Air fryers have taken over modern kitchens and rightly so. They cook quickly, they are often healthier (because you don’t need a deep pool of oil) and they take less energy than oven frying. Whether you want to eat healthier or save time, air frying really changes things.
The problem is that most recipes just write about using the oven, instead of its settings. You take out the bag of frozen fries or look at the lasagna recipe and there it is: a moment of comfort. How much time and what temperature to use in the oven. Oven time and temperature. No air fryer instructions in sight.
Here is where this guide on oven to air fryer conversion can prove helpful for you. By using our air fryer to oven conversion tips and charts, you can easily turn oven recipes into air fryer recipes for excellent crunchy, golden and fully cooked food.
I’m here to tell you all about air fryer cooking times, temperature levels and simple tricks, so you enjoy your food and not just guess when it’s ready.
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What’s the Difference Between an Oven and an Air Fryer?
First, let’s clear up a common question:
Is a convection oven the same as an air fryer?
Not exactly, but they’re close cousins.
- Conventional Oven: equipped with heating elements located at the top and bottom and it can or can’t have air circulating inside it.
- Convection Oven: Just like a regular Oven, but a fan works inside to help airflow and ensure food cooks evenly.
- Air Fryer: Which is simply a small, quick convection oven. Since heat moves more efficiently in a smaller space, your food is done faster and ends up crispy.
So while the cooking principles are similar, the air fryer’s smaller size and focused airflow make it much faster—and ideal for things you want crispy.
How to Convert Oven Recipes to Air Fryer
General Conversion Rules:
When you want to convert oven to air fryer, keep these basic rules in mind:
- Reduce the temperature by 15–25°C (or 25–50°F).
- Reduce the cooking time by 20–30%.
- Always check your food halfway through cooking to avoid burning or drying out.
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Oven to Air Fryer Temperature Chart (°C + °F)
| Oven Temp (°C) | Oven Temp (°F) | Air Fryer Temp (°C) | Air Fryer Temp (°F) |
| 220 | 428 | 200 | 392 |
| 200 | 392 | 180 | 356 |
| 180 | 356 | 160 | 320 |
| 160 | 320 | 140 | 284 |
Use this as your go-to oven temperature conversion chart.
Cooking Time Conversion Chart
Here’s a quick oven to air fryer converter for popular foods. Keep in mind, results may vary slightly depending on your air fryer model.
| Food | Oven Temp & Time | Air Fryer Temp & Time |
| Chicken Breast | 200°C / 25 min | 175°C / 18–20 min |
| Frozen Fries | 220°C / 25 min | 200°C / 15–18 min |
| Cookies | 180°C / 12–15 min | 160°C / 8–10 min |
| Roasted Veggies | 200°C / 35 min | 175°C / 20–25 min |
| Salmon Fillet | 200°C / 15 min | 175°C / 10–12 min |
Bookmark this for fast reference—it’s your shortcut to perfect results.
Frozen Food? Fresh Food? Here’s the Trick
Cooking fresh or frozen? Use the right strategy:
- Fresh food: Lower the temp by 15–20°C and cut the time by 20–25%.
- Frozen food: Keep the oven temp the same, but cut the time in half (yep, 40–50% less).
Pro Tip: Shake or flip your food part of the way through to help it cook evenly such as with fries, nuggets or vegetables.
Reverse Conversion: Air Fryer to Oven
Sometimes you need to go the other way—maybe you’re cooking a larger batch or your air fryer is already busy.
For air fryer to oven conversion:
- Increase the temp by 15–20°C (or 25–35°F).
- Add around 25% more cooking time.
- And don’t forget: use a thermometer or visual cues to check doneness.
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Air Fryer Cooking Tips for Best Results
Want perfect results every time? Follow these simple tips:
- Preheat your air fryer if your model doesn’t do it automatically.
- Don’t overcrowd the basket—airflow is key to crispiness.
- Use parchment liners or silicone mats for easy cleanup (but don’t block airflow).
- Invest in a food thermometer—especially when cooking meats. Crispy doesn’t always mean cooked through.
This guide has simplified oven to air fryer conversion
Oven to air fryer conversion can save you lots of time and effort. Whenever you try to make something from food you already have or look at old recipes, make sure to:
- Cool down the cooking temperature.
- Trim down the amount of time it takes to do the work.
- Check the financial statements on a regular basis.
View more Air Fryer Recipes at our website.
Follow the guide on oven temperature conversion chart and learn air fryer cooking times and you won’t need to ask “should this taste good?” ever again, it work great right from the start.
Happy air frying!
