To convert an Australian oven recipe to an air fryer, reduce a fan-forced temperature by 10°C, or a conventional temperature by 15°C, and reduce the cooking time by 20%. A fan-forced recipe at 180°C for 30 minutes becomes 170°C for 24 minutes.
Celsius, fan ovens and gas marks — the way British and Australian recipes are written
Fan-Forced Oven to Air Fryer Chart
Australian recipes usually specify fan-forced, and most ovens sold in Australia have the mode.
| Fan-forced | Air fryer | Fan time | Air fryer time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 140°C | 130°C | 15 min | 12 min |
| 150°C | 140°C | 20 min | 16 min |
| 160°C | 150°C | 25 min | 20 min |
| 170°C | 160°C | 30 min | 24 min |
| 180°C | 170°C | 35 min | 28 min |
| 190°C | 180°C | 40 min | 32 min |
| 200°C | 190°C | 45 min | 36 min |
| 210°C | 200°C | 50 min | 40 min |
| 220°C | 210°C | 60 min | 48 min |
Conventional Oven to Air Fryer Chart
| Conventional | Air fryer |
|---|---|
| 150°C | 135°C |
| 160°C | 145°C |
| 180°C | 165°C |
| 190°C | 175°C |
| 200°C | 185°C |
| 210°C | 195°C |
| 220°C | 205°C |
An air fryer is a compact fan-forced oven running a faster fan. Because a fan-forced figure has already been reduced from the conventional equivalent, the further step down to an air fryer is only 10°C — while a conventional figure needs the full 15°C.
What does “moderate oven” mean in an Australian recipe?
Australian recipes use descriptive oven terms that map to fixed temperatures: very slow is 120°C, slow 150°C, moderate 180°C, moderately hot 190°C, hot 200–220°C, very hot 230°C+. These are conventional figures, so subtract 15°C for the air fryer. A moderate oven becomes 165°C.
| Description | Conventional | Air fryer |
|---|---|---|
| Very slow | 120°C | 105°C |
| Slow | 150°C | 135°C |
| Moderate | 180°C | 165°C |
| Moderately hot | 190°C | 175°C |
| Hot | 200–220°C | 185–205°C |
| Very hot | 230°C | 215°C |
Does the conversion differ from the UK?
No. Australian, New Zealand and British ovens use the same Celsius convention, and fan-forced is the same thing as a fan oven. The only differences are terminology — “fan-forced” rather than “fan assisted” — and the descriptive oven terms above, which British recipes rarely use.
Are Australian air fryers different?
The appliances are the same models, with capacity quoted in litres and a 230V supply. Wattage on Australian models tends to sit between 1,400W and 1,800W. If yours is under 1,400W, add 2–3 minutes per 20 minutes of converted time.
Related conversions and adjacent topics
Fan ovens and conventional ovens take different reductions, because a fan figure has already been adjusted once. The fan oven conversion covers that distinction, which is the most common source of undercooked results in UK kitchens.
The UK oven to air fryer converter works in Celsius throughout and defaults to fan oven, so no cross-system rounding is involved.
Frequently asked questions
What is 180°C fan-forced in an air fryer?
170°C, with the time reduced by 20%.
What is 200°C in an air fryer in Australia?
190°C if 200°C is your fan-forced setting; 185°C if it is conventional.
What is a moderate oven in an air fryer?
165°C. A moderate oven is 180°C conventional.
Do American air fryer recipes work here?
Yes, once converted from Fahrenheit — see the Celsius chart. American recipes give conventional Fahrenheit, so convert to °C first, then subtract 15°C.
Does the 20% time reduction change for larger air fryers?
No, but capacity does. The converted time assumes a single loose layer; a full basket needs two batches or 15–20% more time.