Not all oven settings are created equal. Today’s modern ovens often come with “Bake,” “Convection,” and even “Air Fry” options. Knowing the difference can save time in the kitchen and help you get the best results from your cooking.

Bake – Gentle and Traditional
The standard “Bake” setting uses heating elements, usually from the bottom of the oven, to provide steady, gentle heat. There’s no fan to move the air around, which makes it perfect for foods that need to rise slowly or set without disturbance.
Examples: Cakes, muffins, quick breads, and custards all do best with the traditional bake setting.

Bake – Gentle and Traditional
The standard “Bake” setting uses heating elements, usually from the bottom of the oven, to provide steady, gentle heat. There’s no fan to move the air around, which makes it perfect for foods that need to rise slowly or set without disturbance.
Examples: Cakes, muffins, quick breads, and custards all do best with the traditional bake setting.

Air Fry – Crispy in Less Time
Air fry is essentially convection cooking turned up a notch. With a powerful fan and higher heat, the air fryer setting surrounds food with fast-moving hot air that gives it a crispy texture similar to deep frying—without all the oil.
According to University Extension publications, when converting oven recipes to air fryers, you should reduce the temperature by 25–30°F and shorten the cook time by about 20%.
Examples: French fries, chicken wings, and even reheating leftover pizza come out crisp and delicious using the air fry setting.

The Bottom Line: Use Bake for delicate, slow-cooked recipes like cakes and casseroles, switch to Convection when you want even browning, faster cooking, or are using multiple pans, and try Air Fry for crisping foods quickly with little to no oil.

Choosing the right setting doesn’t just improve results—it can also save time and energy in the kitchen. Next time you preheat your oven, take a second look at those buttons. The right choice could make all the difference between a soggy crust and a perfectly crisp bite.

If you have any questions or want more information on a topic, please reach out to Abigail Thomas, Family and Consumer Science Agent, at 865-992-8038 or athom237@utk.edu