The microwave is fast and the air fryer is crisp, and for frozen foods the trade of a few extra minutes is almost always worth it. Converting is simpler than it looks, even though there is no single formula.
There is no exact microwave-to-air-fryer formula, but a reliable starting point is 375 F for about 4 to 5 times the microwave minutes. Frozen nuggets that take 2 minutes in the microwave need about 10 minutes at 400 F in the air fryer; a burrito that takes 2 to 3 minutes needs 10 to 12 minutes at 375 F.
Once you have the oven equivalent in mind, the calculator converts it to exact air fryer settings.
Why there is no exact formula
Microwaves and air fryers heat food by completely different mechanisms. A microwave excites water molecules throughout the food at once, which is fast but steams the surface, while an air fryer blasts hot air at the exterior, which crisps. Because the two methods do different work, no single multiplier converts every food perfectly.
What works instead is a starting point plus a short table. Begin at 375 F for most frozen foods, estimate 4 to 5 times the microwave minutes, and check early. After one cook of any given food, you will have its exact number, and frozen foods are consistent enough that the number holds every time.
Frozen food conversion table
| Food | Microwave time | Air fryer setting |
|---|---|---|
| Frozen chicken nuggets | about 2 min | 400 F, 10 to 12 min |
| Frozen french fries | 3 to 4 min | 400 F, 12 to 15 min, shake halfway |
| Frozen burrito | 2 to 3 min | 375 F, 10 to 12 min, flip once |
| Pizza rolls | 1 to 2 min | 380 F, 6 to 8 min, shake halfway |
| Tater tots | about 2 min | 400 F, 12 to 15 min, shake halfway |
| Frozen mozzarella sticks | about 1 min | 380 F, 6 to 8 min |
| Egg rolls, frozen | about 2 min | 380 F, 8 to 10 min, flip once |
| Corn dogs, frozen | 1 to 2 min | 370 F, 8 to 10 min |
| Pizza slice, reheated | 1 to 2 min | 350 F, 3 to 4 min |
Air fryer times assume a preheated fryer and a single layer. Check a minute or two early the first time.
Reheating leftovers
The conversion shines brightest on leftovers the microwave ruins. Pizza reheats at 350 F for 3 to 4 minutes with a crisped crust instead of a rubbery one. Fried chicken revives at 375 F for 4 to 5 minutes. Fries come back at 400 F for 3 to 4 minutes with a shake halfway. As a rule, reheat at 350 to 375 F for roughly the time the food originally took in the air fryer, minus a couple of minutes, since it starts cooked.
What stays in the microwave
Some foods never make the trip. Soups, sauces, and anything liquid heat faster and more evenly in the microwave, and popcorn belongs there too. Foods that need to stay soft, like tortillas for tacos or steamed buns, dry out in the air fryer's blast. The conversion is for foods you want hot and crisp, which is most frozen food and nearly all leftovers with a crust.
Three tips for the switch
First, a light spray of oil on foods that start pale, like homemade breaded items, dramatically improves browning; most factory-frozen foods already carry enough oil. Second, keep the single layer rule: converted times assume air can circulate, and a crowded basket adds minutes and steams the food. Third, shake or flip halfway without fail. The microwave never needed it, but the air fryer browns from all sides only if every side sees the air.
Frequently asked questions
Can you convert microwave instructions to air fryer?
Yes, for solid foods. There is no exact formula, so start at 375 F with roughly 4 to 5 times the microwave minutes and check early. The table above gives times for the most common frozen foods.
How long in the air fryer for something that microwaves in 3 minutes?
Roughly 12 to 15 minutes at 375 to 400 F, depending on the food. Frozen fries at 3 to 4 microwave minutes take 12 to 15 minutes at 400 F; a burrito at 2 to 3 microwave minutes takes 10 to 12 minutes at 375 F.
Is the air fryer better than the microwave for frozen food?
For texture, yes: crisp instead of soggy. For speed, no: the air fryer takes 4 to 5 times longer. Preheat adds a few minutes too, so plan about 15 minutes total for most frozen foods.
Can you reheat pizza in an air fryer?
Yes, and it is one of the best uses. A slice reheats at 350 F for 3 to 4 minutes with a crisp crust, far better than the microwave's rubbery result.
Do you need oil when converting from microwave to air fryer?
Usually not for factory-frozen foods, which already contain enough oil. A light spray helps homemade breaded items brown, but skip it for anything that starts out greasy.
Related conversion guides
Oven to Air Fryer Conversion: The Two Rules: Oven to air fryer conversion: the 25-degree rule with worked examples.
How Long to Cook Chicken Wings in an Air Fryer: How long to cook chicken wings in an air fryer: fresh and frozen times.
Air Fryer Conversion Chart: Air fryer conversion chart: every temperature and time, tabulated.
Air Fryer to Oven Conversion: Air fryer to oven conversion: running the rules in reverse.