Oven to air fryer conversion
Enter a recipe’s oven temperature and time — get the air-fryer setting, and when to start checking.
Start checking at ~18 min.
How we convert this
A starting point — air fryers run hot and every model differs. Check doneness by sight, and for meat use a thermometer and the USDA safe internal temperature.
How oven-to-air-fryer conversion works
An air fryer is a small convection oven: a fan drives hot air fast around the food, so it cooks quicker and browns harder than a conventional oven. To use an oven recipe, you lower two things — the temperature and the time.
Temperature. The most widely published rule is to drop the temperature by 25°F. A second common convention lowers it proportionally, by about 20% (multiply by 0.90). They land in roughly the same place in the middle of the dial but pull apart at the extremes — at 300°F the −25°F rule gives 275°F while −20% gives 270°F; at 450°F it’s 425°F versus 405°F. Neither is “the” answer, which is why the converter lets you switch between them and why the real test is doneness, not the dial.
Time. Reduce the cook time by about 20% (multiply by 0.80). Because air fryers run hot and every model differs, the tool also gives a “start checking at” time at roughly 70% of the original — a nudge to open the basket before the food can overshoot.
Worked example. A recipe that says bake at 400°F for 25 minutes becomes air fry at 375°F for about 20 minutes, and start checking at ~18 minutes. That’s the default loaded in the converter above, so it’s useful the moment the page opens.
| Oven | Air fryer | Oven (°C) | Air fryer (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 350°F | 325°F | 175°C | 165°C |
| 375°F | 350°F | 190°C | 175°C |
| 400°F | 375°F | 205°C | 190°C |
| 425°F | 400°F | 220°C | 205°C |
| 450°F | 425°F | 230°C | 220°C |
For cook times, cut about a fifth: 10 min → 8, 20 → 16, 30 → 24, 45 → 36. Want it on the fridge? Grab the printable conversion chart.
Air fryer conversion questions
How do you convert an oven recipe to an air fryer?
Lower the temperature and shorten the time. The most common rule is to drop the temperature by 25°F (or use a proportional −20%) and cut the cook time by about 20%. Because air fryers run hot and fast, start checking well before the timer — around 70% of the original time.
Do you really reduce the temperature by 25 degrees?
That’s the most widely published convention. A second common rule reduces the temperature proportionally (about −20%). The two agree in the middle and diverge at very high and very low temperatures — the calculator lets you switch between them, and that spread is exactly why you check doneness rather than trusting a single number.
How much faster is an air fryer than an oven?
Roughly 20% faster for most foods, which is why the calculator reduces time by about a fifth. It varies by food and model, so treat the converted time as a starting point and check for doneness a few minutes early.
What temperature should chicken reach in an air fryer?
Cooking settings are only a starting point — doneness is about internal temperature. The USDA safe minimum internal temperature for poultry (chicken, turkey — whole or ground) is 165°F (74°C). Use a food thermometer in the thickest part.
Can I convert an air-fryer recipe back to an oven?
Yes — switch the converter to Air fryer → oven. It adds the 25°F back and lengthens the time (÷0.80) to give you an oven setting.
Does this work for a Ninja, Cosori or Instant air fryer?
Yes. The conversion is arithmetic, not brand-specific, so it works for any air fryer — basket or oven-style. Just check your model’s maximum temperature, since some cap lower than a conventional oven.