For those not familiar, air frying is just convection baking, smartly rebranded (and with the power amped up a bit). So any oven with convection works the same way as an air fryer: A fan circulates hot air around the food, crisping the outside in a way that mimics deep-frying (though the results tend to be drier and less flavorful than deep-frying with oil).
Compared with pod-shaped air fryers, air fryer toaster ovens and convection toaster ovens are far more versatile—they can tackle everything from toast to cakes (both of which the pods tend to dry out), and make larger batches of things like crispy air-fried wings. But depending on your lifestyle and needs, you may prefer a pod-shaped air fryer or even a regular old-school toaster oven without convection. Here’s what these machines can do, at a glance:
If you’re still not sure which appliance is right for you, read our more detailed breakdown below.
