Air Fryer Cooking Times Chart (UK, °C): Chips, Chicken, Veg and More

Air fryers are small convection ovens: a heating element and a powerful fan circulate hot air around the food. Because the cooking chamber is small and the air moves fast, food usually cooks quicker than in a conventional oven — often around 20% faster and at a slightly lower temperature.

The chart below gives starting points. Treat the lower number as the time to first check, not a guarantee, especially for meat.

How to use this chart

Times assume a basket that is no more than about half full, food in a single layer, and a preheated air fryer (3–5 minutes). Overfilling is the most common reason food comes out pale or soggy, because the air cannot circulate.

Small, high-wattage models cook faster than large dual-drawer models running both drawers. Start checking a few minutes early the first time you cook something and note what works for your machine.

Tip: For any meat, use a probe thermometer: chicken and pork should reach at least 75°C in the thickest part, or be steaming hot all the way through with juices running clear.

Potatoes and chips

Shake the basket halfway so everything browns evenly. A teaspoon of oil per portion is enough for fresh chips.

• Fresh chips (1 cm, soaked and dried): 20–25 min at 200°C
• Frozen oven chips: 15–20 min at 200°C
• Roast potatoes (parboiled, quartered): 25–30 min at 200°C
• Jacket potato (medium): 40–50 min at 200°C
• Potato wedges (fresh): 20–25 min at 200°C
• Hash browns (frozen): 10–12 min at 200°C

Chicken and meat

Turn meat halfway. Thicker pieces need longer; boneless cuts are quicker than bone-in.

• Chicken breast (boneless): 18–22 min at 180°C
• Chicken thighs (bone-in, skin-on): 22–28 min at 190°C
• Chicken wings: 20–25 min at 200°C
• Sausages (thick): 10–14 min at 180°C
• Bacon rashers: 6–10 min at 180°C
• Burgers (fresh, 2 cm): 10–14 min at 190°C
• Pork chops (2 cm): 12–16 min at 190°C

Fish

Fish cooks quickly. A light brush of oil stops it sticking; line the basket with a perforated liner for delicate fillets.

• Salmon fillet: 8–12 min at 180°C
• Breaded fish fillets (frozen): 12–15 min at 200°C
• Fish fingers (frozen): 8–10 min at 200°C
• King prawns (raw): 6–8 min at 190°C

Vegetables

Toss vegetables in a little oil and seasoning first. Cut them to a similar size so they finish together.

• Broccoli florets: 8–10 min at 190°C
• Peppers and onions (strips): 10–12 min at 190°C
• Courgette (thick slices): 10–12 min at 190°C
• Brussels sprouts (halved): 12–15 min at 190°C
• Butternut squash (2 cm cubes): 18–22 min at 190°C
• Corn on the cob: 12–15 min at 200°C

Frozen convenience food

Many UK supermarket packs now print air fryer instructions — use those first. If there are only oven instructions, a common rule of thumb is to lower the temperature by about 20°C and cut the time by roughly 20–25%, then check.

• Chicken nuggets: 8–10 min at 200°C
• Sausage rolls (frozen, small): 12–15 min at 180°C
• Spring rolls / samosas (frozen): 8–12 min at 190°C
• Yorkshire puddings (frozen, cooked): 3–5 min at 200°C

General information only. Check product labels and manufacturer instructions before you start.