Pros:
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Lots of accessories, including a rotisserie
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User-friendly French doors
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21 smart presets
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Large capacity
Cons:
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Loud, annoying end signal
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Doors don't seal
Those trying to expand their culinary horizons will have no trouble doing that with the Kalorik Maxx digital air fryer oven. The machine comes with myriad accessories, including a bacon tray, steak tray, rotisserie spit and a cookbook, along with the usual crumb tray, air rack and baking tray. It’s truly more of a luxury small kitchen appliance than a traditional toaster oven.
TASTE OF HOME
We were significantly impressed with the golden brown fries, especially since we used the French fry preset for the batch. Overall, there are 21 different presets for the discerning home cook. Just don’t expect each to work perfectly, especially for the price. But for those looking for an all-in-one, it’s an excellent option—especially given the inclusion of a spit accessory for roasting. In fact, our chicken was so good it rivaled the supermarket.
"This rotisserie chicken could've fooled us as one from the supermarket. It was succulent and crispy and had a subtle smokiness to it. A really standout performance, making this ideal for meat eaters."
annamarie higley
product testing manager
One thing to keep in mind is that the French doors, while attractive, don’t seal very well. This leads to a little air leakage and slightly uneven results, particularly while baking. Additionally, whereas the KitchenAid option had a quiet bell, this one is rather loud and obnoxious. But hey—at least you won’t forget your French fries!
Max Temperature: 500°F | Dimensions: 12.5″D x 15.75″W x 14″H | Settings: Air Fry, Bake, Toast, Roast, Rotisserie, Braise, Sear, Dehydrate, Broil, Warm | Dishwasher Safe: No
What To Look for When Buying an Air Fryer Toaster Oven
When shopping for an air fryer toaster oven, first consider your budget. The best air fryer toaster ovens come in an array of price points. Choose from budget-friendly options that fall around $100 to luxe appliances that cost upwards of $400. Those who plan on using their air fryer toaster oven regularly—or those who are serious home cooks—should think about snagging a model that’s built to last.
Additionally, think about the size you’ll need. Those who want to use their oven for roasting chicken and baking cakes should pick an option that’s big enough. This goes doubly so for folks who want to use their air fryer toaster oven as a second oven for holiday meals and hosting.
Lastly, consider the controls and features you’ll use the most. While a meat probe is a nice inclusion, it’s not necessary for vegetarians. On the flip side, investing in a smart oven that preheats automatically is perfect for those who don’t have much time on their hands to cook.
Why You Should Trust Us
Our testing team has a combined decade of experience testing and evaluating everything from the best upright freezers to the best toasters. Many of us have backgrounds in kitchen and culinary careers ourselves. The remainder of our team are simply passionate home cooks who want to recommend the very best products using honest and fair testing practices. We would never recommend a product we don’t love, regardless of how popular or big the brand is.
How We Found the Best Air Fryer Toaster Ovens
Our Product Testing Team began by sourcing the most popular and best-rated air fryer toaster ovens on the market. In total, they tested 10 air fryer toaster ovens and performed roughly 10 tests on each. They spent a collective 80 hours on this test, including researching, sourcing, intaking and testing the products. Overall, the team collected roughly 375 data points.
TASTE OF HOME
While testing, the team used Kroger white bread and French fries for the toast and air-fry tests and Duncan Hines yellow box cake mix for the bake test. For the roast test, they roasted six chickens—weighing between 4 and 5 pounds—coated in Lawry’s Total Seasoning.
Specs
Testers measured the height, width and depth of the interior chamber and the length of the cord. From there, they weighed the toaster oven with the standard baking rack in it. They then attempted to place various kitchen pots and pans (a lidded 5.5-quart Dutch oven, 13×9-inch casserole dish with handles and 12-inch pizza pan) within the chamber to see if they fit. The baking rack was on the lowest rung during this test.
Performance
Testers first toasted the maximum number of slices of white bread that would fit on the medium toast setting of each oven. They then evaluated the bread slices on their overall browning capabilities and the evenness of that browning.
For the fry test, testers air-fried frozen French fries according to the bag’s instructions or, if provided, the manual’s instructions. Testers then picked out any over- or under-cooked fries, noting how many fell into each category. Additionally, testers tasted the properly cooked French fries to evaluate them for crispiness.
Using the top eight ovens, testers baked a boxed yellow sheet cake in the oven. Each cake was made in a quarter sheet pan with roughly 3 cups of batter and was baked until a toothpick comes out clean. Testers then assessed the evenness of the bake.
After eliminating all but five ovens, testers seasoned a whole chicken with AP seasoning and roasted it in the oven for 90 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit on the roast setting or according to the manual’s guidelines. They evaluated the chicken’s fit within the appliance and the final results of the cooked chicken. They also paid attention to juiciness, crispiness of skin and other factors.
Cleaning
Testers disassembled and cleaned the ovens according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Other Air Fryer Toaster Ovens We Tested
- Beautiful Infrared Air Fry Toaster Oven: While this pretty pick performed decently, the shelves do not have sufficient catches to keep them from tilting downward, and the interior space is too small for most dishes.
- Ninja Digital Air Fry Countertop Oven: The space-saving lever is a very consumer-friendly feature that allows for much more flexibility when adding this oven to your other kitchen appliances. That said, the performance with French fries was less than impressive, yielding some seriously overcooked shoestrings.
- Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven with Grill: The timer knob stops at 10 minutes with no further increments or digital display. It also didn’t impress with an undercooked cake.
- Gourmia 6-in-1 Air Fryer Oven: After 10 minutes, our fries weren’t even close to done. Our testers rated this option “overwhelmingly underwhelming.”
FAQs
Can an air fryer replace a toaster oven?
A toaster oven is not the same as an air fryer, so if you’re on the fence, we recommend opting for an air fryer toaster oven. While air fryers and toaster ovens offer similar cooking methods, they’re not interchangeable. Toaster ovens have electric coils that heat up and cook food, while an air fryer works by using rapid air technology to create heat. While a traditional toaster oven is an excellent option for reheating leftovers and crisping up slices of bread, an air fryer is ideal for crunchy foods like fried chicken and French fries.
How to clean an air fryer toaster oven?
Cleaning an air fryer toaster oven is a bit like cleaning an air fryer. First, turn off and unplug the appliance. Then, remove the basket, tray, pan or crumb tray (if included). You can sometimes place these in the dishwasher, or you can use soap and warm water. Don’t immerse the main unit in water. Instead, use a rag and warm water to buff off any splatters or spots. You’ll also want to use a soft dish brush to clean any food off of the heating coils. Once each component is clean, dry them thoroughly and replace them to get cooking.