Air Fryer vs Oven: Which Is Best?

Author: Tahnee-Jae Lopez-Vito

What’s the difference between air fryers and ovens?

Air fryers and convection ovens (or ovens with a convection setting) essentially work the same way: both use fans to distribute hot air to heat your food. Except, the countertop alternative is designed to circulate the hot air around more quickly, and its comparatively small size also makes it possible to cook within a short amount of time.

The two appliances are designed to be multifunctional. So, generally, you should be able to roast, grill, bake and toast meals regardless of the appliance’s price. If you’re willing to spend extra, however, both types of units can deliver added functionality, such as a rotisserie or the ability to dehydrate food.

Air fryer vs oven: Which is cheaper?

An air fryer is significantly cheaper than a traditional oven, which is unsurprising given it’s a countertop appliance with a much smaller cooking capacity. An air frier typically fits around 1.5L to 12L of food; prices range from under $100 up to $500. Alternatively, a standard oven capacity generally sits at 80L, and models usually retail between $800 and $2500.

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Air fryer vs oven: Which is more energy-efficient?

Air fryers are also, typically, much more energy-efficient than ovens. This is because air fryers cook food in a much smaller cavity, which requires less power to heat up and delivers faster cooking times.

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Air fryer vs oven: Which is healthier?

Which appliance can help you eat healthier? Here are a couple of factors to think about.

Air fryers and ovens can cook without oil

A big reason why the air fryer has been dubbed as a healthier way of cooking is that it doesn’t require oil, which isn’t always the case when using a frying pan. But, obviously, there are certain types of food, like frozen fish or chips, that, similarly, don’t need any oil when cooked using either an air fryer or an oven. Both appliances also usually have a grill function, offering another way to avoid greasy fingers.

Healthy cooking functions

Many appliance brands are also plugging the demand for healthy home cooking, by offering a wide range of steam ovens and steam-combination ovens. You can usually find a model for just over $1600. Higher-end units generally cost around $5000.

Steam cooking is a popular method for creating lean, healthy dishes. It’s claimed to keep your veggies nutrient-rich, so you can still enjoy flavourful dishes without losing any of the vitamins. Unfortunately, this feature isn’t included in air fryers, unless you purchase a multi-cooker that happens to have air frying as one of its functions.

Air fryer vs oven: Which can bake better?

When baking, circulating hot air is great for making cookies. Convection heating also provides a pretty ideal environment for pies and pastries, since it can melt fat and produce steam to help the pastry rise.

But if you’re planning on whipping up a cake, bread or, basically, anything made of batter, then you’re better off sticking to a regular oven. The hot air created by the fan can cause your food to rise unevenly.

→Related article: Top Air Fryer Mistakes To Avoid

Should you get an air fryer or an oven?

Here are a few points to consider when deciding what’s best for you.

• Price
• Features
• Kitchen space
• Capacity

Price

If you’re not keen on spending more than $300 on a new appliance, an air fryer has a few nifty functions to help in the kitchen. The fact that it doesn’t require much oil might also mean saving a few extra bucks on groceries in the long run, so it’s a win-win for your wallet.

But if you’re willing to put your hard-earned cash into a high-end model, then it’s worth checking out different types of ovens as well as air fryers. A bigger price tag usually means more features, not just capacity.

Features

Without a doubt, ovens knock it out of the park when it comes to features. Certain models contain air frying functionality in addition to things like steam cooking and pyrolytic self-cleaning. An oven’s large capacity is also ideal for cooking hearty, family-sized meals.

Kitchen space

Depending on which model you get, an air fryer can still take up a decent amount of bench space. But it’s a convenient option if your kitchen doesn’t have much room for many appliances, especially bulky white goods. Plus, air fryers perform many of the same basic functions as ovens, so they can prove a much more practical cooking solution to anyone who’d rather use their oven for storage.

Capacity

As mentioned above, air fryers are cheaper to run, due to their smaller size. If you live alone, you might find an air fryer is a practical, quicker, and cheaper alternative to cooking in an oven. But if you’re cooking for the whole family, the practicality of an air fryer may be far more limited.

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About the reviewer of this page

This report was reviewed by Canstar Content Producer, Andrew Broadley. Andrew is an experienced writer with a wide range of industry experience. Starting out, he cut his teeth working as a writer for print and online magazines, and he has worked in both journalism and editorial roles. His content has covered lifestyle and culture, marketing and, more recently, finance for Canstar.