If it seems like air fryers and convection ovens are suddenly everywhere in the cooking world — well, they are. Both appliances have become very popular over the past few years, touted as healthier frying alternatives which can make weeknight dinners and reheating leftovers a breeze. But what actually is the difference between the two? Here, I’ll dive into that question and answer why each is useful in the kitchen.
What’s a Convection Oven?
Before I get into how a convection oven functions, it’s helpful to understand how a regular oven works. At its core, an oven is a big chamber with a heating element that keeps the air within at a semi-consistent high temperature. In a regular oven, heat rises and makes currents of air referred to as “natural convection.” This often means some parts of your food receive less heat than others, resulting in uneven cooking. A convection oven remedies this by adding fans to the cooking chamber that control the flow of air in a process called “forced convection.” Unlike natural convection, forced convection ensures that hot air is circulated evenly and consistently throughout the oven. According to Catherine Ruspino, the senior vice-president of product and solutions at Breville, the fans in a convection oven cause “hot air to get to the corners and windows to make the temperature more even.” In addition to the consistency, these devices more quickly replace cooled air around your food with more hot air, reliably cutting down on cooking time.
What’s an Air Fryer?
To put it simply, an air fryer is a type of convection oven with much more rapid air flow. This is achieved two ways: (1) with a more powerful fan, and (2) with a much smaller, aerodynamically designed chamber. “This combination increases the energy transfer and the rate of speed you’re cooking,” Ruspino told me. This increased efficiency in air fryers emulates frying but without oil, as the water on the surface of your food quickly boils, leaving behind a dry crispy layer. Technically, you can’t fry without fat, but if you’re trying to cut calorie-dense oil out of your diet, then air frying is a great alternative. Air fryers are the best way to heat up leftovers like fries. If you’re strapped for time but want passable weeknight dinners, the convenience of the air fryer will save you a lot of time and energy. (And if you’re in the market for one, check out our guide to the best air fryers.)
What are the main differences between air fryers and convection ovens?
It comes down to power transfer. Air fryers are equipped with a more powerful fan than a convection oven (“seven times faster” in the case of one of our best air-fryer picks, the Phillips Airfryer XXL). Air fryers are also smaller (our top recommended model has a six-quart capacity), so they transfer power — a.k.a. heat — more efficiently to food than convection ovens. You still need to preheat an air fryer, but it’s a lot faster, generally taking about two to three minutes, and is less critical than preheating a convection oven. The chamber in an air fryer heats up much more quickly than in a convection oven and your food cooks and browns faster. On the flip side, you shouldn’t expect to cook something large in an air fryer, like a whole chicken, or fill its tray with food without losing efficiency.
The price often reflects the size difference: a standalone convection oven (many of which double as air fryers) typically costs $300 to $500, while a dedicated air fryer can cost $50 to $500. Another advantage of standalone air fryers is ease of cleaning. When I’m done cooking, I just pop out its tray and throw it in the dishwasher (though main units have to be wiped and shouldn’t be soaked in water). Cleaning a convection oven usually requires a little more attention, as you have to manually wipe down interior walls, scrubbing grease with a gentle brush. Crumbs and debris can cause convection-oven fans to malfunction, and they generally don’t have removable baskets or pans you can throw into the dishwasher like an air fryer does.
The lines can be blurred with cross-functionality as illustrated by the three Breville toaster ovens we recommend. The Mini Smart Oven functions simply as a toaster oven. Using the same 1.8-kW power source, the Smart Oven adds convection. The Air Fryer Pro adds a “super convection” and a PID controller (a fancy temperature feedback device) to provide rapid heat transfer and precise temperature but can still function as a toaster and convection oven (among other modes).
Which should you use?
The one you’ll want will come down to how you think you’ll use it. If you’re looking for a small device to keep on your counter to refresh chicken wings, crispy tofu, or French fries or zap other leftovers easily, an air fryer is your best bet. If you’re a more serious baker, looking to evenly bake your sourdough bread from scratch or produce chocolate-chip cookies with even edges, a convection oven might make more sense. Either way, both options will give your food an even, consistent cook, surrounding the surface of your food with continuous flowing hot air.
The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
