Air Fryer VS Convection Oven: Know What's the Difference!

You’ve probably heard of air fryers if you have even a passing interest in kitchen equipment and cookware. They’re on YouTube, Pinterest, Google, TV advertising, and in our homes.

Being a foodie and a kitchen appliance nerd, the air fryer buzz piqued my interest and, finally, my pocketbook.

Prior to purchasing an air fryer, it is a good idea to understand the appliance and how it varies from other equipment you may have at home.

In this post, we’ll compare the air fryer to the convection oven to discover if they’re similar and what they can perform. Whether you plan on getting one of these appliances, having this information will allow you to make a more informed decision.

What exactly is the distinction between an air fryer and a convection oven?

While both air fryers and convection ovens use the same cooking methods, they differ significantly. Some distinctions include size, power, speed, upkeep, and convenience.

Scroll down to see a breakdown of each aspect.

How Does An Air Fryer Work

Air fryers, promoted as the greaseless magicians that can replace your deep fryer, reduce the fat level of your fried food by up to 80% while maintaining a wonderfully crispy exterior and juicy interior.

What’s the best part? All of this can be done with very little, if any, oil using an air fryer.

This is how.

The air fryer has a heating coil put on top of the appliance; the coil generates extremely hot air, circulating the air fryer via the convection mechanism.

A fan is also mounted on the bottom of the air fryer to help the air circulate in the chamber. When streams of very hot air are blasted at the food, it begins to cook.

An air fryer cannot precisely match the results of a deep fryer. There are variances in the texture, flavor, and crispness of the meal. Nonetheless, the Maillard reaction in the air fryer can give the meal a light brown sheen and a crisp exterior.

The Maillard reaction is a chemical reaction that occurs when sugars and amino acids combine. The reaction also has an impact on the flavor of the dish. Some people like the flavor of air-fried food, while others believe they are the same, and still others cannot bear the notion of giving up their deep-fried meal.

Me? I’m pleased with the results I’ve been getting with the air fryer.

How Does A Convection Oven Work

Let’s look at how convection ovens cook food now that you understand how an air fryer works.

As an air fryer, a convection oven uses the convection mechanism to move air around the chamber. You’ve probably heard of the convection mechanism before, but here’s a detailed explanation to help you visualize it.

When air is heated, it usually rises, as you will see on a hot summer day when you decide to lie down on the floor since it is cooler down there.

That’s how these devices work: the heating element heats the air at the bottom of the chamber, causing it to rise. The cooler air is propelled to the bottom of the oven, where it is heated and pushed higher, allowing the air to circulate throughout the oven’s chamber.

Convection ovens, like air fryers, frequently have fans fitted to promote hot air circulation.

The air fryer and the convection oven appear to operate on the same theory. The difference is in their implementation or how they put the principle to use.

Is an air fryer the same thing as a small convection oven?

We’ve established how an air fryer and a convection oven function separately, and it appears that the process of cooking food in the air fryer isn’t dissimilar to that of the convection oven. Let’s have a glimpse at the commonalities between these two devices.

• To begin with, one of the primary features that the appliances have in common is the ability to circulate superheated air to cook meals.
• Second, they are smaller than traditional ovens and ideal for use as countertop appliances.
• They cook food faster than conventional ovens.
• Both are capable of producing a crispy coating by blowing hot air at the food’s surface to remove moisture (Not equally good, though)
• Both appliances are capable of baking and roasting.
• Both have removable trays, baskets, grills, or pans to make cleaning easier.
• They are priced similarly. However, the price range of the air fryer is broader.

As you can see, there are a few commonalities between them. However, the characteristics that distinguish them are not unique to one. Instead, the air fryer is more suitable for some things, while the convection oven is better and more suited for others.

We’ll get to the advantages of each appliance later!

Is an air fryer preferable to a convection oven, and vice versa?

It’s time to categorize the appliances and rate them based on their capacity to deliver and perform in each category.

This will enable it easier for us to understand what each machine has to offer and which one appears to be best suited to our requirements. We’ll have a look at the following items.

• Size
• Performance (Taste and time-consumption included)
• Function
• Price
• Maintenance
• Ease Of Use.

Air Fryer Vs. Convection Oven: Size

Size is, of course, very essential to us. Both of these gadgets are much smaller than a typical oven. Comprehensive convection ovens are the same size as ordinary ovens, but we’re seeking smaller countertop ones.

Countertop variants are smaller than standard ovens and more akin to microwave ovens in size. Air fryers are frequently (8 out of 10) even smaller than that, which is helpful if you don’t have a lot of kitchen room. Convection ovens are slightly larger than air fryers, but due to their lightweight, they are still portable.

Consequently, if you live in a small space or prefer not to have an appliance take up a lot of space, the air fryer is preferable.

On the other hand, higher appliances have larger cooking capabilities, which is something else to consider.

The convection oven can cook more than the normal air fryer and may be a better choice for frying larger batches of things; however, there are XL models for the air fryer with much more area.

While the convection oven requires more kitchen space, it can accommodate more food unless you have an XL air fryer type. The air fryer comes in various sizes and can cook big batches of fries, chicken wings, veggies, and other foods.

If you’re creating smaller dishes, the air fryer is a better choice than the convection oven because it heats up faster.

However, if you intend to cook full turkeys, lamb racks, and tonnes of cookies, the convection oven is a better choice.

Conclusion:

When cooking for a large family, choose a convection oven or an XL air fryer. When you don’t have a lot of counter space, an air fryer is a good option. If you have a small kitchen, I recommend obtaining one of the smaller air fryers. The compact shape makes it easy to store.

Performance

Both appliances can produce a gorgeous light brown surface with a wonderful crisp feel. This equipment provides a brown surface and a crispy texture, which offers the meal a great flavor.

However, when compared to a deep fryer, the air fryer comes far closer to duplicating the texture than the convection oven due to the quick air technique utilized to cook food in the air fryer.

If you want to cook items that are usually deep-fried and replicate the results, an air fryer is a superior choice.

While they both heat up quickly, the air fryer heats up faster because of its smaller cooking space. Although the air fryer heats up faster, the convection oven can hold more food after it’s prepared, so you won’t need to cook more than one batch. That isn’t always the case with the air fryer.

Conclusion:

Convection ovens can cook more food in less time. You’ll save time cooking larger quantities using the convection oven. Regardless of how quickly the air fryer preheats because you won’t need to cook more than one batch. When it comes to crispiness, both are good, but the air fryer gets close to the deep fryer.

Function

The air fryer and convection oven are versatile cooking gadgets that offer the user a variety of approaches and strategies for attaining different results. They give the tools, and if you’re creative enough, you can cook distinctive, healthy meals.

We already stated that they use the same theory but execute it differently. That is what we will investigate and how it affects the results.

They both circulate air using the convection mechanism and fans, but the process itself varies, as does the food’s texture, taste, and look.

The heating coil in an air fryer is situated on top of the appliance. In convection ovens, it is often located on the bottom. The heat source in an air fryer is closer to the food. Its proximity to the heat source enhances the air fryer’s ability to crisp food.

The air fryer’s components are designed to allow air to flow through from all sides to ensure that the food is uniformly cooked. In conjunction with the revolving fan, the air fryer provides optimal doneness.

A convection oven may have more than one heat source. Some convection ovens include numerous heating elements that radiate heat. Electric currents inside the coil generate heat, subsequently distributed throughout the coil.

Air fryers currently circulate air faster than convection ovens, and the air circulates the food, frying it from all sides. Convection ovens deliver hot air straight to the food. When cooking pastries and other soft treats, the harsh methods of the convection oven may be too abrasive on the surface of the pastry.

Conclusion:

Both are masters of their respective trades. Air fryers cook pastries and soft sweets faster and with a superior crisp than convection ovens, although convection ovens have adequate space to cook vast amounts of food, including baked goods, as long as they aren’t too soft.

Price

If you push the price range of air fryers, you’ll find them for as little as $50 on one end and state-of-the-art appliances for as much as $350 on the other. And, yes, decent air fryers can be had for as low as $50.

Consider paying slightly more for a convection oven than for an air fryer. Convection ovens, true, big capacity convection ovens, typically start at $200. You can buy models for as cheap as $50-100 online, but they are most likely toaster ovens rather than true convection ovens.

Conclusion:

Top-tier air fryers can cost as much as convection ovens, but even the most affordable models operate admirably. So, the air fryer appears to be the victor when it comes to price due to the variety of possibilities.

Maintenance

As the owner of any kitchen equipment, it is your responsibility to keep it clean and free of grease residue and bacteria.

Cleaning a convection oven is similar to cleaning a standard oven; however, you can’t always rely on nonstick surfaces because many models aren’t coated, making convection oven cleanup a more time-consuming task.

When cleaning, the size of the convection oven itself isn’t usually an issue, but the size of the components may be.

When washing baskets, pans, grill racks, or whatever, soak them in a warm water and soap bath for 10 minutes. You’ll have difficulty doing so if the components are too large for the sink.

On the other hand, Fryers are meant to be easy to clean. Baskets and pans have nonstick surfaces, are dishwasher safe, and are removable. Because the equipment is small, cleaning the chamber of the air fryer takes no more than two minutes.

The disadvantage is that the nonstick surface of air fryer baskets may flake if not properly cared for. When cleaning the air fryer, it is best to avoid aggressive brushes. The nonstick surface will be protected if you use a soft sponge.

Compared to the air fryer, which is very simple to clean, the convection oven falls short.

Conclusion:

Air fryers are touted as simple to clean, and compared to a convection oven, they are. Choose an air fryer if you want something that is easy to use and requires little upkeep.

Ease of Use

Both appliances can manage time and temperature, which is highly helpful because most cooking instructions are written for either conventional or microwave ovens.

Because air fryers and convection ovens cook faster than standard ovens, any recipe you use must be modified to accommodate the equipment. Conversion charts for the air fryer and the convection oven may be found online.

Aside from that, they both have presets for various types of food, such as french fries, chicken, fish, and a few more. These settings are incredibly useful for both novice and experienced cooks; additionally, certain models allow the user to alter the presets or, even better, create his own presets.

When cooking, none of these machines demand much of your attention; select a preset or set the time and temperature you prefer and let the magic happen.

The only thing to remember is that the components may need to be flipped, stirred, or shaken midway through the procedure.

Conclusion:

Both are easy to use. Less supervision is required when using an air fryer.

Do You Need An Air Fryer If You Have A Convection Oven

If you currently have a convection oven and are happy with it and the outcomes, then the convection oven should suffice. However, if you’re not getting the crispness or flavor you’re looking for, an air fryer could help.

It depends on what you intend to perform with the device. An air fryer can replace a convection oven by doing more in less time and with less upkeep. An air fryer can replace the majority of your kitchen appliances.

However, if you plan on cooking huge portions, such as complete pizzas, turkeys, and other large foods, the air fryer may not be as useful as a convection oven.

However, if you plan on cooking huge portions, such as whole pizzas, turkeys, and other larger foods, the air fryer may not be as useful as a convection oven.

The Advantages Of An Air Fryer

• Models range in size from tiny to super large.
• Air fryers are incredibly easy to use and maintain, and the removable pieces can be washed in the dishwasher.
• Air fryers are less expensive than convection ovens.
• Air fryers are smaller than convection ovens, allowing them to heat up faster and cook for less time. Because of its modest size, the air fryer is ideal for small living spaces.
• Air fryers produce crispy textures.

The Advantages Of A Convection Oven

• Convection ovens are larger, and their enhanced cooking capacity allows them to prepare pizzas, whole turkeys, large batches of cookies, and other items.
• Convection ovens offer a crunchy texture that is inferior to an air fryer but still excellent.
• Convection ovens are large enough to handle more than one grill rack, increasing additional cooling capacity.
• Convection ovens are 25% faster than standard ovens.

Can You Air Fry In A Convection Oven

Of course, the inquiry requires an answer. Can a convection oven be used as an air fryer? Yes, a convection oven may produce crispy textures, but it takes far longer than an air fryer.

I can roast or bake veggies in 10 minutes or less with an air fryer, chicken breasts in 20 minutes, and french fries in around 18 minutes. The method would be slower in a convection oven, but it would still be possible.

Should I Get A Convection Oven Or An Air Fryer?

Which of these will work best for you is determined by various factors such as available space, budget, time, household, and so on. A tiny air fryer may suffice for a single person, but a convection oven or a larger air fryer is required for a family of four.

A convection oven or a large air fryer is excellent for larger foods, but a compact air fryer is better for snacks, medium-sized quantities of french fries, veggies, chicken wings, chicken breasts, and so on.

Here are some of the models I recommend.

Philips HD9240

The Philips HD9240 is a high-quality air fryer that is large enough for a family of 3-5 people, has an easy-to-use digital touchscreen, and nonstick components that are dishwasher safe. It works extremely well, is quick, and makes the most delicious crisp. You’ll use it every day as it gradually replaces the rest of your kitchen, one appliance at a time.

Breville BOV900BSS

The Breville BOV900 is a cutting-edge convection oven that can air fry and is large enough to cook a whole 14-pound turkey. It’s quite versatile, as evidenced by the number of functions it has. Breville dehydrates, roasts, toasts, bakes, grills, heats, air fries, and slow cooks.