What Setting Should Air Fryer Be On for Baking? Optimal Temperatures and Tips for Best Results
When you bake in an air fryer, set the temperature about 25 degrees Fahrenheit lower than you would in a regular oven. This small tweak keeps your baked goods from overcooking and helps them come out with a nice, even texture.
You’ll also want to cut the baking time by 10-20%, since air fryers cook things faster because of that strong air circulation. Honestly, it’s smart to keep a close eye on your food the first few times—air fryers can surprise you.
Best Air Fryer Settings for Baking
To bake well in an air fryer, focus on temperature, time, and bake mode. Tweaking these settings makes a big difference in how your baked goods turn out.
Starting with lower temps and shorter times than you’d use in a regular oven really helps.
Recommended Temperature Ranges
Set your air fryer about 25 degrees Fahrenheit lower than a traditional oven for baking. Most recipes work somewhere between 300°F and 350°F.
If you’re making cookies or muffins, 320°F is usually a sweet spot. For denser cakes or bread, try 300°F to keep the outside from burning before the middle finishes.
Skip the super high heat—air fryers move air fast and can dry things out or brown them too much if you crank the temp up.
Suggested Time Settings
Air fryers usually bake about 20% faster than a regular oven. So if you’d normally bake cookies for 15 minutes, try 12 minutes instead.
It’s always a good idea to check your food early, especially if you’re new to air fryer baking. If it looks done before you expect, shave off a couple minutes next time.
Some air fryers let you pause and peek at your food without losing heat, which is honestly pretty handy.
Choosing the Right Bake Mode
If your air fryer has Bake, Air Fry, or Roast modes, use the Bake mode for most baked treats. Bake mode gives you steady, gentler heat—great for cakes, muffins, and breads.
Air Fry mode is more intense and works better for crispy foods. Roast mode is really for meats, not baked goods.
No Bake mode? No worries. Use Air Fry but drop the temp and time so you don’t scorch your food. If you want to read more about this, check out this air fryer bake feature discussion.
Tips for Successful Baking in an Air Fryer
Adjust temperatures and times carefully when you bake in an air fryer. The right bakeware and a little attention go a long way to getting that perfect texture.
Adjusting Recipes for Air Fryer Baking
Drop the temperature by about 25°F compared to what the recipe says for ovens. Air fryers cook faster, so you’ll want to reduce the cooking time by 20 to 25 percent.
If a recipe calls for 30 minutes at 350°F, try 22 to 24 minutes at 325°F in your air fryer. The strong air flow means things bake more evenly, but they can finish quicker than you expect.
Check your food early and be ready to tweak the timing. You might need to experiment a bit to get it just right for each recipe.
Selecting Suitable Bakeware
Use bakeware that actually fits in your air fryer basket and lets air flow around your food. Metal pans, silicone molds, and small glass dishes usually work great.
Skip deep or really heavy pans—they block the hot air and your food won’t bake evenly. If you can, pick bakeware labeled “air fryer safe.”
Round or square pans that leave a little space around the edges help your food cook evenly. You can use aluminum foil, but don’t cover the whole basket or you’ll block the airflow.
Monitoring Doneness and Texture
Keep a close eye on baked goods as they cook. Use a toothpick or skewer to check if cakes or muffins are done.
The surface should look lightly golden and feel firm, but not rock hard. If you notice dryness or burning, try lowering the temperature next time.
You can also shorten the baking time a bit. Adjust the height of your basket, and remember to shake or rotate items for more even cooking.
Pay attention to crispness and moisture. Nobody wants a soggy muffin or a rock-solid cookie, right?
For more tips on baking with an air fryer, swing by how to bake in an air fryer.
