Air fryer cooking times and temperatures

Most foods cook at 350–400 °F. Chicken and meat usually go in at 375–400 °F, while french fries, potatoes and vegetables that should turn crisp are cooked at 400 °F. Cakes and other baked goods bake at about 325 °F so they cook through before the surface gets too dark.

It is recommended for meat, fish and anything that should be crisp. Three to five minutes of preheating gives more even cooking and a better crust. For reheating and convenience foods it matters less.

Plan on 30–60 percent more time than for the fresh version, and shake or flip the basket a few times along the way. Meat and poultry must always reach the safe internal temperature, whether or not they started out frozen.

As a rule of thumb, lower the temperature by 25 °F and shorten the time by 20–25 percent compared with a convection oven. Always check a few minutes early, because air fryers differ in wattage.

Basket size, wattage and how full the basket is all change the cooking time. A crowded basket restricts airflow and takes longer. The times here are a guide and apply to a single layer in a standard basket-style air fryer.