Yes, an air fryer is essentially a reimagined version of a convection oven, with some specific features tailored towards efficient and healthier frying.
Both air fryers and convection ovens use a similar cooking method, which is convection. Convection ovens have been used for a long time and work by circulating hot air around the food, resulting in even cooking and browning. The fan inside the convection oven helps to distribute the heat evenly, speeding up the cooking process and reducing the need for preheating.
Air fryers build on the convection oven concept but are designed specifically for frying food with little to no oil. They use the same principle of circulating hot air but are compact and have a specialized cooking basket or tray, typically with holes to allow maximum air circulation. The intense circulation of hot air in an air fryer creates a crisp and browned exterior on the food, simulating the texture of deep-fried food but with significantly less oil.
The marketing term "air fryer" has become popular due to its association with healthier cooking compared to deep frying. People use air fryers to cook a wide variety of foods like french fries, chicken wings, vegetables, and more, with a crispy texture similar to traditional deep-fried dishes but with much less oil.
In summary, while an air fryer is based on the convection oven principle, it is a more specialized appliance with a focus on healthier frying using little to no oil.