Convection Oven to Air Fryer Converter
Convection ovens already use a fan, so this adjustment is smaller than a standard oven conversion.
Air fryer setting
That temperature is above your air fryer's maximum, so we capped it and added 10% to the time to compensate.
Why the convection adjustment is smaller
A convection oven and an air fryer work on the same principle — a fan circulating hot air. The difference is scale. An air fryer has a much smaller chamber and a more aggressive fan, so air moves faster across the food. The gap is real but far narrower than with a conventional oven, so you only drop 15°F and trim 10% of the time.
Air fryer temp = convection temp − 15°F · Air fryer time = convection time × 0.9
Example. A convection recipe of 375°F for 20 minutes becomes 360°F for 18 minutes in an air fryer.
Air fryer conversion chart
| Oven | Air fryer | 20 min becomes | 30 min becomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 325°F | 310°F | 18 min | 27 min |
| 350°F | 335°F | 18 min | 27 min |
| 375°F | 360°F | 18 min | 27 min |
| 400°F | 385°F | 18 min | 27 min |
| 425°F | 410°F | 18 min | 27 min |
| 450°F | 435°F | 18 min | 27 min |
Skip the maths — exact times by food
- Tilapia400°F · 8–10 min
- Corn Nuggets400°F · 8–10 min
- T-Bone Steak400°F · 10–14 min
- Salmon400°F · 7–9 min
- Sweet Potato400°F · 35–40 min
- Chicken Breast380°F · 18–22 min
Common questions
Is an air fryer the same as a convection oven?
Mechanically they are the same idea — a fan circulating hot air. An air fryer is smaller with a faster fan, which concentrates the airflow and cooks food more quickly.
Do you need to adjust convection recipes for an air fryer?
Yes, but only slightly. Lower the temperature by 15°F and reduce the time by around 10%.
Which is better, a convection oven or an air fryer?
An air fryer crisps small batches faster and preheats in a fraction of the time. A convection oven handles far more food at once. For one or two portions the air fryer wins on both speed and texture.