Converting oven recipes to air fryer cooking is a simple process that can help you save time and energy while still enjoying your favourite dishes. The key to successful conversion lies in adjusting both the temperature and cooking time.
General Rule of Thumb
When converting oven recipes to air fryer cooking, follow these general guidelines:
- Lower the temperature by approximately 20°C
- Reduce the cooking time by about 20%
Oven to Air Fryer Conversion Chart
Here’s a detailed list of conversions for common cooking temperatures and times:
| Oven Temp (°C) | AF Temp (°C) |
| 170 | 150 |
| 180 | 160 |
| 190 | 170 |
| 200 | 180 |
| 210 | 190 |
| 220 | 200 |
| Oven Time (mins) | AF Time (mins) |
| 10 | 8 |
| 12 | 9-10 |
| 15 | 12 |
| 20 | 16 |
| 25 | 20 |
| 30 | 24 |
*AF – Air Fryer
FYI – you can also use the same (similar) conversions for pan frying see below:
| Pan Heat/Temp (°C) | AF Temp (°C) | |
| Medium | 180 -200 | 160 |
| HIgh | 200+ | 180 |
| Fry Time (mins) | AF TIme (mins) |
| 6 | 4-5 |
| 8 | 6-7 |
| 10 | 8 |
| 12 | 9-10 |
| 14 | 11-12 |
| 16 | 12-13 |
*AF – Air Fryer
Top Tips for Successful Air Fryer Cooking
- Preheat your air fryer: While not always necessary, preheating for about 3 minutes can help achieve more consistent results.
- Don’t overcrowd the basket: Ensure enough space for air to circulate around the food for even cooking.
- Use less oil: Air fryers require less (If any) oil than traditional frying methods. A light spritz is often sufficient. Personally, I have never used oil as I find the oils in food enough.
- Check food regularly: Since air fryers cook faster, it’s important to check your food more frequently, especially when trying a new recipe.
- Adjust as needed: Different air fryer models may vary slightly in performance. Be prepared to make minor adjustments to temperature and time based on your specific appliance.
- Use a meat thermometer: This can be particularly helpful when cooking meats to ensure they reach safe internal temperatures.
Here’s a list of safe internal meat temperatures in Celsius:
Poultry
- Chicken (whole, pieces, and ground): 75°C
- Turkey (whole, pieces, and ground): 75°C
- Duck: 75°C
Beef
- Ground beef: 71°C
- Steaks and roasts:
- Medium-rare: 63°C
- Medium: 71°C
- Well done: 77°C
Pork
- Pork chops, roasts, and tenderloin: 71°C
- Ground pork: 71°C
Lamb
- Ground lamb: 71°C
- Chops, roasts:
- Medium: 71°C
- Well done: 77°C
Fish and Seafood
- Fish (all types): 63°C
Other Meats
- Veal: 71°C
- Ham (fresh): 71°C
- Ham (precooked, reheated): 75°C
- Rabbit: 71°C
- Bison (ground): 71°C
- Venison (ground): 71°C
- Venison (steaks, roasts): 63°C
It’s important to note that these temperatures ensure food safety. For optimal taste and texture, some meats may be cooked to lower temperatures, but this can increase the risk of foodborne illness, especially for vulnerable populations.
Information sourced from: healthline.com & thermometer.co.uk
Final Thoughts…
Remember, these conversions are general guidelines. Factors such as the size and model of your air fryer, as well as the size and quantity of food being cooked, can affect cooking times. Always monitor your food closely, especially when trying a new recipe in your air fryer.
