Air Fryer vs. Convection Toaster Oven: My Head-to-Head Tests End the Debate

[@PrudentReviews]

Read the full comparison for more details: prudentreviews.com/air-fryer-vs-convection-toaster-oven/ Want to know when brands like Ninja, PowerXL, and Breville go on sale? Join our free newsletter to get deal alerts: prudentreviews.com/newsletter/

[@cindym6138]

Great video! I'm a diehard toaster oven gal. Use mine daily. I've held out buying an air fryer thinking I'd buy the toaster oven/air fryer when my current toaster oven dies. Thanks to you for letting me know I'd be really disappointed. Air fryer it is!

[@PrudentReviews]

Before testing I thought the convection toaster would produce the same results because it works the same way (fan circulating hot air), but I was wrong.

[@pmb6667]

I think it can depend on _which_ model Air fryer you get, too. I have the large, Ninja Foodi dual (*square* drawers) air fryer which has 6 featues including baking. I can also cook meat in one drawer, and veggies in the other with the 'smart cooking' feature (setting different times for each drawer) where both items finish cooking at the same time, and FAST too. I don't need yet *another* oven in my kitchen to clean.

[@PrudentReviews]

Totally agree - results will vary by model.

[@PinkNinjas24]

After being an air fryer user for the last 5 years, I finally let them go and went for a Breville Compact oven! I love that it’s stainless steel and baking it so much better, my dessert would always come out different versus the actual oven! Happy about the switch

[@TheMorbidHobo]

I do wonder if you just increased the heat a bit in the toaster oven if the results would be more similar.

[@OtterMom]

Me too.

[@richardkalmwater5996]

This is a quality video. I would sum it up this video saying: *If you want to most satisfying texture with a quicker cooking time, get the air fryer*

[@judithvigorito4548]

Best investment ever was my convection/toaster/broiler oven. I have no desire to get an air fryer

[@harshiini_0937]

can it be used for baking ?

[@judithvigorito4548]

@@harshiini_0937 I bake banana bread, chicken, meatloaf etc in it all the time. Mine doesn’t have an air fryer feature, I’ve no use for it but many do have it as well.

[@tarannumsayyed1227]

Is it possible to do some of the air fryer recipes (chicken especially) in a COTG? I'm doubtful about the longevity and after sales of an airfryer doesn't matter the brand. I'm from India and most people complain about how soon the air fryers stop working and what a hassle it is to get it repaired even under warranty

[@zahavailan3782]

Wow what a great review! And I love that you tested brussels sprouts my favorite

[@PrudentReviews]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@johnwilliamson9453]

Excellent, no nonsense review!

[@PrudentReviews]

Thank you! That’s the goal :)

[@sheilam4964]

Did you check the temperature in the toaster oven with a thermometer. I have found they are 25 F to 50 F lower then the setting on the dial.

[@PrudentReviews]

Wow - that's a huge discrepancy. No I didn't, but next time I use it I will.

[@sheilam4964]

@@PrudentReviews Let us know what you find.

[@sheilam4964]

@@PrudentReviews - when I get a new appliance I check each setting before I use it. I write the temperatures down and work with those numbers when I use it.

[@PrudentReviews]

@@sheilam4964 smart

[@MonkeyThrowMonkeyDoo]

Wow! Amazingly straight-forward and professional. Liked and subscribed...and I rarely do that.

[@caracaplinger1860]

I was lucky enough to win a Gourmia air fryer as a door prize. It has 3 rack positions and 2 square trays. It's my "go to" most nights for our family of 3.

[@kaixokaleabilbao2770]

I think the comparison was not fair. You should have compared square basket large air fryers with the also rectangular shape convection toaster ovens. Round basket air fryers are not comparable to square convection toaster ovens.

[@themadoneplays7842]

Well, I got a Cosari 30 Liter Smart Air Fryer Toaster Oven and for me, it's excellent at both. Sure, its preheat times are a bit long, but it made my fried chicken quite crispy.

[@Littlegoblinfatface]

What a lame name

[@themadoneplays7842]

@@Littlegoblinfatface sadly yes, but hey it works.

[@nicholasvega8372]

How did your breaker not trip running both on the same plug and circuit ?

[@SargonDragon]

I've seen a lot of people say that an air fryer is just a convection oven with less capacity in a different shape. But while they're both fundamentally based on circulating heated air, air fryers really are a different animal with a different cooking technique and purpose, delivering heat in a faster and more concentrated way which is more akin to how oil fryers deliver heat. Are conventional convection ovens that have added an "air fryer mode" just running their existing fans at their maximum speed and calling it a day? Your test results would suggest so.

[@PrudentReviews]

I believe the size and shape of air fryers play a role in the cook time and texture. Smaller chamber = faster hot air circulation = faster cook time and crispier results.

[@Dogrockdog]

You want a mini toaster oven with convection fan. Stuff all preheat time, and can also grill etc. cook more food in one hit.

[@campar1043]

Im assuming if you leave the food a bit longer in the convection oven, it will get as crispy. The problem is more of a wait time

[@PrudentReviews]

Yes, but at a certain point the middle will overcook

[@Dogrockdog]

@@PrudentReviews2 more minutes at a higher temperature. They were really badly cooked I must say.

[@M4ttNet]

So I know my monogram oven has an air fryer mode (I'm guessing all GE ovens now have it in general), I would love to see an air fryer vs convection oven in air fryer mode comparison. Essentially I think the oven's air fryer mode just cranks up the fan way more than standard convection mode, it really cooks things super fast. So far it's been great where an air fryer excels at such as frozen fried foods like fries, hashbrowns, re-heating chicken fingers and fries etc. Obviously you have to flip th ings manually if you choose to do so vs the air fryer basket shake, but other than that I'd be super curious.

[@CowboyTech]

Thank you for a very comprehensive review.

[@ThatCube]

I wonder if a more expensive toaster oven and air fryer would yield different results? Or if you could measure the temperature to make sure it’s accurate? This doesn’t feel like a fair comparison because they are completely different brands and likely at different temperatures. The cheaper models can be off by 30 or 40 degrees AFAIK

[@debbiealtman5373]

I agree with your report 100%. I had a toaster oven like the one you had and did not like it. I got rid of it now I have the two drawer air fryer. I love it. I got the two basket combo because I can do two things at the same time. There’s just two of us now so that’s why I got it. But I will say the toaster oven is nothing like a good old air fryer. Great video.

[@PrudentReviews]

Thanks for watching!

[@debbiealtman5373]

@@PrudentReviews 🤗

[@nileshbenz1]

The key is wattage. High wattage with same capacity will give good results

[@Razalipuchong]

review glass air fryer please

[@gilgabro420]

You will also want to pull brussel sprouts slightly apart and get some spices, salt and oil in between the leaves. Also how do you have so little subs? You are grate!

[@PrudentReviews]

Appreciate the kind words!

[@jeffreywhitaker5154]

😂😂😂😂. I seen what you did there!!🤣🤣🤣🤣😂😂

[@Razalipuchong]

Thank you

[@debeeriz]

i have had a bucket air fryer for 5 years and just bought a air fryer oven. it has 5 elements and cooks faster than my bucket ait fryer, l use them both, if you can only have one and you have the room go with the air fryer oven with the fan on top. otherwise go with the bucket type

[@aididdat1749]

How do frozen fries/nuggets do in an air fryer?

[@PrudentReviews]

Excellent. Towards the end of the video I give you an up-close look at French fries cooked in an air fryer.

[@StormWarningMom]

Fantastic. Bacon is great in there too.

[@Dogrockdog]

The chicken and fries were cooked badly ( slightly higher temp and a bit longer until you can SEE they are crispy) Now try grille a cheese toastie or crumpet. Air fryers will be like breadkakers and footspas and abpros. A good mini convection oven can do so much more .

[@ATdaBomb]

Your comparison doesn't mention at all the PFAS (non-stick) coating in the air fryer as another downside to choosing an air fryer. Any product that says 'non-stick' should be a big red flag! Everyone avoids Teflon now, but there are literally, no hyperbole, thousands of copy chemicals with the same properties that accumulate inside us and don't break down, affecting our hormonal, reproductive, and metabolic systems over time. Anything 'non-stick' is essentially a layer of PFAS sprayed across the interior of your air fryer basket, and accumulates in every meal you cook! Virtually every air fryer sold has 'non-stick'. Why do you think people ask for glass air fryers? Many people searching your video are really interested in any option that doesn't have forever chemical coatings. Admittedly, no products are safe, including convention ovens. Stainless steel is usually a material where no forever chemical coatings are needed to be sprayed inside, but anything sold on Amazon nowadays you cannot be certain. Anything that's deceptively easy to clean, remember, you're paying for it with your health!

[@guilhermeg345]

The problem is finding a no non stick air fryer. I've looked everywhere and the best I've found is the Ninja brand which has a ceramic coating.

[@Homiloko2]

@@guilhermeg345 Ceramic coating is usually a PFAS non-stick coating with some added ceramic in the composition just so they can give it a different name. If it's not 100% ceramic, it's definitely a teflon knockoff. And the makers will avoid telling you the composition. And yeah, I've never seen a non-PFAS air fryer. That's why I'm looking for a good convection oven. Even then, half the options have non stick coatings. I'm looking for a good stainless steel one.

[@elainegmorrison]

Good point. I was really thinking of a fast cook air fryer and going the conventional way. I forgot about the fact I don't cook or micro in plastic. Ever. Not even utensils.

[@thesetruths1404]

Airfryers are useless and toxic. The pan should be cast iron, but none are. Multiple cook settings on the countertop convection oven is much more useful, and cast iron pans fit inside of them easily.

[@fvanced]

There are made of glass.

[@shulehr]

this i no comparison if you just didnt wait enough time for the oven to cook everything xD what a BS video. Not to mention no details on power draw.

[@laniloveaj]

My oven cooks better than this😮

[@hboj9676]

blud cant read a tape