We’ve learned through research done by The Ohio State University that slot toasters aren’t built to last (you can read more about OSU’s in-depth work in our blog post). Since most modern slot toasters aren’t repairable, they’re destined for a landfill once they give out. Toaster ovens, on the other hand, typically last longer, which may be in part because the heating elements are enclosed or better protected by metal guards to prevent damage. They’re also not moved or banged around as much as slot toasters, making their electrical components less susceptible to failure.
The FlashXpress compensates for the increased temperature by automatically reducing the cook time, so the results are the same every time. These were some of the fastest toasting times of all the toaster ovens we tested. To test how well the toaster ovens maintained a set temperature, we stuck an air probe thermometer into their cavities and monitored them for 20 minutes. We also tested the unique features on certain models, such as dehydrate modes or the steam feature on Balmuda’s The Toaster. Additionally, we took note of any excessively loud beeps and evaluated the usefulness of each model’s accessories.
Tender frozen chicken breast in the air fryer; these golden chicken pieces are easy to make and ready to serve in no time. In the air fryer, everything comes out crispier, juicier and always perfectly cooked in an incredibly short amount of time. Chicken in the air fryer, breaded or not is so juicy, tender and delicious. When it comes to making dinner, even ribeye cuisinart toa60 steaks are awesome in the air fryer and I can’t even believe I was willing to try that. Although its wide air fry basket holds more food than the ones in a typical air fryer (or the racks in a toaster oven), the Ninja is still only able to dry a small amount of food. After running the dehydrator for 10 hours, I was rewarded with a small bowl of banana chips.
To be blunt, it’s not the best air fryer on the market, but it’s also far from the worst. The Digital Air Fry Oven air fries unevenly, and food prepared from scratch seemed baked, not fried. On the website the manufacturer cuisinart air fryer oven claims it can air fry 4 pounds of food at once. While we could pile up that amount of fries in the air fry basket, the loaded basket couldn’t fit in the oven at the rack position recommended for air frying.
This Ninja air fryer is not only the best small air fryer but also performed better in our tests than larger air fryers with more presets across the board. Ninja’s 4-quart tool came through swinging for the fences, with near-perfect cooking results on garlic, wings, shrimp, biscuits, and of course, fries. It’s perfectly nonstick for cleanup, quiet while running, and, thanks to the compact footprint, it’s easy to store.