How Do You Adjust Time and Temperature to Cook an Oven Recipe in an Air Fryer?

To cook an oven recipe in an air fryer, set the temperature 20°C / 36°F lower than the recipe's setting, and shorten the cooking time by about 20-25%. For example, a recipe that cooks in an oven for 30 minutes at 200°C / 390°F will be ready in an air fryer at 180°C / 355°F in 22-24 minutes. Why make this adjustment? An air fryer uses a powerful, fast-moving stream of air directed through a small chamber. This transfers heat much more effectively than the still hot air in a conventional oven. At the same temperature, food in an air fryer cooks much faster and usually browns more deeply than food in an oven, so the temperature and cooking time are each reduced. Does the same formula work for every recipe? For thin, small pieces of food, such as vegetables, chicken wings, and french fries, shortening the time by 20-25% gives fairly consistent results. For large, thick baked goods such as cakes and bread, however, the air fryer's small chamber may distribute heat unevenly, so the formula is less reliable and the food needs frequent checking. Why is it important to check halfway through? Air fryer models can vary considerably in power, so the converted time is only a starting point. Open the basket halfway through cooking, check the food's color, and stop a few minutes early if needed. Checking this way is the most reliable approach when adapting a new recipe for an air fryer. Should you change the pan too? Instead of the large baking sheet used in the oven recipe, use a small pan that fits in the air fryer basket, or use the basket itself. If food is packed tightly into it, airflow is blocked and the converted time will no longer work. Arrange the food in a single layer with room for air to circulate. Is preheating necessary? An air fryer preheats much faster than an oven; 3-5 minutes is usually enough. If you skip this step, the food goes into a cold chamber and spends the first few minutes heating up, which can make the converted cooking time less accurate. Can recipes with a lot of liquid be adapted for an air fryer? Soups and stews, which contain a lot of liquid, are not suited to the air fryer's basket: liquid can drain through its perforated bottom. If a covered-container accessory is available for the air fryer, use it for these dishes. Recipes with little or no liquid are the ones that work best with the conversion formula. Why might the result look or feel a little different from oven-cooked food? The air fryer's strong airflow can leave the surface drier and more browned than an oven does. A converted recipe may therefore come out a little darker and drier, especially cakes that are meant to stay moist. For the first attempt, start at the lower end of the time range. Once a recipe has been adapted successfully, write down the time and temperature so you can cook it directly next time without experimenting. Keeping these notes over time lets you build a personal conversion chart for your air fryer.