Can You Air Fry With A Convection Toaster Oven
For the past year, weve been playing around with a basket-style air fryer and a few air fryer toaster ovens. If youre curious about air fryer toaster ovens, check out this post comparing an Air Fryer vs. Toaster Oven Air Fryer.
Knowing that the convection technology in those appliances is similar to how a convection toaster oven works got us thinkingcould we forgo having a second appliance and just cook air fryer recipes in our convection toaster oven?
Then readers started emailing asking the same thing and we knew we had to give it a try!
What Can You Cook In An Air Fryer
In the most basic terms whatever you can bake, you can air fry. Now, that doesnt mean that you can use the same temperatures or cook times in an air fryer and convection oven. Youll have to adapt and convert your recipes in order to properly cook your food.
Here are a few of my favorite things to cook in my air fryer:
Its easy to see why Im so obsessed with mine!
The Drawbacks Of An Air Fryer
- When using your air fryer, you can’t check on it as easily as you can with a convection oven. While some home chefs are perfectly fine to set it and forget it, others have a tendency to monitor the doneness of the food to get it just right.
- Air fryers are considerably louder than a convection oven, reaching 65 decibels or so, according to Philips. To give you an idea, this is the same noise level of a vacuum cleaner. So, not exactly quiet. But then again, lots of kitchen appliances are loud, too.
- Cleaning air fryers takes some effort. You have to clean a perforated basket along with its bucket. And if you’re cooking, let’s say buffalo chicken wings, you’ll have to clean any drippings they leave behind, too. The convection oven is a clear winner here as all you have to do is clean the pan. For an even easier cleanup try lining the pan with aluminum foil before filling it with wings and loading it into the oven.
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What Is A Convection Oven Range
In a convection oven, a fan circulates fresh hot air over, under, and all around the food, evenly distributing it throughout the oven cavity. This method is more efficient and results in foods being cooked more evenly and being done about 25 percent faster than a traditional bake.
Most compellingly, thanks to the convection setting, your meals can retain their flavor without losing any natural juices or smoking out the nutrients during the baking process.
Before we continue, it should be noted that there are distinctions between convection settings. With standard convection ovens, there is still a fan on the back that circulates heat, but the hot air is coming from elements at the bottom of the oven cavity, just like your classic oven. Due to the heat rising from the bottom-up, a drawback of standard convection is that it struggles to bake multiple racks at once. In other words, there may not be even results across the top, middle, and bottom racks.
Then, there is true convection. Also referred to as European or True European convection, this setting features an additional heating element behind the fan. With true convection, the ovens heat is coming from the back of the cavity rather than from the bottom, and whats more, this option circulates fresh hot air rather than pre-heated air. With this option, you can bake on all your racks and achieve equal results no matter where you set down your tray or pan.
What Temperature Do You Air Fry In A Convection Oven
When it comes to air frying, convection ovens are the way to go. But what temperature should you use
Heres what you need to know:
Convection ovens circulate hot air around food, cooking it evenly and quickly. This makes them ideal for air frying.
Most recipes will call for an air fryer temperature of 400 degrees Fahrenheit. However, convection ovens tend to run a bit hotter than that. So, you may want to start at 375 degrees Fahrenheit and adjust as needed.
Remember, every oven is different. So, its important to keep an eye on your food while its cooking and adjust the temperature as needed.
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Let The Chicken Rest For 10 Minutes
After the chicken has cooked to perfection in the convection oven, it is important to allow it to rest for at least 10 minutes before serving. This resting period will help lock in the flavorful juices, resulting in tender and juicy pieces of chicken. It is recommended that you cover the cooked chicken with aluminum foil and allow it to rest on a plate or cutting board. This helps keep the chicken warm until ready to serve.
Additionally, this time gives you an opportunity to use any leftover heat from the oven or convection heater to melt a great topping like butter or cheese onto your creation while enjoying some last minute preparation of your side dishes. Ensuring your side dishes are prepped ahead of time will guarantee that all your ingredients are hot when served and also saves precious time. Of course for those more daring chefs, feel free to experiment with different seasonings during this pre-serve waiting period thanks again for choosing air fried chicken!
Smart Cooking Functions With Air Fry And Dehydrate
The Smart Oven® Air Fryer Pro with Element IQ® is for the cook who desires a countertop oven that can roast for large gatherings, air fry crispy French fries & family favorites and dehydrate a wide range of healthy foods. The super convection setting reduces cooking time by up to 30% with great crispness.
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With Only Slight Differences Which Appliance Is Better
Air fryers and convection ovens are excellent kitchen appliances that can upgrade any dish. Similarly, the two use circulated, hot air distributed by a fan to cook food evenly. While the air fryer has a ventilated basket and is generally smaller in size, the food tends to cook more evenly and end up crispier. In a convection oven, you can cook more food as the surface area of a sheet pan is larger). For a convection oven, the food will cook evenly through but food won’t turn out as crispy as an air fryer .
With only so many square feet of counter space in your home, what appliance should you invest in for your kitchen? Fortunately, the evolution of cooking and cooking appliances means multi-use machines. Companies such as Fotile have created appliances like the ChefCubii 4-in1 Steam-Combi Oven to help knock two birds with one stone by serving as a convection oven and an air fryer. Now, you don’t have to choose one over the other.
So What Is Convection Cooking
To really understand what makes convection cooking so similar to air frying, we first need to break down the anatomy of an oven. A traditional one typically features a top and bottom heating element meanwhile, a convection oven also has a fan that circulates hot air inside to achieve that super crispy texture we all love.
Think of an air fryer as a mini convection oven that cooks food to peak crunchy perfection using the same technology, just in a basket rather than a sheet pan. So instead of relying on a large pot of boiling oil to cook food as you would when deep frying, air fryers employ convection fans to circulate that high, dry heat around foods to replicate the crisping effect of a deep fryer. In short, your oven’s convection setting does the exact same thingâif you’ve ever made oven fries or baked chicken nuggets, this is exactly what we’re talking about.
Now that we’re up to speed on the technology of air frying , how should we use our oven’s convection setting, and when?
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How To ‘fry’ Food In An Oven
An air fryer works by rapidly circulating hot air and a small amount of oil to fry foods. The oil and air work in tandem, transferring heat via conduction and convection . In a wall oven or the oven of a range with convection, the air-fry function works the same way.
In our range lab, we tested the air-fry functions of two ranges from Frigidaire and a wall oven from Café. With the Frigidaire ranges, we purchased and used the optional air-fry basket for making frozen fries and chicken wings. For the Café wall oven, we simply used an aluminum pan.
Both ranges and the wall oven produce golden, crispy french fries with just a few teaspoons of oiland in record time. They shave a staggering 20 to 30 minutes off the total cook time compared with using a regular bake setting. Thats largely due to the fact that the oven doesnt need to preheat on the air-fry setting the heat ramps up almost immediately.
Our fries werent quite as beautiful as when we cooked frozen fries in a countertop air fryer. The small capacity of stand-alone air fryers allows more hot air to circulate around the food, plus they typically have baskets that rotate, allowing for more even browning. But the range and wall ovens are able to hold more than twice as much food as a standard air fryer. For large families, the larger capacity and shorter cooking time can be a real mealtime game changer.
So What Is Similar Between A Convection Oven And An Air Fryer
Both convection ovens and air fryers use hot air for cooking food. This hot air circulates the food, cooking it evenly and quickly. Both appliances can be used to bake, roast, or broil food. And both appliances can be used with little or no oil.
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Convection Oven Vs Air Fryer Which One Is Better
There are a few key differences between convection ovens and air fryers that you should keep in mind when deciding which one is better for you.
Air fryers cook food quicker than convection ovens, but they can also be more expensive.
Convection ovens can cook multiple items at once, while air fryers can only cook one batch at a time.
Air fryers usually have smaller capacities than convection ovens, so they might not be ideal if youre cooking for a large family or group.
So, which one is better for you? It really depends on your individual needs and preferences. If you want to quickly cook small batches of food, then an air fryer might be the better
Can You Use A Convection Oven Instead Of An Air Fryer
Is an air fryer in a convection oven possible? Air frying can be done in your convection oven, as it can be done in a countertop air fryer. A convection ovens ability to fit more cooking space allows it to be more convenient.
It Really Depends On What Youre Looking For In An Oven. Which Oven Is Best For You?
Air fryers and convection ovens have their pros and cons. For the most part, both are effective and have some drawbacks. If you want to cook healthier foods without the fuss of baking in a conventional oven, convection ovens are a great option. People who want quick and easy meals that dont require a lot of oil should consider using an air fryer. If you have a large family or a large number of people to feed, you may be able to cook a meal in an air fryer for much longer than usual. A good oven is a good choice if you want to make a large meal. When cooking foods that are difficult to prepare in a dry environment, such as potatoes and meat, convection ovens are ideal. These can also be used to reheat fried chicken or pizza. Although they are simpler to use than air fryers, they are also more difficult to use. If you overheat your food, you risk it becoming dry and difficult to eat. In short, both ovens have their own set of advantages and disadvantages.
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Air Fryer Vs Convection Oven: What’s The Difference
The latest craze in meal planning, food preparation, and TikTok recipes is the famous air fryer. With complete versatility, air fryers can bake a flakey piece of salmon, or a sizzling steak, and heat up your favorite frozen fries. It appears as though the air fryer has taken a front seat in just about every heating and warming food preparation. In local supermarkets like Trader Joe’s, air frying instructions can be seen as the preferred heating option for some of their best sellers.
Small, adaptable, and resourceful, can the air fryer replace other kitchen appliances and gadgets in your home? While the popularity of air fryers has soared, it raised questions about the need for an air fryer and a convection oven. To help distinguish the differences between the classic versus hip kitchen appliance, we dived into the core and fundamental differences between an air fryer and a convection oven.
How Do You Make Crispy Food In A Convection Oven
Convection ovens are becoming increasingly popular in home kitchens, as they offer a more efficient way to cook. While conventional ovens rely on radiant heat to cook food, convection ovens use fans to circulate hot air around the food. This allows for a more even cook, and can also help to make food crispy.
So how do you make crispy food in a convection oven The first step is to lower the temperature of the oven by about 25 degrees Fahrenheit. This will help to prevent the food from overcooking on the outside while still cooking through on the inside. Next, you will want to place the food onto a wire rack that has been placed on top of a baking sheet. This will allow hot air to circulate around the food and help it to crisp up.
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Convection Oven Vs Air Fryer
An air fryer is just a small countertop convection oven. That’s right, air fryers don’t actually fry foods at all. They work the same way convection ovens do by circulating hot air around the food until it is cooked on the inside and crispy on the outside.
But before you throw out your air fryer, there are some things to be said for the internet’s favorite countertop appliance. Because air fryers are so small, the cooking area in which the food cooks is smaller and will heat up faster. This means cooking your food in an air fryer is going to take less time than it would in a traditional convection oven.
But this also means that it holds less food, so you may have to cook large quantities in batches. We’ll let you decide if it’s a trade-off that’s worth it. An air fryer is a great tool for cooking for just a couple of people, but if you’re cooking for a large family, you’re better off going with a convection oven.
Air Fry Common Questions
How can I get the Air Fry feature?
Some models of freestanding ranges and wall ovens will automatically come with the air fry feature. Owners with specific models that have the ability to be connected, can connect their appliance to receive the feature, via an OTA . Please refer to the Owner’s Manual for specifics on your model.
What is the best rack position to use?
To ensure proper air circulation and air fry results, use the following guideline for a typical oven cavity:
- For ovens with five rack positions, use rack position 3
- For ovens with seven rack positions, use rack position 4.
NOTE: Rack placement will vary depending on cavity size and other factors, please reference your Owner’s Manuals for specific instructions.
Do you need to preheat the oven?
This varies from model to model. If package instructions recommend preheating the oven, allow the oven to preheat for 17 minutes. Please reference your Owners Manual for specific information.
Should I place a tray under the air fry basket?
To help prevent food dripping, a tray or sheet pan should be placed under the air fry basket. The tray can be placed on the same rack or the rack below.
How do I clean the air fry basket?
The basket is Dishwasher Safe or can be cleaned with mild soap and water.
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Science Of The Air Fryer
The science behind air fryers is known as rapid air technology. This science involves a heating element, which is typically at the back of the oven, and a fan that rapidly circulates the heated air around the food inside the cooking compartment.
This is similar to the technology used in traditional household convection ovens and countertop convection ovens. Air fryers are essentially small convection ovens with a slightly different design. Because air fryers are small appliances, they’re able to cook food even more quickly than a traditional convection oven. The airtight cooking chamber likewise ensures that hot air is contained and does not get released during the cooking process.
In a regular oven without a fan, heat rises from the heating element on the bottom, which causes the top of the oven to be significantly warmer than the bottom of the oven. This can lead to unevenly cooked food, which is why many recipes ask you to move your trays around throughout the cooking process. Forced convection technology removes this barrier while also helping food cook more quickly and wicking away moisture that leads to a supremely crispy texture on many different foods.