Air Fryer vs. Toaster Oven: Which Is Right for You?

There are so many stellar kitchen appliances out there—and for most of us, only a limited amount of counter space to store them all. So you may be trying to decide which tabletop cooking appliance—a toaster oven vs. an air fryer—will be best for how you like to cook.

Fortunately, we've taken a deep dive into how each appliance works, what it's best for, and what you should consider when you're making your choice. That way, you can keep a little counter space open, and still have the cooking help you need.

How Do Air Fryers and Toaster Ovens Work?

Both air fryers and toaster ovens are great for reheating, cooking, or baking food. Because they're smaller, they are able to heat up faster, and won't produce as much ambient heat—perfect when you don't want to make your kitchen even hotter in the summer. That also makes them big energy savers, as it takes much less power to heat them vs. a full oven.

But air fryers and toaster ovens each use different technology to cook your food.

Air fryers are essentially small convection ovens. They heat up quickly, and use fans to blow hot air on the food. They can cook food faster than a traditional oven, and by blowing hot air over the food, it can help ensure a crispy finish that mimics frying without the added oil.

Classic toaster ovens are basically mini electric ovens, that cook the food with radiant heating elements on the top and bottom of the oven (similar to the heating elements in an electric oven or toaster). Many newer models, however, also feature convection fans, which can make them more similar to an air fryer.

Air Fryer Vs. Toaster Oven: What Cooks Best in Each Appliance?

Due to the differences in design and cooking style, each product has different strengths.

A toaster oven, for instance, is much better at toast (hence the name!). Since it has more horizontal space, it can handle larger, flat items. And its gentler heating style makes it a better choice for baking, as it won't dry out your food as easily.

An air fryer is better at giving foods that "fried" vibe without actually frying them. So it's great for crisping up leftovers and cooking things like bacon, french fries, and other "fried" style items.

How to Choose the Right Appliance for You

Before you settle the toaster oven vs. air fryer debate, consider these questions that may help you make the call.

What other cooking appliances do you have?

If you've recently replaced your stove or microwave, you may want to break out the product instructions to see what features they might have. Many newer appliances offer convection cooking in addition to regular settings, so in essence, they have an "air fryer" built into them.

What kinds of things do you expect to cook in the toaster oven or air fryer?

Think about what kinds of things you're currently cooking, and how you might be able to shift their prep to the toaster oven or air fryer.

For instance, if you'd like to do a lot of baking or make pizzas for a larger crowd, a toaster oven may be your best bet. It'll have more room for to cook the food, and can be set to a gentler cooking setting.

How much space do you have on your countertop (and how much space do you need for cooking)?

Both air fryers and toaster ovens can come in different sizes. Think about how much space you'll need for cooking the dishes you want to cook—and how much space you have to devote to the appliance. In general, air fryers tend to take up less counter real estate, but you may have to cook dishes in batches to accommodate a crowd.

Do you need both an air fryer and a toaster oven?

If you feel like you need both an air fryer and a toaster oven to cover all of your cooking bases, consider air fryer toaster ovens or convection toaster ovens. These are combination appliances that offer both cooking styles in one appliance. That'll give you all the cooking features you need, and help you conserve your counter space, too.