Is the air fry setting on an oven as good as a standalone air fryer?

Regular ovens now often feature air fry modes.

There's more than one way to air fry a chicken...

Air fryers have taken Aussie kitchens by storm in recent years, becoming an essential appliance for many. Now, though, more and more regular ovens incorporate an air fry setting. So, do you still need a separate air fryer or can a built in or freestanding oven with an air fryer function do just as good a job?

Here’s what you need to know about air fry mode in ovens and how it compares to standalone air fryers.

Ovens with integrated air fry mode, like this Haier model, can help keep kitchen counters clutter-free

What is an air fryer oven?

An air fryer oven is a full-sized oven (often a convection oven) that includes a built-in air fry function. This setting uses hot air and high-speed air circulation to deliver that golden crispy finish we all love on French fries and chicken wings, but with a lot less oil than deep frying.

Rather than relying on an enclosed air fryer basket like countertop appliances, air fryer ovens usually include an air fry tray or wire rack, along with a drip tray underneath to catch any crumbs or excess oil.

Do they work the same way as air fryers?

Not exactly. Both rely on air circulation and higher temperatures to mimic the effect of deep fryer cooking, but there are a couple of key differences:

Fan speed and position: Standalone air fryers have small, powerful fans located close to the heating element. This creates faster airflow directly over the food, giving quicker, more intense browning.
Temperature and size: A countertop air fryer can usually hit high temperatures fast - sometimes up to 230°C. Ovens with air fry mode reach similar temperatures, but they take longer to get there due to their larger size.

Cooking times

When it comes to cooking time, standalone air fryers usually win - especially for small portions. They don’t need as much preheat time, and the smaller cooking space keeps the heat closer to the food.

You’ll likely get similar results from an oven with air fry functions, but it can take longer, and you might need to flip those chicken nuggets to achieve even browning. For example, frozen French fries might take 15 minutes in a small air fryer, but closer to 20 in a full-size oven. Using parchment paper or a non-stick air fry tray can prevent sticking and make for an easier clean-up.

What can you cook in an air fryer oven?

Like a separate air fryer, the air fry setting on an oven is great for foods that are traditionally shallow or deep-fried or oven-baked, like:

chicken wings, drumsticks and nuggets
cut veggies like sweet potato chips, zucchini or cauliflower bites
frozen snack foods like pies or hash browns.

Tempting though it might be to supersize your fried food, it’s worth noting that a whole chicken or large joint of meat won’t cook as evenly on air fry mode as it would on a regular roasting setting. Air frying is generally better suited to batches of smaller portions.

Should you get an oven with air fry mode or a separate air fryer?

Will an air fryer or air fry oven suit you better?

Does an air fryer oven replace a standalone air fryer?

It depends whether you tend to cook for small or large groups and how often you make air fried food. If you usually cook for the whole family, you’re short on kitchen bench space, or fried chicken only makes the occasional appearance on your dinner menu, a wall oven with an air fry function might be enough.

But if you often cook food for one or two people and bench space isn’t an issue, a separate air fryer can be a faster, more energy-efficient option.

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If you need help choosing the right oven or the best air fryer for your home, read the product reviews beneath the models you’re considering, check out our Oven Buying Guide or Air Fryer Buying Guide, call our friendly team 24/7 on 1300 000 500 or message us via the chat icon at the bottom of your screen.

Oli Kitchingman

Oli is Appliances Online's editor and blogger, with almost two decades of lifestyle-related writing and editing to his name. With a mission to help you buy better and live smarter, his brand loyalty will forever belong to the appliance manufacturer that develops a self-emptying dishwasher.