How to convert your favourite oven recipes to work in the air fryer

Posted on : 08/26/2023
How to convert your favourite oven recipes to work in the air fryer
Science 

Expert reveals how to convert your favourite oven recipes to work in the air fryer

  • The shift to cooking in an air fryer isn’t easy, as temperatures and timings vary
  • MailOnline reveals the secrets of a cook whose written countless air fryer guides

In recent years, air fryers have surged in popularity among Britons looking for an easy way to dish up dinner. 

These appliances use hot air instead of hot oil to cook foods, offering a healthy alternative to deep-fat frying.  

But the shift to this new way of cooking isn’t always easy, as the temperatures, timings and techniques can be completely different.

Users have complained of dried chicken, overcooked meatballs and even messy batter, having tried to master recipes in the air fryer. 

Thankfully, help is here, as MailOnline spoke with blogger Liana Green, who has written countless guides to help convert your favourite oven recipes to air fryer dishes.

It’s often believed that temperatures should be set around 20°C lower in an air fryer compared to a an oven. Ms Green also claims that food will cook 20-25 per cent faster than conventional ovens

For a whole chicken, Ms Green recommends cooking it at 180C/350F for 45 minutes before flipping it completely over and cooking it for another 15

As a general rule of thumb, Ms Green says that air fryer temperatures should be set 36°F (20°C) lower than those set out in an oven recipe.

However, this can vary depending on the model, so it’s important to check out how efficient your device is.  

‘Air fryers typically cook food 20-25 per cent faster than conventional ovens,’ Ms Green told MailOnline.

‘Therefore, you’ll need to reduce the cooking time in your oven recipe by 20-25 per cent.’

Chicken

COOKING CHICKEN IN AN AIR FRYER 

Whole Chicken: One hour at 180°C

Chicken Breast: 20 minutes at 180°C

Chicken Thighs Bone-In: 25 minutes at 200°C

Chicken Thighs Boneless: 22 minutes at 200°C

Chicken Drumsticks: 25 minutes at 200°C

Chicken Wings: 25 minutes at 200°C

There’s nothing better than wolfing down a tender but juicy chicken, with a slight crisp on its skin.

But mastering this with an air fryer is a tricky challenge, as poultry can commonly end up tough or dry once cooked.

To combat this, Ms Green claims that your technique should change depending on the type of dish you’re going for – with different tricks for different parts. 

For a whole chicken, Ms Green recommends cooking it at 180°C/350°F for 45 minutes before flipping it completely over and cooking it for another 15.

Meanwhile, wings often take around 25 minutes to cook, and Ms Green also advises flipping them two to three times for an even result. 

Patting these down with some kitchen roll and spacing them out on the tray beforehand can make them crispier too.

‘If in doubt, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature,’ Ms Green said. 

‘To prevent chicken breasts from drying out you can wrap them in a foil parcel.’

Repeatedly flipping meatballs over and spacing these apart can make sure the cooking is even all over too

Meatballs

Overcooked meatballs are a common pitfall of many air fryer owners, with the minced meat often sticking to oven trays.

According to Ms Green, these can take around 10 minutes to cook at 180°C/350°F in an air fryer, but it’s crucial to handle these in oil to prevent them from sticking.

Repeatedly flipping them over and spacing these apart can help the situation too.

‘Increase or decrease cooking time depending on the size of the meatballs,’ Ms Green added. 

‘Pierce with a knife or metal skewer just to check the juices run clear.’

Ms Green explains that softer vegetables, such as broccoli and courgettes, will generally take cook much faster than root vegetables

Roast vegetables

When using an air fryer, it’s important to tailor your cooking to the different needs of vegetables.

Ms Green explains that softer vegetables will generally cook much faster than root vegetables under air fryer heat.

For instance, while broccoli should take 10 minutes at 190°C/374°F, carrots and parsnips will perhaps take 15 minutes under 200°C/392°F.

But brushing all vegetables in oil will help achieve a perfect roast and prevent them from drying out.

‘Cut vegetables to similar sizes to ensure equal cooking times,’ Ms Green said.

To steer clear of soggy and undercooked chips, Ms Green recommends shaking them before cooking 

Chips 

To steer clear of soggy and undercooked chips, Ms Green recommends adding just a small amount of oil.  

She told MailOnline: ‘If you are cooking burgers and fries together, it is best to use a dual air fryer or try and separate them in the air fryer basket with a divider. 

‘Prevent the chips from going soggy by not trying to air fry too many simultaneously, and shake them frequently to ensure they crisp up.’

Yesterday, Emily Seymour, Which? Energy Editor also told MailOnline that overfilling the tray is another common mistake which can result in burnt chips with a soggy inside.   

‘Undercooking or overcooking chips the first couple of times if normal, but if it keeps happening, you may be making some basic mistakes,’ she said.

‘To find your air fryer’s optimum capacity, consult the manufacturer’s instruction manual or take some time to experiment with your air fryer.’

READ MORE: The most common air fryer fails and how to fix them – from dry chicken to undercooked chips 

Since Oprah Winfrey named it one of her favorite kitchen appliances back in 2013, the humble air fryer has surged in popularity, and is now a staple feature in many people’s kitchens.

The appliance uses hot air rather than hot oil to cook foods, offering a quick and healthy alternative to deep-fat fryers.

However, after purchasing an air fryer, many budding chefs have learned the hard way that there’s a bit of learning curve to mastering the appliance.

Thankfully, help is at hand, as Which? has revealed the most common air fryer fails – as well as how to fix them.

Speaking to MailOnline, Emily Seymour, Which? Energy Editor, said: ‘Air fryers are generally easy to use, but it is possible for things to go badly wrong. If you overfill your machine or don’t clean it properly you could end up with undercooked chicken and chips or a kitchen full of smoke.’

after purchasing an air fryer, many budding chefs have learned the hard way that there’s a bit of learning curve to mastering the appliance

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