Recipe This | How To Convert Any Recipe To The Air Fryer (2024)

How to convert any recipe to the air fryer. If you are looking to convert your regular oven recipes tothe air fryer then this air fryer cooking times guide is perfect for you.

Recipe This | How To Convert Any Recipe To The Air Fryer (1)

Table of Contents

Convert ANY RecipeTo The Air Fryer

This is perfect for bookmarkingwhenever you are thinking about a recipe that you want to convert to the Air fryer.

If you’re anything like me thenyou will have an air fryer and you will want to cook everything and anything init.

You will dream of air fryer steak, air fryer rotisserie chicken, air fryer meatloaf and so many more classics. After all, air fryer cooking is so simple and why shouldn’t we?

But in a way when you start withthe air fryer, it is like learning to cook from scratch all over again.

You have an understanding that it works differently than what an oven does or a fat fryer, but once you get into it, you will realise that it is so much fun and well worth doing.

How To Convert ANY Recipe To An Air Fryer Recipe?

Recipe This | How To Convert Any Recipe To The Air Fryer (2)

There is no straight forward ruleas all air fryer recipes are different. Cooking steak is going to be differentcompared to cooking French Fries and of course meatloaf is a totally different story.

I would say that you should startwith these principles:

#1 – AirFrying Is Just Like Baked + Grilled + Deep Fried (IN ONE)

If you imagine that you’recooking a roast dinner for Sunday lunch. You have planned to make roast chickenwith roast potatoes and vegetables.

You would normally steam the vegetables in a pan and then cook the chicken and the potatoes together in the oven. You would then finish roast chicken on the grill to crisp up the chicken and potatoes.

But now you have an air fryer andthen only downside is that it is smaller than the space you have in the ovenbut everything else is very similar.

You would cook the chicken andpotatoes together but because the air fryer acts as the baked, grilled and deepfried all in one means that there is less work and less oil involved.

You can place your chicken andpotatoes in the same way, then you would add the oil (but a lot less) and thenit would cook evenly and then you can serve it.

That chicken and potatoes thatwould usually take 90 minutes in the oven, will take just 45 minutesin the air fryer.

Add to this that instead ofhaving to splash the potatoes with a lot of oil to make them crispy you justneed a tablespoon of olive oil for each person that you are cooking for.

Expect air fryer cooking to besimple and not as difficult as the way you cook now, so it is a nice cookingexperience.

#2 – AirFrying Uses Less Oil/No Oil

You end up experimenting a lot toget things right. For example, some recipes you will find don’t require any oilat all, yet some if you take them to an oil free recipe, they can tastehorrible.

But as a rule, you should expect to reduce the oil by about 85%.

If you’re a fan ofKFC Chicken,Chicken Cordon BleuorChicken Schnitzelthenyou will love the oil free versions for the air fryer.

They taste like something thathas been crisped and deep fried when in fact it has been breaded and made in amuch healthier way.

Though I do recommend you read our air fryer oil usage guide as it goes into much greater detail.

Expect trial and error though andhave fun recipe testing. Ourair fryer FrenchFriesfor example took us 3 years to perfect them and now ourdinners wouldn’t be the same without them!

#3 – AirFrying Cooks Fast

Because the air fryer uses airinstead of lots of oil it cooks things really fast.

Expect to cook at 180c/360f forrecipes that you would normally cook at 200c/400f in the conventional oven.

#4 – AirFrying On 80% Full

Never fill your air fryer morethan 80% capacity. This is because when it gets too full everything stickstogether and comes out like glue.

Fries when they are overcookedwill come out stuck together and incredibly dry. You will then need a lot ofmayonnaise to make them taste good.

I find this applies especially to if you overload your air fryer when cookingsweet potato fries.

#5 – AirFrying Halfway Rule

Another rule of the thumb is tomake sure that you check and shake halfway through cooking when cooking airfryer fries.

This gives you chance to makesure that the fries is not stuck together and to make sure they don’t end updry.

I find that a lot of my air fryerFrench fries recipes end up needing to cook for 15 minutes at 180c/360f.

I will then give them a shake atthe 7.5 minutes mark. If you’re likely to forget, just put them on for half thetime and then cook again after shaking.

#6 – AirFrying From Frozen

There are a lot of delicious frozen foods that you can cook in the air fryer instead of the deep fat fryer. This includes classic air fryer frozen French fries, air fryer frozen chicken wings and of course air fryer frozen jalapeno poppers.

What I have learnt from thenumerous frozen food that I have cooked in the air fryer is that a mediumtemperature of 180c/360f and a high temperature of 200c/400f work best togetherto ensure the food is cooked and that it is crispy.

We also have a popular air fryer frozen foods cookbook that you can download here or click on the banner below:

It features all of our favourite frozenfoods converted to the air fryer and perfect for finding your feet.

#7 – AirFrying Needs Accessories

You need a few things in order tomake air frying work for you. I can’t live without myair fryer Grill,air fryer Baking Panandof coursemy baking mats.

They all slot into the air fryerto make cooking so much easier and have had a lot of use yet still look brandnew.

When you invest in them once (just like the air fryer) they will last you years andsave you a huge amount of calories.

Quick AirFryer Conversion Chart

I have also put together a quickAir Fryer conversion chart. That way if you want something quick for dinner andyou want to air fry it then you can quickly turn to this list.

It features a lot of my favouriteAir Fryer foods and it is great for referencing later.

It includes meat, fish,vegetables, desserts (I cook plenty of those), pastries, breakfast ideas and somuch more:

Recipe This | How To Convert Any Recipe To The Air Fryer (4)

As you can see most recipes willcook on 180c/360f. It’s an easy temperature to remember and then if you wantthings more crispy then use 200c/400f.

I also find that a lower temperature also comes in handy if you want to thaw food in your air fryer.

You can also decrease the cookingtime by preheating it while you are preparing your food for the air fryer.

Dominic being the trained chef, will always do this and sometimes I have things going on that I naturally forget.

101 Air Fryer Recipes For Beginners PDF Cookbook

Recipe This | How To Convert Any Recipe To The Air Fryer (6)

If you would like to get all therecipes mentioned above, along with all the extra air fryer beginners tutorials,then click on the image above orclick here.

Many of our readers call thistheir air fryer bible. As they turn to it whenever they want to cook somethingnew in the air fryer or use it to refer back to for their favourites.

Can’t Read it now? Then pin it for later!

Recipe This | How To Convert Any Recipe To The Air Fryer (7)
Recipe This | How To Convert Any Recipe To The Air Fryer (2024)

FAQs

Recipe This | How To Convert Any Recipe To The Air Fryer? ›

Reduce the heat from your standard oven recipe by 25 degrees and reduce the time by 25%. You will still need to start checking for doneness about 2/3 of the way through the standard time in your original recipe and make sure protein internal temperatures are safe before removing them from the air fryer.

How to convert cooking instructions to air fryer? ›

When taking a recipe from oven to air fryer, the general rule is to reduce the temperature by 20ºC – 30ºC, and cook for 20% less time. For example, if you were making these delicious Chilli Cheesy Nachos, you'd need to bake the potato wedges in the oven at 200ºC for 25 minutes.

What is the 10/20 rule for air fryers? ›

The 10/20 rule means that you cut the temperature by 10% and the time by 20%. So if you have a recipe that calls for 350˚F for 15 minutes, you would take 10% off of 350, which is 315˚F. Then 20% of 15 is 3 minutes so cook time would be 12 minutes.

Can you put aluminum foil in an air fryer? ›

Foil is safe to use in an air fryer so long as you follow three basic rules: never let foil touch the heating element; make sure the foil is weighted so it doesn't blow around the basket; and avoid contact with acidic ingredients, which can cause the foil to leach onto your food.

Can I put parchment paper in the air fryer? ›

Parchment paper can handle the heat inside your air fryer - up to 428°F (220°C). To get the best results, add the parchment paper to the air fryer basket at the same time as you add your ingredients. This prevents the paper from lifting up and coming into contact with the heating element while cooking.

Can you put plastic in an air fryer? ›

Plastic and certain types of glass should never be placed in an air fryer. The high temperatures can cause those materials to warp, melt, or shatter, resulting in a seriously annoying and potentially dangerous cleanup.

What is the rule of thumb for air fryer conversion? ›

To convert an oven-cooked recipe to an air-fryer one, Mason's general rule of thumb is to reduce the suggested temperature by 25°F and then cut the cook time by about 20%.

What air fryers Cannot do? ›

7 Foods You Should Never Cook In Your Air Fryer
  • Wet Batters. Those beer-battered onion rings, fries, fish cutlets, plus tempura veggies and more are not well suited for a crisp in the air fryer. ...
  • Cheesy Items. ...
  • Large, Bone-In Meat Cuts. ...
  • Baked Goods. ...
  • Greens. ...
  • Raw Rice and Other Grains. ...
  • Too Much of Anything.
Apr 14, 2023

Can you put water in the bottom of an air fryer? ›

Keep water away from the electronic parts of your air fryer at all times and never submerge an air fryer in water. However, adding small amounts of water at the bottom of your air fryer can be a good idea to help catch any food drippings or food particles, such as hot oil, and prevent the formation of smoke.

What is the best thing to put on the bottom of an air fryer? ›

Parchment paper is good for food that might stick to the basket, like chicken wings, making clean up a bit easier. If you're tempted to use parchment every day or are simply waste-conscious, consider instead a silicone liner for air fryers. They're reusable and dishwasher safe, cutting down on both waste and worry.

Can you put a paper towel in an air fryer? ›

Airflow is essential to the machine, so while a paper towel is useful for cleaning, it should not be used while cooking food in the air fryer. It can restrict the airflow of the machine and even catch fire. It's important to remember that the air inside the air fryer can get very hot.

Can I bake a cake in my air fryer? ›

Now you know… you absolutely can bake a cake in the air fryer! It's almost the same process as baking with a full-size oven, but with the added benefit of a quicker preheating time — typically around 3 minutes. Once preheated, the cake requires only about 30 minutes of baking time.

Why is chicken not crispy in an air fryer? ›

Dry the outside of the food properly before you add oil. Do not use too much oil, as this will make the food less crispy and more fattening. Meat or poultry can be lightly brushed with oil or marinated to get the crispiest results.

Why do you soak potatoes in water before air frying? ›

While it may seem like a pain, soaking the potatoes in hot water for 10 minutes prior to cooking them in the air fryer is essential. The water removes excess starch, allowing the fries to be their crispiest. Instead of soaking them in large bowl of cold water, I like to use hot water to cook the potatoes slightly.

Why are my potatoes not crispy in the air fryer? ›

Recipe Tips

Leave the skin on. If you peel your potatoes, they won't be nearly as crispy—the oiled skin gives the delicious crispy bite with these taters. Preheat your air fryer. Placing your potatoes in a preheated 400° air fryer will also help them achieve maximum crispiness in a shorter amount of time.

How do I calculate cooking times for an air fryer? ›

To cook fresh food in an air fryer, Jenny suggests subtracting 20°C from the typical oven temperature and reducing the oven cooking time by 20-25%. For example, if the oven instruction calls for cooking at 180°C for 25 minutes, set your air fryer to 160°C for 20 minutes.

How do I convert my 350 degrees to air fryer? ›

The general rule of thumb is, you'll want to reduce the cooking temperature by about 25-30 degrees Fahrenheit (15-20 degrees Celsius) when using an air fryer. For example, if a recipe calls for baking at 350°F (175°C) in the oven, set your air fryer to around 320-325°F (160-165°C).

How do I substitute an air fryer? ›

The answer may already be in your kitchen. More and more range ovens, wall ovens, and toaster ovens that have convection now come with air-fry settings. Convection, which constantly circulates hot air using one or more fans, is the same technology behind countertop air fryers.

Do oven instructions work for air fryer? ›

You can use your air fryer to cook recipes that have instructions for cooking in the oven. Because the heat in the air fryer is more intense than a standard oven, reduce the suggested temperature by 25ºF to 50ºF and cut the time by roughly 20%.

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