Air fry in oven: how range and wall oven air fry modes work

What does air fry mode in an oven do?

Air fry mode in an oven runs the convection fan hard with high heat so the air moving over the food strips away surface moisture fast. Frigidaire Canada explains the difference from ordinary convection plainly. Both use all of the oven's elements or burners and the convection fan. On Frigidaire's air fry ranges, though, the convection element is "more than twice as powerful as a standard convection element", and Air Fry "gets hot really fast".

The program is tuned for foods you'd otherwise deep fry, on a single rack so air reaches every side. Whirlpool adds that crisping improves with dark cookware or a perforated basket.

Are air fryers just small ovens?

A countertop air fryer is, in practice, a small convection oven: a heating element and a fan close above a basket, in a box a fraction of an oven's size. So yes. The oven's Air Fry setting is the big version of the same idea.

How to air fry in oven modes: tray, rack and preheat

Air frying in an oven goes right or wrong on the setup. Instructions differ by model, so the owner's manual wins where it disagrees with these steps.

1. Check whether yours preheats. The Whirlpool and Maytag ranges we carry list No Preheat Air Fry, so food goes into a cold oven. Others heat first and sound a tone, so the manual decides.
2. Use a perforated tray or basket. Air has to get under the food. Whirlpool says its basket isn't required but is recommended, and a dark, low-sided pan is the fallback Frigidaire suggests.
3. Pick the right rack. Whirlpool's guidance is rack position 3 in an oven with five positions, and rack position 4 in one with seven.
4. Slide a sheet pan underneath. Frigidaire puts it a rack or two below the tray to catch drips. Whirlpool allows the same rack or the one below.
5. Spread food in one layer. Crowding slows the crisping and lets more grease drip. Frigidaire suggests cooking oils that stand up to high heat, like avocado, grapeseed or peanut oil.
6. Turn food once, quickly. BC Hydro notes that an open oven door loses heat and the oven works harder to recover, so a fast flip halfway beats a long look.

Foods that suit oven air frying, and safe temperatures

Oven air frying suits food with a dry or breaded outside that you'd normally fry: frozen fries, nuggets, breaded fish, chicken wings and cut vegetables. Frigidaire warns that fresh wings and some vegetables drip more than you'd expect. I'd leave out food in a wet batter, which tends to drip through the tray before it sets.

A crisp outside says nothing about the middle. Health Canada's safe internal temperatures are the check, read with a food thermometer in the thickest part.

Fries, acrylamide and colour

Acrylamide is a chemical that forms when starchy food like potatoes is fried, roasted or baked at high heat. Health Canada says frying potatoes makes the most of it and roasting makes less. It says there's no conclusive evidence that the low levels in our diet cause cancer in people, but that exposure should be minimized.

Its home tips are simple. Store raw potatoes somewhere dry and dark at or above 6°C, never in the fridge, and soak cut potatoes in water for several minutes before frying. For deep frying it gives a ceiling of 175°C (350°F) and a light golden colour. It doesn't give an air fry figure, so the colour advice is the part I'd carry over. Questions about diet and health are ones for your doctor or a dietitian.

Air fryer vs convection oven: which setting for which job

Air fryer vs convection oven comes down to strong, fast airflow against room and gentleness. Frigidaire describes convection as more gradual, meant for baking and roasting on several racks at once. BC Hydro's tip to layer dishes on different racks in one heating suits it. Air Fry is the hotter, faster mode on one rack, for food you want crunchy.

Using a convection oven means watching the clock. Frigidaire notes that convection baking usually cooks faster, so food should be checked before the recipe's normal time. Some of its ovens convert a standard recipe on their own, and the manual gives your model's figure.

Can you air fry in a convection oven without an air fry button?

You can get close. High convection heat with food on a dark perforated tray crisps fries and wings reasonably well. It won't quite match a true air fry mode. On Frigidaire's ranges, at least, that mode runs the stronger element described above.

Why some kitchens let the countertop air fryer go

I couldn't find a Canadian count of people giving up their countertop air fryers, so I won't guess at one. Letting it go frees counter space once the range has the mode. Keeping it saves energy: BC Hydro says cooking with a small appliance uses up to 75% less energy than cooking the same meal in the oven or on the stovetop. For fries for two, the small box makes sense. For a family tray of wings, the oven holds far more.

Smoke, the range hood and cleaning the air fry tray

Smoke from an oven air fry mode usually comes from grease and old crumbs. Frigidaire says drips already on the oven bottom can smoke once the superheated air gets going. Parchment on the drip pan, a clean oven floor and room between pieces all cut it down, and Frigidaire says to run the vent as you would for the cooktop.

Health Canada says frying gives off more particles than other cooking methods, on gas or electric. Cooking on the back burner with the range hood on high can reduce particles and gases by more than 80% compared with slower speeds. It adds that the hood should extend over the burners and that nothing should block the outside vent. Our range hood collection lists the hoods Merit carries.

Cleaning the air fry tray is easier than it looks. Whirlpool says its basket can go in the dishwasher or be washed with mild soap and water. Frigidaire adds that pans, foil and parchment never go right on the oven bottom. If the oven needs a full self-clean, BC Hydro suggests running it right after cooking, while the oven is already hot.