If you have the slightest interest in kitchen appliances and cookware, I’m sure you’ve heard of air fryers, they’re on Youtube, Pinterest, Google, TV-commercials and in our homes.
Being a real nerd when it comes to cooking and kitchen appliances, the air fryer hype caught my attention and eventually, my wallet too.
Before you go out and purchase an air fryer, it would be smart to gather some information regarding the appliance and how it differs from other gadgets you might have at home.
In this article, we’ll focus on comparing the air fryer to the convection oven to see if they are similar and what they can do. Having this information will help you make a better decision if you decide to invest in either one of these appliances.
What’s the difference between an air fryer and a convection oven?
While air fryers and convection ovens use the same methods to cook food, they have a couple of features that differentiate them. Some of the aspects they are different in are size, power, speed, maintenance, and convenience.
Scroll further to read the breakdown of each aspect.
How Does An Air Fryer Work
Air fryers, marketed as the greaseless magicians that can replace your deep fryer, cut the fat content of your fried food by 80%, and still produce a deliciously crispy exterior and juicy interior.
The best part of it? The air fryer is capable of doing all of this with very little oil if any at all.
Here’s how.
The air fryer has a heating coil installed on top of the appliance, the coil produces super hot air which circulates the air fryer thanks to the convection mechanism.
There’s also a fan installed on the bottom of the air fryer, which helps the air circulate the chamber. When streams of the super hot air are blasted at the food, the food starts to cook.
An air fryer can’t replicate the results of a deep fryer with exact precision. There are differences in texture, taste, and the crisp of the food. Nevertheless, the air fryer can, thanks to something called the Maillard reaction, give the food a light brown coat and crisp exterior.
The Maillard reaction is a chemical reaction between sugars and amino acids. The reaction also has an effect on the food’s flavor. Some people prefer the air fried taste, others think they are the same and some can’t stomach the thought of replacing their deep-fried food.
Me? I love the results I’ve been getting with the air fryer.
How Does A Convection Oven Work
Now that know how an air fryer works, let’s take a look at convection ovens and how they cook food.
Like the air fryer, a convection oven uses the convection mechanism to circulate the air around the chamber. You may have heard of the convection mechanism before, but to help you create a picture, here’s a more detailed explanation of convection.
When air is heated, it usually moves upwards, which you will notice on a hot summer day when you decide to lay on the floor because it feels cooler down there.
That’s the way these appliances work, the heating element heats the air at the bottom of the chamber which, naturally, makes it move upwards. The cooler air is forced to the bottom of the oven, once there, the cool air is also heated and pushed upwards, causing the air to circulate throughout the entire chamber of the oven.
Just like the air fryer, convection ovens often have fans installed to further increase the circulation of hot air.
As you can see, the air fryer and the convection oven seem to follow the same principle, the difference between them is the execution, the way they put the principle to work.
Is An Air Fryer The Same As A Small Convection Oven
We have established how an air fryer and a convection oven work individually, and as it seems, the procedure of cooking food in the air fryer isn’t very unlike the one in the convection oven. Let’s take a look at the features that these two appliances have in common.
- First of all, one of the major characteristics that the appliances share is the function to circulate superheated air to cook food.
- Secondly, they are both smaller than conventional ovens and are, therefore, perfectly suited as counter-top appliances.
- They cook food faster than regular ovens
- Both are capable of producing a crispy exterior by removing moist from the food’s surface by blowing hot air at it(Not equally good though)
- Both appliances can bake and roast
- Both come with removable trays, baskets, grills or pans to simplify cleaning.
- They sell for similar prices. But the air fryer’s price range is wider.
There are a few similarities between them, as you can see. However, the features that separate them are not unique to one or the other. Instead, the air fryer is better and more suited for some things and the convection oven for others.
We’ll get to the benefits of each appliance!
Is An Air Fryer Better Than A Convection Oven And Vice Versa
It’s time to break the appliances down into categories and rate them based on their ability to provide and perform in each category.
Doing so will make it easier for us to understand what each machine can offer us and which one seems best suited for our needs. We’ll look at the following.
- Size
- Performance (Taste and time-consumption included)
- Function
- Price
- Maintenance
- Ease Of Use.
Air Fryer Vs Convection Oven: Size
The size is, of course, of great importance to us. When it comes to size, these appliances are both smaller than a conventional oven. Full-size convection ovens are just as big as a regular oven but we’re focusing on the smaller countertop models.
The countertop models are smaller than regular ovens and are more like a microwave oven in size. Air fryers are oftentimes (8 out of 10) even smaller than that, which is incredibly convenient if you’re short on kitchen space. While convection ovens are slightly bigger than air fryers, they are still portable because of their
Therefore, the air fryer is a better pick if you’re living in smaller spaces, or would prefer to not have an appliance take up too much space.
But of course, larger appliances means larger cooking capacities, that’s another thing to take into consideration.
The convection oven is capable of cooking more than the average air fryer and may, therefore, be a better pick for cooking larger batches or items, nevertheless, there are XL models for the air fryer too, which have much more space.
While the convection oven does take up more kitchen space, it can host more food, unless you’ve got an XL air fryer model. The air fryer comes in many different sizes and is capable of cooking large batches of fries, chicken wings, vegetables, etc.
The air fryer is a better pick if you’re making smaller meals as it will heat up more rapidly than the convection oven.
However, if you plan to cook whole turkeys, lamb racks, and bake a ton of cookies, then the convection oven is a better pick for you.
Conclusion: When cooking for a large family, either pick a convection oven or an XL air fryer. When there’s a shortage of kitchen space, opt for an air fryer. If your kitchen space is very restricted, I suggest you go for one of the smaller air fryers, the compact design allows the air fryer to be stored easily.
Performance
Both appliances are capable of producing a beautiful light brown surface and give it a nice crunchy texture. The brown surface and crispy texture produced by both these appliances give the food a delicious taste.
But when comparing to a deep fryer, the air fryer comes much closer to replicating the texture than the convection oven does, thanks to the rapid air technology used to cook food in the air fryer.
If you aim to cook foods that are traditionally deep-fried and imitate the results, then the air fryer is a better pick.
While they are both quick to pre-heat, the air fryer is a bit quicker because of its limited cooking space. However, even though the air fryer preheats faster, the convection oven can hold more food once preheated, which means you won’t need to cook more than one batch. That isn’t always true for the air fryer.
Conclusion: Convection ovens are capable of cooking more food. When cooking larger batches, you’ll save time by using the convection oven, no matter how quick the air fryer preheats, because you won’t need to cook more than one batch. When it comes to producing crisp, they are both good but the air fryer comes closer to the deep fryer.
Function
Both the air fryer and the convection oven are versatile cooking tools, offering the user a wide variety of methods and techniques to achieve different results. Well, they provide the tools, if you’re creative enough, you’ll be able to prepare unique, healthy meals.
Earlier, we mentioned that they apply the same principle but execute it differently. That’s what we’ll look at and how it affects the results.
They both use the convection mechanism and fans to circulate air, but the process itself varies and with it, the texture, taste, and appearance of the food.
In an air fryer, the heating coil is placed on the top of the appliance, in convection ovens, it’s often installed on the bottom, which means that the heat source is closer to the food in an air fryer. The proximity of the heat source improves the air fryers ability to crisp food.
To make sure that the food is evenly cooked, the air fryer’s components are designed to let air flow through from all angles. In combination with the rotating fan, the air fryer ensures proper doneness.
In a convection oven, there may be more than one heat source, some convection ovens have multiple heating elements that radiate heat. The heat is produced by electric currents inside the coil and then spread around the chamber with the help of a fan.
Now, air fryers circulate air around the chamber at a much faster rate than convection ovens, and the air flows around the food, cooking it from all angles. In convection ovens, the air is blasted directly at the food. When cooking pastries and other soft desserts, the harsh methods of the convection oven may be too rough on the surface of the pastry.
Conclusion: Both are the masters of their own craft. Air fryers are faster and produce a better crisp than convection ovens and are better at cooking pastries and soft desserts but convection ovens provide enough room to cook large amounts of food, including baked goods, as long as they aren’t too soft.
Price
If you really stretch the price range of air fryers, on one end, you have air fryers for as little as $50, and at the other end, you’ll find state-of-the-art appliances for as much as $350. And yes, there are good air fryers for as little as 50 bucks.
When it comes to convection ovens, expect to pay a little more than you would for an air fryer. Normally, convection ovens start at around $200, real, large capacity convection ovens that is. You may find models for as little as $50-100 online, those are not true convection ovens, they are most likely toaster ovens.
Conclusion: Top-performing air fryers can cost as much as convection ovens, however, there are cheaper models that perform well on the market too. So, when it comes to the price tag, the air fryer seems to be the winner because of the wide range of options.
Maintenance
As the owner of any kitchen appliance, it’s your duty to make sure that they are wiped clean and free from grease residue and bacteria.
Cleaning a convection oven is somewhat similar to cleaning a regular oven, you can’t always rely on non-stick surfaces, as many models aren’t coated, which makes the cleanup of the convection oven a more time-consuming endeavor.
The size of the actual convection oven isn’t necessarily a problem when cleaning, but the size of the components may be.
See, when cleaning baskets, pans, grill racks or whatever it may be, it’s convenient to place them in a bath of warm water and soap for 10 minutes. If the components are too big for the sink, you’ll have a hard time doing that.
Are fryers,
The downside is that the non-stick surface of air fryer baskets may flake if they aren’t taken care of properly. It would be wise to avoid harsh brushes when cleaning the air fryer. Using a soft sponge will spare the non-stick surface.
In comparison to cleaning the air fryer, which is quite easy, the convection oven falls behind.
Conclusion: Air fryers are marketed as easy to clean, which, in comparison to the convection oven, they really are. If you’re looking for something that’s simple and requires little maintenance, go for the air fryer.
Ease of Use
Both appliances come with the ability to control time and temperature, which is very convenient as the cooking instructions on most packages are meant for either conventional ovens or microwave ovens.
Because both air fryers and convection ovens are faster than regular ovens, any recipe you follow must be tweaked to fit the appliance. Online you’ll find conversion charts for both the air fryer and the convection oven.
Other than that, they both come equipped with presets for different types of food, often french fries, chicken, fish and a couple more. These presets are extremely convenient for both beginners and advanced cooks, furthermore, some models allow the user to tweak the presets or even better, make his own presets.
None of these machines require very much of your attention when cooking, click the preset or set the time and temperature you desire and let the magic happen.
The only thing to take into consideration is that you may need to flip, stir or shake the ingredients halfway through the process.
Conclusion: Both are simple to use. The air fryer requires less supervision.
Do You Need An Air Fryer If You Have A Convection Oven
If you already own a convection oven, and you are satisfied with it and the results you’re getting, then the convection oven should suffice. However, if you’re achieving neither the crisp nor the taste that you desire, then you may benefit from an air fryer.
The true answer is that it depends entirely on what you want to do with the appliance. An air fryer can replace a convection oven, and do more than the oven does, in less time, with less maintenance. As a matter of fact,
But if you plan on cooking large batches, whole pizzas, turkeys, and larger items, then the air fryer may not be as useful as the convection oven would.
The Advantages Of An Air Fryer
- Models vary in size, ranging from small to extra large.
- Air fryers are very simple to operate and maintain, the removable parts can be placed in a dishwasher.
- In comparison to a convection oven, air fryers are cheaper.
- Air fryers are smaller than convection ovens, which allows them to heat up faster and reduce cooking times significantly. The compact design makes the air fryer a suitable pick for small living spaces.
- Air fryers produce crunchy textures.
The Advantages Of A Convection Oven
- Convection ovens are larger in size, the increased cooking capacity makes it possible to cook pizzas, whole turkeys, large batches of cookies, etc.
- Convection ovens also produce crunchy texture, inferior to the air fryer, but still delicious.
- Convection ovens are large
enough to hold more than one grill rack, which further increases thecooking capacity. - Convection ovens are 25% faster than conventional ovens.
Can You Air Fry In A Convection Oven
Of course, the question that needs answers. Can you use a convection oven as an air fryer? Yes, a convection oven can achieve crispy textures but it takes much more time than it would in an air fryer.
Using an air fryer, I can roast or bake vegetables in 10 minutes or less, chicken breasts come out after 20 minutes, and french fries are crispy in about 18. In a convection oven, the procedure wouldn’t be as fast, but it would still be possible.
Should I Buy An Air Fryer Or A Convection Oven?
Which one of these will suit you the best depends on a few things, such as space, money, time, household, etc. For a single individual, a small air fryer may be enough, but for a family of 4, a convection oven or a larger air fryer is due.
For larger ingredients, a convection oven or a large air fryer would be the best pick, but for snacks, medium-sized batches of french fries, vegetables, chicken wings, chicken breasts and so on, a compact air fryer is better.
Here are the models that I recommend.
Philips HD9240
The Philips HD9240 is a high-quality air fryer, large enough for a family of 3-5 people, the digital touchscreen is easy to maneuver, and the non-stick components are dishwasher safe. It performs really well, it’s quick, and it produces the tastiest crisp. You will use it on a daily basis, as it slowly starts to replace the rest of your kitchen, one appliance at a time.
Breville BOV900BSS
The Breville BOV900 is a state-of the-art convection oven, capable of air frying, and large enough to cook a whole 14-lb turkey. It’s incredibly versatile, as shown by the amount of functions it has. The Breville can dehydrate, roast, toast, bake, grill, heat, air fry and slow cook.