The basic function of both an air fryer and convection oven is to heat food items using hot air evenly. However, there are differences between the two kinds of appliances. In a convection oven, heat is generated by passing electricity through heating elements present at the top and bottom part of the appliance. The air present around the heating elements gets hot and rises up, which is then circulated by a fan located at the back of the convection oven. The hot air cooks the food faster as compared to an ordinary oven. Air fryer, on the other hand, is a smaller sized convection oven. It has a removable basket in which the food is kept. The heating element is present above the basket. An overhead fan circulates the hot air generated around the heating element. The fan is located close to the food owing to the small size of the air fryer. Thus, it is able to put in more heat into the food as compared to a convection oven, thereby making the cooking process faster.
Air fryers in India and convection ovens can be compared on various bases. Some are as follows.
Capacity
The cooking capacity of a convection oven is more as compared to an air fryer. Thus, large quantities of food can be cooked in a convection oven without the need to cut them into small pieces. Air fryer, on the other hand, does not accommodate much food at a time, and you need to cook in batches, especially when the meal is for many people.
Heat circulation
Although both convection ovens and air fryer circulate hot air using a fan, the process is much faster in an air fryer. Thus, an air fryer heats up food more swiftly as compared to a convection oven. The smaller size of the air fryer also enables more even distribution of heat.
Baking
When it comes to baking large quantities of cakes, biscuits, etc. a convection oven is always a better option than an air fryer. This is because air fryer cannot bake anything in significant quantities enough for many people.
Healthiness
Air fryers do not require oil for frying. But some amount of oil is required for baking anything in a convection oven. The temperature in an air fryer also reaches higher levels within a short period of time, which reduces the time duration of the cooking process. As a result, the nutrients present in the food are preserved. In the case of a convection oven, the cooking process is longer, which may result in loss of nutrients.
Maintenance
Air fryers have a non-stick surface, which makes them very easy to clean. The small size means that the time taken to clean an air fryer is less. Convection ovens, on the other hand, require a lot of effort to clean because multiple areas are very difficult to clean. Strong detergents are required to remove oil and grease stains, which are inevitable in a convection oven.
Energy efficiency
An air fryer is more energy efficient because it takes about 25% lesser time to cook food as compared to a convection oven.
Santosh Kumar, He is a SEO + Blogger have 12 years of experience in writing tutorial, informative and product reviews topics.
