Do you need an oven with a built-in air fryer?

In the past few years, air fryers have changed how many Americans think about cooking food.

Countertop air fryers now line the appliance aisles of many stores, but there are other ways to take advantage of this type of cooking. Manufacturers are adding air fry modes to other appliances—toaster ovens, microwaves, and even ranges. Frigidaire, Bosch, and LG are just a few of the appliance brands that make ovens with built-in air fry settings.

For those who are intrigued by the health benefits of air fryers but don’t want to devote valuable counter space to another big gadget, ovens with built-in air fryers offer a convenient compromise. But what does it mean for an oven to also be an air fryer? And do these air fryer functions actually work?

How does air frying work?

All countertop air fryers, including air fry toaster ovens—use the same basic technology: electric heating elements, convection fans, and frying trays or baskets.

The convection fans circulate hot air quickly and evenly to make your favorite foods crispy without deep frying. (If you’re interested in learning more, we have more detailed explanations of how air fryers work.)

Because of their air circulation technology, air fryers are essentially miniature convection ovens. The convection oven is certainly not a new phenomenon, although it has recently gained tremendous popularity across the country. Convection capabilities are becoming more the standard than the exception.

So how is the convection setting different from the air fry setting in an oven? Air speed.

Convection cooking always involves fans, which is why it takes less time and you typically need to convert recipes from standard baking mode to convection.

However, when you especially want a crisp result from the food you're cooking, increasing the speed of the air flow can accomplish the task. When we talk about the air fry function on select ranges, we’re really talking about a specialized convection setting designed to maximize heat circulation for crispy results.

How do air fryer ovens perform?

Performance for these ovens differs across the board. When we first began testing ranges with built-in air fry capability, we found the air fry modes of the gas-powered Frigidaire Gallery FGGH3047VF and the electric Frigidaire Gallery FGEH3047VF to have worked quite well.

We air fried copious amounts of frozen fries to learn how each oven's air fry settings perform. As with many air fry products, it takes a little trial and error to figure out the perfect formula. But the results are worth it. Here are some examples from our testing:

When we used the Frigidaire ReadyCook Air Fry Tray and the Air Fry mode in the Frigidaire Gallery FGGH3047VF, our results were much better than in standard bake mode. Not only did 43 ounces of frozen french fries fit onto a cooking tray, but after 30 minutes, most fries had been cooked evenly all the way through. And there was no oily residue that you might get with deep frying.

Unfortunately, the fries on the outer edge of the tray were burnt. But that’s actually a good indication that heat is flowing efficiently through your air fried foods—even if it's moving a little too efficiently at the tray's edges.

After running the same tests on the Frigidaire Gallery FGEH3047VF, an electric oven, we achieved slightly better results. The electric heat produced a more even crisp on the air fried fries, particularly when prepared with the air fry tray. We also removed the tray after just 25 minutes to prevent the outside fries from burning and found the inner fries still perfectly cooked.

The size of these ranges is important to consider. Countertop air fryers are small and can heat quickly. But full-size ranges require longer heat times and may take longer to crisp up foods than small air fryers. So if speed is top of mind, an oven with an air fryer setting might not be as appealing as a countertop version.

However, their larger size allows them to cook a lot at once. And the provided air fry trays reduce crowding and uneven cooking. Just as with a countertop model, the air fry mode works on everything from frozen tater tots to fresh chicken wings and Brussels sprouts.

If you're looking for a solid countertop oven that doubles as an air fryer, the Breville Joule Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro is roomy and powerful. Its fan allows for "super convection, " making for faster, more consistent air frying.

Tips for air frying in an oven

Many of the steps you’d take with “regular” air frying are the same with oven air frying. There are some differences, however. Here are some steps you can take to ensure that your favorite fried foods come out crispy.

1. Preheat your oven

Preheating is an essential step with any cooking method. Just like with countertop air fryers, when you’re using your oven to air fry, you should preheat it so that it comes to temperature.

2. Use air fry cookware if possible

Countertop air fryers come with trays or baskets designed to be used in the appliances. That’s not always the case with ovens with built-in air fryers. You can purchase air frying racks, but you can also use trays you already have at home.

If you decide to not buy racks designed for air frying, Frigidaire suggests using a dark nonstick baking sheet with low sides for the best results. Frigidaire goes on to say that the tray should be used on the middle rack of the oven.

We recommend the Farberware non-stick cookie sheet, which is wide enough to accommodate a pile of fries, mozzarella sticks, or other air-fried favorites. It's one of our favorite baking sheets because of its reliable non-stick coating, which makes cleaning it a breeze.

3. Don’t crowd your tray

Just like conventional air frying, overloading your oven air fryer will not produce the best results. Adding too much food to the tray may make your meal soggy or unevenly cooked. The advantage that ovens have over countertop air fryers is size. You’ll be able to cook more food at once in your oven.

4. Follow cooking instructions

When you’re cooking frozen foods, follow the instructions on the package. Cooking fresh food doesn’t have to be a guessing game, though. We have an air frying guide that includes cook time and recipes.

There are also cooking guides galore online for stoves with air fryers. Regardless of what you’re cooking, don’t forget to flip or stir your food halfway through. That will help with even cooking.

Are ovens with air fryers worth it?

If you’re in the market for a new range and air fried foods appeal to you, these ranges are definitely worth considering. We were impressed by the air frying performance of the electric Frigidaire Gallery FGEH3047VF and the results of the gas LG LRGL5825F, which boasts smart features and an effective air fryer mode.

If you'd rather opt for induction, our top picks for the best induction ranges—the Café CHS900P2MS1 and Frigidaire FGIH3047VF—both feature air fry modes and deliver crispy results.

If speed is your ultimate concern, we still recommend a countertop air fryer or air fryer toaster oven. If you’re looking to simplify your kitchen and get crispy foods, then a single appliance that can do both may be the way to go.

More on air fryers and toaster ovens

• The Best Air Fryer Toaster Ovens We've Tested
• The Best Air Fryers We've Tested
• I hated my air fryer—until I learned this one trick
• Air Fryers: The Ultimate Guide
• Does the Ninja Foodi Air Fry Oven live up to the hype?
• Here's how to start using your new air fryer
• The Best Toaster Ovens We've Tested
• Our Place Wonder Oven Review
• Cuisinart air fryer and convection toaster oven review
• Breville Smart Oven Pro review