425°F oven to air fryer
Air fryer equivalent
400°F
(205°C)
−20% cooking timeTo cook a recipe written for a 425°F (220°C) conventional oven in an air fryer, set the air fryer to about 400°F (205°C) and reduce the cooking time by roughly 20%. So a dish that takes 20 minutes in the oven needs around 16 minutes in the air fryer - check a couple of minutes early the first time.
Why the temperature drops
An air fryer circulates hot air directly around the food, so it transfers heat more efficiently than a static oven. Lowering the temperature by about 25°F (15°C) prevents the outside from browning before the inside is cooked. Got a fan or convection oven? It already moves air, so you only need a small reduction - see the fan oven conversion guide.
What to cook at 400°F
These foods from our tested chart cook right around 400°F in the air fryer - a handy starting point once you've dialled in the temperature:
- Air Fryer Chicken Wings 400°F · 20 min
- Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Nuggets 400°F · 10 min
- Air Fryer Frozen French Fries 400°F · 18 min
- Air Fryer Frozen Tater Tots 400°F · 12 min
- Air Fryer Baked Potato 400°F · 40 min
- Air Fryer Steak 400°F · 12 min
- Air Fryer Shrimp 400°F · 6 min
- Air Fryer Frozen Fish Sticks 400°F · 8 min
425°F oven to air fryer: FAQ
What is 425°F in an air fryer?
A 425°F (220°C) conventional oven converts to about 400°F (205°C) in an air fryer - roughly 25°F (15°C) lower, because the air fryer circulates heat more efficiently.
Do you reduce the cooking time as well?
Yes. Along with the lower temperature, cut the time by about 20%. A dish that takes 20 minutes in a 425°F oven needs roughly 16 minutes in the air fryer - check a few minutes early the first time.
Do fan or convection ovens convert the same way?
No - a fan or convection oven already moves air, so it's closer to an air fryer to begin with. From a fan oven, drop only about 10°F (5°C) and trim the time a little rather than the full 20%.