Air fryer; can you cook food that only has oven or grill instructions??

[PunishmentRoundupWithJoon]

Just got a small air fryer. I've noticed that some food has air fryer instructions on, but what about food that only has oven instructions; is it still possible to cook in the air fryer? I'm thinking particularly of quorn products that you can just bung in the oven for 20-30 mins.

Don't have any instructions with the air fryer as it's come from a friend.

Suppose I could try something but don't want to waste food if it's going to be inedible!

Yes, it's just a mini fan oven basically.

Don't put it in for as long as they say, it will cook quicker than a normal oven.

Which air fryer is it?

I read somewhere that the basic rule is 20% lower temp & 20% less time than the oven instructions say, & that’s worked for me so far.

There's 1001 conversion charts you can download (or buy if you prefer)

air fryer times and temperatures uk Here

I just guess it to be honest, no disasters, yet !

It’s just a small oven. If you can’t work it out yourself, use the guidance for fan oven. It’s all good

I put everything in the air fryer for 12 minutes!!! Seems to work for me…

Here

I use this one https://lovefoodnotcooking.com/air-fryer-calculator/

I agree with this. I’ve cooked loads; currently doing jacket potatoes to have with salad.
I’ve made cottage pie, lasagna as well as the obvious fish fingers, sausages, burgers, chips etc.

This is what I do, it.was trial and error at first but this is what I settled on.

Yes anything that can be oven cooked goes in the air fryer - I half the time and add a minute. Works ok for me!

Yes, just put it in until it looks cooked. Instructions on packets are usually wrong anyway.

I've made cakes in mine!

An airfryer is an oven. Thats all you need to remember. A very small and very hot oven but an oven nonetheless

You just need to get used to your own airfryer and how hot it is and how long things take, its trial and error

@TropicofCapricorn - it's a Salter one. Only small.

I remained in search of a calculator which may convert my oven recipe into air fryer. I found that almost all of them were mainly focussed on just converting time and temp without seeing that type of oven and air fryer as well as different food types account for adjusting time and temp. Finally i found this calculator that met almost all of my reservations. Infact it is the best for this purpose. You should give a try to it and share your conversion experience.

I am wondering if there is any such resource which may convert my air fryer recipe into oven configurations.? And are they reliable enough ?

I have tried a few and there is a variation in the temp and timings you need - just as with a full size oven. Rule of thumb is that temp should be a bit lower and cooking should be a bit quicker, but for something like Quorn products, it might be trial and error - just keep checking and then make a note of actual temp and time. I find 20 mins at 180deg is a good starting point when not sure.

I find quorn nuggets and fake fish fingers and so on take about 15 mins if the airfryer is preheated or 17-18 mins if not.
So not quicker really, but it uses loads less energy, heats the room less and cooks things nice and crispy.

I’ve never bothered using a conversion calculator or anything I just give it a go 🤷🏻‍♀️. Not had any real disasters that I can think of over the years of having an air fryer

This is what I use. I printed it and stuck inside the cupboard door above the air fryer. It has served me well.