Getting the temperature right is the difference between crisp and soggy, or golden and burnt. This guide gives you the right air fryer temperature for every type of food, a °C/°F conversion table, and a simple rule for converting any oven recipe to the air fryer.
Air fryer temperature ranges at a glance
| Range | Use it for | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Low: 120–150 °C (250–300 °F) | Drying, gentle warming, reheating frozen bakes | Dehydrating fruit, toasting sesame, reheating whole or frozen quiche |
| Medium: 160–180 °C (320–350 °F) | Baking, coated snacks, reheating, nuts | Cakes, cookies, samosas, cutlets, roasted peanuts, reheating pizza |
| High: 190–200 °C (375–400 °F) | Crisping, browning and charring | Fries, wedges, paneer tikka, aloo gobi, chicken wings |
| Maximum: 205–230 °C (400–450 °F) | Short blasts for extra colour (only on models that go this high) | Final 1–2 minutes on fries or tikka |
Many Indian models top out at 200 °C, which is enough for almost everything. If a recipe says 220 °C and yours stops at 200 °C, add 2–3 minutes.
Recommended temperature by food
| Food | Temperature | Recipe |
|---|---|---|
| French fries (fresh) | 200 °C / 400 °F | French fries |
| Potato wedges | 200 °C / 400 °F | Potato wedges |
| Paneer tikka | 200 °C / 400 °F | Paneer tikka |
| Aloo gobi and roasted vegetables | 200 °C / 400 °F | Aloo gobi |
| Paneer pakoda, onion bhaji | 190 °C / 375 °F | Paneer pakoda |
| Samosa, veg cutlet, bread pizza | 180 °C / 350 °F | Samosa · Cutlet |
| Roasted peanuts, banana chips | 180 °C / 350 °F | Peanuts · Banana chips |
| Frozen snacks (nuggets, cheese bites) | 180–200 °C / 350–400 °F | Cheese nuggets |
| Chicken pieces | 180–200 °C / 350–400 °F | Chicken temperature |
| Cakes, muffins, brownies | 150–160 °C / 300–320 °F | Cake |
| Cookies, nankhatai | 160 °C / 320 °F | Cookies |
| Reheating fried or baked leftovers | 160–170 °C / 320–340 °F | Reheat quiche · pizza |
For timings to go with these temperatures, see our air fryer cooking time chart.
How to convert an oven recipe to the air fryer
An air fryer is a compact, high-powered convection oven, so food cooks faster. A widely used rule of thumb:
- Lower the temperature by about 15–20 °C (25 °F).
- Cut the cooking time by about 20%, and start checking at the halfway point.
| Oven recipe says | Air fryer |
|---|---|
| 220 °C for 25 min | 200 °C for about 20 min |
| 200 °C for 30 min | 180–185 °C for about 24 min |
| 180 °C for 40 min (cake) | 160 °C for about 30–32 min |
Treat this as a starting point, since every model runs slightly differently. Check early the first time.
Celsius to Fahrenheit conversion
| °C | °F | °C | °F |
|---|---|---|---|
| 120 °C | 250 °F | 180 °C | 350 °F |
| 140 °C | 285 °F | 190 °C | 375 °F |
| 150 °C | 300 °F | 200 °C | 400 °F |
| 160 °C | 320 °F | 210 °C | 410 °F |
| 170 °C | 340 °F | 230 °C | 450 °F |
Safe internal temperatures
Browning on the outside doesn’t tell you the inside is cooked. For meat, fish and leftovers, check with a food thermometer against the USDA minimums: 74 °C (165 °F) for chicken and reheated leftovers, 71 °C (160 °F) for minced meat, and 63 °C (145 °F) for fish and whole cuts like steaks and chops (with a 3-minute rest).
Temperature tips
- Too dark outside, raw inside? The temperature is too high. Drop 10–20 °C and add time.
- Pale and soft? Too low, too crowded, or not enough oil on the surface.
- Baking: stay at 150–160 °C. The heating element is very close to the food, so tops brown fast. Cover loosely with foil if needed.
- Preheat for 3–5 minutes for crisp foods. See how to preheat an air fryer.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best temperature for an air fryer?
There’s no single best setting. 180 °C (350 °F) is the most versatile for snacks and reheating, 200 °C (400 °F) for fries and anything you want crisp and charred, and 150–160 °C (300–320 °F) for baking.
Can I use oven temperatures in an air fryer?
Lower them by about 15–20 °C (25 °F) and reduce the time by around 20%, because the air fryer’s fan cooks food faster.
What temperature should I reheat food at in the air fryer?
160–170 °C (320–340 °F) for most fried and baked leftovers, so the centre heats through before the outside over-browns.
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