05 Cooking basicsHow-to
Air Fryer Cooking Times: What Ninja, Cosori and Instant Manuals Say
Air fryer cooking times and temperatures side by side from Ninja, Cosori, Instant and Philips charts, plus USDA FSIS safe internal temperatures.
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Spec sheet05
- Chicken wings
- 390°F to 400°F; 16 to 30 minutes across Ninja, Cosori and Instant charts
- Poultry safe temperature
- 165°F (USDA FSIS)
- Fish safe temperature
- 145°F (USDA FSIS)
- Oven recipe conversion
- Ninja: lower the temperature by 25°F and check often
- Maximum temperature
- 400°F on Ninja AF100 and Instant Vortex; up to 450°F on Cosori Pro LE
Air fryer cooking times depend on the model, so start with your manual’s chart. Across Ninja, Cosori and Instant charts, chicken wings run 390°F to 400°F for 16 to 30 minutes and salmon fillets 380°F to 390°F for 6 to 13 minutes. Confirm with a food thermometer: USDA FSIS says poultry is safe at 165°F and fish at 145°F.
The tables below copy each brand’s published figures without averaging or adjusting them. Where a chart has no row for a food, the cell says “not listed.” We have not cooked these foods ourselves; the numbers are the manufacturers’ own starting points.
Which charts are on this page?
| Brand and model | Source | Temperature range |
|---|---|---|
| Ninja AF100 series (AF101 and others) | 2018 owner’s guide and quick start cooking chart | Up to 400°F |
| Cosori Iconic | Cosori’s online cooking times guide (April 2026) | Chart goes up to 450°F |
| Cosori Pro LE (CAF-L501) | User manual preset table (no per-food chart) | 170°F to 450°F |
| Instant Vortex and Vortex Plus 6 qt | 2019 user manual, recommended cooking times | Up to 400°F |
| Philips Premium Airfryer XXL (HD9650) | US user manual food table | Listed in °C and °F, up to 400°F |
SharkNinja’s support site says the AF100 cook charts cover SKUs including the AF101, AF100 and AF105. Cosori’s guide says owners of other Cosori models should use the recipe book that came in the box.
Air fryer cooking times by food and brand
Amounts matter. Each cell gives the amount the brand lists, then its temperature and time.
| Food | Ninja AF100 series | Cosori Iconic | Instant Vortex 6 qt | Philips HD9650 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken wings | 2 lbs, drumettes and flats, 1 Tbsp oil: 390°F, 22 to 26 min | 2 lbs: 400°F, 16 to 22 min, shake | 400°F, 20 to 30 min, turn partway | 2 to 8 pieces, about 100 g (3 to 4 oz) each, one layer: 350°F, 14 to 18 min, shake |
| Chicken breast, boneless | 2 breasts (1/2 to 3/4 lb each), brushed with oil: 375°F, 18 to 22 min | 8 to 10 oz: 390°F, 15 to 22 min, flip | Not listed | About 160 g (5 to 6 oz), 1 to 5 pieces: 350°F, 18 to 22 min |
| Chicken drumsticks | Not listed | 6 pieces: 395°F, 18 to 24 min, flip | Not listed | 200 to 1800 g (7 to 63 oz): 350°F, 18 to 35 min, shake |
| Salmon fillet | 2 fillets (4 oz each), brushed with oil: 390°F, 10 to 13 min | 1 inch thick: 380°F, 6 to 12 min | Not listed | Salmon not listed (fish fillet, see below) |
| Fish fillet (fresh) | Not listed | White fish, 1 to 2 inches: 380°F, 8 to 12 min | Not listed | About 120 g (4 oz), 1 to 3 in one layer: 400°F, 9 to 12 min |
| Frozen fries | 1 lb: 350°F, 20 to 25 min; 2 lbs: 360°F, 28 to 32 min | Thin cut: 395°F, 14 to 18 min, shake | Thin cut: 385°F, 14 to 18 min, shake | Thin, 200 to 1400 g (7 to 50 oz): 350°F, 13 to 32 min, shake |
| Frozen chicken nuggets | 12 oz box: 390°F, 10 to 13 min | 385°F, 7 to 12 min, shake | 400°F, 10 to 15 min, turn partway | 80 to 1300 g (3 to 46 oz): 350°F, 7 to 18 min, shake |
| Bacon | 4 strips, cut in half: 350°F, 8 to 10 min | Regular: 385°F, 5 to 8 min, flip | Not listed | Not listed |
| Steak | 2 steaks (8 oz each): 390°F, 10 to 20 min | New York strip, 1 inch: 450°F, 6 to 12 min, flip | Not listed | Not listed |
| Burgers | 4 quarter-pound patties, 1 inch thick: 375°F, 8 to 10 min | 4 oz, 1/2 to 3/4 inch: 450°F, 6 to 14 min, flip | Not listed | About 150 g (5 oz), 1 to 4 patties: 400°F, 10 to 15 min |
| Broccoli | 1 head, 1-inch florets, 1 Tbsp oil: 390°F, 10 to 12 min | Small florets: 425°F, 5 to 9 min, shake | Not listed | Not listed (mixed vegetables: 400°F, 10 to 20 min, shake) |
| Brussels sprouts | 1 lb, cut in half, stems removed, 1 Tbsp oil: 390°F, 15 to 20 min | Quartered: 415°F, 8 to 16 min, shake | Not listed | Not listed |
| Sweet potatoes | 4 whole (6 to 8 oz each), pierced with a fork, no oil: 390°F, 30 to 35 min; 1 1/2 lbs in 1-inch chunks, 1 Tbsp oil: 390°F, 15 to 20 min | Baked whole, 9 to 10 oz: 385°F, 45 to 60 min | Not listed | Not listed |
| Green beans | 1 bag (12 oz), trimmed, 1 Tbsp oil: 390°F, 8 to 10 min | Whole: 415°F, 4 to 8 min, shake | Not listed | Not listed |
| Carrots | 1 lb, peeled, cut in 1/2-inch pieces, 1 Tbsp oil: 390°F, 13 to 16 min | Sliced: 425°F, 10 to 16 min, shake | Not listed | Not listed |
| Butternut squash | 1 to 1 1/2 lbs, cut in 1- to 2-inch pieces, 1 Tbsp oil: 390°F, 20 to 25 min | Not listed by name (zucchini/squash, 1-inch slices: 385°F, 8 to 14 min, shake) | Not listed | Not listed |
| Turkey breast | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
Two pages go deeper on single foods: how long to air fry chicken wings and how long to air fry salmon.
Turkey breast is in the table to show the gap: none of the four charts has a row for it. The times that turkey and air fryer makers do publish are collected on our air fryer turkey breast page. For the vegetable rows in the context of a big meal, with batches, racks and keeping food hot, see using an air fryer for Thanksgiving and holiday meals.
What about models with presets?
Cosori’s Pro LE manual publishes preset defaults rather than a food chart. Each preset can be adjusted from 1 to 60 minutes.
| Cosori Pro LE preset | Default temperature | Default time |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 380°F | 20 min |
| French Fries | 380°F | 25 min |
| Frozen Foods | 350°F | 10 min |
| Steak | 450°F | 6 min |
| Seafood | 350°F | 8 min |
| Veggies | 350°F | 10 min |
| Bacon | 320°F | 8 min |
Instant’s Vortex Slim manual lists Air Fry at 400°F for 15 minutes and Roast at 380°F for 18 minutes as defaults. Presets are starting settings, not food-specific instructions.
What are the safe internal temperatures?
Chart times are guides. The finish line is the internal temperature, and every source here points to a thermometer. USDA FSIS notes that “each air fryer will have varying cooking times” but “the safe internal temperature is always the same.”
| Food | USDA FSIS safe minimum internal temperature |
|---|---|
| All poultry (breasts, whole bird, legs, thighs, wings, ground) | 165°F |
| Fish and shellfish | 145°F |
| Beef, pork, veal and lamb steaks, chops and roasts | 145°F, rest at least 3 minutes |
| Ground meats | 160°F |
| Leftovers and casseroles | 165°F |
Turkey falls under the poultry row: 165°F in the thickest part of the breast, away from the bone. Reheating is its own topic, covered in how to reheat food in an air fryer.
Instant’s Vortex manual says to always use a meat thermometer and points readers to fsis.usda.gov. Ninja recommends an instant-read thermometer for proteins.
Food thermometers to check chart times against
Shop the range
Browse current instant-read meat thermometers on eBay, new condition only.
Shop instant-read meat thermometersOpens eBay in a new tab. Check condition, seller feedback and returns on the listing.
How should you read an air fryer chart?
Match the amount. Ninja’s wing time is for 2 pounds. Philips gives a minimum and maximum amount for each food and says not to exceed it. Cooking far more than the chart amount means crowding, and USDA FSIS says crowding can stop air from circulating enough to cook food properly.
Add the preheat. Ninja’s FAQ says to add 3 minutes to the total cook time for preheating. Cosori’s Pro LE manual lists preheating as its own step. Philips says its HD9650 does not need preheating.
Check early. Ninja says to check progress throughout cooking and remove food as soon as the time ends. Cosori’s guide says to check doneness a few minutes before the end of the range.
Adjust from oven recipes carefully. Ninja’s AF100 guide says to lower an oven recipe’s temperature by 25°F and check often. Cosori’s Iconic guide uses its own formula that cuts both temperature and time. The Instant and Philips manuals we checked give no conversion rule.
Allow for frozen food. Cosori’s Iconic guide says frozen items generally need 2 to 5 extra minutes. Ninja’s owner’s guide says whether to defrost first depends on the food, so follow the package instructions.
Watch the maximum temperature. The Ninja AF100 and Instant Vortex top out at 400°F, so a 450°F Cosori setting cannot be copied onto them.
Do racks change cooking times?
None of these charts give separate times for cooking on a second rack. Ninja’s AF100 guide lists a stainless-steel multi-layer rack as “not included with all models,” and its chart assumes food on the crisper plate. If you add a layer rack, keep food out of reach of the heating element, which Cosori and Instant both warn about, and check each layer with a thermometer. Our air fryer racks and pans guide covers sizes.
Layer racks for basket air fryers
Shop the range
Browse current air fryer racks on eBay, new condition only.
Shop air fryer racksOpens eBay in a new tab. Check condition, seller feedback and returns on the listing.
Where can you find the chart for your model?
- Ninja: SharkNinja’s support site posts cook charts and owner’s guides by series, with the SKUs each covers.
- Cosori: the online Iconic chart, or the in-box recipe book for other models.
- Instant: the recommended cooking times table in the user manual, where one is printed. The newer Vortex Slim manual has no food chart.
- Philips: the food table in the user manual, which the HD9650 manual gives in grams and ounces with a minimum and maximum amount.
A cookbook written for air fryers can fill gaps for foods your chart does not list, but it is still a starting point. The thermometer check stays the same.
Air fryer cookbooks with time and temperature tables
Shop the range
Browse current air fryer cookbooks on eBay, new condition only.
Shop air fryer cookbooksOpens eBay in a new tab. Check condition, seller feedback and returns on the listing.
For setup, preheating and shaking, see how to use an air fryer. The air fryer accessories hub lists liners, racks and thermometers by type.
Frequently asked questions
Why do air fryer cooking charts disagree?
Each chart was written for one machine, one amount of food and one set of cuts. Ninja's chart lists 2 pounds of wings, Cosori's Iconic chart lists 2 pounds, and Philips gives a minimum and maximum amount for each food, so the times are not interchangeable.
How do I convert an oven recipe to an air fryer?
Ninja's AF100 guide says to lower the oven temperature by 25°F and check the food often to avoid overcooking. Cosori's Iconic guide has its own formula that reduces both temperature and time, so use the rule for your brand.
Do air fryer chart times include preheating?
Not usually. Ninja's FAQ says to add 3 minutes to the total cook time for preheating, and Cosori's Pro LE manual lists preheating as a separate step before cooking.
What temperature should chicken reach in an air fryer?
USDA FSIS says all poultry, including breasts, thighs and wings, is safe at 165°F measured with a food thermometer. The air fryer does not change the safe temperature.
What temperature is turkey done?
165°F, the USDA FSIS figure for all poultry. For a turkey breast, measure in the thickest part and avoid the bone. For a whole bird, FSIS says to check the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast.
Sources
- Ninja Air Fryer AF100 Series Owner's Guide and Quick Start Guide (2018)SharkNinja (PDF copy hosted by LINCC)
- AF100 Series Ninja Air Fryer - Cook ChartsSharkNinja
- AF100 Series Ninja Air Fryer FAQsSharkNinja
- The Cosori Iconic Air Fryer Cooking Times GuideCosori
- Cosori Pro LE 5.0-Quart Air Fryer User Manual (CAF-L501-KUS)Cosori
- Instant Vortex and Vortex Plus 6 Quart Air Fryer User Manual (2019): Recommended Cooking TimesInstant Brands (archived copy of the instantappliances.com PDF)
- Instant Vortex Slim 6 QT Air Fryer User ManualInstant Brands (PDF hosted by The Home Depot)
- Philips Premium Airfryer XXL HD9650 User Manual (US)Philips (Versuni)
- Safe Minimum Internal Temperature ChartUSDA Food Safety and Inspection Service
- Air Fryers and Food SafetyUSDA Food Safety and Inspection Service
- Turkey Basics: Safe CookingUSDA Food Safety and Inspection Service
- Food ThermometersUSDA Food Safety and Inspection Service
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