An air fryer toaster oven is the Swiss Army knife of kitchen appliances — it air fries, bakes, broils, toasts, roasts, and dehydrates, replacing multiple countertop gadgets with a single unit. After consulting with hundreds of home cooks who were drowning in single-purpose appliances, I started recommending these combo units as the smartest kitchen investment you can make. One appliance, one footprint, a dozen cooking functions.
But not all air fryer ovens are created equal. Some excel at air frying but toast unevenly. Others bake beautifully but can’t crisp a french fry. I’ve tested each model across multiple cooking tasks — toast, air-fried fries, roasted chicken, baked cookies, and broiled salmon — to find the models that perform well across the board, not just in their strongest category.
Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro<br />
Our Top Picks at a Glance
Best Overall: Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro
The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro is the gold standard for countertop ovens, and after extensive testing, I understand why it dominates every “best of” list. Breville’s Element IQ technology uses six independent heating elements that adjust power distribution based on the cooking function — more top heat for broiling, more bottom heat for pizza, balanced heat for baking, concentrated rear heat for air frying. The result is remarkably even cooking across all 13 functions.
Air frying performance is excellent — not quite as aggressive as a dedicated basket air fryer, but close enough that most people won’t notice the difference. Fries come out evenly golden, chicken wings crisp beautifully, and vegetables roast with nice caramelization. Where the Breville truly shines is in its oven functions: it bakes cookies as evenly as a full-size oven, toasts bread uniformly across all positions, and broils with precise temperature control.
The interior is spacious enough for a 14-lb turkey, 9 slices of toast, or a 13″ pizza. The brushed stainless steel exterior looks premium on any countertop, and the LCD display is clear and intuitive. The slow cook function means this can replace your slow cooker too. At $399-$449, it’s the most expensive option on this list, but it genuinely replaces a toaster, toaster oven, air fryer, and potentially a slow cooker — the per-appliance value is actually quite good.
Best Value: Ninja Foodi Digital Air Fry Oven SP101
The Ninja SP101 delivers about 85% of the Breville’s performance at roughly half the price — making it the best value in the air fryer oven category. The standout feature is the Flip-Up design: when not in use, the oven flips up against the wall, reducing its footprint by about 50%. For kitchens where counter space is precious, this is a genuine game-changer.
Air frying performance is strong — the rear-mounted fan and heating element create aggressive air circulation that produces crispy results comparable to basket-style air fryers. Toast is even across all positions, and baking is consistent. Eight cooking functions (air fry, air roast, air broil, bake, bagel, toast, dehydrate, keep warm) cover the essentials, though you won’t get the Breville’s slow cook or proof functions.
The interior fits a 13″ pizza or up to 9 slices of toast. Build quality is solid with a stainless steel front panel, though the sides are painted metal rather than full stainless. At $149-$199, it’s the sweet spot of performance and price for most households.
Best for Small Kitchens: Cuisinart TOA-60
The Cuisinart TOA-60 packs air frying capability into a compact form factor that fits comfortably in smaller kitchens. It’s about 20% smaller than the Breville and Ninja models while still offering enough interior space for a 3-lb chicken, 4 slices of toast, or a personal-sized pizza. Seven cooking functions (air fry, convection bake, convection broil, bake, broil, warm, toast) cover the basics well.
Air frying is good — not the strongest on this list, but adequate for fries, wings, and vegetables. Where the Cuisinart excels is simplicity: analog dials for function, temperature, and time make operation intuitive without any learning curve. No apps, no digital menus, no presets to navigate — just turn the dials and cook. Your body will thank you for the healthier cooking, and your kitchen will thank you for the space savings.
At $159-$199, it’s mid-range pricing for a well-built, reliable appliance from a trusted brand. The stainless steel exterior is durable and easy to clean.
Best Large Capacity: Ninja Foodi XL Pro Air Oven
When you need to cook for a crowd, the Ninja XL Pro delivers the largest usable interior in the air fryer oven category. It fits a 5-lb chicken, two 12″ pizzas on separate racks, or a full sheet pan of cookies. The two-rack system lets you cook on multiple levels simultaneously, and the True Surround Convection with up to 10 cooking functions provides versatility for any meal.
Air frying performance is excellent across both racks — the powerful fan and heating system maintain consistent temperature and airflow even when cooking on two levels. The digital display is clear and the preset functions are well-calibrated. At $199-$249, it’s reasonably priced for the capacity and performance.
How to Choose an Air Fryer Oven
Size and Capacity
Measure your available counter space before buying. Air fryer ovens range from compact (about 16″ wide) to large (20″+ wide). Also consider height — you need clearance above the unit for ventilation. Match interior capacity to your household: compact models suit 1-2 people, standard models suit 2-4, and XL models suit 4+ people or batch cooking.
Air Fryer Oven vs Basket Air Fryer
Basket air fryers generally produce crispier results because the smaller cooking chamber concentrates heat more aggressively. Air fryer ovens offer more versatility (toast, bake, broil) but sacrifice some air frying intensity. If air frying is your primary use, a basket model may be better. If you want one appliance to replace several, an air fryer oven is the smarter choice.
The Bottom Line
The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro is the best air fryer oven for those who want premium performance across all cooking functions. The Ninja SP101 offers the best value with its flip-up design and strong air frying at half the Breville’s price. For small kitchens, the Cuisinart TOA-60 delivers capable performance in a compact package. Whichever you choose, an air fryer oven is one of the most space-efficient investments you can make for your kitchen.
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