Air fryers have taken the world by storm, and for good reason. Countertop air fryers are wonderful appliances that produce great results, save electricity, and are a healthier option for frying foods in oil.
A common question that often arises when people learn how to use air fryers comes from the fact that air fryers utilize convection heating, like a traditional oven. So, what is the point?
So you may be wondering how to air fry in your convection oven. While it is true that both appliances use convection heating elements, there are several differences. Let’s look at these differences and see if we can use our convection ovens for air frying.
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What Is A Convection Oven?
A convection oven is the traditional oven you see in most homes. It uses a heating element and fans to distribute heat around food. In the truest sense, you can use a convection oven cavity for air frying.
This heating cycle produces the classic crisp on food that we have all come to appreciate. The cooking cavity is intentionally large in order to hold multiple foods at once, or larger items like roasts and whole turkeys.
Some newer models of convection ovens come with an air fry mode. The newer style uses the same convection fan for air frying as for traditional cooking so there are no further steps needed to air fry.
What Is an Air Fryer?
Air fryers take the best of deep frying and convection cooking and compact them into a small countertop unit. Some air fryers have baskets while others are a toaster oven style, which serves as a multi-cooker.
Air fryers are popular because they are a healthy alternative to deep frying. This is because they use convection heat rather than hot oil to produce crispy results, which also makes them safer to operate.
Related: Air Fryer Hacks: Genius Ways to Use Your Air Fryer
How to Air Fry In Your Convection Oven
The first step in cooking style in a convection oven is preparation, both the food and the equipment being used. there are many tools you can use like parchment paper, a perforated tray, and a baking sheet, among many others. After trial and error, you will learn which ones you prefer and which ones work best.
1. Prepare the food
Crisp food requires smaller sizes, so cut vegetables into smaller chunks. You can also spray cooking spray over the entire surface of the food for browner, crispier results.
2. Prepare your tools
Parchment paper and a perforated tray do well during air frying but if you’re using aluminum foil, make sure to poke holes in it to allow airflow.
3. Use the correct cooking tools
Some things do not do well in an air fryer, especially wax paper. The hotter temperature can melt the wax and taint the food. You can also catch crumbs or grease by placing an oven-safe bowl or pan on the rack below the pan holding the food.
4. Organize the oven racks so that the food air fries better
Overcrowding the trays could overwork the convection fan and deliver soggy or mushy results.
5. Adjust cooking times
Since a full-size oven has more room than the smaller space of an air fryer, foods may take longer to cook.
Convection Heating
So, what exactly is convection heating? Convection heating means that convection ovens circulate hot air around food with fans to “wrap” the food in hot air.
The hot air ensures that food cooks evenly and also produces a nice crust, especially on proteins like roasts. This is why there are so many delicious air fryer recipes available.
Also read: Which Air Fryers Are BPA Free: Top 5 Safe Choices
What Is The Difference Between A Convection Oven and Air Fryer?
Though both air fryers make the most of convection oven heating, there are differences between air fryers and a convection oven. The most noticeable difference is the size.
Air fryers are small enough to fit on a countertop while convection ovens are much larger. The exception is a toaster oven, which offers both cooking styles and other cooking options.
The highest temperature setting on most air fryers is 400 degrees while convection ovens can exceed temperatures over 500 degrees. This is because the smaller cooking chamber of an air fryer oven allows for faster cooking and, usually, more crispy results.
Disadvantages of convection oven air frying
There are a couple of disadvantages to air frying in a convection oven. It is possible to do, but some setbacks might make it more advantageous to use an air fryer if you can.
- Time - Ovens, due to their size, take longer to preheat and cook than an air fryer.
- Heat - Because of their size, convection ovens heat up the kitchen more than a smaller air fryer.
- Rack positions - Since convection ovens are not designed to air fry (traditionally), it is best to reposition the racks.
Advantages of convection oven air frying
Convection ovens also have advantages over air fryers and it is best to balance both options before committing to the best option for you.
- Size - Due to their size, ovens hold more food than a countertop air fryer.
- Space - Air frying in a regular oven frees up counter space so you may have room to prepare bigger feasts.
Air Fryer Oven
An air fryer oven is another style of a countertop air fryer. A unique appliance, air fryer ovens can take the place of an air fryer and a convection oven.
They are a little large which means they hold more food than most air fryers but not as large as a regular oven, so bigger items like whole chickens will probably have to cook in an oven.
Also see: Air Fryer vs Electric Grill: Which Is Better for Indoor Cooking?
Tips For Air Frying (no matter the appliance used)
Most air fryers crisp food better than convection ovens, but not enough to notice. Here are some tips to use, no matter the mode of air frying you choose. They can be used on any air fryer recipe.
Use cooking spray
A light mist over the food before you air fry it really provides a crispier finish than dry air frying. It also locks in the moisture on the inside of proteins.
Don’t crowd the food
Since air frying wraps the food in hot air, it is critical to not let the food touch. If it does, the hot air cannot reach those sides and this produces uneven cooking.
Flip food when it is halfway cooked
You do this with an air fryer basket by shaking it. In ovens, flipping the food ensures even cooking and lets you see how much more cooking time you need.
If batch cooking, use an oven-safe cooling rack for the batches while cooking subsequent ones.
Related: Is Air Fryer Healthier than Oven: Deep Dive and FAQ
The most commonly air-fried foods
You can air fry just about anything, but that does not mean you should. Some foods burn too easy while others come out in a clumpy mess. To give you an idea, here are the most common foods that for the air fry setting.
- French fries
- Chicken wings
- Pork chops
- Hash browns
FAQ's
You can air fry a variety of foods in your convection oven, with french fries being a popular choice. Other great options include chicken wings, vegetables, and even fish sticks. For the best results, make sure to spread the food out evenly on a baking sheet to ensure proper air circulation.
To achieve crispy french fries in your convection oven, preheat the oven to a high temperature (around 400°F). Arrange the fries in a single layer on a wire rack or a perforated baking sheet to allow for optimal airflow. Cooking times can vary, but generally, you should bake them for about 20-30 minutes, turning them halfway through for even crisping.
Yes, when air frying in a conventional oven, you may need to increase the cooking time slightly compared to a dedicated air fryer. This is because conventional ovens may not circulate air as efficiently. Keep an eye on your food and check for doneness a few minutes before the suggested cooking time ends.
Wrapping Up
Since both appliances, the conventional oven and the air fryer oven, use convection heating, you can air fry in a convection oven and end up with golden brown (i.e. delicious) food. As always, there are drawbacks and advantages, but it can be done with stellar results.
Air fryers use a much smaller space space than an oven, which is how they cook so fast. A traditional oven will take a bit longer but, by using a few tips and tricks, it will crisp food just like an air fryer.
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