Air fryer temp & time conversions

Spint

Not sure if this thread is best served in another forum but this seemed to be the one to fit the most.

I'm trying to figure the general rules for adjusting the temp and times in a normal oven to an air fryer. 

Google's AI states you knock 20 Celsius off and 20-25% off the time. However, I'm assuming the temp is for non-fan assisted ovens, therefore, if the instructions gives the temp for fan assisted ovens as well (most do) then I assume I use that temp for the air fryer, but knock off 20--25% off the time?

For example, a baking recipe states 'Preheat the oven to 170°C/150°C fan and cook for 1 hour.

Do I set the air fryer to 150°C and bake for around 45mins?

Thanks very much and hope you can help.

Northern_Wanderer

https://cdn1.pinchofnom.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/How-to-Convert-Recipes-to-an-Air-Fryer-TABLE-724x1024.jpg

I always use this one which I screenshotted to my phone. I have Ninja Foodi Smartlid 11 in 1, the chart always works for me.  Some products have started showing cooking times for air-fryer, I always ignore them.

Spint

Northern_Wanderer said:

https://cdn1.pinchofnom.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/How-to-Convert-Recipes-to-an-Air-Fryer-TABLE-724x1024.jpg

I always use this one which I screenshotted to my phone.

Thanks, that's great! 

Surprised that you still knock 20°C off the fan assisted oven.

Kim_13

I usually use the same heat as the instructions ask for and knock 25% off the time. It can be a bit trial and error though, potatoes have the same whether oven or air fryer. Not all air fryers are equal either, most seem to be 1400W (where foods have air fryer instructions) but mine is 2000.

matelodave

We generally use the fan over settings but reduce the temp by 10 degrees and the time by 15% or so and don't bother to pre-heat. Ours is a Ninja two drawer thingy, dunno the model number and we've had it around three years.

Not had any failures nor have we managed to poison ourselves 

Paradigm

I use a digital thermometer to check meat/roasts etc & just stick it on 180c for as long as the packeage says (checking part way through), anything over 65-70 c is done. Dunno if this works for baking?

Albermarle

matelodave said:

We generally use the fan over settings but reduce the temp by 10 degrees and the time by 15% or so and don't bother to pre-heat. Ours is a Ninja two drawer thingy, dunno the model number and we've had it around three years.

Not had any failures nor have we managed to poison ourselves 

This is  also approx what we do. 

poppy10_2

No point in turning down the temperature. Negates the speed advantage of the air fryer. I cook everything at top temp (200 C) and just reduce the cooking time by 30% compared to the oven instructions

bob2302

poppy10_2 said:

No point in turning down the temperature. Negates the speed advantage of the air fryer. I cook everything at top temp (200 C) and just reduce the cooking time by 30% compared to the oven instructions

If that were true they wouldn't provide a temperature control. With some things you get better results with a lower temperature. There's also more scope for food poisoning at 200C because there's less time for the heat to penetrate into the centre of the food.

matelodave

In the end its a case of trying out whats best, using the general guidelines in the airfryer instructions/cook book.

All airfryers like ovens are a bit different and it will depend on what you are cooking and to an extent how cremated you want it. The element is usually much closer to the food than it is in a conventional oven. Likewise the heat is blasted at the contents rather than circulated so the outside gets cooked a lot faster than the innards.

We used a food thermometer with ours for a couple of months until we were happy with the results ensuring that the inside got cooked without having a charcoal outer coat.