Convert oven temperature and cooking time to air fryer settings for perfect results.
Air fryer cooking times and temperatures don't map directly from oven recipes — air fryers run hotter and cook faster because the hot air is circulated directly around the food rather than radiating from elements. Getting it wrong means either undercooked food or something overcooked on the outside and raw in the middle.
This calculator converts conventional oven times and temperatures to air fryer equivalents, and also lets you look up direct air fryer settings for common foods. The general rule is reduce temperature by about 20°C and reduce time by 20-25% — but there's variation by food type and air fryer model.
Most home air fryers are 2-5 litre basket models. If you have a larger oven-style air fryer, you may need slightly longer times as the air has more volume to circulate through.
Air fryers use a powerful fan to circulate hot air directly around the food at high speed. This rapid air movement transfers heat much more efficiently than a conventional oven where heat radiates from elements and convects more slowly. The result is faster cooking and a crispier surface from the rapid moisture evaporation.
Most air fryer manufacturers and recipes recommend a 2-3 minute preheat for best results, especially for items where a crispy crust matters. Some modern models preheat very quickly and it makes less difference. For long-cooking items like whole chicken pieces, preheating is more important.
Usually because the temperature is too high. Try a lower temperature for longer — this is especially common with thick cuts of meat and baked goods. You can also cover with foil for the first part of cooking then uncover to crisp at the end.
A light coating of oil dramatically improves crispiness and helps browning. For most foods, a spray or brush of oil is all you need — much less than deep frying. For naturally oily foods like fatty cuts of meat, you can often skip the oil entirely.