Although the Cuisinart is not marketed as such, it can also be used to air-fry food (pod-shaped air fryers are simply mini convection ovens). However, if you plan to air fry on the regular, you may want to consider getting our upgrade pick, the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro, which has a slightly more powerful fan for air frying. Air frying and convection cooking both work similarly in the sense that they both use a fan to circulate hot air.
In addition to the matte black design with rose-gold colored knobs, it also comes in white and stainless steel. Aesthetics aside, this air fryer toaster cuisinart choppers oven performed well in our tests. Air fried wings took 20 minutes to crisp evenly, released from the air fryer basket easily and stayed juicy.
The instruction manual recommends allowing 5 minutes for the toaster oven to preheat. Even so, a charming, old-school ding does alert you when the timer goes off. We preferred this subtle sound to the ear-shattering beeps on some digital models, like the Wolf Gourmet Countertop Oven. To test how well the toaster ovens maintained a set temperature, we stuck an air probe thermometer into their cavities and monitored them for 20 minutes. We also tested the unique features on certain models, such as dehydrate modes or the steam feature on Balmuda’s The Toaster. Additionally, we took note of any excessively loud beeps and evaluated the usefulness of each model’s accessories.
The Hamilton Beach has manual knobs that adjust the temperature (from 150 °F to broil/toast mode), the function , and the 30-minute timer. The biggest drawback to this model is the toast shade setting on the timer dial. You have to turn the knob past the 10-minute mark and then reverse it to the desired shade setting.
We were pleased that there wasn’t any smoking during air frying and that the oven was easy to use overall. Once your toaster is up and running, we recommend that you empty the crumb tray often. To keep grease from dripping on the lower heating element, use foil and a pan underneath whatever you’re cooking. If grease splatters inside the oven, clean the interior according to the manufacturer’s instructions or refer to the care and maintenance section in our guide to the best air fryer toaster ovens. Air fryer toaster ovens are popular for their many cooking capabilities, making functions an obvious factor to consider.
The line indicating the maximum height of the oven cavity is only 1¾ inches from the top of the oven rack, so you can’t even fit a small, 3-pound chicken in it. The Cuisinart TOB-135 toasted bread unevenly, and its temperature control was less consistent, so we dismissed it. The Cuisinart has a three-year limited warranty, whereas most similarly priced competitors include just one- or two-year warranties. But according to a representative we spoke with, Cuisinart won’t repair the oven if it becomes defective under warranty, and won’t ask you to mail it back.