Air-frying has taken the cooking world by storm, and for good reason. Air fryers use high-intensity hot air to produce crispy food without the added calories, fat, and mess of deep-frying. Combine an air fryer with a toaster oven and you’ve got a highly versatile, relatively small appliance that can give chicken wings and other appetizers an incredibly satisfying crunch as well as perform all the functions of a traditional toaster oven.
Several small-appliance manufacturers have come out with versions of air-fryer ovens in the past few years, and the technology is constantly improving. We wanted to know which models offered the best cooking experience, so we tested them. We air-fried, baked, roasted, and toasted in today’s most popular air-fryer toaster ovens—and our results may surprise folks who are interested in buying one of these devices.
Keep reading to learn more about these countertop appliances and to find out how each one of the following earned a spot in our lineup of the best air-fryer toaster ovens.
- BEST OVERALL: KitchenAid Digital Countertop Oven With Air Fry
- RUNNER-UP: Cuisinart TOA-60 Airfryer Toaster Oven
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Instant Omni Air Fryer Toaster Oven
- UPGRADE PICK: Breville Joule Smart Oven Pro Stainless Steel
- MOST VERSATILE: Cosori Original Air Fryer Toaster Oven
- BEST LARGE-CAPACITY: Ninja Foodi 10-in-1 Smart XL Pro Air Fry Oven
- BEST FRENCH-DOOR: Bella 33 Quart French Door Toaster Oven Air Fryer
How We Tested the Best Air-Fryer Toaster Ovens
Air-fry toaster ovens are designed for convenience, so we kept ease of use at the forefront when choosing which models to test. We extensively researched more than 25 different models; we took product specifications and consumer reviews into account, and we also considered cooking functions and included accessories. To suit a range of kitchens, we chose a variety of sizes, cooking capacities, and price points.
In our hands-on testing, we used an oven thermometer to determine the accuracy of each toaster oven’s internal cooking temperature. Then we started cooking! We baked cookies, used the air-fryer function for chicken wings, fries, and onion rings, toasted bread, roasted vegetables, made pizza, and baked muffins. We also proofed bread dough (let it rise) in the ovens with proofing functions, and if an oven offered an additional special feature, we tried it out as well. Our test kitchen saw a lot of activity and was filled with wonderful aromas during the testing phase.
We also noted whether an air-fryer toaster oven became uncomfortably warm to the touch and how uniformly it cooked the test foods. As we tested, we awarded points based on a rubric. The better the air fryers performed a specific function, the higher the points they received. After testing was complete, we compared the scores and used them to determine each oven’s best use.
Our Top Picks
We baked, toasted, and more with today’s top air-fryer toaster ovens, and the following models earned their spot in this lineup. Discover how well each model performed in our hands-on testing and find out what we liked—and didn’t like. These ovens offer plenty of cooking options but vary in function, size, and amenities. One is sure to suit any home chef’s cooking needs.
Photo: amazon.com
With a relatively small footprint for its large capacity, this KitchenAid digital countertop oven is convenient for most kitchens and considered the best toaster oven air-fryer on our list. It boasts nine cooking settings: dehydrate, bagel, toast, air-fry, bake, broil, reheat, keep warm, and proof. Six slices of bread fit with ease for our toast test, and we were impressed that every slice was uniformly golden brown on both sides. We used the air-fry function to make chicken wings, which turned out nicely with just the right skin crispiness. And our cookies? Lightly browned on the edges and soft and chewy in the centers.
With a 0.74-cubic-foot capacity, this small air-fryer toaster oven can accommodate a 9-by-13-inch baking pan—but just barely—and we felt it was better to use smaller pans to enable better airflow during cooking. We also prepared pizza, fries, onion rings, and muffins, and we proofed bread dough. The KitchenAid excelled in all our tests, although its cooking temperature was about 3 to 4 degrees Fahrenheit lower than our oven thermometer. That is still within the range of being fairly accurate and shouldn’t cause any cooking problems.
This countertop oven is well insulated, and its exterior didn’t become hot during the cooking process. Its window, however, did get uncomfortably hot to the touch after about 15 minutes of cooking. This high-achieving little oven is well suited for preparing meals and snacks, reheating food, and making perfectly golden toast.
Product Specs
- Dimensions: 17 inches wide by 16 inches deep by 11.3 inches high
- Capacity: 21 liters
- Cooking functions: Dehydrate, proof, toast, air-fry, bake, broil, keep warm
Pros
- A compact air-fryer toaster oven that won’t take up a lot of countertop space
- Has good airflow, which is important for toasting bread slices uniformly
- Bakers should appreciate the proofing function that keeps bread dough at the right temp for rising
Cons
- Toaster oven’s front window got uncomfortably hot during the cooking process
Get the KitchenAid air-fryer toaster oven at Amazon, Target, or The Home Depot.
Photo: amazon.com
The Cuisinart air-fryer toaster oven features seven settings: air-fry, convection bake, convection broil, bake, broil, warm, and toast. It’s large enough to cook a 12-inch pizza, which we prepared using the bake function and then switched to air-fry for the last few minutes to create hot, bubbly cheese.
The Cuisinart has dials rather than a digital display; we didn’t mind the old-school style at all. Not only could we choose from the oven’s preset functions, but we also liked that we could select our own temperature. While some ovens with preset temperatures automatically adjust depending on the function chosen, this Cuisinart is a top choice for advanced cooks who like to tweak temps. Its interior light was bright, and we could see the food as it cooked.
One of our favorite features on this Cuisinart air fryer toaster oven is its crumb tray, which is accessible from outside the unit. It slid out, so we could dump crumbs after making toast while the oven was preheating for air-frying chicken wings. Very handy! The exterior of this oven gets warm during use but not uncomfortably so.
The Cuisinart oven cooked all our test foods well, but we did have one complaint: The temperature inside the oven was about 15 degrees Fahrenheit higher than our oven thermometer. We had to adjust the oven’s temp down 15 degrees Fahrenheit when cooking. This may not be a fault that carries over to all Cuisinart models. Still, we suggest using an inexpensive oven thermometer to test the accuracy of all toaster ovens (and standard ovens) and then adjusting the temperature selections to suit.
Product Specs
- Dimensions: 16 inches wide by 14 inches deep by 15.5 inches high
- Capacity: 0.6 cubic feet (or 3 pounds)
- Cooking functions: Air-fry, convection bake, broil, warm, toast, and more
Pros
- Stainless steel exterior gives it a high-end look likely to complement most kitchens
- 7 different functions; can tweak the temperature to suit individual cooking preferences
- Crumb tray conveniently accessible from the outside—no need to open oven door to clean tray
Cons
- Interior temperature ran about 15 degrees Fahrenheit hotter than our oven thermometer
Get the Cuisinart air-fryer toaster oven at Target or Best Buy.
Photo: amazon.com
There’s no need to spend a fortune to enjoy the benefits of an air-fryer toaster oven. Omni by Instant Pot has ditched all but one knob and gone for a user-friendly digital screen and touch buttons for conveniently setting temperature, time, and functions. While this is the most affordable model in our lineup, it was also the one with the highest degree of accuracy regarding oven temperature. It was spot-on.
We baked, toasted, air-fried, and reheated food. The Omni met all our baked and air-fried expectations—chicken wings were tender with crispy skin, the cookies were golden on the edges and soft in the middle, and the fries were terrific. Our only issue with the Omni was its toasting function: When the tops of our slices were golden brown, the bottoms were already starting to burn.
This appliance has an interior light and six functions: air-fry, roast, bake, reheat, warm, and toast. The digital display toggles between the cooking time and the interior temperature.
However, its exterior heated up quite a bit, and its window got uncomfortably hot. It’s probably not a good option for using in a spot where little fingers can reach it. This model comes at a great price point for users who want to make quick meals and snacks.
Product Specs
- Dimensions: 18 inches wide by 15.5 inches deep by 18 inches high
- Capacity: 19 quarts
- Cooking functions: Air-fry, roast, bake, warm, broil, and toast
Pros
- Interior cooking temperature was spot-on when tested with an oven thermometer
- Air-fry function works very well—cooking up golden fries and crispy-yet-tender chicken wings
- Digital readout is large and easy to see, even from across the room
Cons
- Toasting function didn’t uniformly toast both sides of the bread slices
- Exterior warmed up and the oven window got uncomfortably hot
Get the Instant air-fryer toaster oven at Amazon or Instant Home.
Photo: bestbuy.com
Upon opening this Breville’s box, a sign directed us to “Get started by downloading the app.” We did, and it synced easily with the Joule oven. While cooks will need a Wi-Fi network to use this oven’s smart features, all 13 cooking functions can be accessed from the control panel.
We preheated this Breville toaster oven with the oven thermometer inside to check temperature accuracy. The Joule preheated quickly and was within 1 to 2 degrees Fahrenheit of our thermometer, so we rated it highly accurate in terms of temperature. We toasted nine slices of bread, and each piece came out uniformly browned on both sides. Our fries were crispy and golden on the outside and deliciously soft on the inside. The air-fryer function cooked our chicken wings to perfection, and our cookies came out golden around the edges with chewy centers using the bake function.
In testing, we found the Joule app’s Autopilot function helpful when preparing a pizza. The app provided the pizza recipe, so we mixed the dough, placed it in a bowl to rise, and then selected Autopilot. It was necessary, however, to press the oven’s “start” button manually to proceed. This is a safety feature that keeps users from turning it on before visually inspecting it to ensure nothing is in the oven that shouldn’t be, such as a child’s toy.
Autopilot adjusted the temperature to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, which is optimal for proofing yeast dough. In 60 minutes, the app prompted us to roll out the dough and add our toppings. The oven then automatically set the correct time and temperature for cooking the pizza. The app gave us step-by-step instructions throughout the whole process, told us how to check if the pizza was done, and even suggested sprinkling it with parmesan cheese after taking it out.
This high-end Breville toaster oven air fryer performs well. For novice cooks and those new to air-frying, the 200-plus step-by-step recipes on the app should prove helpful. Autopilot will adjust the oven’s functions when following a recipe, making temperature and convection changes when necessary. Since all the models we tested come with air-fry, all of them are capable of convection cooking, but the Joule is the only one that turns this feature on and off, via Autopilot, to suit the specific food being cooked.
The oven’s exterior barely got warm during the cooking process—so not a safety issue. Indeed, the only downside to the Breville Joule is its price tag; it is more than double the cost of some of the other models we tested. Still, its features and accuracy are tough to beat.
Product Specs
- Dimensions: 21.5 inches wide by 17.3 inches deep by 12.8 inches high
- Capacity: 9 slices of toast
- Cooking functions: Toast, broil, bake, roast, warm, proof, air-fry, slow cook
Pros
- Includes pizza pan, 2 wire racks, broiling rack, roasting pan, and air-fry basket
- Breville toaster oven air fryer’s iQ Technology ensures consistent cooking temps throughout the oven
- Joule app provides recipes and instructions and monitors the cooking process, adjusting temps when necessary
Cons
- Pricey compared with other smart air fryer toast ovens on the market
Get the Breville smart oven air fryer at Best Buy, Williams Sonoma, or Breville.
Photo: amazon.com
Of all the ovens we tested, the Cosori came with the best cookbook. It lists dozens of mouthwatering recipes and includes full-color photos of each one. This air-fryer toaster oven boasts an impressive list of functions, including roast, toast, bagel, bake, pizza, cookies, dehydrate, ferment, keep warm, rotisserie, and air-fry. Each function is preset to provide the best cooking environment.
We were surprised by the ferment option until we figured out that the manufacturer uses this term instead of “proof.” This mode provides a slightly warm temperature to encourage yeast dough to rise, but it does not actually ferment foods, like yogurt. The Cosori does include a rotisserie, however, so we decided to roast a chicken. It came out with delicious crispy skin and tender, juicy meat, but be aware this is an immobile rotisserie—it doesn’t rotate. Cosori added this nice feature because large food items, such as a whole chicken, cook more evenly in the center of the oven. The oven’s cooking temperature ran about 3 degrees Fahrenheit less than our oven thermometer—still reasonably accurate.
Novice cooks will appreciate the Cosori’s ease of use: Simply select one of the 12 preset functions and let the oven do the rest. With all the options on the Cosori, it can easily be used in place of a standard oven. All the foods we cooked in the oven came out well, and we thought the toast function was the best of all the models. On the downside, the outside of the oven got pretty hot, and the window became uncomfortable to touch, so keep it high and out of the reach of little fingers.
Product Specs
- Dimensions: 20.1 inches wide by 16.5 inches deep by 12.5 inches high
- Capacity: 32 quarts/ 30 liters
- Cooking functions: air-fry, toast, bake, broil, rotisserie, dehydrate, and more
Pros
- Preset cooking functions are user-friendly and offer correct cooking conditions for 12 different food types
- Sleek, stainless steel exterior is attractive enough for high-end kitchens
- The light inside is very bright and illuminates the entire oven
Cons
- Outside gets pretty warm; window gets uncomfortably hot to the touch
- Ferment feature can be confusing—it’s designed to proof yeast dough, not ferment yogurt or kombucha
Get the Cosori air-fryer toaster oven at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Cosori.
Photo: amazon.com
Those wanting more space in an air-fryer toaster oven should check out Ninja’s Smart XL. We air-fried chicken wings on the included roasting tray on a lower rack and then added a basket full of onion rings during the last 10 minutes of cook time. Both came out perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
Its 10 functions include air-fry, air roast, toast, bagel, bake, whole roast, broil, dehydrate, reheat, and pizza. Other features include an integrated meat thermometer that we used to ensure a small roast reached the appropriate interior temp. We could choose from rare to well-done—we opted for medium, then selected the Whole Roast function, and felt it came out just right. The control panel is easy to use, and the oven has bright interior light. The Smart XL air-fryer toaster oven also has ample accessories: a roast tray, two wire racks, one air-fry basket, and two sheet pans.
Ninja claims the Smart XL will cook up to 30 percent faster than similar convection toaster ovens, and while it does preheat quickly, we believe it cooks at about the same speed as all other air-fryer toaster ovens. This is not a microwave oven, and certain foods require specific times and temperatures to cook correctly—using a higher temperature doesn’t change that. In fact, its interior cooking temp ran a little low: consistently about 8 to 9 degrees Fahrenheit on the cool side, according to our oven thermometer.
That said, all our test foods came out well, and the added accessories make cooking with this Ninja toaster oven a fun and versatile experience.
Product Specs
- Dimensions: 22.22 wide by 17.09 inches deep by 13.34 inches high
- Capacity: 12 liters
- Cooking functions: Air-fry, air roast, bake, broil, toast, dehydrate, and more
Pros
- Smart thermometer monitors interior meat temperature, stopping the cooking process when specific temperature is reached
- Dual-rack design and spacious oven interior allow for 2-tray cooking
- Comes with 7 handy accessories for cooking various types of food
Cons
- Relatively pricey model compared with other air fryer toaster ovens
- Oven temperature ran 8 to 9 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than it should have in testing
Get the Ninja air-fryer toaster oven at Amazon, Best Buy, or Ninja Kitchen.
Photo: bestbuy.com
The double doors on this Bella air-fryer toaster oven have a shorter width, which makes it a good choice for small spaces where a single wider door might get in the way when adding or removing food. We thought they were pretty cute, too—and fortunately, this model cooks as well as it looks and is straightforward to use. The Bella offers 12 different cooking functions: toast, bagel, pizza, cookies, air-fry, bake, roast, broil, reheat, slow cook, dehydrate, and proof. Functions are easy to select by turning the dial. In addition to preset functions, we appreciated being able to select the cooking temp and time manually and turn the convection fan on or off as desired.
The Bella boasts several accessories, including a rotisserie spike and a natural pizza stone. The pizza stone must be placed in a cold oven as the oven preheats; once the oven and stone have preheated, the pizza can be placed on the stone. (Putting a cold stone in a hot oven is a sure way to crack it.) We made a delicious pizza with browned edges and a bubbly cheese center. Yum!
The Bella toaster oven air fryer made particularly delicious fries, too. They developed a beautiful crispy golden exterior and were soft and piping hot inside. All our other test foods came out well, except for toast. While the oven holds six slices of bread, the front edge of the first row of slices didn’t brown as well as the rest of the slices. When we toasted just three slices in the center of the oven, they did brown evenly.
While the exterior of the Bella and its windows didn’t get overly warm, we noticed a tiny gap of about 1/16 inch between the French doors when they were closed. We could feel heat loss by putting our hands next to the gap. Fortunately, the heat loss didn’t seem to affect the interior temperature, which ran only about 3 degrees Fahrenheit low, according to our oven thermometer.
Product Specs
- Dimensions: 17.71 inches wide by 16.77 inches deep by 14.48 inches high
- Capacity: 33 quarts
- Cooking functions: Air-fry, bake, roast, broil, reheat, slow cook, dehydrate, toast, bagel, pizza, cookies, proof
Pros
- Attractive double French doors add a stylish design element to the oven
- Comes with a natural pizza stone; offers 12 different preset cooking functions
Cons
- French doors don’t seal completely when closed, leaving a gap that allows heat to escape
- When toasting 6 slices of bread, not all pieces browned evenly
Get the Bella toaster oven air-fryer at Best Buy.
What to Consider When Choosing the Best Air-Fryer Toaster Oven
Air-fryer toaster ovens combine the convection oven cooking of an air fryer and the features of a toaster oven into one appliance. Also known as convection toaster ovens, these versatile tools are a pleasure to have in the kitchen. When shopping for the best air-fry toaster oven, consider its size, power, cooking functions, ease of cleaning, and any additional features and accessories.
Size/Capacity
Counter space is a valuable commodity in many kitchens. Air-fryer toaster ovens tend to be boxy and larger than podlike air fryers, so they can eat up more counter or storage space. Shoppers will want to take the toaster oven’s footprint into consideration to make sure it will fit in their kitchen.
The chief benefit to the bigger size is a relatively roomy internal capacity. That means users can cook more at a time without crowding the pan (a common problem with small air-fryer bins). Capacity can be measured in cubic feet, quarts, or even by slices of toast. To get a better idea of capacity, it’s usually compared to an amount of food, like how many slices of bread the oven can toast at a time.
When choosing the ideal air-fryer toaster oven, consider its intended use. Look for an option that is spacious enough to cook favorite foods, whether it’s a loaf of bread, a pizza, or a whole roast chicken. Small air-fryer toaster ovens are also useful, but keep in mind that these compact versions might not accommodate standard pans and baking accessories.
Power
Air-fryer toaster ovens can use between 1,100 and 2,000 watts, with most consuming 1,400 to 1,800 watts during use. Generally, the larger and more powerful the toaster oven, the higher the wattage and energy consumption. Before buying an air-fryer toaster oven, it’s prudent to double-check the kitchen’s wiring because the oven’s manufacturer may recommend connecting it to a 20-amp circuit. An outlet for a 20-amp circuit has a small horizontal slot that branches off one of the vertical slots (T-shape) so users can see whether their kitchen will support a high-wattage appliance without tripping a breaker.
Since they’re designed to be countertop appliances, most convection toaster ovens plug right into a standard outlet. However, it’s important to note that some high-wattage air-fryer toaster ovens may recommend a dedicated circuit to power the appliance.
Cooking Functions
Convection toaster ovens are intended as multiuse countertop appliances, so it’s no surprise that many come with upwards of five, or even 10, cooking functions, from simple broiling and baking to a range of preset cooking modes.
- Broil: The broil setting uses only the top element of the toaster oven to apply high heat to the top of dishes for browning or charring food.
- Bake: Like a traditional oven, the bake setting applies even, dry heat for cooking and heating foods and for making baked goods.
- Toast: This setting toasts foods such as bread and bagels by applying high heat from all sides.
- Convection/air-fry: Air-frying uses the same hot-air heating method as convection baking. This setting will be marked as either convection or air-fry on most air-fryer toaster ovens.
- Preset cooking modes: Air-fryer toaster ovens can have preset cooking modes for certain foods, such as heating pizzas, proofing dough, and baking cookies.
Controls and Display
Toaster-oven displays can range from simple buttons to LED touch screens, and their complexity is usually reflected in their price. For those looking for a basic toaster and pizza reheater, simple settings and buttons will do the trick. Those who want a fancier convection oven can choose a digital display. These upgraded toaster ovens can offer more cooking flexibility, more precise settings, and a modern look.
For even more control options, opt for a smart air-fry toaster oven. These toaster ovens can be controlled right from a smartphone, so users can monitor and stop cooking from another room. However, for safety reasons—to make sure nothing is in the oven that shouldn’t be—most require the user to press the “start” button manually on the oven.
Additional Features
A range of additional features can make cooking more convenient. Preheat settings, cooking timers, and warming settings can make it easier to put delicious meals on the table.
- Preheat: Preheating the oven is an important step for even baking and cooking. Air-fryer toaster ovens with a preheat feature notify users when the oven reaches the desired temperature so there isn’t any guesswork.
- Cooking timers: Built-in timers make it easier to track cooking times without the need to reach for a phone or a kitchen timer.
- Automatic shutoff: Many toaster ovens have an automatic shut-off feature alongside cooking timers. Automatic shut-off settings can prevent food from burning and improve safety.
- Warming mode: The warm setting holds a low temperature to keep food warm in preparation for serving.
- Interior lighting: Interior lighting makes it easier to monitor food while it’s cooking, so users don’t need to open the oven to check if their toast is browned enough.
Accessories
The best air-fryer toaster ovens come with accessories, potentially including pans, specialty trays, or pizza stones. Many often come with a rack or two (depending on capacity), plus one or two baking trays, sheets, or pans.
Keep in mind that the toaster-oven size will also affect what accessories can be added in the future. Large air-fryer toaster ovens will accommodate standard baking sheets and trays, while small air fryers might need specialty accessories that fit their smaller internal capacity.
Beyond the basic accessories, air-fryer toaster ovens can include a variety of extras like fry baskets, rotisserie forks, tongs, pizza stones, and cookbooks. More accessories are an attractive draw—if buyers will use them. Shoppers will want to look for an air-fryer toaster with accessories they will use to avoid overspending on an appliance.
Ease of Cleaning
With any kitchen appliance, ease of cleaning is a nice perk. One benefit of air-fryer toaster ovens is that they tend to be easier to clean than air fryers. This is because they use trays instead of a deep basket and have a larger internal space that is easier to wipe down. Look for a convection toaster oven with a removable crumb tray to help catch crumbs and spills.
Air-fryer toaster ovens are relatively low-maintenance appliances. Like other kitchen tools, the baking sheet, pan, or fry basket needs cleaning after each use, but the toaster-oven interior and exterior can be cleaned as needed. Dishwasher-safe accessories make cleaning even simpler.
FAQs
Even with all that information about the best air fryer toaster ovens and how to use them, some questions may still remain. Read on for answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about air-frying and what kinds of foods to cook in an air fryer.
Q. How does air-frying work?
Air-fryer appliances are essentially mini convection ovens. Food is placed in an internal basket or on a pan, sheet, or rack. When the air fryer is switched on, heating elements create hot air that a fan system circulates around the food, which makes items crisp on the outside without drying out the inside. They don’t require cooking foods in oil as typical deep fryers do.
Q. Can you air-fry in a regular toaster oven?
No. A regular toaster oven does not have a convection feature that circulates the air, which is required for air-frying.
Q. What is the difference between an air fryer and an air-fryer toaster oven?
Air-fryer toaster ovens tend to be more versatile, have larger capacities, and can air-fry foods just as well as a regular air fryer. Plus, they offer baking and toasting options.
Q. Do air-fryer toaster ovens work as well as regular air fryers?
Absolutely—they are air fryers. They just come with the added ability to bake and toast.
Q. What are the best foods to cook in a toaster oven air fryer?
Any foods for which you want a bit of crisp and crunch cook great in a toaster oven air fryer, especially if you want to use less oil. Think: french fries, crispy roasted veggies, roast chicken, breaded chicken, salmon, bacon, and much more. Since toaster oven air fryers also have the functions of a regular toaster oven, they’re also excellent for heating the foods you’d throw in a regular toaster oven, like toast, baked goods, and pizzas.
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