How Do Air Fryers Differ from Convection Ovens and Conventional Ovens?

Air fryers

Air fryers are compact countertop appliances designed to mimic the results of deep-frying while using significantly less oil. They work by circulating hot air around the food, creating a crispy exterior without the need for excessive oil. The compact size of air fryers makes them ideal for small kitchens or individuals with limited counter space.

Air fryers excel at creating crispy exteriors on food items like fries, chicken wings, or breaded snacks. The smaller cooking chamber allows for concentrated heat distribution, resulting in perfectly crispy results.

Convection ovens

With a built-in fan and an exhaust system, convection ovens circulate hot air evenly throughout the oven cavity, resulting in faster cooking times and more even cooking. These ovens can handle larger quantities of food than air fryers due to their spacious interior.

Convection ovens are the perfect appliance for roasting large quantities of meat. And because convection ovens roast meats more efficiently than a conventional oven, the end result is roasted meat with a crispy exterior and juicy interior.

Conventional ovens (the standard oven)

Conventional ovens use radiant heat to cook food without the use a fan to circulate the air. They too have a large capacity, so they can handle cooking larger quantities of food and multiple dishes at once.

Most recipes that you find are designed for conventional ovens so there is no need for adjustments, where as trying to adjust a recipe to for use in a convection oven or air fryer may require adjustment and experimentation.

Summary

Although air fryers don't have the large capacity of conventional or convection ovens, they do offer convenience in the form of an affordable and compact cooking solution as well as a healthier alternative to frying.

We tested out the DREO Chefmaker air fryer in our kitchen and were happy with the results. See our review here or check it out on Amazon.