Air Fryer Oven Conversion Chart
If you have a recipe designed for a conventional oven and want to know what temperature and cooking time to use in an air fryer, a simple conversion rule can help you get started.
The key is not to use exactly the same temperature and cooking time. Because an air fryer circulates hot air much more rapidly around the food, it usually cooks faster and can brown the outside more quickly.
Oven to Air Fryer Conversion Chart
| Oven Temperature | Air Fryer Temperature | Oven Time | Air Fryer Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 180°C / 355°F | 160-170°C / 320-340°F | 30 min | 22-24 min |
| 200°C / 390°F | 180-190°C / 355-375°F | 30 min | 22-24 min |
| 200°C / 390°F | 180-190°C / 355-375°F | 45 min | 33-36 min |
| 220°C / 430°F | 200°C / 390°F | 20 min | 15-16 min |
| 220°C / 430°F | 200°C / 390°F | 40 min | 30-32 min |
As a general starting point, reduce the temperature by around 15-20°C (25-35°F) and the cooking time by approximately 20-25% when converting a conventional oven recipe to an air fryer.
This is a useful starting point rather than an exact formula. Always check the food before the calculated cooking time has finished, particularly when making the recipe for the first time. How to convert oven temperatures to an air fryer
Why Do You Need to Lower the Temperature Instead of Only Reducing the Time?
An air fryer moves hot air around the food much more quickly than a conventional oven.
The faster airflow increases heat transfer and helps the surface of the food dry and brown quickly. If you use exactly the same temperature as the original oven recipe, the outside may become too dark or burn before the inside is properly cooked.
Reducing both the temperature and cooking time helps produce a more balanced result.
How to Convert an Oven Recipe Step by Step
1. Identify the Type of Oven
First, check whether your original recipe uses a fan-assisted/convection oven or a conventional oven.
If the original recipe already uses a fan, the adjustment generally needs to be smaller because the oven is already circulating hot air.
2. Reduce the Temperature
As a general guideline:
- Fan/convection oven: reduce the temperature by around 10-15°C (20-25°F).
- Conventional oven: reduce the temperature by around 15-20°C (25-35°F).
3. Reduce the Cooking Time
Again, the adjustment depends on the original oven:
- Fan/convection oven: reduce the time by approximately 15-20%.
- Conventional oven: reduce the time by approximately 20-25%.
4. Check the Food at Around 80% of the Calculated Time
If your calculation gives you 24 minutes, start checking the food at around 19-20 minutes.
If it needs more time, add 2-4 minutes at a time rather than adding a large amount of extra cooking time immediately.
Why Is It Important to Check Before the Calculated Time Is Over?
Oven-to-air-fryer conversion is always an approximation.
The actual cooking time can change depending on:
- The thickness of the food.
- The amount inside the basket.
- The specific air fryer model.
- The moisture content of the food.
- Whether the food is frozen or fresh.
- Whether you use a baking dish or cook directly in the basket.
Checking early gives you time to adjust without accidentally overcooking the food.
Practical Oven to Air Fryer Conversion Example
Imagine that your original recipe says:
200°C / 390°F for 30 minutes in a conventional oven.
Using the general conversion:
- Temperature: 200°C − 20°C = 180°C / 355°F
- Time: 30 minutes − 25% = approximately 22-23 minutes
- First check: start checking around 18 minutes
You can then add a few minutes if necessary.
This same method can be applied to many oven recipes, although foods with very different thicknesses, densities or moisture levels may require additional adjustments. Oven-to-air-fryer temperature keys
Factors That Can Change the Actual Cooking Time
Food Thickness
Thickness is one of the biggest factors affecting cooking time.
Thin foods such as:
- Chicken fillets
- Fish fillets
- Cookies
- Thin vegetables
can cook very quickly.
Thicker foods such as:
- Whole potatoes
- Large chicken pieces
- Cakes
- Dense baked goods
usually need more time for the heat to reach the center.
Amount of Food in the Basket
The more food you put into the basket, the harder it is for hot air to circulate around every piece.
If the basket is overcrowded, the conversion table becomes less reliable and cooking can take considerably longer.
Moisture
Foods with a lot of surface moisture may take longer to brown.
For example, vegetables that have just been washed can release additional moisture during cooking, delaying browning and crisping.
Using a Baking Pan or Dish
Food cooked inside a pan or baking dish can require more time than food placed directly in the basket.
This is particularly noticeable with cakes and other baked goods because the container can slow the transfer of heat to the center.
Preheating
Preheating is not always necessary, but it can be useful for short cooking times and delicate baked goods.
A preheated air fryer allows the food to begin cooking immediately at the target temperature.
Common Mistakes When Converting Oven Recipes to an Air Fryer
- Keeping the same oven temperature: This is one of the most common mistakes and can cause the outside to burn before the center is cooked.
- Not checking the food before the calculated time: The conversion is only a starting point, so check a few minutes early.
- Overcrowding the basket: Too much food restricts airflow and can significantly increase cooking time.
- Never turning or shaking the food: Depending on the recipe and air fryer, turning or shaking halfway through cooking can help produce more even browning.
- Ignoring the size of the food: A larger or thicker piece will not necessarily cook in the same time as the food used in the original recipe.
- Assuming every air fryer cooks identically: Different models can have significant differences in airflow, power and heating element position.
Frequently Asked Questions About Oven to Air Fryer Conversion
What is the general rule for converting an oven recipe to an air fryer?
As a starting point, reduce the temperature by around 15-20°C (25-35°F) and reduce the cooking time by approximately 20-25% when converting from a conventional oven.
Why do you need to lower the temperature if an air fryer cooks faster?
Because hot air moves much faster around the food in an air fryer. This increases heat transfer and causes the surface to brown more quickly. Lowering the temperature helps prevent the outside from burning before the center is cooked.
Is the same conversion suitable for every type of food?
The general formula works well as a starting point for many foods, including chicken, vegetables, potatoes and fish. Dense foods such as cakes and whole potatoes may require additional cooking time and more frequent checks.
Do I need the same adjustment if the original recipe uses a fan oven?
No. If the recipe already uses a fan-assisted or convection oven, the adjustment can usually be smaller: approximately 10-15°C lower and 15-20% less cooking time.
How much time should I reduce from a recipe that takes 40 minutes in the oven?
A 20-25% reduction gives approximately 30-32 minutes in the air fryer. However, start checking the food a few minutes before that point.
Why is my food still raw inside even though I followed the calculated time?
The food may be thicker or denser than expected, or the basket may be overcrowded. Add 2-4 minutes at a time and check again rather than making a large time adjustment.
Do I need to preheat the air fryer when using an oven-to-air-fryer conversion?
Not always. Preheating can be particularly useful for short cooking times, pastries and cakes. If you start with a cold air fryer, the total cooking time may need a small adjustment.
Can I use this conversion chart for frozen food?
Frozen foods can behave differently from fresh foods. Whenever possible, follow the air fryer instructions on the packaging. If no instructions are available, monitor the food carefully because frozen products vary considerably in size and composition.
Why is it important not to overcrowd the basket?
Air fryer cooking depends on hot air being able to circulate around the food. Overcrowding restricts airflow, slows cooking and can produce uneven browning, making the conversion calculation much less reliable.
Is there a 100% exact oven-to-air-fryer conversion?
No. There is no universal conversion that works perfectly for every air fryer and every food. The chart provides a useful starting point, but the final cooking time depends on the appliance, food quantity, thickness and recipe.
