Air Fryer vs Toaster Oven: Which Should You Use?
Basket versus shelf - which shape suits what you actually cook.
Updated 9 September 2026
It depends - air fryer for crisping, toaster oven for anything flat or delicate
The air fryer has a stronger fan and a basket, so it crisps far better. A toaster oven has flat shelves and a wider door, so it handles toast, pizza slices, gratins and anything you cannot shake.
Both are countertop boxes with a heating element, and plenty of modern toaster ovens include an air-fry setting. The real difference is the shape of the cooking space: a deep basket you shake, versus a flat shelf you slide a tray onto.
Air Fryer vs Toaster Oven: side by side
| Air fryer | Toaster oven | |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking space | Deep basket | Flat shelf |
| Fan strength | Very high | Low to moderate |
| Crisping | Excellent | Moderate |
| Toast | Workable | Excellent |
| Pizza slices | Cramped | Excellent |
| Gratins and bakes | Small dishes only | Yes |
| Can you see the food? | No - open the drawer | Yes - glass door |
| Preheat | 2-3 min | 4-6 min |
| Needs shaking | Yes | No |
The basket is the whole trade-off
A basket lets air reach the underside of the food and lets you shake everything at once, which is why chips and wings crisp so well. It is also why a pizza slice, a flatbread or a tray of lasagne is awkward or impossible.
A toaster oven inverts both properties. Nothing crisps as hard, but anything flat, layered or fragile - toast, gratin, a tart, cookies on a sheet - is straightforward.
What about toaster ovens with an air-fry setting?
They genuinely work, but not as well as a dedicated basket. The fan is weaker and food sits on a rack inside a larger chamber, so air velocity across the surface is lower.
If counter space allows only one appliance and you mostly want crisp food, choose the air fryer. If you bake, toast and reheat flat things, the toaster oven is more useful.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an air fryer better than a toaster oven?+
For crisping small food, yes. For toast, pizza slices, gratins and anything flat or delicate, the toaster oven is better because it has shelves rather than a basket.
Can a toaster oven air fry?+
Many have an air-fry setting and it does work, just less effectively - the fan is weaker and the chamber larger, so air moves across the food more slowly.
Which should I buy if I only have room for one?+
Air fryer if you mostly cook chips, wings, frozen food and want things crisp. Toaster oven if you toast, bake and reheat flat dishes.
Can you make toast in an air fryer?+
Yes - 3-4 minutes at 200°C / 400°F, flipping once. It is slower and less even than a toaster oven, but it works.