# What meaningful differences are there between air fryers and convection ovens? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 4, 2020, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-meaningful-differences-are-there-between-air-fryers-and-convection-ovens/845938 "2020-01-04T17:54:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2020, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-meaningful-differences-are-there-between-air-fryers-and-convection-ovens/845938/1 "2020-01-04T17:54:59Z")
Just that. I have an air fryer. Never had a convection oven. The concept seems the same but don’t have a point of reference. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2020, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-meaningful-differences-are-there-between-air-fryers-and-convection-ovens/845938/2 "2020-01-04T21:10:12Z")
My understanding is that the difference is counter-top device (air fryer) vs full sized appliance (convection oven). It’s similar to ‘toaster over’ and oven. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2020, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-meaningful-differences-are-there-between-air-fryers-and-convection-ovens/845938/3 "2020-01-04T21:11:22Z")
I thought an air frier got a lot hotter than a convection oven. But I’ve never had an air frier. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2020, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-meaningful-differences-are-there-between-air-fryers-and-convection-ovens/845938/4 "2020-01-04T23:37:22Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > My understanding is that the difference is counter-top device (air fryer) vs full sized appliance (convection oven). It’s similar to ‘toaster over’ and oven. There are counter top convection ovens; I own one. There are also convection microwaves; I own one of those, too. ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-meaningful-differences-are-there-between-air-fryers-and-convection-ovens/845938/5 "2020-01-05T02:24:51Z")
My understanding [is confirmed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_fryer): _“An air fryer is a kitchen appliance that cooks by circulating hot air around the food using the convection mechanism. It is a downsized version of the convection oven.[1]”_ The larger “oven” must heat more air. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-meaningful-differences-are-there-between-air-fryers-and-convection-ovens/845938/6 "2020-01-05T02:34:15Z")
So does an air fryer really “fry” at all? Why not just call it an “air cooker,” or a “counter-top convection oven”? ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-meaningful-differences-are-there-between-air-fryers-and-convection-ovens/845938/7 "2020-01-05T02:36:32Z")
> [@RioRico](#): > > The larger “oven” must heat more air. Or they have advertising corporations to provide more hot air. ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-meaningful-differences-are-there-between-air-fryers-and-convection-ovens/845938/8 "2020-01-05T02:54:01Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > My understanding is that the difference is counter-top device (air fryer) vs full sized appliance (convection oven). It’s similar to ‘toaster over’ and oven. So what’s the difference between a countertop air fryer and a toaster oven with a fan inside? ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-meaningful-differences-are-there-between-air-fryers-and-convection-ovens/845938/9 "2020-01-05T03:07:41Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > So does an air fryer really “fry” at all? [Funny you should ask.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_fryer) > [@](#): > > A mechanical fan circulates the hot air around the food at high speed, cooking the food and producing a crispy layer via browning reactions of two kinds. In caramelization, sugars break down and chemically transform into complex brown-colored substances, while in the Maillard reaction, typically seen where meat is roasted or stir-fried, the carbohydrates/sugars and proteins in a food react with each other to form Schiff bases, which then form other flavorful compounds, including brown ring compound containing one or more nitrogen atoms in the ring, such as pyrazines and pyridines… > > Traditional frying methods induce the Maillard effect by completely submerging foods in hot oil, which attains considerably higher temperatures than boiling water. The air fryer works by coating the desired food in a thin layer of oil while circulating air [superheated] to apply heat and initiate the reaction. By doing this, the appliance is able to brown foods like potato chips, chicken, fish, steak, cheeseburgers, french fries or pastries using 70% to 80% less oil than a traditional deep fryercitation needed. Not really frying, but a similar browning effect. > [@](#): > > Why not just call it an “air cooker,” or a “counter-top convection oven”? Marketing. Sexy image. Fewer letters. ---
**Author:** ![TemporalFix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c6cbf5/32.png) [@TemporalFix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TemporalFix)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2020, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-meaningful-differences-are-there-between-air-fryers-and-convection-ovens/845938/10 "2020-01-06T01:57:06Z")
I have both an convection oven and an air fryer. The air fryer cooks much faster despite lower power, but only small portions, for one person. The oven can be set a little hotter (240 versus 220 deg centigrade). My take on why it’s called an air fryer: similar shape and size as an electric frying pan. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2020, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-meaningful-differences-are-there-between-air-fryers-and-convection-ovens/845938/11 "2020-01-06T02:31:10Z")
Convection ovens for home vary in convection strength some are somewhat anemic. The air fryer may provide better hot air circulation then the weaker of them. But practically it seems like the difference between a toaster oven and a oven. > [@puzzlegal](#): > > I thought an air frier got a lot hotter than a convection oven. But I’ve never had an air frier. I doubt it, but it would depend on the oven. The convection oven we has can cook at 600F. That’s pretty darn high and I haven’t found a way to effectively use that temperature. ---
**Author:** ![xnylder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbce88/32.png) [@xnylder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xnylder)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2020, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-meaningful-differences-are-there-between-air-fryers-and-convection-ovens/845938/12 "2020-01-07T20:18:06Z")
It’s my understanding that you have to pour a spoonful of oil into an air fryer when cooking with it, so the outside of the food gets coated with a thin layer of air-carried droplets. If you do that to a restaurant’s convection oven, your chef will be mighty annoyed. (Best case it’s a mess to clean up, worst case it starts a fire.) ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2020, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-meaningful-differences-are-there-between-air-fryers-and-convection-ovens/845938/13 "2020-01-21T20:11:08Z")
This just came out on this subject, comparing convection ovens, air fryers and toaster ovens, some with convection options: > **[Air frying vs. baking in the oven: Which cooking method is best?](https://www.cnet.com/home/kitchen-and-household/air-fryer-vs-oven-baking-which-is-better-way-cook-frying-turkey/)** > > Air fryers are inexpensive and trendy, but an oven might still be your best bet. The short of it is convection ovens work better overall. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2020, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-meaningful-differences-are-there-between-air-fryers-and-convection-ovens/845938/14 "2020-01-21T20:55:44Z")
> [@xnylder](#): > > It’s my understanding that you have to pour a spoonful of oil into an air fryer when cooking with it, so the outside of the food gets coated with a thin layer of air-carried droplets. If you do that to a restaurant’s convection oven, your chef will be mighty annoyed. (Best case it’s a mess to clean up, worst case it starts a fire.) That is not true. I have never poured oil in my air fryer and I haven’t seen others suggest it. With a spray bottle (not aerosol) i spritz the basket lightly to keep from sticking and usually one or two light shots on the meat. Nothing in the reservoir ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2020, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-meaningful-differences-are-there-between-air-fryers-and-convection-ovens/845938/15 "2020-01-21T22:10:27Z")
I think that “air fryers” get called that because they produce similar cooking results to frying. But they’re preferred because they introduce less oil to the food. Or at least, that’s the perception: Food fried at appropriate temperatures and times absorb very little of the cooking fat. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2020, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-meaningful-differences-are-there-between-air-fryers-and-convection-ovens/845938/16 "2020-01-21T22:34:28Z")
“Air fryer” is just a marketing ploy directed at people who love fried foods but also don’t want to die of a heart attack. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2020, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-meaningful-differences-are-there-between-air-fryers-and-convection-ovens/845938/17 "2020-01-21T22:56:04Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > That is not true. I have never poured oil in my air fryer and I haven’t seen others suggest it. With a spray bottle (not aerosol) i spritz the basket lightly to keep from sticking and usually one or two light shots on the meat. Nothing in the reservoir I have heard the suggestion to pam, or lightly spray with cooking oil, your food lightly for extra fry-like crunch flavor. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2020, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-meaningful-differences-are-there-between-air-fryers-and-convection-ovens/845938/18 "2020-01-21T23:02:27Z")
> [@TemporalFix](#): > > I have both an convection oven and an air fryer. The air fryer cooks much faster despite lower power, but only small portions, for one person. The oven can be set a little hotter (240 versus 220 deg centigrade). If you cooked the same foods in both the convection oven and air fryer, what would be different about the end results? Is portion size the only meaningful difference as to when one is chosen over the other, or are there other things like the resulting taste or texture is different that would also be a factor? ---
**Author:** ![turner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/22d042/32.png) [@turner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/turner)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2020, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-meaningful-differences-are-there-between-air-fryers-and-convection-ovens/845938/19 "2020-01-21T23:50:02Z")
I think the difference is proximity. I have a convection toaster oven and can’t get the same results as I get with my air fryer. Because the AF is compact, and the fan sounds about as powerful as my convection oven’s I think I get more intense heat on the food than in my CO. I do spray both sides of my food with PAM and get decent but not deep fried browning. my AF instruction manual says a teaspoon of oil in the AF before cooking. I don’t do this because I air fry to reduce fat and calories. My guess is that with the heat and the fan, that teaspoon might get slightly aerosolized and do basically what my PAM spray does but in a messier, less controlled fashion. ---
**Author:** ![Grestarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grestarian/32/3227_2.png) [@Grestarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grestarian)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2020, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-meaningful-differences-are-there-between-air-fryers-and-convection-ovens/845938/20 "2020-03-19T19:27:09Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > This just came out on this subject, comparing convection ovens, air fryers and toaster ovens, some with convection options: > > [Air frying vs. baking: What's the best cooking method? — CNET - CNET](https://www.cnet.com/news/air-fryer-vs-convection-oven-which-one-should-you-choose-frying-countertop/) > > The short of it is convection ovens work better overall. And a [July 2019 article from WireCutter](https://thewirecutter.com/blog/you-dont-need-an-air-fryer/) that I just stumbled across suggests a convection toaster oven is better than an air fryer because the greater surface-area allowed in the convection toaster oven permits the fans to spread the heat more evenly across the food, providing more thoroughly-cooked end products. This would suggest an air-fryer provides better quality results than a convection oven, but worse quality than a convection toaster-oven. The convection toaster oven is also, according to the blog linked above, preferred for its larger capacity and greater versatility (would you stuff a 12-inch pizza in an air fryer?) while remaining small enough to set on a kitchen counter-top. Note that the article is distinguishing convection toaster-ovens from toaster-ovens, the latter lacking the fan to circulate the hot air which distributes the heat more evenly. –G! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-meaningful-differences-are-there-between-air-fryers-and-convection-ovens/845938.md?page=2)