Plenty of Indian homes don’t have an OTG, and an air fryer is the closest thing to an oven on the counter. It is essentially a small, powerful convection oven, so it can bake. But the heating element is close to the food and the fan is strong, which means the top browns quickly while the centre may lag behind. A few adjustments fix that.
How air fryer baking differs from an oven
| Factor | Oven or OTG | Air fryer |
|---|---|---|
| Heat source | Elements above and below, more space | One element just above the food, strong fan |
| Browning | Gentler and more even | Fast on top |
| Batch size | Full trays, larger tins | Small tins and batches |
| Preheat | Often around 10 minutes | Usually 3–5 minutes |
Because of the strong top heat, think of your air fryer as a small oven that runs hot. If you want to bake large cakes or full loaves often, our air fryer vs OTG vs microwave comparison explains when an OTG is the better tool.
The golden rules
- Lower the temperature. Start about 10–20°C below what an oven recipe says. Many simple cakes bake well at around 150–160°C in an air fryer.
- Check early. Start checking at about two-thirds of the recipe time. Every model behaves differently, so note what works in yours.
- Use the right tin. It should sit flat in the basket with a gap of at least a finger’s width around the sides for air to move. Metal tins, oven-safe glass and food-grade silicone moulds all work.
- Keep the batter shallow. A deep tin gives a burnt top and a raw middle. Fill tins about halfway to two-thirds.
- Secure any foil. If the top browns before the inside is cooked, lay foil over it and tuck it firmly around the tin. Loose foil can be lifted into the element by the fan.
- Preheat briefly, about three to five minutes, with the basket empty and no liner inside.
Cakes
Small sponge cakes, atta cakes, banana bread and tea-time loaf cakes work well.
- Tin size: for a 4–5 litre basket, a round tin of roughly 15 cm (6 inches) diameter usually fits. Measure your basket before buying.
- Ring or bundt tins help, because the hole in the middle lets heat reach the centre.
- Doneness test: a toothpick or thin skewer pushed into the centre should come out clean or with a few dry crumbs.
- Let it rest in the tin for about 10 minutes before turning it out, so it doesn’t break.
Eggless options
Eggless cakes are popular in many Indian households, and they bake well in an air fryer. Common approaches:
- Curd and baking soda: the acidity of curd reacts with baking soda for lift. A staple of eggless sponge recipes.
- Condensed milk: gives a dense, moist, slightly sweet crumb. Reduce the sugar in the recipe.
- Milk with vinegar or lemon juice: a quick buttermilk-style substitute that also works with baking soda.
Follow a tested eggless recipe rather than simply leaving the eggs out of a regular one, since the balance of liquid and raising agent matters.
Cookies and biscuits
Nankhatai, atta-jaggery cookies, oat cookies and butter biscuits are some of the easiest things to bake in an air fryer.
- Line the basket with a perforated parchment liner or use a small flat tray, and keep the cookies on top so the paper is weighed down.
- Leave space between cookies; most spread as they bake.
- Bake lower and slower, around 150–160°C, in small batches.
- Cookies harden as they cool. Take them out when the edges are set and lightly golden, even if the centre feels soft, and cool them on a rack.
Bread, buns and pav
Small breads do well; large loaves are harder.
- Choose small formats: dinner rolls, pav, garlic bread knots, mini loaves or a small round loaf.
- Proving: some air fryers have a low-temperature mode (around 40°C) for proving dough. Without one, prove dough in a warm spot in your kitchen. In winter in north India this can take longer; in the humid monsoon months it may be faster.
- Bake at a moderate temperature, often around 160–170°C, and cover with secured foil once the top is golden.
- Check doneness: a cooked loaf sounds hollow when tapped underneath.
Fixing common problems
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Top burnt, centre raw | Too hot; batter too deep | Lower the heat; shallower or ring tin; secured foil on top |
| Cake domed and cracked | Too hot | Lower by 10°C; bake a little longer |
| Dense, flat cake | Old raising agent; overmixed | Check baking powder and soda dates; fold gently |
| Pale, soft bottom | No air under the tin | Use a rack to lift the tin; leave a gap around the sides |
| Cookies burnt at the edges | Too hot or too close together | Lower the heat; fewer per batch |
Useful accessories
You don’t need much, but a small cake tin, silicone muffin cups, perforated parchment liners and a low rack make baking easier. Our air fryer accessories guide covers which ones are worth buying and what to skip. Always check that anything you put in is rated for the temperature you’re using.
Bottom line
Baking in an air fryer works best when you think small: small tins, shallow batter, small batches. Drop the temperature by 10–20°C, check early, and cover browned tops with secured foil. Eggless cakes, nankhatai, muffins and pav all turn out well once you’ve learned how your own machine behaves.
Frequently asked questions
Can I bake a cake in an air fryer without an oven?
Yes. Use a small tin that leaves a gap around the edges of the basket, set the temperature about 10 to 20°C lower than an oven recipe says, and start checking well before the stated time. Small cakes work best.
Why is my air fryer cake raw in the middle but brown on top?
The temperature is too high or the batter is too deep. Lower the heat, use a shallower or ring-shaped tin, and lay a piece of foil loosely over the top once it has browned, tucked securely so the fan can't lift it.
Can I make eggless cakes in an air fryer?
Yes. Common eggless bases use curd with baking soda, condensed milk, or milk with a little vinegar or lemon juice. They bake the same way as egg cakes; just check for doneness with a toothpick.
Do I need to preheat the air fryer for baking?
A short preheat of about three to five minutes helps cakes and cookies rise and set evenly. Don't put a liner or paper in the empty basket while it preheats.
