What's the Difference Between Ovens and Air Fryers?

Thinking about switching from your oven to an air fryer, or wondering if you need both? You’re not alone.

Air fryers are popular for their fast cooking, crispy results, and minimal oil use. But how do they really compare to a traditional oven? And is one better than the other?

In this guide, we’ll break down the key differences between ovens and air fryers, and explain how some modern ovens, including Air Fry oven models from Hotpoint, can offer the benefits of both in one appliance.

In some ways, yes. Both cook food by circulating hot air, but the way in which they do it makes all the difference.

Air fryers are compact and tightly sealed, which means they can heat up quickly and cook smaller portions fast. The result? Crispy chips, golden nuggets, and fewer burnt edges (most of the time).

Traditional fan ovens, however, offer more space and flexibility. You can cook multiple dishes at once, roast large joints of meat, or bake a cake, all without needing to shuffle trays around.

The answer ultimately depends on what you are making. If you want quick, crispy snacks, an air fryer often delivers. But ovens have the edge when it comes to consistency, especially with features like Hotpoint’s Active Multiflow technology, which distributes heat evenly across every shelf.

If you’ve ever had undercooked lasagne in the middle but burnt cheese on top, you will know how frustrating uneven heating can be. Our oven technology helps avoid that, something most standard air fryers can’t promise.

Air fryers are often seen as the healthier choice because they use very little oil, but that doesn’t mean ovens fall short.

In fact, Hotpoint ovens with the Air Fry feature give food that crunchy texture we all love, without needing to deep-fry or use too much oil. Add to that the benefit of Active Steam, which is great to lock in the nutrients of meat, vegetables and fish, and you’ve got a healthy cooking solution either way.

So, is an air fryer healthier than an oven? It’s more about how you cook, rather than what you use.

Air fryers cook fast, no question. But they are also small, often too small for families or big batches. You will likely find yourself cooking in shifts if you’re feeding more than two.

That’s where a multifunction oven really shines. With options like Hotpoint’s Air Fry tray, you can get similar results to a standalone fryer but in a full-sized oven that can handle a lot more at once.

And the best bit? The tray is dishwasher safe, a huge bonus considering how fiddly air fryer baskets can be to clean.

If you already have a good oven, adding an air fryer might feel like overkill. With Hotpoint’s built-in features, like Air Fry, Active Multiflow, Active Steam, and specialised cooking programmes, you will already have most of what an air fryer offers, built right into your oven.

Plus, it saves you space on your worktop, energy, and time switching between gadgets.

So, how is an air fryer different from an oven? Think of it as a compact cooker that’s great for speed and snacks but limited in size and scope. An oven gives you room to cook more, cook better, and now, with modern features, cook faster and healthier too.

And if you have ever been frustrated by soggy chips, burnt crusts, or greasy fryers to clean? Hotpoint’s oven tech has already solved those problems.