426°F converts to Gas Mark 8 in UK ovens and air fryers. This high-temperature setting is ideal for roasting meats, baking artisan bread, or achieving extra-crispy results in your air fryer. Whether you're following an American recipe or adjusting your air fryer settings, knowing this conversion ensures perfect cooking every time.
The Gas Mark scale is uniquely British, ranging from ¼ to 9 for domestic ovens. At 426°F (218°C), you're working with Gas Mark 8 - one of the hottest settings before reaching maximum oven temperature. This intense heat creates the perfect environment for quick-roasting joints of meat or creating bakery-quality crusts on bread and pastries. Many modern air fryers can reach this temperature too, making them excellent for small-batch high-heat cooking without heating up your whole oven.
When converting 426 degrees Fahrenheit to Gas Mark, it's helpful to know the scale increments. Each full Gas Mark represents about 25°C (45°F), with Gas Mark 8 specifically calibrated to 220°C (428°F) - close enough to 426°F for practical cooking purposes. For more conversion help, check our comprehensive air fryer conversion chart that includes all common temperature ranges.
This blistering heat works wonders for certain dishes. In traditional ovens, Gas Mark 8 is perfect for initial high-heat roasting of beef joints or lamb to create that coveted crispy exterior while keeping the interior juicy. For air fryer users, 426°F delivers ultra-crispy chicken wings, roast potatoes with crackling skins, or even quick-baked artisan bread rolls. The rapid air circulation in air fryers means foods cook faster at this temperature than in conventional ovens.
Modern air fryers typically display temperatures in both Celsius and Fahrenheit, but understanding the Gas Mark equivalent helps when converting traditional British recipes. At 426°F (Gas Mark 8), you'll want to reduce cooking times by about 20% compared to oven instructions. The concentrated heat and fan circulation cook foods more efficiently - a whole chicken that might take an hour in the oven could be done in 45 minutes in the air fryer at this temperature.
Some air fryer models have pre-set programmes that approximate Gas Mark 8 temperatures. Look for "roast" or "bake" functions that reach the 200-220°C range. If you're adapting a favourite chicken recipe from oven to air fryer, start checking for doneness about 5-10 minutes before the original cooking time suggests.
Working at 426°F/Gas Mark 8 requires extra caution. Always preheat your air fryer for 3-5 minutes at this temperature to ensure even cooking. Use oven mitts when handling the basket, as the metal components get extremely hot. Avoid overcrowding - at this intense heat, proper air circulation is crucial for even results. For cleaning after high-heat cooking, our guide to air fryer maintenance makes the job simple.
While 426°F equals Gas Mark 8 in conventional ovens, the experience differs slightly in air fryers. The concentrated heat source and powerful fan mean foods brown more quickly at the surface while remaining moist inside. This makes it excellent for roast potatoes or other vegetables where you want crispy edges with tender centres. In pizza ovens, this temperature would be considered moderate, but for home appliances, it's at the higher end of the scale.
Baking enthusiasts should note that 426°F/Gas Mark 8 works best for items that benefit from an initial high heat blast before reducing temperature. Many bread recipes start at this temperature to create "oven spring" - that rapid initial rise - before lowering to Gas Mark 6 (400°F) to finish baking without burning the crust. The same technique adapts well to air fryer baking for small batches of rolls or focaccia.
Beyond roasting and baking, this high temperature excels for reviving leftovers. Day-old pizza or fried chicken regains its crispness in just 3-4 minutes at 426°F in the air fryer. It's also ideal for flash-cooking thin cuts of meat like escalopes or making quick vegetable crisps from kale, beetroot, or parsnip slices. The intense heat quickly removes moisture while preserving vibrant colours and nutrients.
