Oven style air fryers can reach 10qt to 13qt sizes. Most basket style air fryers are around 6qt to 8qt in size. Basket style tends to be smaller than oven style, but how do they both compare to halogen ovens? The reality is that even the larger oven style air fryer is dwarfed by halogen ovens. We mentioned before how air fryers come in two varieties. Both of these ovens are able to cook food quickly and make it crispy, but air fryers tend to be faster and crispier while halogen ovens tend to be more affordable and nearly as fast. There are also differences between the basket and bowl that we will explore more in the next sections. Halogen ovens rely on the bulb primarily for heat and it directly heats the food with the fan helping to move some of the air around.Īir fryers are also usually stronger in order to compete with the crispy crunch of deep fat fryers, so they create a crispier texture than halogen ovens. We’ll compare and contrast them in more detail in the later sections, but this small difference completely changes how food is cooked.Īir fryers rely more on heated air and more effectively move that hot air around the whole cooking area. These differences might seem insignificant, but the heating element part creates a world of difference. Air fryers use a heating element like a convection oven while halogen ovens use a hot halogen bulb. Air fryers use baskets or racks, depending on the type, while halogen ovens use glass bowls. halogen ovens: heat source and cooking apparatus. There are two main differences when it comes to air fryers vs. Unlike air fryers that have several types, halogen ovens currently only come in one main type, so we won’t cover different types here.ĭifference Between Air Fryer and Halogen Oven Halogen ovens tend to work quickly and are surprisingly versatile. One unique thing is that you can watch the food as it cooks through the glass. You can either cook food directly in the bowl, or you can place a rack in there to separate ingredients. Consider this a top-level description of halogen ovens. Yes, this sounds very much like an air fryer.ĭon’t worry, in the next section we’ll tell you their major differences. A special lid secures to the top and uses a halogen light to heat the food while a fan circulates the ambient heat. If an air fryer is a heating element with a fan, then what is a halogen oven? A halogen oven typically uses a glass bowl to hold your food. As you might expect, these models tend to be more expensive than basket style fryers. You’ll get more even cooking along with increased capacity. The difference is that this looks like a tiny oven and you can arrange food on racks. It’s the same basic technology of a heating element and fan to circulate the hot air. These are like microwave ovens, but are larger and typically have more features. Larger and newer models tend to be oven style air fryers. The baskets are handy, but the capacity tends to be lower and there is the possibility of some food not fully crisping. You place the food in the basket, push the basket into the air fryer, and start cooking. These air fryers feature a crisping basket with a handle. The most common, especially for smaller and earlier models, is the basket style air fryer. In the broadest sense, there are two types of air fryers. Plus, they require significantly less oil than a deeper fryer, which has been a big selling point for them. While it’s more of an oven than a deep fryer, air fryers really can make your food crispy if used properly.
There is a heating element that heats the air within the basket or cooking area along with a fan that moves the hot air. An air fryer uses the same basic technology as a convection oven, but makes it smaller and more convenient. While the name might make you think that an air fryer is similar to a deep fryer, it’s actually much closer to a convection oven. Air fryers crisp better and halogen ovens are more affordable, but they are both useful for cooking snacks and meals faster than a standard oven.
We will discuss their differences, tell you which is best for your needs, and answer your top questions.ĭespite some similarities, these are actually very different appliances and neither is essentially better than the other. While they have some similarities, these tiny ovens have different purposes along with varying pros and cons. Some people claim that they are the same exact appliance while others point out their significant differences. The Internet is abuzz with the whole air fryer vs.