No doubt, when it comes to the convenient appliances toaster oven and air fryer top the lists comprising similar functions and features, there is still a minor difference between air fryer and toaster oven, which we will resolve in this article.
It will help you choose a better appliance; it might be for one person air fryer or a premium size air fryer and toaster for your kitchen countertop with the best top-rated reviews. Scroll down below to learn all the differences that will help you be decisive an a detailed comparison on Air fryer vs Toaster oven.
Air fryer vs Toaster oven – A Detailed Comparison
In earlier days, the technology deployed convection baking, a standard function of the toaster oven and air fryer. Individuals can also acquire golden textured brown fries in a moment with either a toaster oven or an air fryer. But both of the appliances deploy fans that circulate hot air technology throughout the devices, giving a brown texture to foods evenly and saving time simultaneously. However, suppose you want to compare air fryer toaster oven to know the key differences. In that case, it can be possible only by comparing the model to determine the size and capacity of food that it holds inside, temperature settings, like it includes the turning fan off feature.
Difference between air fryer and toaster oven:
- Size
Air fryers are designed considerable is smaller compared to the toaster oven. So it is not a good choice if you are looking to cook some extensive ingredients. However, it ensures to cook was the variety of foods in batches.
On the other hand, the toaster oven is designed extensively in a larger size, letting you cook large quantities of food at a time. It allows you cook whole chicken lamb chops, which is something not possible with the air fryer
- Methods of cooking:
Some foods that include baked chicken, breaded foods, and chicken nuggets will be perfect for cooking on an air fryer than the toaster oven. It is gentle during the baking session than a toaster oven. But do not miss confused that a toaster oven cannot be suitable for baked foods. It also delivers more flavourful delicacies depending on the chosen ingredients and users’ cooking skills.
Using an air fryer is a healthy choice as it can reduce all the additional fats and calories from your food as it cooks without or less oil by uniformly supplying the food that gets delivered cooked superbly. On the other hand, the toaster oven is known for its personality and lets you cook various foods other than an air fryer.
- Duration of cooking:
An air fryer delivers the foods with only half the time it takes for a toaster oven because the air fryer uses convection heat circulated technology that cooks food quickly within time. At the same time, the toaster oven takes some considerable time and twice as long as to get the food cooked thoroughly. Nothing can complete the toaster oven as it can heat the bread faster when it comes to bread.
- Heat source
Both air fryers and toaster ovens cook food by relying on the heat conductive components. But what makes the difference in their heat transfer source.
Initially, the air fryer the heat waves generated by the standard heating element to heat the ingredients with the coil form. And this heating component is placed on the top with a massive fan inside it to circulate hot air.
Whereas in toaster ovens, the heating continent is located at the top and bottom, following the metal wall to generate heat throughout the food.
- Temperature settings:
It is known that an air fryer heats faster, making it significantly reach a higher temperature compared to a toaster oven. The reason for this fast heating process is its compact design with an enhanced heat distribution system.
On the contrary toaster oven main comprises an automated temperature adjustment function that tends to modify the heat level inside. This exceptional function contributes to trying out diversified recipes.
- Power
The power usage varies according to the capacity or size of an air fryer. So the wattage difference differs accordingly. Sometimes it is minimal, whereas sometimes, it is high. However, the insulation that the air fryer offers makes the appliance more energy efficient than a toaster oven.
- Digital interface
Nowadays, as everything has become advanced, most air fryer models also comprise digital display panels, which create a good impression on the customers as an intelligent appliance to choose from. But you can’t expect the same with the toaster oven because it still is the conventional rotary dials.
- Insulation:
When compared to an air fryer comprises very minimal insulation. Moreover, its inside surface heat in a moment, so you shouldn’t place any flammable or plastic material next to it to restrain hazardous fire accidents while using a toaster oven. On an important note, make sure to use a toaster oven in a well-ventilated space.
On the other hand, an air fryer has a cooking basket placed on a well-insulated exterior. It is less risky
- Price:
While comparing the typical air fryer versus toaster oven, it is evident that air fryers are expensive. But speaking about the price of a toaster oven, you can easily avail yourself of the affordable appliance if you are looking within the $32 to $40 budget.
Comparatively, air fryers are least affordable come at least at the rate of $50, and there is a vast price gap between both appliances. The choice is yours.
Note – Do air fryer microwaves exists? What do you think?
Can an air fryer replace a toaster oven?
While deciding on what type of appliance you must purchase, many individuals fail to go for the right one because of confusion and lack of idea of which one will be ideal for them that only suits their requirements. But one appliance that has etched its place in the market and a popular kitchen appliance known as an air fryer. However, many people are confused between choosing between a toaster oven and an air fryer. No worries, the air fryer will be an excellent replacement for a toaster oven or other kitchen appliances because it comprises features that perform more than just frying foods. We understand how you have the question of the consequences. So the question of can an air fryer can replace a toaster oven?
The answer is yes because the air fryer has a multifunctionality feature and can toast food which is one of the primary functions of the toaster oven. Besides this on prices, many other exclusive features make unignorable choices over the restricted functions of a toaster oven. It’s not like a toaster oven has drawbacks. A toaster oven is also a suitable appliance but when compared to an air fryer and the substitution air fryer offers more options toaster oven. So it depends on you if you want to enhance your cooking skills then it’s your choice.
Discover all about air fryers!
Generally, an air fryer can be determined as a convection oven in a compact design. The motto of an air fryer establishment is to substitute the deep fryer if individuals want to relish delicious fried foods but do not want to acquire calories.
The air fryer follows the convection air technology with hot air circulation to cook food. This hot air is applied consistently by fans located inside the appliance at high speed that instantly cooks the food.
Merits and demerits of an air fryer:
Let’s find a fire comprises of some exceptional features of it also has some demerits which need to be considered before you choose a specific appliance for purchase.
Merits:
- Compactness:
The air fryer comes with a compact design ideal for small families to use and store away when not in use. It is not occupying my space in your kitchen.
- Little less or no oil
Using an air fryer will deliver healthcare foods with little or no oil love that helps you acquire delicious food for your health.
- Fast cooking:
Air fryer relies on consistent heat flow mechanism and the credits to the small fans inside the appliances that supply even around the food that ensure faster cooking.
- Easy peasy to use:
The upgraded function of an air fryer comes with an instruction manual that even beginner finds easy to use with the elementary steps.
- Versatility
An air fryer lets you cook multiple dishes; besides fried foods, you can also relish and prepare a variety of other dishes.
Demerits:
- Minimal capacity:
Because of its compactness, it holds a very minimal amount of food. If you have a large family, then an air fryer with a small capacity will not be suitable, you can cook in several batches, but it would be time-consuming.
- Produce noise:
Like every other appliance, air fryers also produce noise while cooking. But its exclusive features overtook this demerit.
- Sealed design:
Its compactness comes without a closed and sealed design, which makes it challenging to look for the food inside during cooking sessions. Sometimes there is a possibility that your food may get burned without even knowing it.
Note – Finding the best air fryer under 200$ can be a daunting task! – With our definitive guide and review, we made it easy for you!
Discover about the toaster oven!
Individuals might also be familiar with an operating toaster oven and the difference between air fryer and toaster oven. You can also count some contrast between toaster and toaster oven; however, a toaster oven can still be considered a midget version of a standard oven. The size is the exception, but the toaster oven comprises multiple benefits than the oven. It can be utilized as an oven but with quicker time settings and can even cook multiple dishes simultaneously.
Do not fool yourself by name because it is more than that. Besides the baking bread feature, you can also use this appliance to defrost certain foods and reheat as required.
The toaster oven also comprises some adjustment features, following the button outside. It is fabricated with the other heat-generating components and metal walls inside. When you turn on the toaster oven, the heat is freed from the heating element that evenly circulates the food and helps while cooking.
Merits and demerits of a toaster oven:
Merits:
- Enough capacity
The toaster oven’s main merit is that it comprises enough food holding capacity that is ideal for a large family to cook food at one time, saving your time. It is a perfect choice if you want to cook for plenty of people simultaneously.
- Customizable temperature and time setting
It is another vital feature that if users want to set a specific temperature and time according to their recipes, you can set it accordingly without the stress of their food getting burned.
- Multiple cooking options
Yes, of course, you can bake bread with this appliance. You can also use this for baking, defrosting, and roasting other dishes.
Demerits
- Occupies lots of space
It is a larger air fryer; it will occupy enough space for your kitchen countertop. It is heavy to carry can you find it convenient to maintain it and store to the another location.
- Not so good insulation
Individuals must be conscientious while cleaning the appliance because it is not insulated appropriately, which can lead to the accidental risk of burning objects or burns if you fail to stay precautious.
- Prolong cooking time
There is no consistent heat flow around the appliance which may take considerable time to cook food as the heating level is slow.
Toaster oven vs air fryer – which one is easy to clean up?
Both appliances are ultimately easy to clean when it comes to the cleaning process. However, the difference is toaster ovens comprise trays, and that alone component makes it easy to wash up after every use.
But with the air fryer, it is expected to get the basket and little dirt with oil mess and food residue, and most of the time, people find it a little challenging to clean the basket after every cook. So because of this, all the leftover food that comes up gets attached to the basket, which creates a mess while you clean it up after two or three use.
Air fryer vs Toaster Oven : Which is a healthy choice?
From our point of view, both an air fryer and toaster oven is an exceptional kitchen appliances choice as the functions and features or relatively similar. If you are concerned about health, it called for a debate because some people believe that a toaster oven is a healthier option as it lets you cook food without using the oil. On the contrary, the foods are cooked in demand for little oil usage to attain a crispy texture. So if you believe that little cause no harm, you can happily go with the air fryer. But a toaster oven is also not an unhealthy option.
A detailed comparison of Air fryer vs Air fryer toaster oven:
So far, you have recently learned how an air fryer works and its great features. It goes perfectly to fried foods because of its powerful fans that evenly circulate scorching air around the food.
Another great thing about air fryers is that you do not need to preheat them, which in the toaster oven is not possible as you have to wait for a moment to get it hot enough. An air fryer lets you fry and comes with other convenient features, including baking cook vegetables and whatnot.
When it comes to air fryer toaster oven, it’s all about its convenient full-size toaster oven with an inbuilt air fryer, which ensures to do everything that a conventional toaster oven does. It is used to prepare all the fried foods, which is likely possible with a standalone air fryer.
But you must not consider the price here if you choose an air fryer toaster oven because you get 2 in 1 feature in one appliance. So it is ultimately a cost-efficient option at some point of view, and you simply cannot include its exclusive features.
Frequently Asked Questions
Toaster oven vs air fryer, which makes a better choice?
We have a whole article written for you to precisely answer this, so it entirely depends on your needs and cooking skill. So there is nothing much better one, it is more like which is suitable for you compare all the features between both the appliance and shows the right one for your kitchen.
Are toaster ovens safer than air fryers?
When it comes to proper insulation air fryer is safe compared to the toaster oven. It lets you safely use the air fryer without the stress of any accidents or burns. And on the contrary, a toaster oven has metal layer insulation which can likely cause accidents or burn the surrounding objects.
Which is more practical – Air fryer or toaster oven?
If you are a chef or very excited about a new cooking experience, you most likely go for an air fryer because it has multiple features that let you enhance your cooking skill. However, the toaster oven is also not a bad option. It is also easy to use with similar characteristics. It entirely depends on your preferred cooking habits.
The Bottom line:
As you can see from the above discussion, there is no magical explanation about determining one of the best kitchen appliances. Both appliances are exceptional in their own way and offer features that will ultimately suit your requirements. So you can choose the right one that accords your cooking lifestyle, but both Air fryer vs Toaster oven come with various features that surf many purposes. Make a wise choice. It’s in your hands.