Convert an oven recipe to an air fryer, and back
An air fryer is a small fan oven. Hot air moves quickly around a compact chamber, so food browns faster than in a full-size oven. The usual advice when you want to use an oven recipe is to lower the temperature by about 25 °F (15 °C) and cut the time by about a fifth. This air fryer conversion calculator applies that rule in either direction, shows the working, and gives you a time to start checking the food rather than a promise.
It works in °C and °F, understands that a recipe written for a fan oven needs a smaller change, and includes a chart of our own guidance ranges for common foods such as fries, chicken pieces, salmon, vegetables and paneer tikka. Nothing is uploaded; the conversion runs in your browser.
How to use the Air Fryer Conversion Calculator
- Choose Oven → air fryer or Air fryer → oven.
- Enter the temperature (switch between °C and °F) and the time from the recipe, and say whether the recipe was written for a conventional or a fan oven.
- Read the new temperature in both units and the new time. The line “check the food at” is about three-quarters of the converted time.
- Open the basket at the check time, shake or turn the food, and finish cooking by colour and by the food’s internal temperature.
Air Fryer Conversion Calculator features
Both directions
Go from an oven recipe to the air fryer, or from an air fryer instruction (often found on frozen food) to a normal oven.
°C and °F together
The answer appears in both units, rounded to the nearest 5 degrees, which is how most dials are set.
Fan oven aware
Fan ovens already move air, so the temperature change is smaller than for a conventional oven.
Food chart
Searchable ranges for seventeen popular foods, with notes on turning and the safe temperature to look for.
200 °C warning
Most air fryers stop at 200 °C (400 °F); the tool tells you when the converted setting is above that.
The rule of thumb and where it stops working
There is no official standard for air fryer conversion, so treat the numbers as a well-used rule of thumb. The change of 25 °F (15 °C) lower and 20 percent less time works well for roasted vegetables, chicken pieces, fries and frozen snacks. It is less reliable for batters and wet cakes, which can set on the outside before the middle cooks, for very thick joints, and for anything the manual says not to put in the basket.
A drawer or basket also needs space. A single layer cooks faster than a heaped one, and a half-empty basket cooks a little faster than a full one. If your recipe feeds four and your air fryer holds two portions, cook in batches and add a minute or two to the second batch if it goes in cold.
Safe internal temperatures
Time and colour do not prove that food is safe. The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service lists these minimum internal temperatures, measured with a food thermometer in the thickest part:
| Food | Minimum internal temperature |
|---|---|
| Poultry (chicken, turkey, duck), leftovers and casseroles | 165 °F (74 °C) |
| Ground beef, pork, lamb and veal | 160 °F (71 °C) |
| Beef, pork, lamb and veal steaks, chops and roasts | 145 °F (63 °C), then rest 3 minutes |
| Fish and shellfish | 145 °F (63 °C) |
| Egg dishes | 160 °F (71 °C) |
Tips for better results
- Pat food dry and use a little oil; too much oil smokes and too little leaves dry spots.
- Shake or turn once or twice. Sticky marinades such as a thick tikka paste can burn, so wipe off the excess.
- Do not line the basket so that air cannot flow. Perforated paper is fine; solid foil blocks airflow.
- If you are also reheating food in the microwave, use the microwave wattage converter; for oven markings and gas marks see the cooking converter.
Air Fryer Conversion Calculator FAQ
How do I convert an oven recipe to an air fryer?
Lower the temperature by about 25 °F (15 °C) and reduce the time by about 20 percent. For a 180 °C, 30 minute recipe that is 165 °C and 24 minutes. Start checking at about three-quarters of the time.
Do I need to change the temperature for a fan oven recipe?
Only a little. A fan oven already circulates hot air, so the full drop is usually too much. The calculator uses a smaller change of 10 °F (5 °C) for fan recipes, which is our own approximation: check early and adjust.
How long does paneer tikka take in an air fryer?
Around 8 to 12 minutes at about 190 °C (375 °F), turning once. Wipe off excess marinade so the surface does not scorch, and stop when the edges are golden.
Why does my air fryer burn the outside before the inside cooks?
The fan and small chamber brown the surface quickly. Lower the temperature by another 10 to 20 °C, cook for longer, and cover very thick items loosely with a piece of foil that does not block the airflow.
Can I convert an air fryer time back to an oven?
Yes: choose Air fryer → oven. The tool adds 25 °F (15 °C) and multiplies the time by 1.25.
Is the chart an official cooking time?
No. The chart gives our own ranges for a typical basket air fryer. Use it to plan, and use a thermometer and the safe temperatures above to decide when food is done.