Frequently asked questions
Tap a question to expand it.
How does the conversion work?
You give the app the oven instructions and it works out the air fryer equivalent: a lower temperature and a shorter time, shown as a range to check from rather than a single fixed number.
Air fryers move hot air quickly, so most foods need around 20°C less and roughly a fifth less time than a conventional oven. The exact figures depend on the food, which is what the profiles are for.
It read my fan oven temperature wrong. What happened?
Make sure the oven type is set correctly: Conventional, Fan, or Gas Mark. Fan ovens already run cooler than conventional ones, so the app adjusts for that before converting. If the type is set wrong, the result will be off.
Packaging often lists all three figures together, for example 200°C, 180°C fan, Gas Mark 6. Pick the one you plan to follow and the app handles the rest.
The camera is not picking up the instructions.
A few things help: hold the packet flat and steady, fill the frame with the text, and give it good light. Glare on shiny packaging is the usual culprit, so tilt it slightly to cut reflections.
The app reads printed cooking instructions that include a temperature and a time. Handwriting and very stylised fonts can be harder to recognise. If scanning still will not catch it, you can always enter the figures by hand on the Convert tab.
Camera access is not working.
The app needs camera permission to scan. Open the Settings app, find Air Fryer Convert, and turn on Camera. Then reopen the app and try the Scan tab again.
How accurate are the conversions?
Treat every result as a smart starting point, not a guarantee. Air fryer models vary, and a full basket cooks differently from a half-empty one. That is why the app gives a time range and tells you when to start checking.
For anything where being underdone matters, such as meat, use a food thermometer rather than time alone.
What are the food profiles?
Profiles tune the conversion to what you are cooking. Auto is the balanced default and works well for most foods. You can switch to Fries & Chips, Breaded, Roast Meat, Roast Veg, Bake, or Reheat for a closer estimate. Your choice is remembered and applies to both the dial and the scanner.
Which devices support scanning?
Live scanning needs an iPhone or iPad with a camera and an A12 chip or newer, running iOS 16 or later. On devices without camera support you can still use the manual dial to convert.
Does it need an account or an internet connection?
No on both counts. There is no sign up, and conversions and scanning run entirely on your device, so the app works offline.
Still stuck?
Email me directly and I will help.
james@jamesdavie.comI aim to reply within a couple of working days. Telling me your device and iOS version speeds things up.