The oven to air fryer rule
An air fryer works like a small convection oven. USDA describes it as essentially a countertop convection oven that cooks food faster than a regular oven. Because the hot air moves so fast in a small space, an oven recipe needs a lower temperature and less time.
University of Illinois Extension gives a simple rule for most conventional oven recipes:
- Temperature: 25 to 30 °F lower. South Dakota State University Extension also says to lower it by 25 °F.
- Time: 20% shorter, which is the oven time × 0.8.
Example: a recipe that says 400 °F for 30 minutes becomes 375 °F for 24 minutes. In Celsius the calculator lowers the temperature by 15 °C, which is 27 °F and sits inside the Illinois range, so 200 °C becomes 185 °C.
A starting point, not an exact time
Not every source uses the same numbers. University of Maine Extension suggests lowering the temperature by 25 to 50 °F and cutting the time by about 20 to 50%. Size, power and how full the basket is all change the result, and USDA notes that each air fryer has its own cooking times. So treat the converted time as the moment to start checking:
- Check halfway. Illinois Extension advises shaking the basket or flipping the food with tongs in the middle of the cooking time. The calculator shows that moment as the first check.
- Leave room. USDA warns that an overfilled basket cooks unevenly. Cook big batches in rounds.
- Browning too fast? Lower the temperature further under Adjust the rule, and cook a little longer.
Safe internal temperatures
Time alone does not tell you whether meat is safe. USDA advises checking every air fried meat, poultry and fish with a food thermometer:
| Food | Safe minimum |
|---|---|
| Fish | 145 °F (62.8 °C) |
| Whole cuts of beef, pork, veal and lamb | 145 °F (62.8 °C)Rest 3 minutes |
| Ground meat | 160 °F (71.1 °C) |
| Poultry, including ground poultry | 165 °F (73.9 °C) |
USDA also says not to cook raw, stuffed, breaded chicken breast products in an air fryer, and to refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours. For roasting times in a regular oven, see the meat cooking time calculator. To change an oven temperature between Fahrenheit, Celsius and gas marks, use the oven temperature converter.
How to use the air fryer conversion calculator
- 1Pick °F or °C, then type the oven temperature and the minutes from your recipe, or tap a common setting.
- 2Read the air fryer temperature and time. Set a timer for the first check at the halfway mark.
- 3Have an air fryer recipe but want to use the oven? Switch to Air fryer to oven, and the calculator runs the same rule backward.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert oven time to air fryer time?
Multiply the oven time by 0.8. University of Illinois Extension advises cutting the cooking time by 20% when you move a conventional oven recipe to an air fryer, so 30 minutes in the oven becomes about 24 minutes. Check the food at the halfway point, and add a few minutes if it needs more.
What is 350 °F in an air fryer?
About 325 °F. Illinois Extension says to lower the temperature by 25 to 30 °F, and South Dakota State University Extension says 25 °F. With the time cut by 20%, a recipe that bakes 20 minutes at 350 °F becomes about 16 minutes at 325 °F.
Do I need to preheat the air fryer?
Follow the manual of your model. University of Illinois Extension says to preheat typically for 3 minutes, and University of Maine Extension notes that preheating helps food cook evenly.
Is the conversion the same for frozen foods?
Not always. USDA advises following the manufacturer’s instructions on the food package when they are available, so use the air fryer directions printed on the bag or box first. The calculator is for recipes written for a conventional oven.
How do I know when meat is done in an air fryer?
Use a food thermometer. USDA says fish is safe at 145 °F, whole cuts of beef, pork, veal and lamb at 145 °F with a 3-minute rest, ground meat at 160 °F and all poultry at 165 °F. Each air fryer cooks at its own pace, but these safe temperatures stay the same.