The difference between an air fryer and a convection oven

Q: What is the advantage of an air fryer over a convection oven?

Air fryers cook quicker than convection ovens and dont require heating a large appliance, like your full-sized oven. Their perforated racks also allow fat to drip onto the drip pan so your food doesnt absorb excess oil, which minimizes calories and becomes crispier since it is more dry.

I'm in the market for a new range. As the subject line asks, “Is there a difference between a Convection Oven and an Air Fryer?”

Table of Contents Show

If You Have a Convection Oven, You Essentially Have an Air Fryer
Is a convection oven the same as an air fryer? If so, can you use them in the same way? We know you've got questions. Here's the scoop.
What Is a Convection Oven?
What Is an Air Fryer?
So, Is an Air Fryer a Convection Oven?
The Bottom Line
Using a Convection Oven as an Air Fryer
Can you use a convection oven as an air fryer?
What is the advantage of an air fryer over a convection oven?

I ask because I can't tell the difference. They both seem the same to me. They are both dry heat circulated by a fan.

I'm looking at ranges that say they are air-fryers, at a cost over ordinary convection ranges. I have a counter-top air fryer that I love, but how is it different from an ordinary convection oven? Does the code word air fryer really carry any science with it?

EDIT UPDATE: I understand the marketing behind the little countertop Air Fryers. I have one and enjoy it. It's great when you need a small quantity. My confusion is when large convection (fan) ranges advertise an Air Fry function. Such as this one:

I'm trying to imagine the difference between convection (fan) mode and Air Fry mode for such a range. To me, I don't see any difference between fan mode and Air Fry mode--I'm beginning to think it's a gimmick so that they can charge slightly more.

bob1

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asked Apr 19 at 22:40

Yes, when you switch the fan on, it is essentially a large air fryer. The only real difference is that air fryers have a smaller volume of air to heat, which makes them more efficient. It's not all just marketing hype, these little fan ovens do have benefits over large fan ovens.

Just a note here about oven nomenclature - what Americans call a "Convection oven" is called a "fan oven" here in the UK, and I suspect some other English speaking countries. For us "convection" means without a fan, using natural convection currents, precisely the opposite of what it means in America. It's a total mystery to me as to why/how this has happened.

answered Apr 20 at 11:29

Billy KerrBilly Kerr

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Air Fryer is a great example of an old technology being sold as something new with some good marketing.

Air Fryer is in essence a micro convection oven. The technology certainly not new and is in certain ways just a rebranding of an old technology.

That being said, it does not take away from an air fryers usefullness. Although some of the marketing is a bit tosh there is no denying the convenience it can provide.

It certainly makes sense to have a mini-oven for when you want to cook something small that does not justify using a full oven for.

It has much more merit to it than a lot of kitchen-gadget fads we have seen over the years.

answered Apr 20 at 9:15

Neil MeyerNeil Meyer

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Air fryers really took off during the pandemic as people suddenly started cooking for themselves more. There are a lot of people familiar with an air fryer that don't realize a convection oven does essentially the same thing. "Convection oven" often either means nothing to people or reminds them of the old toaster oven their grandma had with the mechanical timer you turn.

So if they want to attract that demographic who might want to make larger batches of their favorite air fryer recipes, marketers use the "air fry" phrase. I doubt "air fry" is actually a distinct mode from regular convection, although they might add some of the features of higher-end air fryers, such as food-specific presets.

answered Apr 26 at 21:40

If You Have a Convection Oven, You Essentially Have an Air Fryer

Is a convection oven the same as an air fryer? If so, can you use them in the same way? We know you've got questions. Here's the scoop.

Published on January 28, 2021

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Air fryers have come a long way since they first arrived in homes as futuristic orb-like appliances offering healthier cooking options for our favorite cheat-day snacks. The appliance was introduced in 2005, but it didn't become a commonly seen kitchen tool until 2018, when it was declared the "it" gift for Christmas, according to Amazon data. Air fryers were originally used to reheat food on airplanes, but we soon learned you can do so much more at home with an air fryer than fry chicken wings or donut holes without loads of added oil. We now use this trendy countertop device to bake, rehydrate, roast, and re-crisp leftovers the same way we used our convection ovens, which got us thinking. Is there really a difference between an air 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 fryer is basically just a miniature convection oven.

What Is a Convection Oven?

"Convection ovens use a powerful fan to circulate hot air inside the oven, allowing chefs to decrease cooking times, control consistent quality of food, and increase and decrease browning with a more uniform appearance," Sieber explains. Convection ovens were popular in commercial kitchens before they were adapted for home use, and now there are multiple home convection options ranging from conventional ovens with a convection feature ($2,500, The Home Depot) to countertop convection ovens ($280, Amazon).

Convection ovens are great for roasting meats, cooking pizza, baking casseroles, roasting vegetables, and baking scones and crunchy cookies. Cooking goes faster in a convection oven than in a conventional oven, so unless you're using a recipe specifically designed for a convection oven, you'll need to convert recipes with this convection oven conversion guide.

Courtesy of Target

What Is an Air Fryer?

Air fryers also use a fan to circulate hot air around food in the same way a convection oven does, only air fryers are typically smaller and the fan circulates air faster in an air fryer ($70, Target). These little fryers preheat fast and use a fryer basket or perforated tray to help circulate the air and decrease cooking time.

Air fryers are super simple to use and can make golden french fries, crunchy fried pickles, or even crispy kale chips with a tablespoon or less of oil. Because of their ability to decrease calories by not cooking foods in oil, air fryers soared in popularity as soon as they were introduced, but the small size is still a deterrent for many serious cooks. "I never considered the countertop home air-fryer units because they were limited in scope," Sieber admits. "I prefer cooking in my countertop Gourmia multi-function oven ($120, Target) because cooking in hot fat on a stove top can be dangerous and includes too many calories nutritionally."

So, Is an Air Fryer a Convection Oven?

Most convection ovens can air-fry, but not all air fryers can do what a convection oven can. The main difference between an air fryer and convection oven lies in the size, with a convection oven generally having more space for cooking larger amounts of food at one time (e.g., the difference between cooking eight mini scones or 16 full-size scones). The fan in an air fryer is located at the top of the appliance, which cooks food a little faster than the back-of-the-oven fan in a convection oven, but a convection oven doesn't require any specialty equipment or accessories like an air fryer does.

The Bottom Line

Choosing between an air fryer and a convection oven is entirely about personal preference. Some prefer the small size of an air fryer, while some want all the cooking options and capabilities that come with a convection oven. For those still on the fence, a combination convection toaster oven air fryer ($290, Amazon) may be the answer. "Last year I purchased a Gourmia toaster oven air fryer that was under $150 to replace my toaster," Sieber says. "It is square and with a slightly larger capacity than a typical air fryer, and it operates much like a commercial convection oven and as an air fryer. It's so easy to turn on and has a shorter preheat than a conventional home oven. Its shorter cook times lead to less possible energy use, and I love being able to pop in some bread to toast, potatoes to air-fry, or chicken sausages to roast when I'm pressed for time."

Using a Convection Oven as an Air Fryer

Both air fryers and convection ovens cook recipes about 20 to 25 degrees Fahrenheit lower than a recipe for a conventional oven, so in terms of temperature, many air-fryer recipes work in a convection oven. "The conversion is very similar, as long as there is enough airflow for air-frying, such as a basket tray," Sieber says. A perforated tray ($33, Target) or even a large air-frying basket for a convection oven ($25, Amazon) will help crisp foods in a convection oven to get the same air-fried results, especially with these air-fryer egg rolls and these air-fryer jalapeño poppers. Because many air-fryer recipes are intended for small batches, you can often double the recipe for a convection oven; just remember to space food out on the tray—especially for air-fried Brussels sprouts, air-fried buffalo cauliflower, and air-fried chicken tenders—to make sure the air can easily touch all sides of the food. Although cooking times for recipes should be close in both an air fryer and convection oven, keep in mind that air fryers cook a little faster than convection ovens, so some air-fryer recipes may take a bit longer in a convection oven. Check to see if the food is ready around the time stated in the recipe, then follow up every two to three minutes if it needs a bit more time to brown.

Can you use a convection oven as an air fryer?

Can I use my convection oven as an air fryer? You can air fry in your convection oven and still achieve great results as with a countertop air fryer. In fact, using your convection oven can actually be more convenient, since you have more cooking room to work with.

What is the advantage of an air fryer over a convection oven?

Air fryers cook quicker than convection ovens and don't require heating a large appliance, like your full-sized oven. Their perforated racks also allow fat to drip onto the drip pan so your food doesn't absorb excess oil, which minimizes calories and becomes crispier since it is more dry.