170°C Oven to Air Fryer: Use 150°C
Drop the temperature by 20°C and cut the time by 20% as a starting point.
Published by the RecipeAirFryer editorial team · How we source times · Updated
Times and temperatures come from our reviewed cooking database. Explanatory text on each page is generated from that entry so the numbers stay consistent.
If a recipe says 170°C, set a typical basket air fryer to 150°C (150°C / 302°F) and plan on about 80% of the oven time. At this oven setting people usually cook muffins, banana bread, stuffed vegetables. The 20% rule is a starting point; Use a liner. Loose batter will drip through the basket.
How to convert 170°C to an air fryer
- 1Read the oven recipe: it calls for 170°C (170°C / 338°F).
- 2Preheat the air fryer to 150°C (150°C / 302°F), not 170°C.
- 3Multiply the oven minutes by 0.8. Example: muffins that take 20 minutes in the oven becomes about 16 minutes at 150°C in silicone cups.
- 4Cook in a single layer and check early. Use a liner. Loose batter will drip through the basket.
Conversion chart
| Oven time at 170°C | Air fryer time at 150°C |
|---|---|
| 10 min | 8 min |
| 15 min | 12 min |
| 20 min | 16 min |
| 25 min | 20 min |
| 30 min | 24 min |
| 40 min | 32 min |
| 45 min | 36 min |
| 60 min | 48 min |
What 170°C is usually used for
In a conventional oven, 170°C is the setting for muffins, banana bread, stuffed vegetables. Converting that heat without thinking about the food is why people burn cookies or undercook a joint.
Worked example: muffins that take 20 minutes in the oven. In the air fryer that is about 16 minutes at 150°C in silicone cups.
Why the temperature drops
An oven heats mostly by radiation from its elements and by slow convection. An air fryer is a small chamber with a fan driving air across the food at speed, so heat transfers into the surface much faster at the same dial setting.
That is why 170°C in an air fryer would over-brown the outside before the middle caught up. Setting it to 150°C instead gives you the same finish in less time.
What to watch at 150°C
Use a liner. Loose batter will drip through the basket.
Dense items such as a whole chicken may need close to the original oven time because heat still has to travel to the centre. Go by internal temperature, not only the converted clock.
Gas mark 3 in an air fryer
170°C is roughly gas mark 3. If your recipe is written in gas marks, convert to 170°C / 338°F first, then apply the same drop to get 150°C / 302°F in the air fryer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 170°C in an air fryer?
150°C, which is 150°C / 302°F. Reduce the cooking time by about 20% as well, then check early.
What foods are usually cooked at 170°C?
muffins, banana bread, stuffed vegetables. Example conversion: muffins that take 20 minutes in the oven becomes about 16 minutes at 150°C in silicone cups in the air fryer.
Why not just use 170°C in the air fryer?
You can, but the outside will brown or burn before the inside is cooked. The fan transfers heat into the food far faster than an oven does, so the lower setting gives a more even result.
Do I need to preheat the air fryer?
A 2-3 minute preheat helps for anything breaded, frozen or that you want crisp. For longer cooks it makes little difference.