As for performance, the medium setting for toast lasted a lengthy five minutes 15 seconds—and it resulted in burnt bread (you had one job, toaster oven!). The oven is beautifully designed with intuitive, easy-to-read electronic controls. The preprogrammed times and temperatures cover many functions and types of food. This Cuisinart doesn’t have digital controls like most of its competitors do, but the rotary dials are a no-brainer to operate. It’s narrower and taller than a standard toaster oven, but still fits under a standard cabinet.
Because of its small size, and the fact that it doesn’t cook as evenly as the Philips Premium Airfryer, we don’t think this air fryer is for everyone. But we do think it’s a great, inexpensive option for those who want a simple appliance that’s easy cuisinart choppers to use and lightweight, or someone who’s tight on counter space and looking to fill the gap between a microwave and an oven. And because it’s so small and light, you can easily move the Mini Vortex into a cabinet or pantry for storage if need be.
This setting is fixed at 450 degrees F and can broil continually for to two hours (which, frankly, is unnecessary). I placed a salmon filet in the air basket which was fitted in the baking/drip pan — as recommended. The fish was looking good after five minutes and there was no smoke or fishy smell. I broiled for three minutes more and the salmon was browned on top, opaque on the sides and bottom and just flakey in the middle. This air fryer is for perfect for feeding groups, largely due to its spacious, oblong shape that “increases the cooking area in comparison to traditionally round baskets,” says the Good Housekeeping Institute.
It roasts an incredibly crispy rotisserie chicken but also toasts bread evenly. For a top-notch air fryer that doubles as a toaster oven, the Chefman Toast-Air cuisinart toaster costco Touch Air Fryer is one of our top picks. Everything we air fried from frozen fries to Nashville-style chicken came out well browned and crispy.
The Instant Mini Vortex is small, powerful, and one of the cheapest models we tested. While the wee basket can fit only one serving size at a time, the machine circulates heat fairly well and manages to cook food without dehydrating it. They’re awaiting your next meal at any time, take up minimal space but pack all the punch you need for everyday bites, and they can tackle nearly every job.