"One cannot think well, love well, sleep well if one has not dined well." – Virginia Woolf (English Writer)

When one has delicious dishes served, they cannot help but dig in. Tasty food attracts everyone and unites all at some level. And cooking those delicious meals requires time, skills, and effort. But having the right tools and appliances for cooking helps greatly in achieving that desired taste. With numerous options available in the market, one has to be very clear about their requirements. And looking for the right tools and appliances that fulfill those requirements is not an easy task.

Read more: Detailed Product Review: Cuisinart TOA-60 Toaster Oven Air Fryer

The debate of the air fryer vs toaster oven has been broiling for a long time. In this post, we will highlight and study the differences between an air fryer and a toaster oven. So, let's get started:

Air Fryer Vs Toaster Oven: Overview

What is an Air Fryer?

Air Fryer Review

Wikipedia says, "An air fryer is a small countertop convection oven designed to simulate deep frying without submerging the food in oil."

In other words, an air fryer is a kitchen (cooking) appliance that uses air convection to heat and cook your meals. It comes equipped with spiral heating elements and a powerful fan that give your dishes a crispy, fried texture. Hence, called an air fryer.

Pros
  • You can cook a variety of meals in them.
  • It promotes even heat distribution and circulation (fan)
  • No oil is needed when you are using an air fryer.
  • You can speed up your cooking process with this.
  • It is well-insulated; thereby, it keeps your food hot for long.
Cons
  • Cooking in small quantity
  • Maybe drier than required
  • Expensive

What is a Toaster Oven?

Toaster Oven Review

A toaster oven is the compact version of a convection oven and an upgraded version of a toaster. It can be utilized for broiling, baking, roasting, and of course, toasting. Usually, many of the toaster ovens rely on heating elements. However, some of the newer hybrid models include fans as well.

Pros
  • You can cook more (quantity-wise) than in others.
  • It is reasonably priced and affordable.
  • It is best for toasting and grilling.
  • Preset settings allow and promote ease in cooking.
  • It retains moisture where required when you are cooking your delicious meal.
Cons
  • Uneven heating
  • Less insulated
  • Requires timely cleaning

Air Fryer Vs Toaster Oven: The Differences

Feature
Air Fryer
Toaster Oven
Size
When it comes to the size, the air fryer is way more compact, lightweight and takes lesser counter space than the toaster oven
They are generally the size of your regular ovens. They offer some mobility, which means you can put them away when they are not in use. However, they are bulkier than air fryer.
Heating Technique
It has a coiled heating element for more efficient heating. It is also equipped with a powerful fan that rapidly circulates the heat inside the fryer. Also, the cooking basket helps the hot air come in direct contact with the base of your food (which is not possible in an oven).
They use the heating elements that further heat up the walls, air, and cooking tray to cook your meal
Care & Cleaning
Since no oil is recommended in an air fryer cooking, the cleaning takes less time and needs to be done comparatively less frequently (apart from general wiping). It is advised to clean the dripping tray after every use properly and, if possible, give a quick wipe to the inner surface. The use of scrubbers and harsh soap solution is advised against in both of the appliances. If needed, use a soft sponge or loaf and light soap solution to clean the toaster oven, and air fryer surfaces gently.
A toaster oven requires frequent cleaning to clean oil residue from the inner walls and avoid stains.
Cooking Methods
An air fryer can be used for all the methods, as mentioned earlier, along with air frying. This means that it fries food without the use of any oil. However, the cook-able quantity is fairly small.
This equipment is used for grilling, baking, toasting, roasting, broiling, etc.
Cooking Speedd
Since the air fryers use convection air for cooking food and the cooking space is small and compact, which results in the rapid circulation of evenly distributed heat. This cuts down the cooking time (as compared to the toaster oven) to almost half.
The toaster oven has more or less the same speed as the regular oven.
Cooking Space
As mentioned earlier, traditional air fryers have much less cooking space than toaster ovens. Some of the air fryers in the market offer a larger, almost the same capacity as a small toaster oven. However, they cost even more.
Normal toaster ovens have the same capacity as a general countertop oven.
Insulation
Comparatively, air fryers are well insulated. This is also a factor contributing to the cooking speed since the heat generated does not leak. If you live in a hot area, better go with the air fryer (unless you need to cook large portions of the meal).
Many toaster ovens have an exterior that heats up too fast. It is advised to place them in a ventilated area of your kitchen or house and away from plastics and other flammable objects.
Enerygy Efficiency
Air fryers are more energy-efficient as compared to toaster ovens. In theory, they do consume more energy. But due to the difference in the cooking time, they consume less energy than the toaster ovens.
Cost
Costs may differ from area to area and brand to brand. However, air fryer is more expensive than toaster oven.

More comparison:

Convection Oven Vs Toaster Oven: Detailed Comparison

Toaster Oven vs Microwave: The Detailed Comparison

Air Fryer Vs Toaster Oven: Which Is Right For You?

Air Fryer vs Toaster

If you live in a hot area, need fast cooking, and indulge in an oil-free diet, then an air fryer is recommended for you. However, if you want to cook in a bit larger portions, you must go for the toaster oven. Whatever you pick and however you may cook, never forget to mix in some love along with those seasonings.

Talya Davis Talya Davis

Talya, like all members of the HomeDesignX team, is enamored by all things related to cooking and eating. She’s written cookware articles for numerous publications before working with her lifelong friend Jessica to create their very own website on cookware.

She's currently writing a book on induction cooktops, and enjoys making clean, vegan meals for her family.

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