Air Fryer Conversion Calculator
Convert your favorite oven recipe's temperature and time into the right air fryer settings — verified against independent English- and Russian-language cooking sources, not a made-up shortcut.
Temperature unit
Before you start
- Shake the basket or flip the food about halfway through — air fryers cook from one direction, unlike an oven's more even heat.
- Don't overcrowd the basket — cook in batches if needed, or the air can't circulate and food won't crisp evenly.
- The first time you try a recipe, check for doneness a few minutes before the converted time is up — models vary more than ovens do.
- Most air fryers don't need preheating the way an oven does — check your model's manual, but a couple of minutes is usually enough if it's recommended at all.
How this is calculated
This tool lowers the oven temperature by a fixed amount (25°F, or 15°C if you're working in Celsius) and cuts the time by 20% — an air fryer's smaller chamber and faster air circulation cook food hotter and quicker than an oven set to the same numbers. Both the temperature and time reductions are cross-checked against independent English- and Russian-language cooking sources rather than a single site's rule of thumb (see the worked example in the FAQ below). The result is rounded to the nearest 5 degrees, since ovens and air fryers dial in steps of 5.
Common questions
Why is the air fryer temperature lower than the oven's?
An air fryer is a small, enclosed chamber with a fan that circulates hot air directly around the food, so it heats faster and browns more aggressively than a full-size oven set to the same temperature. Lowering the temperature keeps the outside from burning before the inside finishes cooking.
Why is the time shorter too?
The same faster, more direct heat that means a lower temperature also means less time is needed overall — cutting the oven time by 20% is the standard adjustment cited across cooking sources for this reason.
Is this an exact conversion for every recipe?
No — it's a well-established rule of thumb, not a guarantee. Air fryer models vary in power and basket size, and delicate bakes (soufflés, custards) can behave differently than roasted or fried foods. Check for doneness a few minutes early the first time you try a converted recipe.
Do I need to preheat the air fryer first?
Usually not, or only for a couple of minutes — most air fryers heat up much faster than an oven, so a full oven-style preheat isn't necessary. Check your specific model's manual if you're not sure.
Why does the result round to a multiple of 5?
Most oven and air fryer dials only let you set the temperature in steps of 5 degrees, so rounding to the nearest 5 gives you a number you can actually dial in, instead of a falsely precise figure like 323°F.
Part of Kitchen Calculators