Last Updated on August 15, 2023 by River Tree Farms
An air fryer is a modern kitchen appliance that simulates traditional deep frying in your kitchen to air fry, broil, toast, and broil, among other cooking functions. In contrast, a toaster oven acts as a regular oven to warm, toast, and perform other cooking options.
They have some similarities and, at the same time, some differences that you maybe want to consider for you to be able to choose what you need.
Now, an air fryer replacing a toaster oven? We will discuss this in our article today to conclude which is the best appliance between these two.
Depending on the functionality and use, You maybe need both or one to fulfill the desires in your kitchen.
Can Air Fryer Replace Toaster Oven?
Yes, an air fryer can replace a toaster oven because it will perform all the cooking functions that a toaster oven can perform. You do not need a toaster oven when you have an air fryer of whatever brand and model.
We can use an air fryer as a toaster oven. Whereas the toaster oven can toast, bake, broil and reheat, an air fryer can do the same and, at the same time, air fry and dehydrate.
Air fryer vs. Toaster Oven
What differentiates an air fryer from a toaster oven? Let us check the sharp differences in the table below:
| Appliance | Air fryer | Toaster Oven |
| Cooking method | Convection super-heated air | Radiation heated |
| Cooking time | Less | More |
| Versatility | Excellent | Fair |
| Temperatures | Very high temperatures | Automated temperatures |
| Insulation | Highly insulated | Fairly insulated |
| Power | 1500-1600 watts | 1400 watts |
| Ease Of Cleaning | Very easy | Not very easy |
| Counter space | Small occupied | More occupied |
| Crispiness | Excellent | Fair |
Is an air fryer better than a toaster oven?
This depends on what you need to do with either the air fryer or the toaster oven. The air fryer takes the lead if you want a quicker and more powerful kitchen appliance, among other desirable qualities.
What makes an air fryer better than a toaster oven?
- Healthy, Crispy food
An air fryer has a heating element located at the top with a big fan that circulates hot air around the food, making it possible to cook your food with 80% less oil and super crispy food.
On the other hand, the Toaster oven has a heating element located at the bottom and top with a metallic wall to produce radiation around the food. If you do not use oil in cooking some dishes in a toaster oven, Your food will be dry instead of crispy.
Overall, the food in an air fryer has fewer calories and is crispier than the food in the toaster oven.
- Less cooking time
An air fryer takes almost half of the time a toaster oven takes in the same cooking function.
Air fryers can reach very high temperatures since the hot air is circulated continuously, therefore, cooking the food very quickly. Still, a toaster oven doesn’t get high temperatures prolonging cooking time.
The power produced by the air fryer(1600 watts) also makes it a more powerful unit, therefore able to cook faster when compared to the 1400 watts toaster oven.
- Versatility
An air fryer is a decadent den of cooking functions taking up all the parts of a toaster oven and more. While the toaster oven can perfectly toast, roast, grill, bake, broil and reheat, an air fryer can also roast, toast, bake, grill, defrost, broil, reheat and additionally it can air fry and dehydrate.
- Safety and Comfort
The external surface of the air fryer is highly insulated, and most of the handles are cool to the touch. Therefore, it doesn’t heat up during the cooking process, so it is safe and comfortable to use. An air fryer also has built-in vents that offer ventilation within the air fryer. The toaster oven gets hot during the cooking process, so it can even light up highly flammable substances.
- Compact and Portable
An air fryer with the same cooking capacity as a toaster oven will take less counter space since it is smaller and more compact. An air fryer is also portable; therefore, you can use it in almost all areas and places, The toaster oven, however, will require ample counter space and be limited to use just around the home.
- Easy to use
Most air fryers have a digital display which is very easy to use, and the toaster ovens have a manual interface controlled by knobs.
- Easy to clean
When cooking in an air fryer, you do not require oil, so it is effortless to clean oilless air fryer baskets, mostly non-stick. You only worry about the drip tray that catches all the excess oil in case of little oil. However, in a toaster oven, you need to clean up the mess of fats and grease, making it more challenging than in an air fryer.
Can you use an air fryer as a toaster oven and a microwave?
Yes, you can use an air fryer as a toaster oven and a microwave because it does all that a toaster oven and the microwave does: Bake, broil, roast, grill, and toast, and it also reheats food which is the primary function of a microwave.
Do I need a toaster oven if I have an air fryer?
I would say no. You will not need a toaster oven as the air fryer will perform all the toaster oven functions: Toast, broil, roast, and defrost more quickly and healthily. It will also have a different role in air frying and dehydrating.
Conclusion
Ultimately, I can confidently tell you that the air fryer and toaster oven are great kitchen appliances. Air fryers are much more versatile and convenient to use as they are time-saving and offer healthy quality food.
Do you have a toaster oven, or are you considering purchasing an air fryer and wondering, can an air fryer replace a toaster oven? We have discussed that an air fryer can perfectly replace a toaster oven. The toaster oven cooking functions will not be compromised as they will all function in the air fryer producing the same or even better results.