Short answer: most air fryer foods start at 375–390°F. Frozen fries take about 20–25 minutes per pound, chicken wings 22–26 minutes, boneless chicken breasts 18–22 minutes and salmon fillets 10–13 minutes, according to Ninja’s US owner’s guide chart. Treat every time as a starting point: smaller loads cook faster, crowded baskets cook slower, and meat, poultry and fish are done only when a food thermometer reaches the USDA safe minimum temperature.
Air fryer cooking times are not universal. They depend on the food’s thickness and starting temperature, how much is in the basket, whether the appliance was preheated, and the design of the air fryer itself. That is why this chart uses a manufacturer’s published figures, quoted with their test amounts, instead of a single “magic number” per food.
The times below come from the cooking chart in the Ninja Air Fryer owner’s guide for the US 4-quart AF101 basket model. They are a manufacturer’s starting points, not our own kitchen tests. Larger baskets, dual-zone models and oven-style air fryers may need different settings, so check your own manual first.
Air fryer cooking times chart (°F)
Frozen foods
| Food | Amount | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| French fries | 1 lb | 350°F | 20–25 min |
| French fries | 2 lb | 360°F | 28–32 min |
| Sweet potato fries | 1 lb | 375°F | 20–22 min |
| Tater tots | 1 lb | 360°F | 18–22 min |
| Chicken nuggets | 1 box (12 oz) | 390°F | 10–13 min |
| Chicken cutlets | 5 | 390°F | 18–21 min |
| Fish sticks | 18 (11 oz) | 390°F | 10–13 min |
| Fish fillets | 1 box (6 fillets) | 390°F | 14–16 min |
| Popcorn shrimp | 1 box (14–16 oz) | 390°F | 9–11 min |
| Mozzarella sticks | 1 box (11 oz) | 375°F | 8–10 min |
| Pizza rolls | 1 bag (20 oz, 40 count) | 390°F | 12–15 min |
| Pot stickers | 1 bag (24 oz, 20 count) | 390°F | 12–14 min |
Chicken
| Food | Amount and prep | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken wings | 2 lb drumettes and flats, 1 Tbsp oil | 390°F | 22–26 min |
| Chicken breasts, boneless | 2 (½–¾ lb each), brushed with oil | 375°F | 18–22 min |
| Chicken breasts, bone-in | 2 (¾–1½ lb each), brushed with oil | 375°F | 25–35 min |
| Chicken thighs, boneless | 4 (4–8 oz each), brushed with oil | 390°F | 18–22 min |
| Chicken thighs, bone-in | 4 (6–10 oz each), brushed with oil | 390°F | 22–28 min |
Beef, pork and lamb
| Food | Amount and prep | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burgers | 4 quarter-pound patties, 80% lean, 1 inch thick | 375°F | 8–10 min |
| Steaks | 2 (8 oz each), whole | 390°F | 10–20 min |
| Pork chops, boneless | 4 (8 oz each), brushed with oil | 375°F | 14–17 min |
| Pork chops, bone-in | 2 thick-cut (10–12 oz each), brushed with oil | 375°F | 15–17 min |
| Pork tenderloin | 2 (1–1½ lb each), brushed with oil | 375°F | 25–35 min |
| Sausages | 4, whole | 390°F | 8–10 min |
| Bacon | 4 strips, cut in half | 350°F | 8–10 min |
Fish and seafood
| Food | Amount and prep | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salmon fillets | 2 (4 oz each), brushed with oil | 390°F | 10–13 min |
| Shrimp | 16 large, peeled, tails on, 1 Tbsp oil | 390°F | 7–10 min |
| Crab cakes | 2 (6–8 oz each), brushed with oil | 350°F | 12–15 min |
| Lobster tails | 4 (3–4 oz each), whole | 375°F | 5–8 min |
Vegetables and potatoes
| Food | Amount and prep | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hand-cut fries, thin | 1 lb russet, soaked 30 min and dried, ½–3 Tbsp oil | 390°F | 20–24 min |
| Hand-cut fries, thick | 1 lb russet, soaked 30 min and dried, ½–3 Tbsp oil | 390°F | 23–26 min |
| Potato wedges | 1½ lb russet, 1-inch wedges, 1 Tbsp oil | 390°F | 18–20 min |
| Baked potatoes | 4 whole (6–8 oz), pierced 3 times | 390°F | 30–35 min |
| Sweet potato chunks | 1½ lb, 1-inch chunks, 1 Tbsp oil | 390°F | 15–20 min |
| Brussels sprouts | 1 lb, halved, 1 Tbsp oil | 390°F | 15–20 min |
| Broccoli | 1 head, 1-inch florets, 1 Tbsp oil | 390°F | 10–12 min |
| Cauliflower | 1 head, 1-inch florets, 2 Tbsp oil | 390°F | 15–20 min |
| Carrots | 1 lb, ½-inch pieces, 1 Tbsp oil | 390°F | 13–16 min |
| Asparagus | 1 bunch, trimmed, 2 tsp oil | 390°F | 8–12 min |
| Green beans | 12 oz, trimmed, 1 Tbsp oil | 390°F | 8–10 min |
| Zucchini | 1 lb, 1-inch pieces, 1 Tbsp oil | 390°F | 15–18 min |
| Corn on the cob | 4 ears, husks removed, 1 Tbsp oil | 390°F | 12–15 min |
| Mushrooms | 8 oz, quartered, 1 Tbsp oil | 390°F | 7–9 min |
| Butternut squash | 1–1½ lb, 1–2-inch pieces, 1 Tbsp oil | 390°F | 20–25 min |
| Kale chips | 6 cups packed, stems removed, no oil | 300°F | 8–10 min |
Ninja’s guide recommends preheating for 3 minutes before adding food, shaking or tossing food during cooking, and checking it frequently. Its times assume that preheat.
Safe internal temperatures: how to know it is done
A time chart cannot tell you that chicken is safe to eat; a food thermometer can. Insert it into the thickest part, away from bone, and use these USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service minimums:
| Food | Safe minimum internal temperature |
|---|---|
| All poultry: breasts, thighs, wings, whole birds, ground poultry | 165°F |
| Ground beef, pork, veal and lamb (burgers, meatballs) | 160°F |
| Beef, pork, veal and lamb steaks, chops and roasts | 145°F, then rest at least 3 minutes |
| Fish and shellfish | 145°F |
| Egg dishes | 160°F |
| Leftovers and casseroles | 165°F |
If the time is up and the thermometer reads low, keep cooking in short intervals and check again. A golden crust says nothing about the center of a thick breast or a stuffed item.
What the preset buttons actually do
Preset buttons are simply stored starting settings. The Cosori Pro LE 5-Qt (CAF-L501-KUS) user manual lists these defaults:
| Preset | Default temperature | Default time | Shake reminder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 380°F | 20 min | No |
| French Fries | 380°F | 25 min | Yes |
| Frozen Foods | 350°F | 10 min | No |
| Steak | 450°F | 6 min | No |
| Seafood | 350°F | 8 min | Yes |
| Veggies | 350°F | 10 min | Yes |
| Bacon | 320°F | 8 min | No |
| Preheat | 400°F | 4 min | No |
Compare those with the chart above and the point is clear: two manufacturers start fries at different settings, and neither preset knows how much food you loaded. Use a preset as a starting point, adjust the time for your load, and verify meat with a thermometer. Cosori’s manual also recommends preheating unless the air fryer is already hot, with a shorter preheat at lower temperatures (4 minutes at 400–450°F, 3 minutes at 290–390°F, 2 minutes at 170–280°F).
How to adjust the times for your air fryer
- Smaller load: check a few minutes before the low end of the range. Half a pound of fries does not need the full 1-lb time.
- Bigger load: do not just pile food higher. Ninja raises both temperature and time for 2 lb of fries (360°F, 28–32 min) compared with 1 lb (350°F, 20–25 min). If food is more than a single loose layer, cook in batches or shake more often.
- No preheat: expect a slightly longer cook, because both charts assume a preheated appliance.
- Thicker pieces: a 1½-lb bone-in breast and a ½-lb boneless one sit in different rows for a reason. Go by thickness and the thermometer.
- Oven-style or dual-zone models: rack position, a second basket or a window door changes airflow. Start with the model’s own manual or app and check early.
- Converting an oven recipe: there is no manufacturer-backed universal formula. Start with a comparable food in this chart, watch the color, and confirm doneness by temperature.
Do not overfill: Cosori warns that heaped food can touch the heating coils and create a fire hazard, and that overfilled baskets cook unevenly. Keep food below any maximum line in your basket.
Related guides
- How to Use an Air Fryer — first cooks, preheating and shaking
- Air Fryer Safe Containers — foil, parchment, glass and silicone rules
- How to Clean an Air Fryer — stop grease from smoking on the next cook
- Ninja AF101 Model Guide — the 4-qt US basket this chart was written for
- Cosori Pro LE vs Lite 4.0-Qt — preset-driven US baskets compared
- Air Fryer Buying Guide — choose a size that cooks your usual portions in one batch
Sources used
- Ninja Air Fryer AF101 Owner’s Guide: Air Fry cooking chart and preheat recommendation (accessed October 27, 2026)
- Cosori Pro LE 5.0-Quart Air Fryer CAF-L501-KUS user manual (US, 2021-10-27 edition): presets, preheat and fill warning
- USDA FSIS: Safe Minimum Internal Temperature Chart (updated April 14, 2025)
Reviewed October 27, 2026. Times are quoted from the manufacturers’ published charts and presets; they are not results of our own cooking tests. Always follow the manual for your exact model.
Frequently asked questions
How long do frozen fries take in an air fryer?
Ninja’s AF101 chart lists 1 lb of frozen fries at 350°F for 20–25 minutes and 2 lb at 360°F for 28–32 minutes, shaken during cooking. Thin fries and smaller loads finish sooner.
How long do chicken wings take in an air fryer?
Ninja lists 2 lb of drumettes and flats tossed in 1 tablespoon of oil at 390°F for 22–26 minutes. Wings are done when the thickest piece reaches 165°F.
How long do chicken breasts take in an air fryer?
Ninja’s chart lists two boneless breasts of ½–¾ lb each at 375°F for 18–22 minutes, and two bone-in breasts of ¾–1½ lb each at 375°F for 25–35 minutes. Confirm 165°F in the thickest part.
What temperature should I use in an air fryer?
Most foods in Ninja’s chart cook at 375–390°F. Exceptions include frozen fries (350–360°F), bacon and crab cakes (350°F) and kale chips (300°F).
Do I need to preheat an air fryer?
Both manufacturers recommend it: Ninja advises a 3-minute preheat before adding ingredients, and Cosori’s Pro LE manual recommends preheating unless the unit is already hot. Without a preheat, allow a little extra time.
Why are air fryer times different from oven times?
An air fryer moves hot air quickly around a small amount of food, so many foods cook faster than in a full-size oven. There is no universal conversion formula, so start with a comparable food in a manufacturer chart and check doneness with a thermometer.
Should I shake the basket?
Yes for small pieces. Ninja recommends shaking or tossing food with silicone-tipped tongs during cooking, and Cosori’s French Fries, Seafood and Veggies presets include a shake reminder.
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