Infrared ovens and air fryers are two popular kitchen appliances that offer quick and efficient cooking. While they may seem similar in some ways, the two have some differences. The cooking methods, overall performance, efficiency, etc., have differences and knowing them can help you to choose the suitable one.
Whether you’re a professional chef or a home cook, understanding infrared ovens and air fryers is beneficial as they are both essential in different situations.
Comparison Between Infrared Oven and Air Fryer
There are many differences in the cooking process, methods, and functionalities between an infrared oven and an air fryer. Check them out here:
Cooking Method
An infrared oven use infrared technology to cook chicken legs, french fries, stakes, and other food. This type of oven uses infrared radiation to heat the food directly rather than heating the air around it. They cook food faster with less energy, and the heat distributes evenly.
The heating element transfers heat to infrared rays, so the food cooks inside and outside. Also, the juice and crispness remain for a long. The infrared rays are gentle and invisible, you
The nuwave infrared oven can bake, broil, grill, roast, warm food, and more.
An air fryer uses hot air to cook food. It circulates hot air around the food to create a crispy outer layer without oil. Air fryers are often used for cooking French fries, chicken wings, and other fried foods. The food remains enough juice and flavor as well as crispy.
The radiation technology is the same as the microwave oven (you can check the differences between a microwave oven and a normal oven here), but the fan is more powerful, and the heating elements are designed to heat the food faster from all sides.
Cooking Capacity
infrared ovens have a larger cooking capacity than air fryers. It can cook both inside and outside. The air fryer has a small capacity, and you can cook only for 2 to 3 people at a time.
The size makes it compact and easy to carry and store anywhere after cooking. But it would be best to use an infrared oven when you have a party.
Cooking Time
Infrared ovens are faster than air fryers. Infrared radiation distributes heat on the food and cooks it from the inside out, while air fryers cook with hot air circulation around the food like chicken legs, french fries, and toast using air fryers so the food will be more crispy. They both cook quickly, but nuwave infrared ovens are ahead of time.
A chicken breast will take only 8 minutes in a nuwave infrared oven, but it will take around 20 minutes in an air fryer.
Versatility
Air fryers be used for various cooking methods, such as baking and roasting. Infrared ovens are designed for broiling and grilling. They are also convenient as they can cook multiple items like cooking turkey wings, making grilled chicken, making egg rolls, slow cooking, and many more items.
The last capacity and triple combo cooking make it versatile to cook veggies and meats in the same batch.
Cost
Infrared ovens tend to be more expensive than air fryers. This is of their larger size and more powerful heating elements. Air fryer prices start at $20 and can go up to $300 for high-end models. The infrared oven price starts from $140 to up to $500. It also requires a plastic dome, and the price is $35.
Comparison Between Infrared Oven and Air Fryer
Check out the table to understand the differences and similarities between an infrared oven and an air fryer:
| Factor | NuWave Infrared Oven | Air Fryer |
| Type of Cooking | 12 types of cooking, including air-frying | Limited to frying, reheating, and a bit of baking |
| Suitable For | Family | One person |
| Heat Circulation | Circulate heat from the top, bottom, and all around the food | Circulate heat from top to bottom |
| Cooking Effect on Air Frying | Well-cooked, crispy, and crunchy without the need for flipping or shaking the food | It may turn out some crispy fries, some soggy ones, and a few undercooked pieces unless you shake, toss, or flip the food in the fryer basket |
| Size and Capacity | Larger and heavier | Small to medium in size |
| Typical Weight | 25 lbs. (11.3 kg) | 16 lbs. (7.26 kg) for NuWave Brio |
| Capacity | 28 qt. (26.5 liters) for NuWave Bravo | 7.25 qt. (6.86 liters) for NuWave Brio |
| 14 qt. (13.2 liters) for NuWave Brio | ||
| Dimensions | 20.04 x 16.57 x 11.14” (51 x 42 x 28 cm) for NuWave Bravo | 11 x 10.5 x 13.5” (28 x 26.67 x 34.2 cm) for NuWave Brio |
| 15.35 x 13.11 x 16.18” (39 x 33 x 41 cm) for NuWave Brio | ||
| Suitable for Thanksgiving dinners | Yes | Yes |
| Suitable for small-capacity cooking | No | Yes |
Can You Use an Infrared Oven As Air Fryer?
Infrared ovens can be used as air fryers because they both can make food crispy and juicy. Infrared ovens are more versatile and extensive in capacity. If you have a more prominent family, use an infrared oven, but for you and your partner, use an air fryer as it is compact and easy to carry and store.