Should You Use an Air Fryer Instead of an Oven? Here’s What Experts Say

is one reason air fryers can cook many foods faster than a conventional oven.

A traditional oven also uses hot air, but it generally has a much larger cooking space and may take longer to preheat.

Does an Air Fryer Use Less Oil?

Often, yes.

One of the biggest advantages of an air fryer is that you can achieve a crisp texture without immersing food in oil.

For foods that would normally be deep-fried—such as potatoes, chicken pieces, or breaded vegetables—using an air fryer can substantially reduce the amount of added oil.

That can reduce the calorie content of the meal compared with deep-frying.

However, there’s an important distinction:

Air-fried food isn’t automatically healthy simply because it contains less oil.

An air-fried frozen snack, for example, can still be high in sodium, refined carbohydrates, saturated fat, or calories.

The ingredients matter just as much as the cooking method.

Air Fryer