Air Fryer Calculator

How the Air Fryer Conversion Works

Air fryers are compact convection ovens with a strong fan that moves hot air directly around your food. That airflow intensifies heat transfer, so the same recipe usually needs a lower temperature and a shorter cooking time than a conventional oven. This calculator gives you a consistent starting point by applying a temperature offset and a time reduction based on crispness and thickness.

The most common rule of thumb is to reduce oven temperature by about 25°F (15°C) and cut time by 20%. Those values work well for many foods, but real kitchens vary. An air fryer with a small basket and strong airflow can brown faster than a larger model, while dense items such as thick chicken thighs or casseroles need more time to heat through. That is why this tool lets you select a thickness factor and a crispness preference. The crispness choice scales time rather than temperature so you can keep the air fryer in its typical working range while controlling browning and moisture.

Preheating also changes results. For quick-cooking foods, a short preheat reduces surface moisture and helps crisping. For longer bakes, the food has more time to catch up, so preheating is less critical. The auto setting uses a short preheat suggestion at higher temperatures or when crispness is set to “Crispy.” If you skip preheat, the tool keeps the same time estimate but reminds you to check early; if you always preheat, you can choose the full setting for consistency.

The output provides the adjusted air fryer temperature, cook time, and a “check at” reminder so you can verify doneness. Use that moment to flip, shake, or rotate the basket for even browning. Because air fryer capacities and food spacing change heat flow, treat the results as a reliable baseline rather than a fixed rule. When you dial in your favorite foods, you can keep the same settings for repeatable results.

Formula

Temperature: T_air = T_oven − 25°F (Fahrenheit) or T_air = T_oven − 15°C (Celsius).

Time: t_air = t_oven × C × K, where C is the crispness factor (0.75–0.85) and K is the thickness factor (0.9–1.1). The check time is t_check = t_air × 0.8.

Example Calculation

You have a recipe that bakes at 400°F for 25 minutes. Using the standard crispness setting and medium thickness, the air fryer temperature becomes 375°F and the time is 25 × 0.80 × 1.00 = 20 minutes. The tool suggests checking at 16 minutes and finishing as needed for your preferred browning.

FAQs

Does this replace my air fryer manual?

No. It provides a reliable starting point; always follow equipment guidelines and food safety checks.

Why is my air fryer too fast?

Smaller baskets and stronger fans cook faster. Reduce time further or select the crispy setting.

Should I flip or shake food?

Yes. Midway turning improves even browning and helps food crisp consistently.

Is this calculator private?

Yes. All calculations run locally in your browser.

How it works

This calculator applies a standard convection adjustment with optional crispness and thickness multipliers, then suggests a check time. All computation is client-side for privacy.