What To Use If You Don’t Have An Air Fryer? Your Alternatives

A convection oven, a toaster oven with a convection setting, and a regular oven can be used as an alternative to an air fryer. These appliances circulate hot air and dry the surface of the food, similar to an air fryer. Perforated pans or oven-safe cooling racks can be used to allow for even crisping. Read on for more details.

Key Takeaways:

• Convection ovens and toaster ovens with a convection setting (an “air fryer toaster oven combo”) can be used as alternatives to an air fryer.
• Use perforated pans or oven-safe cooling racks for even crisping.
• Spread the food in an even layer and prepare it in long sticks or small, bite-sized pieces for maximum browning.
• Spray the food lightly with cooking spray or toss it with oil for better browning and crisping.
• Check for doneness in air fryer recipes cooked in a conventional oven as they may take longer to cook.

Using A Toaster Oven With Convection Setting

Many toaster ovens now come with air fryer settings, making them a versatile alternative for air frying. In addition to air frying, you can use a toaster oven for various cooking tasks such as baking, broiling, and toasting. It’s a multi-functional appliance that can save you counter space and replace the need for multiple gadgets.With their heating elements at the top and bottom and powerful fans, toaster ovens with convection settings can achieve similar results to an air fryer. Toaster ovens with convection settings offer more versatility and space compared to most air fryers.When using a toaster oven for air frying, follow the same tips for preparing air fryer recipes in a conventional oven. This includes using perforated pans or oven-safe cooling racks to allow for even crisping, spreading the food in an even layer for optimal air circulation, and cutting the food into long sticks or small pieces to maximize surface area for browning.Don’t forget to lightly spray the food with cooking spray or toss it with oil to enhance browning and crisping.

Toaster Oven vs. Air Fryer

	Toaster Oven With Convection Setting	Air Fryer
Size	Varies, often larger and offers more cooking space	Compact, typically with limited cooking capacity
Versatility	Able to perform various cooking tasks in addition to air frying	Dedicated appliance solely for air frying
Cooking Results	Similar to air fryer with crispy and evenly cooked food	Crispy and evenly cooked food
Cost	Varies, but generally pricier than an air fryer	Varies, with some models being less expensive
Counter Space	Takes up more counter space due to its larger size	Compact and takes up less counter space

Using A Convection Oven

Another way to enjoy crispy and delicious food is using a convection oven as a substitute. A convection oven has a built-in fan that circulates hot air, creating a similar cooking environment to an air fryer.

Preparing The Food

• To ensure even cooking and crispiness, spread the food in an even layer on a perforated pan or an oven-safe cooling rack. This allows hot air to circulate around the food, promoting even browning.
• Cutting the food into long sticks or small pieces maximizes the surface area, resulting in a crispy texture.
• Spray the food lightly with cooking spray or toss it with oil to enhance browning and crisping.

Setting The Temperature

• Adjust the temperature slightly lower than what is recommended for an air fryer.
• Convection ovens tend to cook food faster and more evenly, so a slightly lower temperature can prevent overcooking.
• However, every oven is different, so it’s essential to monitor your food and check for doneness. If you’re following an air fryer recipe, it might take a few minutes longer in a convection oven.

Flipping And Checking For Doneness

• Similar to air fryer cooking, flipping the food halfway through the cooking process ensures even browning on both sides.
• You can also spritz the other side of the food with cooking spray. Monitor the cooking process to ensure it reaches the desired level of crispiness.
• Don’t forget to adjust the cooking time as needed to achieve the perfect golden brown finish.

Maximizing Your Regular Oven

If you don’t have a convection oven or toaster oven with a convection setting, don’t worry! You can still achieve crispy and delicious results in your regular oven.By making a few adjustments and following some tips, you can use your oven as a substitute for an air fryer.

1. To start, ensure that your oven is fully preheated before cooking to achieve the desired results.
2. Increase the temperature of your oven by 25 degrees to compensate for the lack of a convection fan. This will help promote browning and crispiness.
3. Next, use a perforated pan or an oven-safe cooling rack to allow for even air circulation around the food. This will help prevent sogginess and promote crispy texture.
4. Spread the food in an even layer, making sure there is enough space between each piece for the hot air to circulate.
5. Cut the food into long sticks or small pieces to maximize surface area, which will result in more browning and crispiness.
6. Lightly spray the food with cooking spray or toss it with a small amount of oil to enhance the browning process.
7. Keep a close eye on the food while it’s cooking and adjust the cooking time as needed.

Sample Recipes For Air Frying In A Regular Oven

Don’t limit yourself to just air frying! Your oven is capable of so much more.Experiment with other cooking techniques, such as roasting and broiling, to create a variety of crispy and flavorful dishes.With a little creativity and some adjustments, you can enjoy crispy and healthy cooking without an air fryer.

Recipe	Ingredients	Cooking Time
Roasted Sweet Potato Fries	Sweet potatoes, olive oil, salt, paprika, garlic powder	25 minutes
Crispy Chicken Wings	Chicken wings, baking powder, salt, pepper, garlic powder	45 minutes
Vegetable Spring Rolls	Spring roll wrappers, cabbage, carrots, mushrooms, soy sauce	20 minutes
Homemade Onion Rings	Onions, flour, breadcrumbs, paprika, salt, pepper	18 minutes

Your Other Kitchen Appliances As Air Fryer Alternative

If you don’t have any of those 3 types of oven, there are still other kitchen gadgets that can help you achieve crispy and delicious results.

• Consider using a countertop electric griddle or an electric skillet as a an alternative for air frying foods. Simply spread the food in an even layer, cut it into small pieces, and use cooking spray or oil for that perfect crispiness.
• But why stop there? You can also experiment with other kitchen appliances to create crispy dishes without an air fryer. A waffle maker or panini press can be surprisingly effective in achieving that desirable golden brown texture.

Just like with the other alternatives, make sure to spread the food evenly and use oil or cooking spray for the best results.

Kitchen Gadgets For Air Fryer Recipes

With all these options available, you can make the most of your kitchen appliances and explore the endless possibilities of air frying. Whether it’s using a countertop electric griddle, electric skillet, waffle maker, or panini press, each alternative brings its own unique benefits to the table.

Appliance	Benefits	Key Features
Countertop Griddle	– Versatile stovetop alternative – Even cooking and browning	– Spacious cooking surface – Adjustable temperature control
Electric Skillet	– Efficient heat distribution – Easy to clean	– Non-stick surface – Temperature control
Waffle Maker	– Creates crispy texture – Quick cooking time	– Deep pockets for even browning – Non-stick plates
Panini Press	– Presses and sears food for crispiness – Versatile for various dishes	– Adjustable temperature settings – Non-stick plates

What Alternatives Can You Use if You Can’t Put Certain Foods in an Air Fryer?

When using an air fryer, it’s important to know the air fryer nottodo’s, particularly when it comes to certain foods. If you can’t put foods like wet batter, cheese, or leafy greens in the air fryer, consider alternative cooking methods such as baking, grilling, or sautéing them instead.

Source Links

• https://www.allrecipes.com/article/how-to-air-fry-without-air-fryer/
• https://www.myrecipes.com/convenience/how-to-air-fry-without-air-fryer
• https://www.consumerreports.org/appliances/cooking-baking/how-to-air-fry-without-an-air-fryer-a3761040766/