You enter the conventional oven temperature and cook time from your recipe. The tool subtracts 25°F from the temperature and reduces the cooking time by 20%. This "25°F / 20% rule" is the most widely recommended starting point for oven-to-air-fryer conversions. It works because air fryers use rapid convection — a fan circulates hot air directly around the food, transferring heat more efficiently than a standard oven.
Most air fryers reach temperature in 2–3 minutes. Preheating for 3 minutes generally produces crispier results, especially for items like fries or breaded foods. Some recipes skip preheating for delicate items like fish.
Yes — frozen foods typically need 3–5 extra minutes compared to the converted time. Shake or flip halfway through for even cooking. The converted temperature still applies.
Most roasting and baking recipes convert well. Recipes that rely on steam, liquid baths, or very large pans (like a full sheet-pan dinner) may not fit or translate directly. Wet batters can drip through the basket — use parchment liners designed for air fryers.
The 25°F offset is a practical rule of thumb from appliance manufacturers and cooking experts. At typical baking temperatures (325–450°F), a flat 25°F reduction works better than a percentage because the efficiency gain of convection is relatively constant across that range.
Estimate only. Results reflect your inputs and standard formulas. Double-check important decisions independently.