The Comfee' Air Fryer vs Toaster Oven: Which is Better?

There’s no doubt that home improvement has come a long way. You will see hundreds, even thousands, of new cooking appliances. It can be hard to keep up with the trends, and thus, it’s understandable why it’s easy to confuse one with the other.

That said, two appliances that people usually confuse with each other are air fryers and toaster ovens. Although they have different designs, they offer similar purposes. These also use similar mechanisms.

To help you understand the two, the following sections will walk you through an in-depth comparison of the difference between air fryer and toaster oven.

Air Fryers and Toaster Ovens

An air fryer is a convection-based appliance, which means that it uses heat circulation to fry foods, which results in a crispier outcome. It’s mainly suitable for small to medium dishes like meat and chips. The tool also fits the needs of those who want to deep fry foods like tempura, fries, and other finger snacks. One of the main reasons why air fryers are invented is to give people an option to have portable fryers in their homes.

A toaster oven also uses heat convection technology to fry and toast foods. The difference is this is more of a versatile appliance since it can handle various cooking methods. To add, because of the size, you can expect it to handle even large-sized foods like meat chops. It can also be used to heat bread and other pastries as well. Basically, it’s like an all-in-one cooking tool.

If you still can’t decide between the two, you’ll be glad to know that Comfee has a product that combines the functions and benefits of the two. Check out their 7-in-1 Air Fryer Toaster Oven if you want a toaster oven that has the size of an air fryer still with high quality.

Difference Between Air Fryer and Toaster Oven

Now that you know the purposes of both an air fryer and toaster oven let us now look at their differences more comprehensively. To do this, the following sections will discuss some of the necessary aspects that you should know:

• Size

Air fryers are generally smaller than toaster ovens. The former can go up to 5 liters max. Most don’t even surpass 3 liters for the standard size. Toaster ovens, on the other hand, have a great capacity, which makes them suitable for large quantities of food. Take Comfee’s 10L Toaster Oven, for example.

• Methods of Cooking

You can only fry foods in an air fryer. You can also use it for deep fry and gentle baking needs. In this aspect, you may find the said tool more limited. It’s mainly because toaster ovens offer more flexible cooking methods. With this, not only can you fry or heat food. You can also cook other types of dishes that aren’t possible in the former.

• Duration of Cooking

An air fryer usually cooks food faster than a toaster oven. This is because the heat inside an air fryer has a smaller space to revolve around, and, thus, it makes it easier to heat up. A toaster oven, on the other hand, is rather spacious, which results in a slightly longer duration of cooking. Of course, this will still depend on what food and dish are at hand.

• Heat Source

Both air fryers and toaster ovens use the same heat convection system for cooking food. The difference lies in where the heat source is placed. For the former, you’ll find it in the structure’s internal top fan. The latter has continents placed on both the top and bottom of the internal design.

• Temperature Settings

You can freely adjust both air fryers and toaster ovens to your desired temperature. Note, though, that the former runs on enhanced heat distribution. The latter automatically adjusts itself depending on the necessary cooking temperature. This means that you have to set the air fryer at a lower temperature than the average oven setting.

• Power

Air fryers are usually considered more energy-efficient than toaster ovens, but they will still vary depending on what the required watts and voltage are.

• Digital Interface

Since air fryers are more modern compared to toaster ovens, they’re usually the only ones with a digital interface. It can still be uncommon for the latter to have a readily available LED control display.

• Insulation

Toaster ovens are usually more high-risk to use because of their ability to retain insulation even after using them. This makes it flammable and more susceptible to fire-related incidents. That said, an air fryer has better internal insulation quality, which makes it less dangerous to use.

• Price

If you’re looking for a more affordable choice, then toaster ovens will be the right one for you. Its price range comes up to around $40 max. Air fryers are generally more expensive since the lowest one that you can get will probably start at $50.

Can an Air Fryer Replace a Toaster Oven?

The answer will depend on what you’re looking for in a cooking appliance. If you plan on using the tool only for small-sized dishes, then an air fryer can definitely do the job like a toaster oven.

Tables will turn if you are expecting the air fryer to handle large quantities of food. If this is the case, then you can’t really rely on the said tool to replace a toaster oven.

Generally, however, toaster ovens can replace air flyers because they have larger capabilities, all covering the purposes of the latter.

Air Fryer vs. Toaster Oven: Which is Better?

To summarize, which is better between an air fryer and toaster oven? To have a clear answer, try to view the advantages and disadvantages of the two tools first. See the following sections:

Air Fryer

Here is a summarized list of the advantages and disadvantages of a standard air fryer:

Advantages

• Compact and portable
• Doesn’t take up a lot of space in the kitchen
• Modern and timely cooking appliance
• Equipped with a digital display
• Easy-to-use and fast-cooking tool

Disadvantages

• Can’t fit in large quantities of food at once
• Can be pricy
• Noisy cooking process

Toaster Oven

For a toaster oven, here are the advantages and disadvantages that you should know:

Advantages

• Has a vast capacity
• Versatile cooking appliance
• Equipped with custom and adjustable temperature settings
• Suitable for several cooking options
• Affordable

Disadvantages

• Can be risky to use
• Comes in a rather large size
• Cooking time can take more time

FAQs

Here are some of the frequently asked questions that may help you land on the better choice between air fryers and toaster ovens:

1.Which one is easier to clean up?

Since toaster ovens cook food through trays, it’s usually easier to clean when compared to an air fryer that uses a basket. For the former, you can simply wash the tray and wipe it with a clean cloth. The latter can be trickier since food can easily cling to the basket holes. Some leftovers are also more stubborn because crisps stick to the surfaces and require additional tinkering.

2.Which one is a healthier choice?

Both air fryers and toaster ovens are healthy choices. It will depend on your health’s current state and how you want your overall diet to be. If you want to avoid using oil at all costs, then you will definitely find toaster ovens to be the better choice. If you can handle small amounts of oil, then an air fryer will be an equally healthy choice.

3.Which one is safer?

Because of the differing insulation, air fryers are generally safer to use. It’s more recommended if you have children and inexperienced cooks at home. In contrast, toaster ovens are more flammable, which means that you need to take extra care when cooking food through them.

4.Which one is more practical?

Generally, buying toaster ovens is more practical since it can already handle various cooking methods and food recipes. It’s also cheaper compared to air fryers. However, if you’re looking into a more modern addition to your kitchen, then air fryers can still be a practical choice. Just look for one with a large capacity if you want a more flexible tool.

Conclusion

The answer to which will be the better choice between air fryers and toaster ovens will depend on your needs and preferences. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. You’re the only one who can answer which one will be the most beneficial for you.

If you don’t have any idea yet on what product to get and from what brand, you should definitely look into Comfee’s Air Fryer and the Comfee Toaster Oven. You should also look at their air fryer-toaster oven if you want to make the most out of both appliances and don’t want to choose just one.