What Is The Difference Between An Air Fryer And An Air Fryer Oven
Although an air fryer and an air fryer oven work in the same way to cook your food, they both have their advantages and disadvantages.
Before you can consider which one to buy for your kitchen, you should ensure you understand their differences. In addition, see our ‘Air Fryer Vs. Dehydrator’ review in case you need your food to last longer.
How Do The Air Fry Ranges Perform
We made a load of frozen French fries to test the Air Fry mode on these ranges.
To test the Air Fry function in both the gas and electric models from Frigidaire, we air fried and baked a lot of frozen French fries and compared the results.
We began by testing for our full review of the Frigidaire Gallery FGGH3047VF gas range. We followed the oven manual’s cooking instruction for 43 ounces of frozen French fries on a baking sheet for 30 minutes in Air Fry mode. Then we cooked the same load of fries for the same amount of time in Standard mode.
It’s worth noting that Ore-Ida gives conflicting instructions and recommends only cooking one-half to three-quarters of the bag. We opted to follow Frigidaire’s instructions, however, which may have created the less-than-ideal fries.
Unsurprisingly, the 43 ounces of French fries that were cooked on Standard mode were mostly still frozen. The fries that were touching the bottom of the baking sheet were crispy on one side, but were otherwise mushy, slightly oily, and uncooked.
After running the same tests on the electric Frigidaire Gallery FGEH3047VF, we achieved even slightly better results. The electric heat produced a more even crisp on the air fried fries, particularly when prepared with the air fry tray. We also removed the tray after just 25 minutes to prevent the outside fries from burning and found the inner fries still perfectly cooked.
How To Air Fry Without An Air Fryer
Make yummy chicken wings and crispy fries with your convection range, wall oven, or toaster oven
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The appeal of an air fryer is obvious. With a few teaspoons of oil, you can make crispy golden chicken, french fries, tater tots, and moreall of which are far healthier for you than deep-frying because you use so little oil.
But what if you dont want another appliance eating up space on your countertop? Or you want to air fry in larger portions than the typical air fryer will hold? The answer may already be in your kitchen.
More and more range ovens, wall ovens, and toaster ovens that have convection now come with air fry settings. Convection, which constantly circulates hot air using one or more fans, is the same technology behind countertop air fryers. So we tried out a few to see how well they work. Below are tips for getting the best results from each, plus a closer look at the top appliances from Consumer Reports’ tests that can air fry.
Also Check: Instant Pot Air Fryer Dehydrator
What Is A Convection Oven
A countertop convection oven is built like a standard toaster oven: rectangular in shape with a front door that opens on a hinge at the bottom. How it differs from an ordinary toaster oven is that a convection oven is equipped with a fan, which blows hot air around.
The motion of the air inside the oven is called a convection effect and it results in faster cooking by transferring higher temperatures to the surface of the food as compared with an ordinary oven. So it both accelerates cooking as well as enhances the browning and crisping of the surface of your food.
Like a toaster oven, a convection oven has an interior rack that will fit a sheet pan . Because it’s wide, it allows for the food to be spread out on the rack rather than stacked in layers.
This is crucial, since stacking or layering food impedes the flow of hot air. Arranging the food in a single layer allows for even cooking all around.
Frigidaire: Air Fry Gas Range
Dont worry, there are also gas ranges for the cooking purists out there. If a gas range better suits your cooking needs, you can still reap the benefits of an impressive Frigidaire Air Fry Range youll just want to take a gander at this freestanding gas range option instead.
This model is equipped with similar bells and whistles as the electric model such as True Convection and Fast Steam Cleaning option, but it has a few additional features to offer. A five-burner cooktop allows for greater cooking flexibility with an 18,000-BTU power burner for faster boiling, a 5,000-BTU simmer burner for delicate foods and sauces, and a 10,000-BTU oval burner. It includes a griddle pan that you can place on the oval burner to make pancakes and quesadillas and easy-to-clean, corner-to-corner grates keep your appliance looking sleek.
Also Check: Breville The Smart Oven Air Fryer Review
Best Rated: Ninja Foodi Digital Air Fry Oven
With an incredible 4.7-star rating from 3,000 reviews, the Ninja Foodi Digital Air Fry Oven is Amazon’s best-rated device in the category. The powerful 1800-watt appliance has eight different functions, including air roasting, air broiling, baking, and dehydrating, as well as a sizable 13-by-13-inch capacity. Its precision-controlled temperature, heat source, and airflow warms up the machine in just 60 seconds, meaning you can have a family-sized dinner on the table in under 30 minutes.
Additionally, the Ninja Foodi is particularly great for cooks tight on counter space. When not in use, it easily flips on its side to store flush against the kitchen backsplash. A reviewer said, “The option to ‘fold’ the oven up on my counter was the biggest selling feature. I didn’t want a large pot/air fryer taking up valuable counter space. This takes up such a small footprint and gives me back space in my small kitchen when I’m not using it.”
Buy it: $199.99
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Saba Wahid
Saba is the resident Chef at Yale. She will teach you how to use your new oven, cooktop, or range. She is skilled in every new feature, including steam, induction, convection of all types, air frying, and sous vide. Saba is also the reigning Chopped Grand Champion crowned by Martha Stewart herself. Saba is incredibly versatile with all different types of cuisine. After just one session with her, you will be a better chef.
A Note About Pricing
Pricing on this blog is for reference only and may include time sensitive rebates. We make every attempt to provide accurate pricing at time of publishing. Please call the stores for most accurate price.
Recommended Reading: Instant Pot Vortex Pro Accessories
Cooking The Perfect Thanksgiving Turkey With Air Fry Technology
In our last blog, we covered the broad spectrum of kitchen ranges and everything you needed to know to make a confident and informed purchase. We discussed brands, finishes, features, and everything else that makes ranges unique and effective cooking appliances.
One of our favorite features is the built-in Air Fry technology that you can find in select Frigidaire, and Samsung ranges. Air Fry is a super-charged burst of heat that circulates hot air inside your appliance to produce rapid fried cooking results in far less time than a traditional deep fryer. But its not just speedair frying allows you to make healthier and delicious meals for the entire family because it requires little to no oil. You can easily prepare your favorite fried cuisine at home without the grease, splash burns, or messy oil involved.
An air frying oven range can be great for snack foods and appetizers, but it can also be used for any entrée or main course. With the holidays quickly approaching, you might need a little help streamlining your dinner menu. If youre tired of dry, overcooked, oven-roasted turkey year after year, there are other options out there. It might be time to reinvent the perfect thanksgiving turkeywith Air Fry technology.
What Can You Cook In An Air Fryer
An air fryer is a fast and versatile kitchen appliance, and once you understand how they work, you can use it for cooking fresh foods such as pork chops, steak, veggies, salmon, and chicken .
If you are air frying meat, you require no oil as most meats are juicy. Just season the meat using your favorite herbs, spices, and salt. Ensure you use dry seasoning as less moisture will offer you crispier results.
You can also baste your meat using barbecue sauce or honey. If you want to baste your meat, ensure you wait until the last minutes of your cooking.
As mentioned earlier, an air fryer works using little to no oil. If you are cooking foods with little or no fat, or lean cuts of meat, you can use a little oil to brown and crisp up the food.
You can also brush pork chops and boneless chicken breasts with a little oil before you season.
If you want to use some oil to crisp up the food, it is recommended that you use canola oil or vegetable oil due to their high smoke point. As such, these types of oil can stand up to the heat inside the air fryer without smoking up.
Additionally, you can toss your vegetables inside the oil before air frying them. You can also sprinkle a little oil on the vegetables before you can air fry them. However, ensure you use less salt than you are used to, as air frying is known to pack many flavors.
You May Like: Breville The Smart Oven Air Fryer Review
What Is An Air Fryer Basket
An air fryer basket, also known as a countertop air fryer, is a conventional air fryer with a free-style basket. The results of cooking using an air fryer with a basket mimic the results of deep-frying .
With an air fryer basket, the heating mechanism helps to circulate the heat around your food rapidly.
The countertop air fryer comes in various sizes, ranging from 3 to 5 quarts. A 5 quart appliance would be best for a family of 1 to 2 people.
Is an air fryer basket the right kitchen appliance for you?
A countertop air fryer is the perfect kitchen appliance for you if you are cooking for a few people and you air fry regularly.
Other benefits of cooking using an air-fryer with a basket include:
- Most air fryer baskets are available at a variety of price points, depending on the size and features. Therefore, you can purchase one without going beyond your budget.
- The countertop air fryer will not take much space on your countertop, and you can store it away after you are done.
- Air fryers basket has a smaller capacity than an air fryer oven. As such, you can cook small batches of food faster.
Frigidaire Wants You To Throw Out Your Air Fryer
The appliance maker brought a brand new oven to KBIS 2019 and it includes an air fryer mode.
Frigidaire’s latest collection of ranges debuted at the KBIS 2019 trade show Tuesday, adding a new air fry feature to the oven lineup.
The new 30-inch range will be available in gas , electric and induction models in smudge-proof stainless steel and black stainless finishes. The freestanding range includes such features as wall-to-wall glass and front controls for sliding it into existing cabinetry layouts to get a built-in look.
The range also boasts a light, 20-minute steam cleaning mode for everyday maintenance and a quick preheat featured aimed at cutting down the wait between turning on your oven and cooking your food.
The gas cooktop features an 18,000-BTU power burner, 5,000-BTU simmer burner and 10,000-BTU oval burner. A griddle pan is also included. Frigidaire also says it’s made the new burners easier to remove for cleaning.
What’s most interesting about the oven is Frigidaire’s new air fry button, something we haven’t seen in a full-size oven until now. But how does air frying in an oven differ from convection baking?
The folks at Frigidaire explained that the air fryer mode heats up the air inside the oven to a higher temperature than what you’d use with convection. It then gradually cools down as the fan circulates air around the cavity rapidly.
Also Check: Instant Pot Air Fryer Dehydrator
How To Convert Recipes For A Convection Oven Range
Now that weve outlined the key differences between convection and air fry oven settings, we can discuss how your favorite recipes can be modified for each method.
Lets start with convection ovens again.
There are actually two options you can try when using the convection oven setting. The first option is decreasing the time by about 25 percent while retaining the temperature set forth by the recipe for a conventional oven. The second option is to reduce the temperature by 25 degrees and abide by the cook time in the recipe for a conventional oven.
The second option is generally preferred while the first option is deemed viable for those who are cooking on a time crunch. Since there are convection ranges and wall ovens that automatically convert the temperature and lower by 25 degrees, we advise reading your user manual closely.
For illustrative purposes, we provided a cheat sheet with approximate temperature and time conversions for cooking holiday favorites with a convection oven, along with some pro tips. Check them out!
| Food | ||
|---|---|---|
| 350 degrees for 30 minutes | 350 degrees for 22 minutes | 325 minutes for 30 minutes |
Air Fry Vs Convection Oven
A convection oven works similarly to a traditional oven, but instead of the heat rising and cooking your food based on a given temperature, a convection oven uses fans to move air around quickly and evenly distribute heat. This means your food cooks faster, more thoroughly, and ultimately saves you energy and money.
When you break it down, air frying ranges and convection ovens are close relatives, but there are a couple of distinctions between the two. While both ovens use fans to distribute heat throughout the appliance, in an Air Fry oven range, the air moves around much more rapidly, which is why you get faster cooking results. Also, certain foods that are typically made to be fried will turn out much better in an air fryer instead of a traditional oven. Foods like hot wings and onion rings retain their natural texture and flavor when you can simulate a deep-frying cooking technique.
Recommended Reading: Instant Pot With Dehydrator
Prep Your Food For Air Frying
Depending on what youre trying to air fry, youll want to prep the food to ensure a crispy and golden exterior. Foods like veggies and potatoes work better when they are cut into smaller bite-sized pieces, so to give them that nice crunchy exterior, cut them into spears, medallions or cubes and lightly coat in oil to encourage browning.
If working with meat or fish, make sure that the skin isnt too wet by patting the surface dry and lightly coat it with some oil or cooking spray to help the skin crisp up. If using breading, air frying has better results with a drier exterior as opposed to a wet batter.
How To Air Fry In Your Convection Oven
Did you know that air fryers function similarly to a convection oven? In fact, if you own a convection oven, you may not need a standalone air fryer to get the crispy results that these countertop appliances are known for. Learn the differences between an air fryer and convection oven and how to get excellent fried results using your convection oven with this guide.
Select a link below to learn about how to air fry in an oven
Read Also: Accessories For Instant Vortex Air Fryer
Does The Air Fryer Mode Work In A Regular Oven
Saba Wahid | May 05, 2021 | 3 Min. Read
Start finding answers in our Resource Center full of videos, buying guides, and checklists
Editors Note:Air frying is the newest feature on many ranges. It seems straightforward enough to use heat to crisp up your food instead of frying it in oil.
The technology is available locally. I am a fan of B.Good and their healthy fries .
While Air Fry modes are touted as the next big feature, the better question is: Does it work?
Air frying has become one of the biggest cooking trends lately following the Instant Pot craze.
Typically done in a tabletop device, a couple of appliance manufacturers have attempted to include air frying modes in a standard range.
It makes sense to utilize the existing technology in the range and market it with the trendy label – if it works.
In this article, I tested out two different ranges, GE and LG, with the Air Fryer mode and compared it to a tabletop air fryer .
Let’s get started.
Air Fry Turkey Dinner
A successful Thanksgiving meal always comes down to perfecting the turkey, but since the beginning of time, ladles of gravy and piles of mashed potatoes have been used to resurrect dry, flavorless Thanksgiving birds. But all the fixings in the world cant bring a holiday turkey back to life if its already lacking its natural juices and succulent flavor.
Luckily, with an air frying range, your turkey will always come out with a perfectly crisp outer skin without sacrificing any juicy flavor. This way, you wont need cranberry sauce to save your meal, but you can still enjoy it on the side.
Recommended Reading: Lofter Air Fryer
