An air fryer oven is a kitchen appliance that uses hot air and convection to cook food. Air fryers have gained popularity in recent years as a healthier alternative to deep frying. Many people wonder if you can bake in an air fryer oven. The short answer is yes, you can bake in an air fryer! While air fryers excel at producing crispy “fried” foods, they can also be used for baking everything from cookies to cakes, breads, and more.
How Does an Airfryer Oven Work?
An air fryer oven works by circulating hot air at high speed to quickly cook food. A heating element and fan are used to blow the hot air around the food to produce a crispy exterior through maillard reactions. This cooking process uses little to no oil compared to traditional frying. The rapid air circulation allows for fast preheating times and even cooking.
Air fryers come in two main designs:
- Drawer style – The food basket slides in and out of the front of the air fryer like a drawer. This allows for easy access to flip or shake foods during cooking.
- Oven style – The food is placed in a basket inside a vertical oven chamber. Oven-style air fryers tend to be larger and accommodate more food.
Both designs work on the same rapid air circulation principle and can achieve baking results. When baking, the hot swirling air cooks items evenly from all sides.
Benefits of Baking in an Airfryer
There are several advantages to baking in an air fryer oven:
- Speed – Air fryers preheat and cook food very quickly, reducing bake times.
- Convenience – Their small footprint means air fryers take up less counter space than a traditional oven.
- Even cooking – The circulating hot air browns and crisps all sides of baked goods.
- Moist interior – Breads and cakes bake up with a moist interior with the rapid cooking method.
- Crispy crust – Pizza, tarts, and other baked items develop a crispy crust.
Overall, air fryers can produce tasty baked goods in a fraction of the time of a regular oven. Their convection heating cuts down on bake times while still cooking food evenly.
What Can You Bake in an Airfryer Oven?
A wide variety of sweet and savory baked goods can be made in an air fryer oven:
Breads
Air fryers work excellently for breads like:
- Baguettes
- Rolls
- Buns
- Flatbreads like naan and pita
- Quick breads like banana or zucchini
- Scones
The hot air circulation will produce a nice even rise and crusty exterior on breads.
Pies and Pastries
You can bake mini versions of pies and pastries in an air fryer, such as:
- Fruit pies
- Pot pies
- Turnovers
- Strudels
- Tarts
- Handpies
- Empanadas
- Galettes
Pies and pastries come out with a crisp, golden crust when air fried.
Pizza
Personal sized pizzas can be cooked to perfection in an air fryer oven. The air circulation will melt and brown the cheese while crisping up the crust.
Cookies
You can bake individual cookies or small batches of cookies in an air fryer. Cookies will come out evenly baked and chewy.
Biscuits
Flaky biscuits and scones are a great match for an air fryer. They will come out light and crisp.
Muffins and Cupcakes
You can bake standard size or mini muffins and cupcakes in an air fryer basket. They will rise nicely and develop a domed top.
Brownies and Bars
Sheet pans can fit in larger air fryer ovens, allowing you to bake brownies, blondies, and bar cookies.
Quiches
An air fryer oven is the perfect appliance for baking individual quiche cups or a mini quiche.
Popovers
These airy baked goods puff up nicely in the hot air environment inside an air fryer.
Tips for Baking Success
Follow these tips when using an air fryer oven for baking:
- Follow recipe guidelines for bake temperature and times, adjusting down if needed.
- Grease air fryer baskets as you would a baking pan.
- Only fill baskets halfway at most to allow room for rising.
- For cakes, use round or tube pans that fit inside the air fryer.
- Opt for recipes designed for small batched or individual portions.
- Spray items with oil or butter for browning if needed.
- Flip items midway during baking for even cooking.
- Let items rest before digging in so the interior finishes setting.
Monitor baking closely and check for doneness a few minutes early until you are used to your appliance. Air fryers bake faster than traditional ovens.
Common Airfryer Oven Baking Mistakes
Here are some potential pitfalls to avoid when baking in an air fryer:
- Overfilling – This prevents proper air circulation.
- Not preheating – Air fryers need to preheat just like an oven.
- Incorrect temperature – Get to know your fryer’s temperature sweet spots.
- Overcrowding – Leave space between items.
- Opening too often – Resist opening during baking to maintain heat.
- Baking big items – Stick to recipes sized for air fryers.
- No oil or butter – Spray or grease items for added browning.
- No halfway flip – Turn items midway through baking.
Avoid these mistakes for the best results when baking in your air fryer oven.
FAQs
Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about baking in air fryers:
What is the best temperature to bake in an air fryer oven?
Most standard baking recipes will work in an air fryer between 300-400°F. You may need to experiment to find your appliance’s optimal range. Start on the lower end and increase heat as needed.
How long does it take to bake in an air fryer vs oven?
Air fryers bake items significantly faster than a traditional oven due to their use of rapid hot air circulation. Baking times can be 25-50% shorter in an air fryer.
Can you make cake in an air fryer?
Yes, air fryer ovens can bake round or tube cake pans that fit inside the basket. Bundt cakes also work well. Cook cakes 5-10 minutes less than the recipe states.
What bakeware can be used in an air fryer oven?
You can use metal or ceramic pans, dishes, and tins that fit inside your air fryer basket. Avoid glass which could shatter from the heat shock.
Should I flip items when baking in an air fryer?
Flipping items midway through baking helps ensure even exposure to the hot circulating air. This is recommended for baking breads, pastries, cookies, and more.
Conclusion
Air fryers are useful appliances that can be used for much more than just frying. Baking is also an option with air fryer ovens. From breads to desserts, a wide variety of baked goods can be made by leveraging the hot air circulation of an air fryer. Just be sure to use appropriately sized pans, adjust cook times, and follow other baking tips for getting the best results. Air frying opens up possibilities for quickly baking up fresh treats with crispy textures and moist interiors beyond just chips and fried foods.