Air fryers have become incredibly popular in recent years for their ability to make fried foods like french fries, chicken wings, and breaded veggies with little to no oil. The air frying process uses rapid hot air circulation to produce a crispy, fried texture without the added calories from deep frying in oil. While air fryers are handy kitchen appliances, not everyone has the counter space for yet another single-use gadget. Luckily, you can mimic the air fryer effect in a regular oven with just a few simple tricks.
What is an air fryer and how does it work?
An air fryer is a small countertop convection oven designed to simulate deep frying without submerging food in oil. It uses a heating element and powerful fan to rapidly circulate hot air around the food, cooking it crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
The technology behind air fryers is not actually new — convection ovens have been around for decades and use the same basic mechanics. The difference is that air fryers are smaller, more affordable, and specifically marketed as oil-free fryers. Their compact shape and bowl-like frying basket are optimized for crisping up foods with lots of surface area like fries, wings, and tots.
Can you replicate air frying without buying an air fryer?
Absolutely! While air fryers are handy, you can get very similar results using a regular full-size oven and a few easy tips:
- Use convection setting: Convection ovens have an internal fan that circulates hot air for fast, even cooking — just like an air fryer. Models without convection can work too, but may take longer.
- Raise your baking temperature: Air fryers cook hotter and faster than conventional ovens. Try setting your oven 25-50°F higher than a recipe calls for.
- Use a smaller baking pan: Choosing a pan that holds food in a single layer without crowding will help ensure crispy results.
- Toss food in a little oil: A sprinkle of oil helps foods crisp up in the dry oven heat. You’ll use significantly less than deep-frying.
- Rotate halfway: Rotating pans halfway through ensures even browning. You can also toss food for more consistency.
Tips for air fryer-style cooking in the oven
Follow these tips when adapting air fryer recipes to an oven:
Pick the right pans
Air fryers use basket-style fryer baskets that promote air circulation. Recreate this effect by choosing oven-safe pans or baking sheets with low sides. Some good options include:
- Sheet pans or baking sheets (rimmed or unrimmed)
- Wire racks set on a baking sheet
- Grill pans or perforated pans
- Specialty air flow pans with woven bottoms or raised air channels
Avoid using items like casserole dishes, cake pans, or anything with high side walls that can block airflow.
Don’t overcrowd the pan
Just like air fryer baskets, you want plenty of open space for air circulation. Avoid piling food on top of itself or jamming too much food into one pan. Leave at least 1-2 inches between pieces.
Toss or flip halfway
One advantage of air fryers is that the rapid air circulation cooks food evenly all over. Mimic this by tossing items or flipping them halfway through baking. This prevents burnt or undercooked spots.
Brush or spray oil lightly
Air fryers need very minimal oil since the circulating hot air prevents sticking and promotes browning. Lightly brush or spray food with oil before cooking. Use just 1-2 tsp oil per pound of food.
Raise heat and cook a bit longer
Air fryers cook hotter and faster than a conventional oven. Increase the temperature 25-50°F and add a couple extra minutes to the cooking time as needed to crisp up foods.
Check frequently and toss or flip
Peek in occasionally near the end of cooking time and toss or flip food for even browning. The high heat of an air fryer can quickly overcook food if you aren’t paying attention.
Best oven air frying temperatures
These temperature guidelines will help you achieve crispy “fried” results in the oven:
| Food | Oven Temperature |
|---|---|
| Fresh or frozen french fries | 425°F |
| Chicken wings or nuggets | 450°F |
| Breaded veggies like zucchini sticks or eggplant | 400°F |
| Fish sticks or filets | 400°F |
| Potato wedges or cubes | 425°F |
Oven air frying recipes
Try these delicious air fryer-style recipes using your conventional oven:
Crispy Oven Fries
Ingredients:
- 3 medium russet potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch wedges
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 450°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment.
- In a bowl, toss potato wedges with olive oil, garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper until coated.
- Arrange wedges in a single layer on sheet with space between each wedge.
- Bake 15 minutes, flip wedges, then bake 10-15 more minutes until crispy and browned.
- Serve immediately.
Air Fried Chicken Wings
Ingredients:
- 24 chicken wings, tips removed, drumettes and flats separated
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions:
- Pat chicken dry and place in a bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with seasonings. Toss to coat evenly.
- Place wings in a single layer on two parchment-lined baking sheets.
- Bake at 450°F for 20 minutes. Flip wings and bake 20 minutes longer until crispy.
- Serve with your desired dipping sauce.
Crispy Breaded Cauliflower Bites
Ingredients:
- 1 head cauliflower, cut into bite-size florets
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
- In a bowl, dip cauliflower in milk, letting excess drip off. Toss in breadcrumbs, parmesan, and seasonings until coated.
- Spread on baking sheet in a single layer, leaving space between florets.
- Bake 15 minutes, gently toss/flip florets, and bake 10 more minutes until golden brown.
- Serve immediately.
Tips for the best oven “fried” results
Follow these final tips for getting truly crispy oven-fried foods just like an air fryer:
- Pat foods very dry before cooking – excess moisture prevents browning.
- Use starchier potatoes like russets instead of waxy varieties.
- Toss battered foods in a bit of cornstarch or baking powder before cooking.
- Let foods rest 1-2 minutes out of the oven to finish crisping up.
- Double fry: Bake an initial time at a lower temp (375°F), let cool, then rebake at a higher temp.
- Use an oven thermometer to ensure your oven runs accurately.
The benefits of oven “frying”
While air fryers produce deliciously crispy results, oven “frying” offers some advantages:
- Wider capacity – Ovens hold more food than compact air fryers.
- Multitasking – You can bake other foods at the same time.
- Higher power – Most ovens have more wattage for faster preheating.
- Better performance – Ovens recover lost heat faster than “fryers” after opening.
- More common – Almost every kitchen has a standard oven already.
Conclusion
Mimicking the rapid hot air convection of air fryers is easy with the right techniques in a standard oven. Focus on using right-sized pans, allowing space for airflow, using minimal oil, and adjusting cook times and temperatures for “fried” textures without the fat. In no time, you’ll turn out crispy french fries, juicy fried chicken, golden breaded veggies, and more air fryer delights from your trusty oven.