How to use: Pick a conversion — oven, deep fryer or microwave into an air fryer, or air fryer back to oven. Set your temperature and time, then choose what you're cooking. Snumly applies the offset in the unit you selected, caps the result at your air fryer's maximum, and shows the internal temperature to cook to.
Converting oven recipes to air fryer settings is simple once you know the rule: reduce the temperature by 15°C (25°F) and reduce the cooking time by 20%. This converter does that calculation instantly — and works in reverse, so you can also take an air fryer recipe back to a conventional oven.
It also handles two conversions most calculators skip. Deep fryer to air fryer drops the temperature by the same 15°C (25°F) but adds a few minutes, because circulating air moves heat into food more slowly than hot oil surrounding it on every side. Microwave to air fryer is a reheating guide rather than a formula — the two appliances heat food by completely different mechanisms, so treat the result as a starting point and check early.
Air fryers cook faster and at lower temperatures than conventional ovens because they circulate hot air directly around the food. Most models also cap out at 200°C (400°F), so any recipe calling for a higher temperature gets capped here with extra minutes added to compensate.
Always check your food 5 minutes before the calculated time is up, as air fryer models vary in power. For meat, time is a guide and internal temperature is the answer — a thermometer is the only reliable test of doneness.
What temperature do I use for an air fryer instead of a conventional oven?
Reduce the oven temperature by 15°C (25°F). So if your recipe calls for 200°C in the oven, set your air fryer to 185°C. If your recipe calls for 400°F, set the air fryer to 375°F.
How much do I reduce cooking time in an air fryer?
Reduce cooking time by approximately 20%. So a 30 minute oven recipe becomes about 24 minutes in the air fryer. Always check 5 minutes early as models vary.
What is 180°C in an air fryer?
An oven recipe at 180°C becomes 165°C in an air fryer. In Fahrenheit, 180°C is 356°F in the oven, so roughly 330°F in the air fryer. Reduce the cooking time by 20% as well.
What is 200°C fan for 18 minutes in an air fryer?
Tick the fan oven box and the converter handles it. A fan setting is already around 20°C below the conventional equivalent, so 200°C fan is roughly 220°C conventional — which converts to about 205°C in the air fryer, capped to your model's maximum. The 18 minutes becomes about 14 minutes.
My air fryer only goes up to 200°C — what if the recipe calls for more?
Most domestic air fryers cap out at 200°C (400°F), which is lower than a conventional oven will go. When a conversion lands above that ceiling, this calculator caps the temperature at the maximum and adds roughly 2 minutes for every 10°C (20°F) it had to drop, so the food still cooks through rather than coming out underdone. Check your own model first — some larger air fryer ovens reach 230°C (450°F), and a few compact baskets stop at 190°C (375°F).
How do I convert air fryer time to oven time?
Use the 'Air Fryer → Oven' mode. It reverses the standard rule: add 15°C (25°F) back to the temperature and divide the time by 0.8, which means multiplying it by 1.25. A 20 minute air fryer recipe becomes about 25 minutes in the oven.
How do I convert a deep fryer recipe to an air fryer?
Lower the temperature by 25°F (15°C) and add 2 to 5 minutes. Deep-fried chicken wings at 375°F for 10 minutes become roughly 350°F for 12 to 14 minutes in the air fryer, flipping halfway. Note that wet batters do not transfer — see below.
Can I use wet batter in an air fryer?
No. Beer batter, tempura and any other pourable coating drips off through the basket before it can set, because there is no hot oil to seize it instantly. Use a dry coating instead — flour, then egg, then breadcrumbs. This is the single most common air fryer failure.
Can I convert microwave times to an air fryer?
Only as a rough guide. Microwaves excite water molecules throughout the food while air fryers heat the surface, so there is no true equivalence. As a starting point, allow around three times the microwave time at 175°C (350°F), and check halfway. Reheated food should reach 74°C (165°F) inside.
Do frozen foods convert the same way?
No — frozen food is an exception. Cook it at the temperature stated on the packet rather than reducing it, and take about 20% off the time. Reducing the temperature as well tends to leave the centre cold while the outside looks done.
Can I cook everything in an air fryer that I'd cook in an oven?
Most oven recipes work in an air fryer. It's particularly good for chips, chicken, vegetables, fish and reheating food. Very large items, wet batters and liquid-based dishes like casseroles don't work as well.
Why does food cook faster in an air fryer?
Air fryers circulate hot air directly around the food at high speed, transferring heat more efficiently than a conventional oven where the air is relatively still.
Do I need to preheat my air fryer?
Most air fryers benefit from a 2-3 minute preheat, similar to an oven. Some models preheat automatically. Check your model's manual for guidance.