Air Fryer Cooking Time Calculator
Choose what you are cooking for the air fryer temperature, time and when to shake the basket.
Times are for a preheated basket in a single layer. Two layers deep needs longer and a shake.
Answer
12–18 minutes at 200°C
The details
Single layer. A packed basket steams instead of crisping.
- Air fryers vary a lot between models. Check a few minutes early the first time you cook something, then you will know your own machine.
- A crowded basket steams rather than crisps. Cook in two batches instead of piling it in.
- Air fryer times are roughly 20% shorter than a fan oven at the same temperature.
Next step
Source: Food Standards Agency, Cooking your food: cooking temperatures and times (GOV.UK) · Reviewed 2026-09-11 · Guidance version 2.0.0
Reference and detail
One layer, always
An air fryer works by blasting hot air around the food. Pile the basket high and the air cannot circulate, so the food steams in its own moisture and comes out pale and soft. Cook in two batches and the first will still be hot when the second is done.
Preheat it
Three to five minutes of preheating makes a real difference to anything you want crisp, because the surface starts drying the moment it goes in. Skip it for something you are simply reheating.
Every model is different
Basket size, fan strength and wattage vary widely between machines, so treat the first time you cook something as calibration: check a few minutes early and note what worked. After two or three goes you will know your own air fryer better than any chart.
Still cook meat through
Crisp on the outside does not mean cooked in the middle, and that catches people out with chicken thighs and thick sausages. Chicken, pork, sausages and burgers all need to be cooked all the way through, with no pink meat and juices running clear, the middle reaching 70°C for two minutes, or an equivalent combination such as 75°C for 30 seconds.
Questions and answers
Questions about converting recipes for an air fryer
Do I need to lower the oven temperature when converting to an air fryer?
Yes, generally, an air fryer's fast-moving hot air cooks faster than a conventional oven at the same temperature, so recipes typically need a lower temperature and a shorter time. Enter your oven recipe above for the converted figures.
Should I preheat the air fryer?
Most air fryers heat up in a couple of minutes, so a short preheat is worth doing for anything that needs a crisp result from the start, such as chips or breaded food. It matters less for longer, slower cooks.
Why does overcrowding the basket matter so much in an air fryer?
An air fryer works by circulating hot air around the food. Piling food up or overlapping it blocks that airflow, so it steams instead of crisping and cooks unevenly. Cook in a single layer, in batches if needed.
Does converted air fryer time still need checking before serving?
Yes. Converted times are a guide only, air fryer models vary a lot in power, so always check the food is cooked through before serving rather than relying on the clock alone.
Can I cook frozen food directly in an air fryer without defrosting it?
Many frozen foods designed for oven cooking, such as chips or breaded items, can go into an air fryer from frozen. Check the packet. For raw meat and poultry, defrost fully in the fridge first so it cooks through reliably.
Safety guidance reviewed against Food Standards Agency sources on 11 September 2026. How we calculate cooking times and safety guidance.