Air Fryer vs. Toaster Oven: Which Should I Buy?

The Differences

While both air fryers and toaster ovens can be used to make crispy food, the main difference between the two is the way they cook food. Jason Goldstein, cookbook author, culinary TV personality, and food blogger behind Chop Happy, explained that an air fryer circulates hot air around food to get a crispy texture, while a toaster oven provides oven-like heat without air circulation. The hot, rapidly circulating air in an air fryer makes for crispier food and faster cook times, while the concentrated radiant heat of a toaster oven can create hot spots.

Another key difference between the two appliances is design. “Most air fryers come with a basket drawer, making it easy to shake items while cooking to maximize crispiness on all sides,” Olivia Roszkowski, chef-instructor of health-supportive culinary arts at the Institute of Culinary Education, said. She added that air fryers are equipped with a powerful fan that circulates the hot interior air efficiently, and some even come with convenient nonstick interior linings for easy cleanup. While you can’t see what’s going on inside an air fryer while cooking (unless it features a glass window on the basket), a toaster oven typically has a glass door that lets you peek in.

The Tasks

Reheating Leftovers

Winner: Air fryer

The hot circulating air in an air fryer not only brings leftovers back to temperature, but can make them crispy again. “An air fryer is great for reheating leftovers that might have gotten a bit soggy all in a matter of a few minutes,” Roszkowski said. Say goodbye to soggy egg rolls and falafel and hello to hot, crispy leftovers that are as delicious as they were the day before. You can also reheat leftovers in a toaster oven, but it may require some tossing and flipping to get a crispy texture on all sides.

Making French Fries

Winner: Air fryer

There’s a reason many air fryers have a fries setting. Whether they’re frozen, fresh, or leftover from the drive-through, an air fryer is the ideal appliance to get them hot and crispy. Like leftovers, making fries in a toaster oven will require some flipping to ensure they aren’t soggy on the bottom.

Making Toast

Winner: Toaster oven

As the name implies, toaster ovens are well suited for making toast. Goldstein added that they’re also great at toasting bagels and open-faced sandwich melts. Since you can see into a toaster oven and monitor the cooking process, you can remove your food as soon as it’s toasted to your liking.

Baking Cookies

Winner: Toaster oven

“Toaster ovens are convenient when cooking things that need to be laid flat and spaced evenly on a piece of parchment paper, such as cookie dough or puff pastry,” Roszkowski said. If you love a fresh-baked cookie (who doesn’t?), you can pop just one or two in a toaster oven whenever you want a sweet treat. Toaster ovens heat up faster and use less energy, so they’re perfect for small tasks like these.

Making Chicken Wings

Winner: It’s a tie!

Both air fryers and toaster ovens can make crispy-on-the-outside and moist-on-the-inside chicken wings without the need for deep frying. An air fryer may cook the wings faster, but a toaster oven will allow you to carefully monitor the cooking process.

Should you buy an air fryer or toaster oven?

It depends! If speed is important  and you want to enjoy crispy foods without having to deep fry, you’ll probably want to buy an air fryer. If you’re looking for a mini oven that can heat things up without warming your whole house, a toaster oven is a great investment. If you love kitchen gadgets and have the storage space, you might want both.

There are some instances in which the two appliances can be used interchangeably, and at the end of the day, the choice will depend on what you’re cooking (or reheating). If you’re new to using an air fryer, it’s a good idea to check on your food sooner than you would with a traditional oven. “When using an air fryer, the food item will most likely be ready in about a third of the time,” Roszkowski said. “If your food is getting too much color too quickly, you can reduce the temperature by 25 degrees Fahrenheit for the last few minutes.”

Size is also an important consideration, specifically countertop space and how many people you’re cooking for. “I always say go bigger in size if possible,” Goldstein said. Roszkowski recommends getting at least a 6-quart air fryer so that you can make reasonable-sized batches without overcrowding the basket. “If counter space is at a premium, I would recommend selecting a toaster oven that has a built-in air fryer option,” she said. “Ultimately, an air fryer is mimicking the action of a powerful convection oven, so any toaster oven that has a fan setting will help emulate the same crisping action of an air fryer.”

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

Abigail Abesamis Demarest is a freelance journalist who specializes in food and drink content. She’s interviewed cooking experts to learn more about air fryers and toaster ovens, and she’s always keen to share this knowledge with readers. Some of the best homemade chicken wings she’s ever had have come out of an air fryer.