Toaster oven to Air Fryer Conversion
A standard toaster oven heats much like a small conventional oven, so use the standard rule: drop the temperature by 25°F and reduce the time by about 20%. (Air-fryer toaster ovens are the exception - those settings transfer almost directly.)
How a toaster oven compares to an air fryer
A toaster oven is, for the most part, a miniature conventional oven. It heats with elements above and below and, in most models, has no real fan - so although the chamber is small, the air inside is fairly still. That makes it behave quite differently from an air fryer, which depends on a strong fan to drive heat onto the food. So despite their similar size, the two are not interchangeable, and a plain toaster oven recipe needs the same adjustment you would make from a full-sized conventional oven.
Use the standard rule: drop the temperature by about 25°F (15°C) and cut the time by roughly 20%. The big exception is the growing number of combination "air fryer toaster ovens", which have a proper convection fan and an air-fry mode built in. If that describes yours, the settings transfer almost directly - little or no reduction needed - because it already is an air fryer in all but name. If you are unsure which you have, listen for a fan when it runs: a strong fan means treat it like convection, silence means use the full reduction.
What to watch
Air-fryer toaster ovens with a built-in fan transfer almost directly - only apply the full 25°F reduction if your toaster oven has no real fan and cooks with still air.
Toaster oven temperature conversions
| Toaster oven | Air fryer | Time on a 30-min recipe |
|---|---|---|
| 300°F | 300°F | ~24 min |
| 325°F | 300°F | ~24 min |
| 350°F | 325°F | ~24 min |
| 375°F | 350°F | ~24 min |
| 400°F | 375°F | ~24 min |
| 425°F | 400°F | ~24 min |
| 450°F | 425°F | ~24 min |
Toaster oven to air fryer: FAQ
Is a toaster oven the same as an air fryer?
Not usually. A standard toaster oven heats like a small conventional oven with little air movement, whereas an air fryer relies on a powerful fan. Combination air-fryer toaster ovens are the exception - those do have a fan and behave like a true air fryer.
Can I convert toaster oven settings to an air fryer directly?
Only if yours is an air-fryer toaster oven with a fan. For a plain toaster oven, reduce the temperature by about 25°F (15°C) and the time by roughly 20%, the same as you would from a conventional oven.
How do I know if my toaster oven has an air-fry function?
Check for an "air fry" or "convection" setting on the dial, and listen for a fan when it is running. A strong fan means you can treat it like a convection oven and barely reduce; no fan means use the full standard reduction.