Both air fryers and toaster ovens have become popular kitchen appliances in recent years due to their ability to quickly cook foods using less oil than traditional frying. Air fryers and toaster ovens utilize convection heat and a circulating fan to cook foods, resulting in a crispy, fried texture without all the extra calories from added oil.
While an air fryer and toaster oven have some similarities, there are several key differences that give each appliance distinct advantages and disadvantages. When deciding between purchasing an air fryer or toaster oven, it is important to consider factors like size, functions, speed, ease of use, and price to determine which is the better fit for your needs.
Size
One of the main differences between an air fryer and toaster oven is their size and capacity. Air fryers are compact, typically ranging from 2-5 quarts in capacity. Their small footprint makes them a convenient countertop appliance for smaller households or anyone with limited kitchen space.
Toaster ovens have a much larger interior capacity, usually around 12-18 quarts. The added room makes toaster ovens more versatile for cooking larger items. However, the bigger size does mean toaster ovens take up more valuable counter real estate.
So when it comes to size and capacity, air fryers are better suited for cooking smaller batches of food at a time, while toaster ovens offer more flexibility for larger foods and meals.
Functions
In terms of functionality, air fryers and toaster ovens have some overlapping abilities but also some distinct differences:
Air Fryer Functions:
– Air frying – Uses rapidly circulating hot air to crisp up breaded foods like chicken fingers, french fries, etc.
– Baking – Can bake smaller items like cookies, muffins, and small cakes. Shape and size of items is limited.
– Roasting – Good for cooking small portions of vegetables or meat.
– Reheating – Handy for quickly reheating leftovers.
Toaster Oven Functions:
– Toasting – Toasts bread and bagels evenly on both sides.
– Baking – More baking flexibility for casseroles, cakes, cookies, pizza due to larger capacity.
– Broiling – Can broil meats and fish by heating from above.
– Roasting – Roasts vegetables easily because of extra space.
– Reheating – Reheats food evenly and quickly.
– Air frying – Many new toaster oven models come with built-in air fryer settings.
Additional Toaster Oven Functions:
– Slow cooking – Some toaster ovens have a slow cook function to braise meats and make stews.
– Dehydrating – Removes moisture from foods to make fruit leathers, dried herbs, jerky.
– Pizza cooking – Cooks homemade or frozen pizza more evenly than an oven.
– Rotisserie – Rotates and cooks meats for more even browning.
So while there is some crossover in abilities, toaster ovens offer greater functionality with more cooking options. Air fryers excel at crisping up “fried” foods but can’t match the versatility of a toaster oven.
Speed
Cooking speed is an important consideration when choosing between an air fryer and toaster oven.
Air fryers use a smaller cooking chamber and higher wattage heating elements, typically around 1100 to 1500 watts. This allows them to preheat and cook food very quickly. Simple foods like french fries or chicken nuggets take only 10-20 minutes in an air fryer.
Toaster ovens have a larger interior to heat up so they take a bit longer to preheat – usually 5-8 minutes. Cooking also takes longer than an air fryer, but still faster than a conventional oven due to their smaller cavity size and use of convection heat. Toasting 4 slices of bread takes about 4-6 minutes while chicken breasts may bake in 20-25 minutes.
So air fryers hold an advantage when it comes to fast cooking times. Their super quick preheating and ability to churn out crispy foods in minutes makes them ideal for speedy weeknight meals. Toaster ovens still cook faster than full-size ovens, but can’t match the rapid cooking times of air fryers.
Ease of Use
When comparing ease of use between air fryers and toaster ovens, air fryers tend to have a simpler operation with less accessories to manage.
Air fryers typically have a compact design with just a frying basket and temperature/time dials or buttons. The small capacity means you don’t have to worry about multiple racks or layers. To use an air fryer, you just preheat, add food to the basket, set the time, and press start. Any pre-made or frozen air fried foods are convenient because you can just pop them in the fryer basket as is.
Toaster ovens have more parts and accessories that make them a bit trickier to use. Most toaster ovens come with wire racks, broil pans, and crumb trays that have to be inserted or removed depending on the cooking mode. You also have to ensure you place food on the right rack height and position pans properly so food cooks evenly. The multitude of functions on a toaster oven also creates a more complex appliance that takes some learning to master all the cooking modes and settings.
Overall, air fryers offer straightforward operation that?s easy for any user to operate right out of the box. Toaster ovens have a steeper learning curve you need to get past to utilize all their functions and accessories properly.
Price
In terms of upfront costs, air fryers are generally more affordable than toaster ovens. Here is a comparison of average prices for each appliance:
Air Fryer
– Small 2-3 quart air fryer – $60 to $100
– Medium 3-5 quart air fryer – $100 to $150
– Large 5+ quart air fryer – $150 to $200
Toaster Oven
– Basic toaster oven – $50 to $100
– Mid-range convection toaster oven – $150 to $250
– High-end smart toaster oven – $250 to $400
While you can find some bare bones toaster ovens for less than $50, most good quality toaster ovens with convection settings and higher wattage heating elements cost over $150. Air fryers can be purchased for under $100 to get started.
However, the recurring costs of air fryers can add up over time. Since air fryers use more energy and electricity to run, they are typically more expensive per year when calculating energy bills. Air fryers may require slightly more oil or butter as well when cooking to prevent sticking on the fryer basket mesh.
But with the lower upfront investment, air fryers can be the budget-friendly choice for those looking to keep initial appliance costs down. Toaster ovens work out cheaper in the long run though when taking energy efficiency into account.
Conclusion
So should you get an air fryer or toaster oven? Here’s a quick summary of the key differences:
– Air fryers are smaller, more compact appliances optimal for cooking smaller batches of crispy “fried” foods quickly. Their operation is fairly simple with minimal accessories to handle.
– Toaster ovens are larger, offer many more cooking functions like baking, broiling, and roasting, but subsequently take up more space. They have a steeper learning curve to master all the functions and accessories.
– Air fryers cook faster thanks to their smaller chamber and higher wattage. Toaster ovens still cook faster than full ovens but not as fast as air fryers.
– Air fryers are generally cheaper upfront. Toaster ovens cost more initially but have lower long-term energy costs.
For shoppers that want a simple, fast, budget-friendly appliance primarily for crisping up foods, an air fryer is likely the better choice. Home cooks wanting a multifunctional appliance that can handle larger cook jobs should consider investing in a more versatile toaster oven. Assess your needs and kitchen space to decide which of these handy appliances best suits your cooking and lifestyle.