in your air fryer. Otherwise, you will burn the food and sabotage the crispiness.
It is crucial to check your food halfway through to ensure the hot air circulates or distributes evenly. If you think the food gets too brown, you can lower the temperature by 25-35 degrees, depending on the type of food you cook in an air fryer.
Cooking time is another crucial factor to consider when converting recipes from oven to air fryer. Most recipes take half the time in an air fryer as they would in a conventional oven. We recommend setting the timer lower when cooking food in your air fryer. You can always add more time as you go to achieve perfect crispiness and tenderness on the outside and inside, respectively.
Oven to Air Fryer – Cooking Tips
Experts recommend three minutes of preheating before putting the food or ingredients in the basket of your air fryer. Most air fryers come with a built-in timer so that you can set a three-minute countdown. Remember, the preheating time also depends on the type of food you cook in your air fryer.
It is crucial to converting recipes designed for ovens. As mentioned above, you can reduce the temperature of your air frying machine by 25 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid complications, such as burning the food and damaging the internal components.
Make sure you check the food frequently and shake the basket to avoid overcooking. For example, if you want to achieve the best result with fresh veggies, such as potatoes, avoid adding more than one tablespoon of oil.
However, you can add more oil depending on the food type according to your preferred level of brownness and crispiness. Always use the crisper plate if you want to achieve more crispiness.
The crisper plate is an excellent accessory that keeps the food elevated in your basket. Thus, it allows the hot air to go under the plate and crisp the ingredients evenly. Make sure you fully insert the basket during the cooking process. That way, you can achieve consistent browning. Likewise, arrange ingredients in even layers in the basket to avoid overlapping.
You can also adjust the cooking time and temperature during the cooking process. Check the progress throughout cooking for the best results and shake the basket frequently. Remove the food when you have achieved the desired level of crispiness and brownness.
You can also use a thermometer to observe the food’s temperature inside the basket of your air fryer. Once the cooking progress completes, remove the food immediately to prevent overcooking.
Final Words
Although conventional ovens are popular kitchen appliances, air fryers are healthier, quicker, and safer than ovens. Unlike ovens, an air fryer distributes the hot air evenly around the food, leading to more crispiness and tenderness.
