Can an Air Fryer Replace a Toaster Oven?

Many individuals are unsure of what kind of machine they should purchase either a toaster or an air fryer. They can be confused about which option is best for their requirements and conditions. The air fryer is one choice that has gained popularity over the years.

An air fryer can do so many other functions than simply frying meals. So, you might ask can an air fryer replace a toaster oven? An air fryer can be utilized instead of a toaster oven or other kitchen equipment. But there are several factors to consider about it.

Let’s talk about it in detail.

Can you Replace a Toaster Oven with an Air Fryer?

Yes, you can replace an air fryer with a toaster oven. One of the main functions of a toaster oven is the ability to toast meals. This function is also feasible with air fryers. The broad set of features of an air fryer balances the toaster oven’s reduced capabilities. But air fryers have certain drawbacks as well.

If you had to select between the toaster and an air fryer, an air fryer might offer more choices based on what you would like to prepare and how. So, everything relies on you.

Traditional toaster ovens are widely available all over the world. They are so popular and have such a wide range of capabilities that it is simple for customers to find them in any supermarket or even online.

But now that air fryers are the newest and latest on the block. So that you can be wondering if you still need a toaster oven or not. Let’s discuss it in detail.

How do Toaster Ovens work?

Don’t worry if you do not know how toaster ovens work. It is very simple and easy to operate a toaster oven. A toaster oven is a tiny kitchen gadget that can toast meals instead of just warming foods.

It works incredibly well for toasting and other bread items like sandwich bread. Moreover, it can crisp up the remaining pizza pieces or other leftovers.

The food is folded up on a heating pan in a toaster oven, which will not twist with a toaster. It is among the easiest and most fundamental machines. The ease of use makes it a useful piece of equipment for those who are going to begin cooking and frying in their kitchens.

With its many easy-to-use settings, customers can make anything other than toast as toasting bread, pretzels, and crepes. In this way, you will get multiple options to use this machine according to your preferences and choices.

Toaster ovens use their heat source to prepare meals. These ovens place both above and below the plate where the food items are placed. The heat level of the frying pieces of the meal is also adjustable.

You can use the broiler mode to boost the temperature to its highest setting. It can reach 500 degrees Fahrenheit, or you can only slightly reheat your meals.

To choose how quickly you want your meal to fry, toaster ovens also include thermostats. This will not allow you to check your meals continuously. You can get your prepared meal once it is cooked.

How do Air Fryers work?

You must have heard rumors about how air fryers can crunch up a meal without using any oil or butter. Although it seems weird, the idea works amazingly! Almost any cuisine is ideal and suitable for air fryers as they utilize a fan to evenly disperse heated air. This fan distributes heat throughout the dish in the air fryer.

Thus, it is a misperception that bread cannot be toasted in air fryers. That is untrue and bread can be air fried in the air fryer.

You should be aware that air fryers surround meals in a pan and fry them by directing incredibly hot air at them. Food heats consistently due to the convective impact that will be made by the heated air.

To 450 degrees Fahrenheit, these appliances can prepare your desired meal. This hot air is circulated in the cylinder basket by the air fryers.

A heating element that is normally located above the bucket is the source of the heated air. As a result of the uniform distribution of heat, the consistency of your meal will be crunchy. This heat is produced across the meal. It is not essential to use oil to achieve that crispness, but you can use it if you like to give it that fried food flavor.

In this way, up to 80%, less oil is used to prepare brown dishes like French fries, poultry, steak, croissants, and more. As compared to a conventional deep fryer, an air fryer cooks healthy and fat-free meals.

How is an Air Fryer Different from a Toaster Oven?

Below are some factors that will make air fryers different from toaster ovens.

1. Heating Space

Let’s start with the fundamentals, which would be structural variations. You will see that a toaster oven has more capacity when you take a closer look at it. This is very distinct from what a conventional air fryer will make.

Depending on your circumstances, you could decide whether to purchase an air fryer or not. The toaster oven is preferable if you plan to prepare a greater quantity of food each day.

So, if all you have to consider is efficiency and reliability, an air fryer’s warming area is more appropriate than a toaster oven.

2. Type of Finish

Is a toaster oven a viable alternative to an air fryer is a common question to ask. The food’s arrangement must be examined carefully while purchasing a machine because it is what counts most!

Any food item that lacks the proper flavor or consistency cannot be consumed. Based on how long every machine will be used, the consistency of the meal might change. But the air fryer produces a crunchier texture that you would love to have. With an air fryer, your food will taste much crispier and have a slight “crunch” to it.

On the other side, the toaster oven will result in a crunchy appearance. Depending on your preferences, this could be all the distinction. You can choose an air fryer or a toaster according to your ease and requirements.

3. Longevity of the Convection Fan

You should consider the appliance’s durability as well. Can an air fryer substitute a toaster oven? You can ask this question if you are a food lover. Most people focus on flavor, but money is also important.

Although air fryers are more costly, they are also much more durable. For that reason, this is a fantastic long-term purchase. It is because the air fryers can work for a longer period without being damaged. Also, if you use them carefully, they can work accurately for years.

Thermal fans in air fryers occasionally last up to 2-3 times longer than those fans in typical induction cooktops. The thermal fan itself is the cause of this.

An air fryer’s turbo-fan has a longer lifespan and greater durability. It will allow them to work effectively for even outcomes. The thermal fan wears out faster in the toaster oven because there is more surface area to cover. So, in terms of convection fans, toaster ovens are preferable machines to consider.

What type of Meals can you cook in a Toaster?

In a toaster oven, a wide variety of meals can be cooked according to your preferences and tastes. The major items that work best in a toaster oven include bread, chicken nuggets, French fries, and other similar items.

What about other varieties of food? These meals are ideal for a toaster oven and shouldn’t cost much more. You can save your money and get delicious outcomes without investing a lot of money.

It works very nicely with biscuits and other baked items. Not only that but also it can crunch up practically any meals that you would like to eat. In this way, you will have multiple options from toasting to baking.

What type of Meals can you cook in an Air Fryer?

Similar things can be done with air fryers. While an air fryer’s meal can’t match the crispiness of a toaster oven, it looks similar. You could not be able to tell the difference because it is so similar.

But liquid meals cannot be cooked in air fryers. Crumbly foods should not be fried in an air fryer if they are to be coated in watery batter. An air fryer will not work properly with moist food items.

When seeking to warm leftovers, air fryers work extremely well. Have you ever tried eating reheated French fries? After a while, it starts to taste nasty. But it gets crunchy again when put into an air fryer.

You can set the temperature of the air fryer and reheat the leftovers according to your desired crispness. Not only fries but also any remaining food can be cooked to your preferred temperature using the air fryer.  

Air Fryer vs. Toaster Oven

Is an air fryer better than a toaster oven? The correct answer to this question is that it changes and is based on different factors. Depending on your preferences and preparation method, you can choose any of the machines either an air fryer or a toaster.

It is essential to recognize that these two gadgets are distinct from each other. But they perform many of the same functions. They both prepare their meals with the heat source.

Two warming components, one on the upper end and one below, are present in the toaster oven. Food isn’t cooked using any airflow in the toaster oven. While the thermostat emits heat, the air within the toaster remains constant.

A single heating coil distributes heat toward a compressor and circulates it across the cylinder. It is commonly situated above the bucket of an air fryer. This results in consistently balanced cooking according to your taste.

When you want to reheat food or fry it again so that it becomes crunchy, a toaster oven is useful and effective. Also, an air fryer can cook your meal accurately and give a crunchy texture as well as a delicious taste.

When it is about my experience, I have tested both an air fryer and a toaster oven. I tested my McDonald’s French fries on both machines.

The McDonald’s leftover French fries that I reheated in the air fryer become crunchier than the ones that I cooked in the toaster oven.

According to my choice, an air fryer is the better alternative for uncooked meals and leftovers to get a crispy texture.

Also Read: Can an Air Fryer Replace a Microwave

How to make a Toast from an Air Fryer?

You must give it a try to make toast using an air fryer. Step-by-step instructions for using an air fryer to cook toast are provided below.

It is essential to remember that some people still favor having a dedicated toaster oven at home. It all relates to the food’s entire consistency and taste. Due to the dry heat that an air fryer emits as opposed to a toaster oven’s crumbly heat, air fryers provide crunchy results.

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Mery Webber

Mery Webber, the founder of Kitchen Aims, is a passionate home cook with extensive experience in the kitchen appliance industry. Through her blog, she aims to share her knowledge and help readers create the perfect kitchen.