Air Fryer Cooking Times and Temperature Chart
How long to cook chicken breast in an air fryer? What temperature for nuggets, steak or frozen samosas? This air fryer cooking chart lists times and temperatures for the foods people cook most, from chicken and fish to frozen snacks and vegetables. Times are for a 5 to 7 litre basket; smaller loads cook faster.
Updated 11 November 2026
How to use this air fryer cooking chart
- Times assume the food is in one layer with space between pieces.
- Shake or turn the food halfway through.
- Thicker pieces need the longer time; thin pieces the shorter one.
- Chicken is safe when the thickest part is no longer pink and the juice runs clear. A food thermometer should read 74 °C.
- Air fryers vary. A powerful 1800 to 2200 W fryer like the Kenwood HFP72 7 Litre Digital Air Fryer or Westpoint WF-7260 9 Litre Digital Air Fryer may be a little faster than a 1300 W model.
If food is pale at the end, add 2 to 3 minutes. If it is dark outside and raw inside, lower the heat by 10 to 20 °C and cook longer.
Chicken cooking times
- Boneless chicken breast (whole): 180 °C, 18 to 22 minutes, turn halfway
- Chicken breast strips or fillets: 190 °C, 10 to 12 minutes
- Chicken wings: 180 °C for 20 minutes, then 200 °C for 5 minutes for extra crunch
- Drumsticks and leg pieces: 180 °C, 22 to 28 minutes
- Chicken thighs, bone-in: 180 °C, 22 to 25 minutes
- Chicken tikka (boneless): 180 to 190 °C, 12 to 15 minutes
- Crumbed chicken fillet or homemade broast: 190 °C, 15 to 18 minutes, sprayed with oil
- Whole chicken, about 1 kg: 180 °C, 45 to 55 minutes, breast down first, then turned
Frozen chicken breast: add about 50 percent more time and cook at 180 °C until fully done in the centre.
Beef, mutton and kabab times
- Steak, 2 to 2.5 cm thick: 200 °C, 8 to 10 minutes for medium, 12 minutes for well done, turn halfway
- Steak bites or boti: 200 °C, 7 to 9 minutes
- Seekh kabab: 180 °C, 10 to 12 minutes
- Chapli kabab: brush with oil, 190 °C, 10 to 12 minutes, turn once
- Shami kabab or cutlets: 190 °C, 8 to 10 minutes
- Burgers (beef patty): 190 °C, 10 to 12 minutes
- Lamb chops: 190 °C, 12 to 15 minutes
Rest meat for 5 minutes after cooking so the juice settles back in.
Fish and seafood times
- Fish fillets, plain or masala: 200 °C, 8 to 12 minutes
- Crumbed fish or Lahori-style fish: 190 °C, 12 to 14 minutes, sprayed with oil
- Fish fingers (frozen): 200 °C, 8 to 10 minutes
- Prawns: 200 °C, 6 to 8 minutes
- Prawn toast or tempura prawns: 190 °C, 7 to 9 minutes
Line the basket with perforated paper for delicate fish so it does not stick or break.
Frozen food times
- Frozen samosas: 180 °C, 10 to 12 minutes, brushed with a little oil
- Frozen spring rolls: 180 °C, 10 to 12 minutes
- Chicken nuggets: 200 °C, 8 to 10 minutes
- Frozen French fries: 200 °C, 12 to 18 minutes
- Frozen parathas: 180 °C, 4 to 6 minutes, turn once
- Frozen kababs: 180 °C, 10 to 12 minutes
- Mozzarella sticks: 190 °C, 6 to 8 minutes, watch closely
- Frozen garlic bread: 180 °C, 5 to 7 minutes
No need to thaw these first. Do not stack them; cook in batches. A dual basket such as the Philips NA150/09 7.1 Litre Dual Basket Air Fryer lets you cook two frozen snacks at once.
Vegetable times
- Crispy bhindi: slit or slice, toss with oil and masala, 180 °C, 12 to 15 minutes
- Cauliflower florets or buffalo cauliflower: 190 °C, 12 to 15 minutes
- Broccoli (fresh): 180 °C, 8 to 10 minutes; frozen: 12 to 14 minutes
- Corn on the cob: 200 °C, 12 to 15 minutes
- Potato wedges: 200 °C, 18 to 22 minutes
- Baked potato, whole: 200 °C, 35 to 45 minutes
- Onion rings (battered or crumbed): 190 °C, 8 to 10 minutes
- Mixed vegetables (peppers, onions, mushrooms): 190 °C, 8 to 12 minutes
- Makhana, almonds or peanuts: 150 to 160 °C, 5 to 8 minutes
A light spray of oil helps vegetables brown instead of drying out.
Eggs, snacks and reheating
- Boiled eggs in their shell: 130 to 150 °C, 13 to 16 minutes, then into cold water
- Pakoras with thick batter: 190 °C, 10 to 12 minutes on paper
- Croutons: 180 °C, 5 to 6 minutes
- Reheat pizza: 170 °C, 3 to 4 minutes
- Reheat fried chicken or samosas: 180 °C, 4 to 5 minutes
For Ramadan snacks and Pakistani dishes, see Pakistani air fryer recipes. For fries, see air fryer French fries.
Air fryer temperature guide by food type
If your food is not on the chart, start from these ranges:
- 150 to 160 °C: cakes, brownies, cookies, nuts and delicate food
- 170 to 180 °C: chicken on the bone, kababs, reheating and most vegetables
- 190 °C: crumbed food, pakoras, onion rings and fish in batter
- 200 °C: fries, nuggets, steak, wings finish and plain fish fillets
Most basket air fryers in our list go up to 200 °C; some Xiaomi models reach 220 °C and air fryer ovens like the Westpoint WF-5259 25 Litre Air Fryer Oven reach 230 °C. Low settings from 40 °C upward on models like the Xiaomi Smart-6.5L Digital Air Fryer are for dehydrating fruit and keeping food warm.
Tips for even, crispy results
- Pat meat and vegetables dry before seasoning.
- Use a thick batter or bread crumbs. Thin, runny batter drips through the basket.
- Leave gaps. A crowded basket steams the food.
- Clean grease from the basket after each use so it does not smoke next time.
- Use a larger fryer for families: 7 litres and above, see Large Air Fryer Price in Pakistan and XXL Air Fryer Price in Pakistan.
New to air frying? Start with how to use an air fryer.
