Can Airfryer Be Used As an Oven? (Cook Quickly and Evenly)
Have you ever had one of those days when you want to bake something but don’t have an oven? Or maybe you’re trying to reduce your energy consumption and want to use something more efficient than your oven.
Well, the good news is that a kitchen appliance can help you out—an air fryer! They can sometimes be used as an oven because they have temperature settings like a regular oven. However, it’s important to note that there are certain limitations.
Credit: canva
But what exactly is an air fryer, and can it be used as an oven? Let’s take a look.
The short answer is yes! The good news is that some air fryers are designed with several functions that allow you to use them as both an air fryer and a conventional oven.
These have trays and racks to bake cakes, and cookies, and even roast small chickens or potatoes. They also come with temperature settings to tailor your cooking to your recipe.
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Pros and Cons of Using An Airfryer As An Oven
The Benefits
Using an airfryer as an oven has many benefits.
In addition to the apparent health benefits of using less oil, they are incredibly energy-efficient—they use up to 70% less energy than regular ovens!
They also cook food quickly and evenly with hot air. This is why they are sometimes an excellent substitute for an oven. For instance, an air fryer is perfect for the job if you want to roast vegetables or bake potato wedges.
They also tend to be much smaller than traditional ovens, making them ideal for small kitchens or apartments where space is at a premium.
Plus, they are effortless to clean since most parts can be removed and washed in the dishwasher.
Drawbacks
However, it’s worth noting that some foods may taste better when cooked in traditional ovens due to their ability to distribute heat evenly throughout the space. In contrast, air fryers tend to have hot spots where certain areas get hotter than others.
Plus, they lack convection fans which help distribute heated air more evenly throughout the space inside the oven, so your baked goods may not come out quite right if you try baking them in your airfryer!
Can An Airfryer Replace An Oven?
While they are incredibly versatile when cooking frozen foods, they cannot do everything a regular oven can.
For example, you should use a conventional oven to make cakes or other baked goods.
The most obvious limitation is size; there’s no way a tiny appliance like an airfryer can take on large baking jobs like cakes or roasts. Additionally, certain types of cooking are better left to traditional ovens; baking bread or pizza dough requires a larger surface area than what’s available in most standard ones.
Additionally, certain dishes such as lasagna or casseroles require more, even heat-distribution only conventional ovens can provide.
Roast potato on the air fryer. Credit: canva
Air Fryer vs. Oven
What is An Airfryer?
An airfryer is a small kitchen appliance that uses hot air to fry food. It works by circulating hot air around the food, cooking it quickly and evenly while making it crunchy and tender. The result is similar to deep-fried foods but without all the added fat and calories.
What is An Oven?
An oven is a kitchen appliance that uses heat from gas or electricity to cook food. Ovens can also be used for baking, roasting, broiling, and warming foods. They are generally larger and require more energy to operate.
Oven. Credit: canva
Ovens vs. Air fryers: What’s the Difference
The most significant difference is their size; ovens are much larger than air fryers and require more energy.
Another key difference is that ovens use direct heat, whereas air fryers use hot air circulation for cooking food. This means ovens often cook faster than an airfryer but require more energy.
Lastly, because of their smaller size, air fryers are usually better for single servings than ovens are.
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How to Use Air Fryer as an Oven
The Basics Rules
Air frying is just a fancy term for convection cooking. The air fryer’s circulation cooks your food, rather than traditional oven heat. This means you must adjust your cooking times and temperatures.
Generally speaking, when converting recipes from traditional ovens to air fryers, you should reduce the temperature by 25 degrees F and reduce cooking time by about 10%.
For example, if a recipe calls for 350 degrees F for 30 minutes in the oven, it would be 325 degrees F for 20 minutes in the air fryer.
Steps to Follow
Step 1: Position your oven racks
Before preheating your air fryer, position the oven racks to the desired height for your food.
Step 2: Preheat Your Air Fryer
Preheat will ensure that the food cooks evenly and thoroughly.
To do this, turn the dial on the air fryer to the desired temperature and allow the appliance to heat up for about 5 minutes before adding anything inside.
Step 3: Choose the Right Cookware
When using an air fryer as an oven, choosing cookware compatible with the appliance is essential. Glass or aluminum bakeware works best in most cases; however, some brands may require specific cookware for optimal performance.
Check the manufacturer’s instructions before using cookware in your air fryer oven.
Step 4: Start Cooking!
Once you have preheated your air fryer and chosen the right cookware, you can start cooking! You can use your air fryer like an oven by placing food directly on its tray, putting it in a baking dish or pan first, and then transferring it into the appliance once heated.
Depending on the type of food you make, cooking times will vary; however, most recipes should take 10-20 minutes when cooked in an air fryer oven.
Preheat before adding food: This helps ensure even cooking.
Use parchment paper or aluminum foil on the tray or basket to prevent sticking and promote even heat distribution.
Don’t overcrowd the basket: Leave at least one inch between each piece of food so hot air can circulate evenly around them.
Flip foods halfway through cooking: This helps ensure even cooking on both sides.
Clean up: After cooking, allow the appliance to cool down before cleaning it. Most have removable parts that can be washed in warm soapy water or placed in a dishwasher.
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FAQs
Can I use my airfryer for baking a cake?
Yes. Use a cake pan that fits snugly into the airfryer basket. Check on your cake periodically to ensure it’s not browning too quickly; if it is, cover it with foil until it’s finished baking.
Can I use my airfryer to roast a chicken?
Yes. Just be sure to remove the giblets from the cavity before cooking. Season the chicken inside and out with your favorite seasonings, then place it breast-side up in the basket.
Cook at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 minutes per pound or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Let your chicken rest for 10 minutes before carving and serving.
How do I roast vegetables in an air fryer?
Roasting vegetables in an air fryer is easy and convenient. Cut your vegetables into bite-sized pieces and toss them with oil and seasoning.
Preheat your air fryer to 375°F. Put the vegetables in a single layer in the basket. Cook for 10–15 minutes or until tender and golden brown.
Can I use parchment paper or aluminum foil in an air fryer?
Yes, you can use parchment paper or aluminum foil, but ensure it does not cover the entire basket or block the airflow. Cut it to fit the bottom of the basket or wrap it around food items like fish or chicken.
