300°F Oven to Air Fryer: Use 275°F
Drop the temperature by 25°F 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 300°F, set a typical basket air fryer to 275°F (135°C / 275°F) and plan on about 80% of the oven time. At this oven setting people usually cook cheesecakes, custards, some cakes. The 20% rule is a starting point; Water baths barely work in a basket. Use a ramekin and expect a slightly drier edge.
How to convert 300°F to an air fryer
- 1Read the oven recipe: it calls for 300°F (149°C / 300°F).
- 2Preheat the air fryer to 275°F (135°C / 275°F), not 300°F.
- 3Multiply the oven minutes by 0.8. Example: a small cheesecake that bakes 45 minutes at 300°F becomes about 36 minutes at 275°F, foil tented over the top.
- 4Cook in a single layer and check early. Water baths barely work in a basket. Use a ramekin and expect a slightly drier edge.
Conversion chart
| Oven time at 300°F | Air fryer time at 275°F |
|---|---|
| 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 300°F is usually used for
In a conventional oven, 300°F is the setting for cheesecakes, custards, some cakes. Converting that heat without thinking about the food is why people burn cookies or undercook a joint.
Worked example: a small cheesecake that bakes 45 minutes at 300°F. In the air fryer that is about 36 minutes at 275°F, foil tented over the top.
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 300°F in an air fryer would over-brown the outside before the middle caught up. Setting it to 275°F instead gives you the same finish in less time.
What to watch at 275°F
Water baths barely work in a basket. Use a ramekin and expect a slightly drier edge.
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 2 in an air fryer
300°F is roughly gas mark 2. If your recipe is written in gas marks, convert to 149°C / 300°F first, then apply the same drop to get 135°C / 275°F in the air fryer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 300°F in an air fryer?
275°F, which is 135°C / 275°F. Reduce the cooking time by about 20% as well, then check early.
What foods are usually cooked at 300°F?
cheesecakes, custards, some cakes. Example conversion: a small cheesecake that bakes 45 minutes at 300°F becomes about 36 minutes at 275°F, foil tented over the top in the air fryer.
Why not just use 300°F 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.