Even when filled to capacity, the Mini Vortex managed to cook food evenly. We were able to fit four large or five small wings in the basket, while larger models—like the Cosori Pro LE, which has a larger footprint and is visibly bulkier—can hold only two more. For example, when we reheated pizza, the Mini Vortex fit a large slice more comfortably than an air fryer with a deep basket, such as the Dreo Aircrisp Pro.
Every oven on this list has a digital interface with dials, buttons or both to control it, although some were much better than others. The Breville’s was the most complex, a result of all its many functions and cooking presets, while the Cuisinart interface was the cuisinart choppers only one I truly did not like. However, the quality of build and design you get with Cuisinart is hard to beat, and the generous three-year warranty is triple what most brands offer. You’ll often find earlier models of Cuisinart air fryer/oven combos on sale too.
Inside the Pro LE basket, there is a removable tray, which, during testing, fell out when we flipped the basket upside down to transfer food to a plate (this was also the case with the Ninja Air Fryer AF101). But when we later ordered another model to photograph, we didn’t have this problem. The Pro LE comes with a two-year warranty, but Cosori does not offer any replacement parts, so you’re out of luck if your outer basket handle breaks or you lose the tray.
Neither the manual nor the cookbook suggest cooking times for air fried foods. Although the Gourmia doesn’t look upscale, it sells for a great price for a product with the dual function of an air frying toaster oven. Unlike some of the best air fryers on the market, the Cuisinart Airfryer Toaster Oven doesn’t have programmable air frying settings, which are a real benefit to users of all experience levels.
If you currently find yourself overloaded with panini makers, toasters and other small appliances, the Cuisinart Airfryer Toaster Oven can help you clear some counter space. In smaller kitchens and households, it could even viably replace an oven. To test the roast and pizza function, we bought a pre-made pizza base and topped it with mushrooms before cooking at 350oF / 180oC for a quick 10 minutes; preheating isn’t necessary. While this knocks only a few minutes off the cooking time we’d have required in a regular oven, every little helps! The pizza came out perfectly and evenly cooked, which can’t be said for the slightly soggy, irregular results of some domestic ovens.
The KitchenAid won this test with an average reading of 350 F on the nose and with very little fluctuation. The Ninja (343 F average temp), Cuisinart (346 F) and Breville (345 F) also did well, although the Breville started off very hot and then came back down. The two last-place finishers were the Crux, which ran hot (365 F) and the Calpahlon, which ran cold (337 F). Regularly inspect the crumb tray and empty it of any build-up, giving it a quick wipe before you re-insert it into the base. The Cuisinart TOA60 Air Fryer Mini Oven comes well packaged in a cardboard box and polystyrene surround, with clear plastic bags protecting the oven and accessories. Unfortunately, not all packing materials may be recyclable, depending on where you live.
The buttons were noisy and hard to press, and the basket was difficult to shove in without pushing the entire air fryer back on the counter. Its awkward, egg-like shape draws a lot of attention on a countertop, and it takes up too much space. Try these recipes for brussels sprouts, chicken cuisinart toa60 wings, french fries, broccoli, or green beans from NYT Cooking. Absolutely worth the counter space IMO, and we don’t have a lot of it in our city condo. It is the only appliance other than our espresso machine and drip coffee maker that has been awarded coveted counter space.
If you love the idea of the Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven, but you haven’t got a great deal of space on your countertop, the Cuisinart Compact Air Fryer Toaster Oven (opens in new tab) may be the perfect solution. It features all the cooking settings of the larger model but has a much smaller footprint. So if you have a small household or only need an extra oven for the occasional dish, the smaller capacity may suit you better. More critical reviews say the oven is hard to clean, especially the baking tray, with many suggesting that you should line the tray with foil. In addition, many users report inaccuracy of the analogue dials when setting the temperature and timer.