Air fryers are selling like hotcakes on store shelves and in television commercials. It can be argued that the rise of air fryers was due to the promise of more health-conscious fried foods. But are you going to make extra space for new appliances in the kitchen? Maybe this is just a scaled down version of the convection oven that you probably already have?
So the question arises: what is the difference between an air fryer and a convection oven? Is a convection oven like an air fryer? Is an air fryer like a convection oven? And which one is better in the convection oven vs air fryer debate?
After all, both the air fryer and the convection oven are wonderful kitchen appliances that are equipped with the latest technology to prepare healthy and tasty dishes. However, both share some distinctive similarities and features.
If you're wondering what's better and how to choose in the air fryer vs convection oven discussion, you've come to the right place. Our job is to present an unbiased comparison of the two kitchen appliances, and your job is to be the ultimate judge of their performance. It's a fair deal, isn't it?
Convection Oven
It is a countertop portable kitchen machine with a larger surface area. It comes with a heating coil that is only preset at the bottom or top and uses a fan to draw and circulate hot air over and around the food. The heat then cooks food from all angles, not just from above like in a conventional oven. This enables more even cooking and shortens the cooking time of certain foods.
Compared to air fryers, convection ovens rely on higher temperatures but cook at a slower speed.
Why do we call it a convection oven? This is because the movement of the air inside is responsible for the convection effect, which leads to faster cooking and thus transfers a higher temperature to the food than in a conventional oven.
Both devices do the same thing, but they use different heating mechanisms and take different amounts of time to do so.
An air fryer needs a lot of time before it is ready to cook, but with a convective oven you can change the height setting, use trays for extra accessories, and preheat quickly.
Air Fryer
Air fryers are small devices that look like mini ovens and use convection technology to cook food quickly, and usually, they are smaller than regular toaster ovens. Due to the high temperatures, the food cooks much faster than in a conventional oven.
The air fryer circulates hot air around the food, which is then cooked with the generated heat to make healthy fried meals that are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
You can think of an air fryer as a smaller, more portable version of a fan oven. It looks like a coffee pot with a removable frying basket handle.
Unlike traditional ovens that use intense dry heat to cook food, an air fryer uses less intense but more constant heat in a smaller cooking area, making cooking easier and reducing nutrient loss.
The Major Differences Between Convection Ovens and Air Fryers
Before deciding on any of the kitchen devices, it is best to analyze their properties and functions to understand the convection oven vs air fryer differences.
Air fryers and convection ovens look very similar at first glance. They both use the same principle of pushing hot air into a cooking space. However, air fryers and convection ovens are different in the following ways:
Appearance
A convection oven is a rectangular box with a front door, usually with a panel of glass that enables you to see what is happening inside. An air fryer is a cylindrical kitchen device with a removable cooking basket that you cannot see the interior of.
Frying Capacity
Since air fryers are smaller, the food is closer to the convection fan, which means the crispiness is closer to the deep frying method. Convection ovens have more space and therefore do not achieve the crispness of a deep fryer.
Cooking Mechanism
While air fryers and full-size convection ovens are basically the same, and each uses a fan to circulate hot air into the chamber for even heating, air fryers circulate the air around the chamber faster to accelerate the cooking process and save time.
The main difference between a convection oven and an air fryer is the intensity of the forced air heat. Depending on the convection oven, it may have a powerful fan to circulate the hot air, much like an air fryer, which in turn influences the crispness of the crust.
Temperature
A convection oven is known for its even heat distribution and constant cooking. With an air fryer, you need to cook in batches that only add to the cooking time.
Requirement
A convection oven is similar to an air fryer, but it heats up faster and requires less preheating time as it enables better heat circulation in its compact cooking space.
In addition, both devices optimize the internal temperature in order to keep it constant during the entire cooking process. You don't have to worry about undercooking the food on the inside, as hot air will get through the food.
Another benefit of an air fryer over a convection oven is that it reaches a higher temperature, making it suitable for baking healthy desserts.
Size
Size and capacity are the two main factors that have a decisive influence on the choice of your device. Air fryers are the scaled-down, small models of convection ovens; it goes without saying that they are a lot smaller and can't hold the same amount of food as a full-size convection oven.
If you intend to cook a large amount of food at once, a convection oven is a better option because it is larger than an air fryer. With an air fryer, you need to cook in batches, which adds to the cooking time.
Fan Placement
Air fryers have fans on top of the unit, just below the heating element. You'll be able to find the fans concealed in the back of the convection oven, either on the side, or pushed into the middle.
Fan Size and Speed
The air fryer fans are mostly larger and faster than the ones in a convection oven. The settings of the fan on the air fryer are a bit faster than those in the convection oven.
Heating
When it comes to an air fryer, the heat is generated from above. In the case of a convection oven, on the other hand, the heat comes from both above and below.
It's this more focused, top-down style of cooking that gives you great results so quickly with air frying.
Cooking Time
The main notable difference between an air fryer and a convection oven is that an air fryer cooks faster, 20 to 25 % quicker to be precise. It also needs less oil to fry and uses less electricity as you can usually set cooking temperatures from 25 °F to 50 °F lower than in an oven. Also, most air fryers preheat in 3 to 5 minutes, compared to the 20 to 30 minutes it takes for an oven, which greatly reduces the air fryer's cooking time.
Accessory Selection
You can use plenty of perforated air fryer accessories for quick, consistent results with little tossing or turning. Trays, racks, and baskets are standard. Many air fryers also offer skewers and rotisseries. You do not need any special accessories for a convection oven.
Ease of Use
Young family members can learn to cook safer and quicker if they use air fryers, as they stay cool on the outside and are easy to use compared to convection ovens. Plus, the operation is very easy: simply put the food in the frying basket, switch on the desired time and temperature, and that's it. Just shake the food a few times during the cooking process, and you'll have crispy, ready-to-eat meals in a short time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the advantages of a convection oven?
A convection oven comes with many advantages. It can be used to:
What are the advantages of an air fryer?
Air fryers have plenty of uses and have many advantages for users who want to use them at home or commercially. You can use it to:
Is an air fryer just like a convection oven? And is a convection oven the same as an air fryer?
Overall, if you look at the differences between these appliances, they are insignificant.
A lot of convection ovens can air fry your food, but not all air fryers deliver the same results as a convection oven.
The most noticeable difference is the size, and with the convection oven, you have enough space to bake an entire tray of biscuits instead of having to limit yourself to smaller quantities.
Which Cooking Method is Healthier?
You don't need to use oil, or only a tablespoon in an air fryer. The appliance heats up so fast and to a temperature that makes your food crispy even if you don't add any oil at all. You can't really achieve the same results with a convection oven.
If you are preparing food that does not need any oil, you will get equally healthy results with a convection oven.
So who’s the winner in the convection oven versus air fryer debate?
If you're looking for the fastest results, an air fryer surpasses a convection oven by far.
An air fryer allows your food to be cooked with much less oil than other methods of cooking, and the fat needs to drip into the drip tray so your food doesn't absorb excess fat as it cooks. It helps you reduce calories and makes the food crispier and less moist.
However, if you want to cook larger amounts of food, all but the largest air fryers are likely to fall short. Although you can layer French fries in the air fryer, if you do so, you'll need to toss them away at least once. When using an air fryer, the majority of the food should be cooked in a single layer.
Due to the noise they make, air fryers can make you very unhappy. It is worth checking some user reviews before buying to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Final words
Whether you choose an air fryer or a convection oven is a question of personal taste.
An air fryer shortens the cooking time, while a convection oven offers you more reserve capacity. Likewise, an air fryer needs a small amount of oil to cook your daily fried or frozen food, while a convection oven is a great option for baking delicious cakes and bread.
For many people, this is not an option of either/or. Buying an air fryer definitely doesn't mean that you have to do without your convection oven altogether.
If you purchase an air fryer with various cooking features, you will find it a wonderful addition to your kitchen, but it should not be viewed as an alternative to your convection oven.
Our recommendation is that an air fryer is the ideal choice if you want to reduce the daily amount of calories from regular meals. However, if you have a larger family, you can always choose a convection oven to meet the cooking requirements.
If you are hesitant, you can also invest in air fryer toaster oven combos. These powerful, multi-purpose machines give you the best of both worlds on the same countertop.
