Welcome to BEHACO’s appliance battle of Air Fryer VS Oven where we embark on a journey of finding the better appliance! Both appliances happen to be the powerhouse of revolutionized cooking with different unique capabilities. Things are about to HEAT UP – literally!
When it comes to healthy cooking, both tools are the number one choice for people worldwide. But, considering the characteristics, benefits, and limitations; which is better? Do you need to invest in an air fryer to cook healthier food? But does that also mean compromising on the crispy perfection or succulent dishes that an oven offers? Gone are the days of traditional frying or baking methods! Now we have endless healthier alternatives to cooking without giving up on taste or texture. Meanwhile, the oven remains a long-standing staple in the kitchen around the globe.
However, the matter that brings you here today is the air fryer that has taken the culinary world by storm. Is an air fryer better than an oven? We’re pitting the appliances against each other in a head-to-head cooking showdown. We’re going to analyze their features, cooking methods, and the best recipes for each.
This way you’ll be able to make an informed decision based on your cooking preferences and dietary goals. Whether you’re seeking a convenient and time-efficient option, or prefer the more traditional cooking experience. So, if you’re a health-conscious individual looking for a guilt-free alternative, or a cooking enthusiast… BEHACO has what you need!
Air Fryer VS Oven
First off, before we begin with the ultimate Air Fryer VS Oven showdown, we have to have one thing clear. Usually, both appliances use fans to blow around hot air to cook food. However, not all ovens come with the option of convection. Therefore, if you’re going to compare the two, you have to make sure your oven has a convection feature. If it doesn’t, this defeats the entire purpose of the comparison and the air fryer would be the clear winner!
A convection oven comes with a fan at the back. You can turn off the fan for traditional baking or turn it on to mimic the effects of air fryers. Once we’ve established that you do, in fact, have a convection oven; we can get to comparing the two! We’ve got five key elements that will help you choose the better appliance! Let’s start.
#1 Size
We’re going to kick off this comparison with the most obvious difference between an oven and air fryer: the size. So, obviously, air fryers are countertop appliances that can vary in size. If you have a convection oven, you’ll already have the benefits of an air fryer built in. However, due to the size of the oven, cooking using convection takes more time than with an air fryer.
On the other hand, because air fryers are smaller, they position food closer to the heating fans. This cooks your food quicker and more evenly. In our opinion, the air fryer wins this round!
#2 Fan Placement
This brings us to the second difference between an oven and air fryer: the fan placement. Since we’ve already established that size plays a big role in cooking time, we also have to consider fan placement. Air fryers typically have their fans at the top of the appliance, underneath the heating element. With convection ovens, you can find the fan at the back or on the side. This might require that you rotate the pan halfway through cooking. But, that is also true with air fryers.
But, then again, unlike convection ovens, air fryers have the fan RIGHT underneath the heating element. This brings us back to faster and more even cooking! So, once again, the air fryer wins!
#3 Heating
So, let’s talk about heating then! Where does the heat come from for the convection oven vs air fryer? An oven offers heat from both the top and bottom sides. Whereas air fryers usually come with one heating element – usually at the top. Therefore, if you turn on both the top and bottom sides of the oven, and the convection fan; it cooks faster! However, that does seem a lot more energy-consuming.
We’re all for reducing energy consumption which is why we’re going to consider this a tie for both!
#4 Speed
Another thing about fans in an air fryer you should consider is the speed. You see, since the main function of an air fryer is to cook with AIR, their fans are faster and more efficient. They come with extremely powerful fans that guarantee even cooking and crispy food every single time. On the other hand, convection fans are generally slower. They also need more time to aerate the entirety of the oven because of its size. We’re circling back to the whole concept of cooking faster. And, nowadays, who has the time to sit next to the oven waiting for food?
Do we even have to say it? The air fryer wins this round!
#5 Cleaning
Finally, the last part of the oven VS air fryer is definitely one that we all care about – cleaning. When you’re baking in an oven, the only thing you have to clean is usually the accessories you use. This could be the baking dish or oven-safe pots like the Alza pots. And, you also don’t have to clean your oven every time you use it. But, an air fryer requires cleaning after every single use for optimum results. However, most air fryers are dishwasher safe or you can handwash the basket or cooking unit.
But, if we’re going to be honest about this, we’re going to have to say that the oven wins. Although, we’re still willing to do a little cleaning to get a ready meal in less than 30 minutes!
So, in conclusion, is an oven better than an air fryer? Well, air fryers offer a healthier, fat-reduced option for cooking with less overall cooking time. You minimize calories, cooking time, and all-in-all effort with an air fryer. And, you don’t compromise on taste or texture. Food cooked in an air fryer is as crispy (if not crispier) as food baked in the oven. Plus, you don’t have to heat up your entire oven! Therefore, we definitely think an air fryer is a great investment in a better quality of life.
If you want to indulge in oil-free, delicious food, check out the 8-program, 5-liter Jata brand air fryer. You can contact us to get your own air fryer in no time!
