Air Fryer vs Convection Oven: Pros and Cons
Deciding between an air fryer vs convection oven depends on a few critical details. Are you looking for a countertop appliance that is easy to maintain? Or, are you searching for a full-size oven that will take the place of your traditional conventional appliance?
There are a few essential things to make a note of when you’re deciding between the two, even though they are quite similar.
What Makes an Air Fryer and Convection Oven Similar?
The main thing that you’ll find to be the same with both of these appliances is their method of cooking. They both rely on the circulation of hot air to penetrate food items for an even cook.
With appliances from top tier brands, including Cuisinart, Black & Decker, Whirlpool, and Frigidaire, there are multiple convection ovens and air fryers to choose from.
What Are the Benefits of an Air Fryer?
The best way to decide whether you should invest in an air fryer or convection oven is to consider the advantages of both. Air fryers are preferred for a couple of important reasons, especially if you’re on a budget.
1. Budget-Friendly
Air fryers are specifically designed to sit on your countertop, which makes them convection ovens, but in a smaller and more convenient shape. They’re the perfect option for smaller kitchens or homeowners who aren’t interested in replacing their existing appliances.
Most air fryers are available for under $100, if not substantially less than that, which makes them a fantastic option for budget-conscious shoppers. With an air fryer, you can have an unobtrusive appliance that costs around the same as a blender.
2. Faster Cooking
Since air fryers are smaller than convection ovens, there is less space inside for the hot air to circulate. This process results in your food cooking faster than if you were using a regular convection oven.
Overall, air fryers are highly recommended for creating quick meals for one to two people, depending on the size you choose. This reason is plenty of college students and teenagers prefer to use air fryers over regular ovens.
You can easily throw a meal together in under 15 minutes, depending on the settings you use. Not to mention, the food will also have the perfect thorough cook compared to conventional ovens.
3. Deep-Fried Textures
One of the main selling points air fryers catapulted to popularity was their ability to mimic deep-fried foods without oil. They were advertised as a healthier alternative to a deep fryer without having to compromise the taste and texture of your favorite fried food. With the right breading and cook settings, you can achieve the perfect fried texture with an air fryer.
You won’t have to worry about relying on oil or unsafe cooking methods in your home. It also makes reheating leftovers from your favorite restaurant easier and tastier. Instead of using a microwave, you can rejuvenate the meal with your air fryer.
What Are the Benefits of a Convection Oven?
Although the two appliances cook similarly, there are a couple of significant differences to note between convection ovens and air fryers. You may prefer a convection oven if you cook large meals and like to have more control over your recipes.
1. Larger Cooking Space
The most notable concern people have with air fryers is that the frying basket is substantially smaller than expected. Most won’t allow you to fit more than a couple of chicken legs at one time. This issue can make it difficult to prepare an entire meal for a family with more than three people.
A convection oven, on the other hand, is far more preferable as it has plenty of cooking space for you to take advantage of. Just as much as a conventional oven, to be honest! It can hold multiple baking trays with different types of food on them, which makes a convection oven the perfect appliance for hosting.
2. Easy to Use
Many of the modern convection ovens come with settings similar to your favorite conventional oven. You won’t have to worry about messing around with multiple different settings to achieve the perfect cook. They typically feature a user-friendly interface and instructions for the more complicated functions.
3. Less Kitchen Clutter
As useful as air fryers are, they are also known to be quite large with a small area for cooking inside of the unit. You’ll be taking up a lot of precious counter space with an air fryer when a convection oven will replace your existing oven. This feature allows you to keep the counters in your kitchen clear to prevent an overwhelming amount of clutter.
If you prefer to keep your kitchen clean of messes, we highly recommend investing in a convection oven. Although it will be far more expensive, it helps you to create a cohesive style in your kitchen.
Air Fryer vs Convection Oven: Final Thoughts
When you choose between an air fryer vs convection oven, there are a lot of things to consider. You’ll want the most affordable unit that is also convenient to keep in your kitchen. Overall, air fryers are great for single users or couples, but if you entertain frequently, it’s best to opt for a convection oven.
