What is the difference between air fryer and toaster oven

When Philips debuted pod-shaped appliances called air fryers in 2010, they became so popular that the term “air fryer” is now used generically. While the name was new, the technology air fryers use, called convection baking, has been around since the 1940s and is a common feature of toaster ovens, too.

You can get golden brown fries in a hurry with either an air fryer or a toaster oven. Both use a fan to circulate hot air throughout the oven, browning your food more evenly and shaving cooking time by 30% or more. When comparing models, the key differences are the size and shape of the oven, which limits the food you can fit inside, and the degree of control you have over the settings, such as turning the fan off.

Not surprisingly, a common misconception is that air fryers fry food. Air fryers don’t fry in that they don’t use oil. Air fryers cook food by circulating hot air with a fan, known as convection.

Over time, air fryer manufacturers have evolved their machines to more closely resemble convection toaster ovens (sometimes called countertop convection ovens), while convection toaster ovens are increasingly billed as air fryers.

Air fryers cost anywhere from less than $100 to high-end models with a fair amount of features and accessories in the $300-$400 range.

Air fryers are known for heating up quickly due to their size — they come to temperature much faster than a conventional oven — turning out crisp french fries and reviving leftover takeout.

Many early air fryers were pod or barrel-shaped with a small cooking chamber and an electric coil heating element at the top. This vertical design has a small footprint. Some models have stuck to this general design, which is great if you’re limited on counter space or only cook one or two servings at a time, but many air fryers now have added racks and sheet pans and are closer in scale to a microwave.

One of the big advantages of an air fryer — especially when you want something to get brown and crispy — is the perforated cooking tray, often called a basket. The holes allow hot air to reach more of the surface area of your food, cooking it not only faster but more evenly, too.

Unfortunately, while the futuristic pod shape doesn’t hog counter space, it means that your food is often piled vertically. This crowding makes it harder for the air to hit the surface of food, resulting in uneven browning. You can shake the basket periodically, but this can be a hassle compared to cooking food in a single layer.

Many air fryers have limited capacity, so they’re not well-suited for larger households or batch cooking.

Air fryers don’t work well for baked goods such as cake or for making toast.

Ninja AF101 4-Quart Air Fryer: available at Amazon, Home Depot, Kohl's and Macy's

This best-selling air fryer is designed like a convection toaster oven and comes with both an air fryer basket and 13-inch square sheet pan. However, at less than 8 inches high, you won’t be able to use it to roast a whole chicken.

Philips Premium Digital Air Fryer: available at Amazon

Philips brought the original air fryer to market, and the manufacturer has updated its vertical design with many features, including digital controls.

Toaster ovens have come a long way. While the tiny toaster ovens of yesteryear may have only been big enough to fit a few slices of sandwich bread or single frozen dinner, modern toaster ovens are packed with powerful features. Some are even large enough to roast a whole turkey.

Toaster ovens run from simple, old-school versions for less than $50 to countertop convection ovens (about the size of a microwave) that fall into the $150-$400 range.

A toaster oven with convection typically heats very evenly, with heating elements on the bottom and top of the oven, as well as a fan at the rear of the oven for convection. Many air fryers only have a heating element on the top.

Most larger toaster ovens can bake, roast, toast and broil — everything from morning toast to cupcakes or a whole roast chicken can be made in the same countertop appliance. Especially because they preheat so quickly, you may find yourself using your toaster oven more than your conventional oven.

While toaster ovens used to have a bad reputation as a fire risk, modern ones have many safety features, including redesigned heating elements and automatic shut-off.

A convection toaster oven takes up more real estate on your kitchen counter than many air fryers on the market. If you have a small kitchen or rarely bake or broil, it may not be worth the counter space.

Convection toaster ovens don't always come with a perforated pan or "fryer basket" like air fryers do. Luckily, there are some great toaster oven accessory sets. Some include pizza pans or muffin pans sized just for toaster ovens.

Some air fryer users feel that even on the air fry setting, toaster oven models don’t get food as crispy as a dedicated air fryer.

Ninja SP-101 Foodi Countertop Convection Oven: available at Amazon, Bed Bath & Beyond, Home Depot, Kohl's and Macy's

This extra-large capacity toaster oven can bake, broil, air fry, toast, dehydrate or keep warm. It can hold a 13-inch pizza or six chicken breasts and has a 60-second preheat. It can be stored flipped up on its end to save you counter space when not in use.

Breville The Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro: available at Sur la Table and Wayfair

The Breville Smart Oven is the original countertop convection oven, beloved by pastry chefs and serious bakers for its remarkably even temperature from edge to edge. With the Smart Oven Air, Breville added an air fry setting as well as low-temperature settings for proofing and dehydrating.

Cuisinart Chef's Convection Toaster Oven: available at Amazon

The popular Cuisinart Chef has a large capacity — it fits a 13-inch pizza, 9 x 13-inch baking pan and has two racks for baking. It also has two different convection speeds.

With a crowded market, manufacturers are vying to earn their place on your kitchen counter by constantly adding features and accessories. The result is that the lines between the air fryer and toaster oven categories have gotten pretty blurry. A great countertop oven with convection baking can be called either name.

While vertical pod-shaped air fryers have performance issues, you’ll get a lot of use out of a countertop oven, whether it’s called an air fryer or a toaster oven.

Look for one with a fan for convection baking and an oven cavity that fits baking racks and sheet pans, even if you have to buy them separately.

Rachel Bolleris a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.

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