Free Tool
Air Fryer Conversion Calculator
Take any oven recipe and get the air fryer temperature and time — adjusted for how big your basket actually is.
A starting point, not a guarantee. Air fryers vary widely in airflow and calibration, and food thickness matters more than either. Check early, and cook to temperature or texture rather than to the clock — particularly for anything containing meat.
The rule, and why it works
The standard conversion is reduce the temperature by 25°F and cut the time by about 20%. An air fryer is a small convection oven: a fan drives hot air across the food far faster than in a conventional oven, so heat transfers more efficiently at a lower set temperature.
Basket size then modifies the time. A compact basket forces food closer together, which blocks airflow and slows cooking — so a 3 qt unit needs proportionally more time than a 7 qt one for the same food.
What the conversion cannot fix
- Crowding. The single biggest cause of disappointing results. Food needs air on all sides; a single layer with gaps beats a full basket every time, even if it means two batches.
- Wet batters. Anything loose or dripping will drip through the basket instead of setting. Breadcrumb coatings work; thin batters do not.
- Calibration. Many air fryers run 15 to 25°F off their display. An inexpensive oven thermometer in the basket tells you which direction yours errs.
Shopping for one? See our air fryer guides and data studies for measured prices and picks.