Air Fryer vs. Toaster Oven: Which Is Best for You?

By now you'll probably have heard of air fryers and toaster ovens. These modern kitchen appliances are useful when it comes to convenient countertop cooking. However, since they both function as mini ovens, it can be tough to know the difference between the two. In this helpful guide, we will delve deeper into the common debate between air fryers vs. toaster ovens, to help you better understand how each one works and which is best suited to your cooking needs.

Air Fryer vs. Toaster Oven

So what is the difference between an air fryer vs. toaster oven? Although they can both be to make crispy food, the primary difference is the way they cook. In short – an air fryer uses convection to circulate hot air for even heating, while the toaster oven uses stationary heating elements (typically above and below the baking rack), similar to the way a traditional oven would.

Air Fryer Pros & Cons

Although they are called air fryers, these smart appliances don't use oil to deep fry food. Instead they utilize convection to circulate hot air around the interior basket in order to provide the same golden brown color, crispy texture, and moist interior obtained from deep frying, only without the grease. To learn more about exactly how air fryers work, how to use them, and picking the right one, read How Does an Air Fryer Work? and How to Use an Air Fryer Oven.

Pros of an Air Fryer

• Versatile: They can perform many of the same jobs as deep fryers, ranges, and toaster ovens, and cook everything from roast chicken to toasted entrees, and even baked goods and desserts. Many air fryers have additional cooking functions like grill, dehydrate, and reheat.
• Size: With the variety of cooking options air fryers offer, you receive the benefits of all these appliances in one compact unit, freeing up counter space for other kitchen gadgets.
• Heat: The circulating air promotes even heating, crisping, and browning food in a faster cook time.
• Speed: Air fryers preheat within minutes and can often cook meals in half an hour or less.
• Advantage: When using an air fryer, you only need to use a little (if any) oil, and will still achieve that same crispy deep fried texture.
• Ease of Use: They quickly and easily cook single serving meals (you don't need the range). You can simply add your food to the drawer, turn it to your preferred setting, and get on with other tasks while waiting for your food to be ready.
• Cleaning: Air fryers usually have a removable stainless steel basket that is dishwasher safe, making for easy cleanup.
• Extra: Whether you want to prevent accidental burns or keep your kitchen temperature lower, the air fryer does not produce a lot of heat, leaving the exterior safer to the touch.

Best Used For:

• Reheating leftovers (making them hot and crispy again)
• Making healthy french fries, whether frozen or fresh (they do need to be shaken to prevent a soggy bottom)
• Roasting smaller items like fish and chicken wings
• Melting cheese in your favorite recipe

Cons of an Air Fryer

• Size: The size of the air fryer basket is limited, preventing you from cooking large meals or full pizzas without overcrowding.
• Disadvantage: You cannot see what the food looks like (while cooking) without opening the drawer.
• Temperature Control: Some air fryers do not offer you control over the temperature settings, making baking a little more tricky.
• Extra: Baking also requires smaller (sometimes specialized) pans to fit the basket – meaning you would have to buy extra bakeware for the job.

Can't Be Used For:

• Making toast as it can only be done one slice at a time.
• Wet battered foods (best done with a deep fryer).

Toaster Oven Pros & Cons

Toaster ovens use concentrated radiant heat without convection. They are basically small countertop ovens since they also use heating elements above and below the cooking tray. Read How to Choose the Best Toaster Oven for Your Kitchen for more information on these appliances.

Pros of a Toaster Oven

• Versatility: They are more versatile and can typically do anything from roasting batches of wings to baking cakes, as well as toasting and broiling. It's also possible to find toaster ovens with a convection feature, allowing you to obtain a similar cook to air fryers.
• Size: They come in a range of sizes and their broader surface means you can more easily cook larger meals in toaster ovens. You can also toast multiple pieces of bread at a time, and more effectively cook foodstuffs that need to be laid flat, like pizza and baked treats.
• Heating: It is possible to adjust the temperature of toaster ovens, making them better suited to someone who intends to do plenty of baking. Additionally, you can use most of the bakeware you already have, as toaster ovens have a lot more interior cooking space.
• Advantages: The unidirectional heat during the broil setting is good for melting cheese, browning pastry, or finishing off a pan-seared filet.
• Ease of Use: Toaster ovens are fairly easy to use, requiring only a button or two to start cooking. They also usually feature a glass door, allowing you to monitor your food. You can also more quickly remove food as soon as it is cooked to your preference.
• Extra: A toaster oven is good if you are looking to use less energy than what a conventional oven does (also helping to keep your kitchen cooler in the warmer months). They also often feature a keep warm function.

Best Used For:

• Toasting bread and bagels
• Melting cheese (with the broil setting)
• Cooking pizzas
• Frozen waffles
• Open-faced sandwich melts
• Cooking wet battered foods

Cons of a Toaster Oven

• Size: Their larger footprint makes toaster ovens less suitable for kitchens with limited countertop space.
• Disadvantage: Although they are designed to toast, broil, and bake a large range of foods, toaster ovens take a longer time to preheat and cook, and don't cook in the same efficient way that air fryers do.
• Temperature Control: While you may have greater control over the temperature settings, the concentrated heat can create hot spots that cause uneven cooking.
• Cleaning: Unfortunately toaster ovens are a little more difficult to clean as only the cooking tray is usually removable.
• Extra: While you can reheat leftovers in a toaster oven, they will require extra flipping to ensure an overall crispy texture.

Can't Be Used For:

• There are no frying options.

Now that you have more insight into the air fryer vs. toaster oven debate, you will be able to more easily choose which one (or both) will most fit your kitchen needs.

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