Is a convection oven basically an air fryer ? We transgress down the line fryer vs. convection oven debate .
Air frier have come a long manner since they first arrived in homes as futuristic revolve - like appliance . in the beginning used to reheat solid food on airplanes , air pullet were n’t introduce to home kitchens until the early 2000s . They were slow to captivate on at first , until 2018 , when the zephyr pullet was declared the " it " gift for Christmas , according toAmazon data . Once they became democratic , it did n’t take long to get wind that air fryer could do much more than justcrisp up wingsor " fry " homemade sinker holes without mysterious VAT of oil . We nowuse this trendy countertop deviceto bake , roast , rehydrate , andre - crisp leftover — jobs that once go to the oven , ideally a convection oven . And this got us wondering : Is there really a difference between an breeze fryer and a convection oven ? The short answer ? No .
" The results for foods cooked in an air fryer are comparable to a convection oven , " says Dawn Sieber , chef instructor at Purdue University ’s Hospitality and Tourism Management at Marriott Hall , and that ’s because an air frier is basically just a miniature convection oven .
Credit:BHG / Abbey Littlejohn
Dawn Sieber , chef instructoratPurdue University ’s Hospitality and Tourism Managementat Marriott Hall
BHG / Abbey Littlejohn
What Is a Convection Oven?
" Convection ovens use a potent rooter to circulate live air inside the oven , allowing chef to decrease cooking clock time , control consistent lineament of intellectual nourishment , and increase and decrease embrown with a more consistent appearance , " Sieber explain . Convection oven were popular in commercial kitchens before they were adapted for place use . Today , abode cooks have several convection options , from full - size ovens with convection options to compact countertop convection ovens .
devouring baker bang convection ovens are corking forbaking sconesand crunchy cookies because they save even heat and nappy edges . But they are also great for roasting center , cook pizza pie , baking casseroles , and poke fun vegetables . Just retrieve that preparation goes faster in a convection oven than in a conventional oven , so unless you ’re using a recipe designed explicitly for a convection oven , you ’ll require to convert recipe withthis convection oven conversion guidebook .
What Is an Air Fryer?
Like convection ovens , atmosphere fryers circulate red-hot aviation with a fan , but they ’re typically pocket-size and can circulate melodic phrase more quickly . These little frier also preheat tight and use a pullet basket or perforated tray to help circulate the air and fall cookery time . Unlike convection oven , line fryers should be cleaned after every use , not just to keep them working longer , but to foreclose grease and stinker from building up and becoming a fire hazard .
Air fryers are supersimple to useand can crank up out prosperous Gallic fries , crunchyfried pickles , or even crispy kale chipping with a tablespoonful of vegetable oil or less . Their ability to produce crispy , satisfying termination with minimum oil made them a hit in 2018 , and keeps them a go - to gadget for healthier preparation to this day .
Tip : When cooking something lightweight like kale chips in an air fryer , spray the bottom of a alloy stand or basket ( admit with most zephyr fryers ) with no - spliff sprayer and place it over the kale pieces . This will forbid them from blowing around when the sports fan is at full bam .
Credit:BHG / Abbey Littlejohn
So, Is an Air Fryer a Convection Oven?
Most convection oven can air travel - fry , but not all air fryers can do what a convection oven can . The main conflict between an zephyr fryer and a convection oven is sizing . Convection ovens generally have more blank space for cook larger sum of food at once ( for instance , the departure between cooking eight mini scone or 16 full - size scones ) . The fan in an air pullet is also settle at the top of the appliance , which cooks food a piffling quicker than the rearward rooter in a convection oven . But if you already have an oven with a convection setting , you may not need an air fryer , especially if you ’re fix bombastic dowery , are limit on space , or want to avoid buying additional accessories .
Using a Convection Oven as an Air Fryer
Temperature
line fryer and convection oven recipes suggest preparation temperature about 20 to 25 grade Fahrenheit lower than those listed for a conventional oven recipe . So , in term of temperature , many air - frier recipes will turn in a convection oven without modification . " The conversion is very similar , as long as there is enough flow of air for air - frying , such as a basket tray , " Sieber says . A perforated tray or even a expectant airwave - fry basketful for a convection oven will help oneself crisp foods in a convection oven to get the same line - fried results on everything fromchicken fingerstoair - frier egg roll .
Batch Size
Since many air - fryer recipes are intended for little batches , you’re able to often double the recipe for a convection oven . Just retrieve to space food out on the tray so the tune can easily touch on all sides for crispy , equally cook food . This is peculiarly true for beat-up or surface foods or affair that become inert when clumped , like air - fry Brussels sprouts andbuffalo cauliflower .
Cooking Times
Cooking times are usually similar for air fryer and convection ovens , but aviation fryers tend to fake a minuscule faster . So , if you ’re using a convection oven for an melodic line - fryer recipe , start checking for doneness at the advise time , then check every 2 to 3 moment until it ’s browned to your liking .
Air Fryer vs. Convection Oven: The Bottom Line
Choosing between an airwave pullet and a convection oven is entirely about personal penchant . Some prefer the small sizing of an airwave frier , while some want all the cooking options and potentiality that come with a convection oven .
For those still on the fencing , a combination convection toaster oven air fryer may be the response . " Last twelvemonth , I buy a Gourmia toaster oven air pullet that was under $ 150 to interchange my toaster , " Sieber says . " It is square and with a slightly big capacity than a typical air pullet , and it mesh much like a commercial convection oven and as an air fryer . It ’s so easy to plough on and has a short preheat than a ceremonious home oven . Its brusque cook times lead to less possible energy use , and I roll in the hay being able-bodied to pop in some pelf to toast , potatoes to air - fry , or poulet sausages to roast when I ’m pressed for time . "
Frequently Asked Questions
Compared with a ceremonious oven , a convection oven will make your intellectual nourishment much crispier — particularly if you cook it on a perforated tray or oven - safe cooling rack so the air can circulate around the intact surface of the intellectual nourishment .
In short , sizing . An air fryer oven is simply a full - size oven that include an air fry setting . The greatest vantage of an air pullet oven over a countertop air fryer is its larger capacity which admit you to fake bigger batches of food at once .
In general , air pullet consume less energy ( thanks to their pocket-sized size of it and fast cooking clip ) . However , if you plan to cook a tumid quantity of food , a individual batch in a convection oven might be more efficient than several batches in a countertop air pullet .
Credit:BHG / Abbey Littlejohn
