Abstract: A system and method for air frying food which removes or mitigates ‘smoke’ in an oven cavity (12) due to cooking. Fans (24, 58, 68) and catalysts of a cooking appliance (10) are operated for an entirety of a cooking time, while heating elements (16, 18, 20, 52, 54, 56) are not operated during a final portion of the cooking time. For example, the heating elements (16, 18, 20, 52, 54, 56) are not operated for a final five minutes, or 25%, of the cooking time.

Abstract: A method is provided for cooking a food item in an oven cavity of a cooking appliance, the cooking appliance including a first heating element and a second heating element spaced about the oven cavity. The method includes a first stage wherein the first heating element and the second heating element are sequentially energized according to a first duty cycle in which the first heating element is energized at a first time for a first duration and the second heating element is energized at a second time for a second duration. The first duration and the second duration are regulated based on a measured temperature and a first predetermined target temperature.