Flavorful Showdown: Cooking Raw Meatballs in Air Fryer vs. Oven

Among the methods of cooking raw meatballs, air fryers and ovens have attracted much attention. Then, when using them to cook raw meatballs, what are the differences in terms of operation convenience and final taste? Let me explain in detail below.

What is the difference between cooking raw meatballs in an air fryer and in the oven?

In terms of cooking time:

Air fryer:Generally, it takes less time to cook raw meatballs. Because the hot air circulates quickly, it can quickly make the surface of the meatballs reach the ideal state. For raw meatballs of ordinary size, they can basically be fully cooked in about 15 to 20 minutes.

Oven: The heating is relatively mild and it often takes a longer time. For raw meatballs of the same size, it may take 20 to 30 minutes or even longer to be fully cooked.

In terms of taste performance:

Air fryer: The surface of the raw meatballs made will be more crispy, a bit like fried. And the inside may be relatively tighter. The degree of juice retention is slightly inferior.

Oven: The overall taste of the roasted raw meatballs will be more inclined to be crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The internal juice can be better locked in. When eating, the meaty flavor is more intense and the taste hierarchy is more abundant.

In terms of operation convenience:

Air fryer: The operation is simple. Generally, just put the raw meatballs in, set the temperature and time. And most of them have some preset menus to choose from. Cleaning is also relatively easy. The frying basket can usually be taken out directly for cleaning.

Oven: It may need to be preheated before use. The operation steps are relatively more. And the internal space of the oven is larger. If only a small amount of raw meatballs are baked, it is relatively more energy-consuming. When cleaning, especially after baking meatballs, the baking tray, baking net and other parts are stained with oil stains and other dirt. Cleaning will be a bit more troublesome.

In terms of usage capacity:

Air fryer: The capacity of the air fryer is small and suitable for 2-3 people. The space determines that not too many ingredients can be baked together. For a common household air fryer, putting about 10-15 medium-sized meatballs is almost the limit. Putting too many will affect the circulation of hot air. It is suitable for making small portions in daily life.

Oven: The capacity of the oven is large and it can mostly bake food for 4-6 people. Its internal space is spacious and can bake a lot of raw meatballs at one time. For a household regular oven, dozens of meatballs can be placed on the baking tray. As long as they are placed reasonably and leave intervals for the heat to be evenly transmitted, all meatballs can be baked well.

In terms of finished product appearance:

Air fryer:Due to the concentrated circulation of hot air, the color on the surface of raw meatballs may be more uniform. The color is often golden and looks very appetizing.

Oven: Due to factors such as the position of the heating tube, the surface of the meatballs may appear to be slightly darker in some areas. However, as long as operations such as turning over appropriately during the process are carried out, the appearance can also be relatively beautiful.

What temperature do you cook meatballs at?

Cooking temperature for air fryer:

It is recommended to set it to 180°C, which is 356°F. Arrange the time like this. Use 180°C to bake for the first 7 to 8 minutes, then turn the meatballs over, and then continue to bake at 180°C for another 7 to 8 minutes.

If the meatballs are relatively large, the temperature can be reduced to 170°C, and correspondingly extend the time. If the meatballs are relatively small, maintain 180°C, but the time can be shortened.

Cooking temperature for oven:

The recommended temperature is 200°C, which is 392°F. The time arrangement has two steps. First, preheat by adjusting the temperature to 200°C for about 10 minutes. Then start baking. Use 200°C again and bake for 20 to 25 minutes.

If the upper and lower heat mode is used, it is best to place the meatballs to be baked in the middle layer. If the hot air circulation function is turned on, the temperature can be reduced to 190°C for baking.

Why do my meatballs come out tough?

Generally, meatballs become hard due to excessive stirring or too long cooking time. When making meatballs, just gently mix the meat stuffing and seasonings. Don't knead vigorously. Control the cooking time well. When the surface is golden and the inside is just cooked through.

When adjusting the meat stuffing, add some chopped onions, carrots or tofu to it. This way, the made meatballs will be more tender and juicy. It is best to put 1 egg and an appropriate amount of starch in every 500 grams of meat stuffing. This can make the meatballs more elastic and not taste dry.

When cooking, it is better to fry or steam slowly over medium heat. Don't stir-fry quickly over high heat. If frying, fry each side for 4 to 5 minutes. If steaming, 8 to 10 minutes is enough. Doing this can ensure that the outside of the meatballs is golden and the inside is very tender. It will not cause too much moisture loss due to high temperature.

Do things cook faster in air fryer than oven?

It is a bit faster. Generally, it can save 20 - 30% of cooking time compared to an oven. For example, for baking chicken wings, it takes 25 minutes in the oven, but it can be baked well in about 18 minutes with an air fryer.

This difference in cooking speed is mainly because the air fryer uses high-speed hot air circulation technology, which has more concentrated heating and higher efficiency. At the same time, the cavity is smaller and there is less heat loss. While the oven has a larger cavity and needs more time to preheat and maintain the temperature. The heat is dispersed and there is more loss.

The air fryer is especially suitable for quickly preparing meals on weekdays. For example, baking a few chicken wings or frying steak during lunch break can be completed within 20 minutes. However, the advantage of the oven is that it can cook more food at the same time and is suitable for use at family gatherings. Although it takes a long time, it has a high space utilization rate.

How do you keep meatballs from sticking to the air fryer?

First of all, before putting the meatballs into the air fryer, spray a layer of oil evenly with an oil sprayer, or dip an oil with a silicone brush and smear the frying basket. This method is quite basic and useful.

Then, when making meatballs, add an appropriate amount of starch and egg liquid to the meat stuffing. In this way, the meatballs will be more elastic and not easy to stick to the pan.

Next, when cooking, set the temperature to 180 degrees and control the time to be between 12 and 15 minutes. Dont forget to turn over once in the middle.

Finally, you can also place a piece of silicone paper or a special air fryer mat at the bottom of the air fryer. This can prevent sticking to the pan and is also easier to clean. 

What other meat dishes can be cooked in an air fryer and oven?

The air fryer is most suitable for making small pieces of meat such as chicken wings, chicken legs, pork chops, and beef patties. The oven is more suitable for whole chickens, roast ducks, large steaks, and roast lamb legs which are large in size.

This is because the air fryer relies on the rapid circulation of high-temperature hot air for heating. It heats small ingredients quickly and is very suitable. The oven heats more evenly and is suitable for slow roasting for a long time.