It also offers the choice of programming it to beep halfway through air frying as a reminder to shake or turn over food. If I trusted said kids with a hot device, cuisinart choppers I’m certain even my five-year-old could use this Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven. The settings are clear and easy to read, and the timer is self-explanatory.
The trays also stain easily, so you may have to replace them or be diligent about cleaning. That said, the Crux has served me faithfully, and I suspect it would do the job for you, too. As mentioned above, the Cuisinart TOA-60 Air Fryer Toaster Oven is known in the UK as the Cuisinart Air Fryer Mini Oven; and at cuisinart air fryer oven the time of writing, this appliance wasn’t available in Australia. We tested the UK version for this review, and it’s worth noting that there are slight differences between models. Our version arrived in matte black, while the US model is clad in stainless steel, plus the dial labeling is slightly different.
The Pro LE has seven preprogrammed settings, which is a bit overkill, especially since some of them aren’t that accurate (a common drawback with most air fryers). You may have to figure out the optimal settings for what you’re cooking by trial and error. We found it just as easy to set the time and temperature manually, following the instructions in our recipe or on the food packaging, then adjust the cook time as necessary.
It’s more mini-oven than air fryer by design, even down to its aesthetic and analog controls – which, while quirky, might not be to everyone’s taste. You lose some of the value-adding features found in dedicated air fryers, such as shake timers and air frying presets. Nevertheless, in our tests, we achieved crispy, delicious air-fried chicken wings and golden fries, as well as some great results using the other settings, too. On the flip side, one of the biggest pitfalls of pod-shaped air fryers is that their compact size really limits not only the amount of food you can cook at once but also the kind of food you can cook.
Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time). The Ninja AF161 Max XL Air Fryer, a larger iteration of the AF101, also ran too hot. All of the food we tested in this machine was overcooked on the outside and undercooked inside, with varying levels of dehydration.
Some newer models are finally starting to include nonstick interiors, which is a big plus. The included guide gets you started, but for complete instructions (for example, for the rotisserie) you have to visit the company website. Before buying the Omni Plus, make sure you have enough room on your countertop and under your cabinets to accommodate it, as well as storage space for all the accessories. Bread toasted exceptionally evenly, and matched the shade we selected from pale but dry to dark but not black. When baking, we got great results after reducing the time and oven temperature to prevent over-browning.
When we test the air frying function on appliances and air fryers, we cook 1 pound of chicken wings, 1 pound of frozen fries and 1 pound of fresh fries in each machine to see how quickly and evenly each crisps up. We also assess several ease-of-use features like the clarity of the control panel and how easy each appliance is to clean. Here are the best air fryer toaster ovens you buy, according to our testing. Enjoy your favorite fried snacks the healthy way with a Cuisinart air fryer.
Hi, I’m Sharon Franke, and I’ve been testing kitchen equipment for more than 30 years. When I’m not reporting on everything from wire whisks to high-tech ranges and refrigerators, you can find me cooking in my own kitchen. Although pricey, the Ninja Foodi 10-in-1 XL Pro Air Fry Oven DT201 is an exceptionally well-designed and versatile appliance. The digital controls and readout are conveniently situated on the handle, right at eye level. The size means it’s ideal for 1-2 person households, and if you often heat up a whole oven just for small portions, using this instead will definitely save time as well as energy and therefore money too.
It somehow manages to cook everything just as well as baking in the oven. The air frying basket is the ideal size for snacks like fries, chicken nuggets, and veggies. It’s large enough for one layer with nothing overlapping, which ensures even cooking.
That’s a pretty impressive eight minute reduction in cook time compared to my normal oven, but the drawback is only being able to bake up small batches. The Ninja AF101 Air Fryer has a flat, removable tray liner in its basket to keep food from sitting in oil. Unfortunately, the tray falls out when you turn food out of the basket, which could potentially cause burns.