Can We Bake in an Air-Fryer? A Practical Guide to Air-Fryer Baking Techniques

You can totally bake in an air fryer, and honestly, it works surprisingly well for a lot of small-batch recipes. Think cakes, cookies, bread, and rolls—the air fryer’s hot air cooks food fast and pretty evenly.

The trick is to tweak the temperature and cooking time compared to a regular oven. Usually, you’ll want to lower the heat by about 25°F and cut the time by 20-25%.

If you’re craving something baked but don’t feel like heating up your whole kitchen, the air fryer’s a lifesaver. It’s especially handy for smaller portions, and with a little practice, you can get some pretty tasty results.

With just a few adjustments, you’ll find your air fryer can do more than just fries or reheating leftovers. Banana bread, rolls, even a quick cake—it’s all possible, and you don’t have to fuss much.

When the weather’s hot or your oven’s already in use, the air fryer steps up. Curious how others do it? There’s a good Reddit discussion with tips from home bakers.

Baking in an Air-Fryer: What You Need to Know

Baking in an air fryer feels a bit different than using a regular oven. You’ll need to play with cooking times, temperatures, and sometimes even the amount of batter or dough you use.

The right pans and recipes make all the difference.

Suitable Baking Recipes for Air-Fryers

Air fryers do best with small and simple recipes. Muffins, cookies, mini cakes, rolls, and bread all work well.

Since air fryers heat up quickly and don’t have much space, choose recipes that fit inside and finish fast.

Don’t go for giant cakes or complicated bakes that need a lot of even heat. Stick to things you can keep an eye on or that bake quickly.

Start with small batches. That way, the heat can reach everything, and you won’t end up with soggy or uneven results.

Differences Between Air-Fryer and Conventional Oven Baking

Air fryers move hot air around with a powerful fan, so food cooks faster.

You should drop the baking temperature by about 25°F compared to your usual oven setting.

Air fryers love small portions, so you’ll often need to split recipes into a couple of rounds.

Sometimes, food browns quicker in an air fryer. It’s worth checking your bake more often so nothing burns.

You might notice the house doesn’t fill with that classic baking smell as much—the air fryer’s smaller and keeps most of the heat (and aroma) inside.

Essential Equipment and Accessories

Pick oven-safe dishes that fit inside your air fryer with a bit of space for air to move. Small cake pans, silicone molds, and metal loaf pans usually fit the bill.

Skip glass or ceramic if they’re too big or block airflow.

Parchment paper or silicone liners made for air fryers keep things tidy and make cleanup easier.

A wire rack can help with airflow if you use it right.

Double-check your air fryer’s size before buying new pans or accessories. It’s no fun when your pan doesn’t fit.

Want more on which pans to use? Check out this air fryer baking guide.

Tips and Best Practices for Air-Fryer Baking

Baking in an air fryer means you’ve got to watch your temperature and time closely. Don’t overcrowd the basket or skip steps that protect delicate stuff.

A few guidelines make things way easier.

Temperature and Time Adjustments

Air fryers work fast because of that strong hot air. You should lower the baking temperature by about 20% compared to an oven.

For example, if your recipe says 350°F, try baking at 280°F to 300°F in the air fryer.

Start checking your food earlier than you’d expect. Most baked goods need 20-30% less time than in an oven.

Peek at your items 5 to 7 minutes before the original bake time’s up so you don’t overdo it.

Use a silicone liner or a light bit of grease to keep things from sticking, but don’t go overboard with oil.

Since the basket’s smaller, bake in small batches for even results. If you cram too much in, things can get soggy or cook unevenly.

Common Baking Mistakes to Avoid

Don’t cram too much into your air fryer basket. If you pack in too many items, air can’t move around, and you’ll probably end up with unevenly cooked, soggy results.

Give each item a little space so the air can do its thing.

If you’re baking a moist cake, don’t skip the foil or a lid. Covering the top keeps it from burning while the inside finishes baking.

Silicone molds work nicely—they hold shape and make removal less of a hassle.

When you adjust the temperature, remember to tweak the time too. If you only lower the temperature but leave the time alone, things might come out undercooked.

Watch your bake closely. Sometimes it’s just about peeking in to make sure everything’s cooking through.

Want more specifics on cake protection, heating, and other handy tricks? Check out 5 Tips For Baking Cake in Air Fryer: Temperature & More.