• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Sip Bite Go logo

  • Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • Smoker Recipes
    • Griddle Recipes
    • Air Fryer Recipes
    • Sous Vide Recipes
    • Steak Recipes
    • Chicken Recipes
    • Homemade Pizza
    • Pasta Recipes
  • Smoker Recipes
  • Griddle
    • All Griddle Recipes
    • Traeger Flatrock Griddle Grill
    • Blackstone Griddle Grill
  • Air Fryer
  • Sous Vide
    • All Sous Vide Recipes
    • The Home Chef’s Sous Vide Cookbook
    • Buttery Sous Vide Lobster Tail Recipe
    • Sous Vide Frozen Steak
    • Sous Vide T Bone Steak
    • Sous Vide Chicken Wings
    • Sous Vide Egg Bites
  • Travel
    • Dallas Area
    • Texas
    • Puerto Rico
    • Hawaii
    • Oregon
  • More
    • Cookbooks
    • Entertaining
    • Kitchen Remodel
  • About
    • Contact
    • Press Features
    • About
    • Get Updates
    • Podcast
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • All Recipes
  • Find A Recipe
  • Travel
  • Grill Recipes
  • Smoker Recipes
  • Tri Tip
  • Pizza Recipes
  • Smoked Chicken Breast
  • Traeger Flatrock Griddle Grill
  • Air Fryer Recipes
  • Sous Vide
  • Holiday Dishes
  • Cookbooks
  • About
  • Media / Press Features
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Air Fryer Recipes » Air Fryer Vs Convection Oven, Instant Pot, Deep Fryer: What’s The Difference?

    Air Fryer Vs Convection Oven, Instant Pot, Deep Fryer: What’s The Difference?

    Published: Jun 22, 2021 · Modified: Nov 21, 2022 by Jenna Passaro · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Pin
    Tweet
    Share
    Share
    0 Shares
    Infographic chart demonstrating the difference between Air Fryer vs Convection Oven vs Instant Pot vs Deep Fryer.

    Are you comparing an air fryer vs. convection oven and wondering which is right for you? It can get a little confusing! Convection ovens, instant pots, and deep fryers, air fryers, and sous vide machines are very popular kitchen tools for making restaurant-style foods.

    But do you need them all?

    Today we are chatting about the difference in popular electronic cooking appliances. There are thousands of fascinating ways to cook a good meal, but few compare to the ease and convenience of using an air fryer (which I’ll go into great detail on).

    Infographic chart demonstrating the difference between Air Fryer vs Convection Oven vs Instant Pot vs Deep Fryer.
    You might be wondering why air frying is popular and if whether or not you need one. Especially if you already have a convection oven or Instant Pot. I get it! This article will walk you through it.

    This article will help you understand how the different appliances differ from one another. If you’ve wondered about the differences between:

    • Convection oven vs. air fryer
    • Air fryer vs. deep fryer
    • Air fryer vs. Instant Pot
    • Air fryer vs. sous vide

    … then you’ve come to the right place. Keep reading to learn more.

    Top down shot example of convection oven pizza recipes vs air fryer wings recipes.
    Here’s an example of convection oven and air fryer recipes. The wings were made in the air fryer vs convection oven pizza. Both were delicious!

    Make your own pizza from scratch with my super-easy recipe! You aren’t dependent on premade crusts or frozen dough—my video tutorial will turn you into a full-fledged baker, and all you need to impress the family with homemade pizza dough is a bag of flour and a little yeast.

    Table of Contents

    • Air Fryer Overview
      • The best dishes to air fry
    • Convection Oven Vs. Air Fryer
      • The best dishes to cook in a convection oven
    • Instant Pot Vs. Air Fryer
      • The best dishes to cook in an Instant Pot
    • Deep Fryer Vs. Air Fryer
    • Air Fryer vs. Convection Oven, Instant Pot, and Deep Fryer: Know the Difference
    • What you need to air fry food
    • Easy air fryer recipes
    • Are you a foodie, too?

    Air Fryer Overview

    From air fryer French fries to air fried donuts, just about everyone can find a side dish or dessert to air fry. Most people love fried foods. However, what most people don’t like is how unhealthy fried foods tend to be.

    That’s where air fryers come in. Unlike deep fryers, which use enormous amounts of unhealthy oils, air fryers use little to no oil to produce crispy fried foods. See more on this guide that describes that answer to how does an air fryer work.

    The way air fryers work is by circulating very hot air at very high temperatures. The result is a wide range of delicious foods that you can make, from fried fish to baked potatoes.

    Side shot of Air Fryer Filet Mignon Recipe with rosemary.
    Can you believe you can make steak like this air fryer filet mignon with an air fry machine? It’s amazing!

    The best dishes to air fry

    These are my favorite dishes to air fry at the moment:

    • Air fryer filet mignon (yup – you can air fry steak recipes!)
    • Air fried French fries
    • Air fryer frozen burritos
    • Air fryer chicken wings
    • Reheating pizza in the air fryer
    • Frozen pizza in air fryer
    • Chocolate chip cookies in the air fryer
    • Air fried pizza (I have a toddler who loves air fried pizza bagels)
    • Air fryer turkey breast for two people (it’s the perfect size for a small Thanksgiving turkey meal)
    • See how to make air fryer turkey legs…

    Convection Oven Vs. Air Fryer

    At first glance, a convection oven and air fryer seem very similar.

    Like an air fryer, a convection oven works by circulating hot air around the cooking environment. Unlike an air fryer, the air in a convection oven doesn’t circulate very quickly, and it isn’t normally used to make crispy fried foods.

    A convection oven is basically an ordinary oven with a fan inside. While they work well for many things (especially big dishes on sheet trays), you might find an air fryer more convenient for things like fries.

    Side shot of convection oven cooking pizza.
    This is convection oven baked pizza – it’s my Philly cheesesteak pizza recipe from hee on Sip Bite Go.

    The best dishes to cook in a convection oven

    • Slow roasted meats like pork shoulder and brisket
    • Vegetables like roasted carrots and brussels spouts
    • Roasted potato side dishes
    • Sheet pan dinners (like leftover pork pizza)
    • Pasta casseroles like stuffed shells or baked rigatoni
    • Cookies and fudge brownies
    • Chicken bacon pizza or Philly cheesesteak pizza
    • Zucchini chips

    Instant Pot Vs. Air Fryer

    While an air fryer uses hot air to cook foods, an Instant Pot uses a pressure cooking method to quickly heat and cook foods. An Instant Pot can do many things an air fryer can do, including frying, baking, and sautéing. But it can also be used to make cakes and bread.

    An Instant Pot is highly versatile, so it seems to combine the convenience of an air fryer with the flexibility of a convection oven.

    Side shot of Instant Pot kitchen appliance cooking chicken soup.

    The best dishes to cook in an Instant Pot

    • Instant Pot chilli is probably a favorite, along with Instant Pot meatball soup
    • Soups like Instant Pot chicken noodle soup
    • Instant Pot brown rice and other grains like Instant Pot quinoa or farro
    • Instant Pot egg bites
    • Instant Pot sous vide foods

    Deep Fryer Vs. Air Fryer

    While an oven and an Instant Pot can do just about anything, a deep fryer really only does one thing: fry foods in large amounts of oil.

    When it comes to taste alone, nothing compares to foods made in a deep fryer. Air fryers produce a similar result, but without the exact flavor of genuine fried foods.

    However, using a deep fryer all the time wouldn’t be a good idea if you are looking to eat healthy.

    I’d say overall, deep fried foods are becoming less popular. Personally, I only get them out at places like Dave’s Hot Chicken and my other favorite Portland restaurants.

    Air Fryer vs. Convection Oven, Instant Pot, and Deep Fryer: Know the Difference

    As you can see, it’s not hard to spot the differences between an air fryer vs. convection oven and other cooking methods. But I totally understand that it gets confusing with all the kitchen appliances available today.

    Hopefully, this article gives you a better idea of what you need for your kitchen needs.

    What you need to air fry food

    • Air Fryer Machine: In Sip Bite Go recipe tutorials, you’ll see the higher end model, the Philips Airfryer XXL Digital. Other popular air fryers include the Ninja Foodi, NuWave, and Black & Decker.
    • Air Fryer Accessories: Save time with reusable air fryer basket liners and this bundle of air fryer accessories.

    Easy air fryer recipes

    • Air fryer chicken wings
    • Air fryer hot dogs
    • Air fryer chocolate chip cookies
    • Air fryer filet mignon
    • Air fryer broccoli
    • Air fryer onions
    • Air fryer sweet potato tots
    • Air fryer acorn squash
    • Air fryer chicken patties

    Are you a foodie, too?

    I want to know what you think and see photos of your food! Find me on Instagram @sipbitego to tag me and connect.

    Want to make restaurant-style food at home? I teach you how here on Sip Bite Go and with in-depth video guides on the Sip Bite Go channel.

    « Homemade Pasta Sauce Recipe With Crushed Tomatoes
    Blue Cheese Coleslaw (5 Minute Recipe) »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Patrick meehan says

      March 23, 2022 at 3:32 am

      U missed one the one I happen to use the halogen oven with the ring extender I can cook a whole turkey or a whole rump

      Reply
      • Jenna Passaro says

        March 25, 2022 at 7:33 pm

        Wow, never had one of those – a whole turkey is pretty good! Thanks for sharing Patrick

        Reply
    2. Nancy says

      January 09, 2022 at 9:05 pm

      What about instant pot air fryer lid?

      Reply
      • Jenna Passaro says

        January 10, 2022 at 10:49 am

        I haven’t personally used one, but have heard an air fryer like the Phillips one I use in my recipe demonstrations is much better because the air circulates differently. IE. the food turns out crispier because it has better air flow.

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    jenna passaro food blogger from Portland Oregon

    Hey, I’m Jenna Passaro.

    I develop easy recipes that can transform your kitchen into a restaurant – and you into a true home chef.

      

    Where to start?

    Learn the secrets to smoking tasty Traeger recipes and making pizza at home. And cook amazing tri tip steak dinners.

    Or, fall in love with something new to cook with your air fryer, pellet smoker, BBQ grill, sous vide cooker, and more…

    You’ll notice, I kind of geek out over new cooking trends and tools!

    Instagram me @sipbitego & chef hubs @handmodelpatrick

    My story. Growing up, I didn’t learn to cook.

    (I was actually banned from cooking for years)

    And then in my 20’s I didn’t have to cook because my job as an event planner involved a lot of travel and it was easier to eat out. At the time, I was 100% positive that restaurant food would always taste better than cooking at home, and there was nothing I could do about it.

    Until I fell in love with a chef. He would come over and cook me delicious meals right in my own kitchen. My mind was blown.

    Since then, I’ve been on a mission to figure out easy ways to make restaurant style food at home and share it here on Sip Bite Go.

    Love to eat out and travel? I can totally relate. See my guide on where to eat in Portland, OR.

    jenna passaro the home chef's sous vide cookbook

    Never in a million years did I imagine I’d ditch the 9-5 lifestyle in my late 20’s, move across the country on a whim, start a new life, start a food blog, and write a book.

    But here I am!

    See my book on Amazon: The Home Chef’s Sous Vide Cookbook.

     

       

    Game Day Food

    Best Traeger and Blackstone griddle recipes collage

    Easy Griddle Recipes for Beginners

    party size salad recipe for make ahead Mexican salad with ranch dressing for a BBQ or potluck

    Make Ahead Mexican Salad with Ranch Dressing

    Sous vide chicken wings with Franks buffalo sauce

    Sous Vide Chicken Wings Recipe with Buffalo Sauce (Hot Wings)

    Best Traeger Smoked Mac And Cheese With Gouda

    Smoked Mac And Cheese

    Grill + Smoker

    Griddle Grilled Romaine Lettuce with Traeger Flatrock Demo

    How To Cook Romaine Lettuce On Griddle Grills

    Griddled Chicken Breast Recipe on Tray

    Flattop Griddled Chicken Breast with Marinade

    Community Favs

    Sous vide chicken wings with Franks buffalo sauce

    Sous Vide Chicken Wings Recipe with Buffalo Sauce (Hot Wings)

    raw ground beef patties for burgers

    How To Make Ground Beef Patties For Burgers

    Air Fryer

    Air Fryer Turkey Legs Disney Copycat Recipe

    How To Air Fry Turkey Legs

    Air Fryer Brats Recipe

    Air Fryer Beer Brats (aka Bratwurst)

    Pizza Cravings

    Stone Baked Pizza Recipe

    Crispy Baking Stone Pizza

    Cheeseburger Pizza Recipe With Pickles topping

    Cheeseburger Pizza With Pickles

    Holiday Dishes

    Smoked Leg of Lamb Boneless Recipe On Traeger Smoker

    Smoked Boneless Leg of Lamb (Pellet Grill Recipe)

    Traeger Pellet Grill Smoked Ham

    Traeger Smoked Ham

    Footer

    • Sip Bite Go
    • Recipe Index
    • Sous-Vide Recipes
       
    Sip Bite Go As Seen On
    • Work with Sip Bite Go
    • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Get Updates
    • Accesibility Info

    COPYRIGHT © 2021 SIP BITE GO