Air fryers can be inexpensive and space-saving, but could a convection oven or even a toaster oven still be your best bet?

Air fryers are everywhere this year. Apart from countless countertop models dedicated to the feature, there are air-frying ovens and toaster ovens from names like Frigidaire, Black & Decker and Cuisinart. These trendy countertop fryers are certainly convenient. On the other hand, people have been serving up mozzarella sticks and bagel bites from regular, full-size ovens and toaster ovens for decades now.

Which method makes the most sense? Kitchen appliance expo has sorted out，here's a look at the pros and cons of convection ovens, air fryers and toaster ovens.

Air fryers: One-trick ponies or specialty must-haves?

I've been to more than my fair share of state fairs, and I've found this one thing to be true: everything tastes better deep-fried. But I will concede that dunking breaded foods into searing hot oil isn't the healthiest culinary technique, and air fryers are a popular alternative.

Air fryers work by circulating hot air around your food. That's the same approach traditional convection ovens take, but there are a few key differences.

While a full-size convection oven and an air fryer both use a fan to move hot air around, an air fryer circulates the air more rapidly inside a small chamber, speeding up the cooking process. Air fryers also employ a basket to more evenly circulate hot air around the bottom of your food.

Popular air fryers like the Simple Chef HF-898 can cost as little as $66, and fit right on your countertop. Air fryers are healthier than deep frying and there's no risk of an oily mess. Should you buy one? Probably not, but that depends on what you're cooking.

Convection ovens: Time-tested, mother-approved

If you have a full-size convection oven in your home and don't eat a lot of frozen, fried foods, an air fryer might be a harder sell.

Convection ovens use similar technology and, in many cases, produce equally good or better-tasting foods than a countertop air fryer. If your oven doesn't include convection, an air fryer might help bridge the gap when it comes to crispy cooking.

How do you know if your oven uses convection baking? Check the back wall. Convection ovens include a fan built into the rear of the oven. They are available in gas or electric and result in nice, even baking. Some ovens include both regular (fan off) and convection (fan on) modes. Some higher-end ovens include "true" or "European" modes, where a heating element surrounds the fan for extra-heated air.

You won't get a basket for circulating air underneath your food, but using a roasting rack or pan goes a long way in replicating the air flow.

Capacity is one more big consideration. A full-size oven will be able to cook much more food than a standard air fryer. If you're hosting friends or cooking for a large family, an oven will eliminate the need for multiple batches.

Toaster ovens: A mediocre middleman

Want every function in one tiny box? Say hello to the toaster oven. This wild card appliance claims to do so much with so little. Optimized for snacks and appetizers, toaster ovens can be useful for some foods.

Small batches of foods like pizza bites, mozzarella sticks and even cookies do well enough in a toaster oven. You can choose from specialty modes for certain foods like cookies or pizza, and some models even include air frying.

Once you get into things like actual toast or a pizza big enough for more than one person, toaster ovens aren't the best option. Put your toast in a toaster and your pizza in an oven. That's how you'll get the best results.

That's not to say toaster ovens aren't worth it. They certainly offer more functionality than an air fryer. They preheat faster and use slightly less energy than a full-size oven, and you don't have to blow your budget to purchase one.

If you're looking for a less than full-size baking appliance, I'd go for a toaster oven with an air-fry option before I'd purchase an air fryer on its own.

Conclusion

If your apartment doesn't have a full-size oven, a toaster oven is the way to go. Try one with an air fryer function built in, and you'll get the most versatility for your buck. If you already own an oven, especially one with convection, you won't be blown away by an air fryer's performance.

If you're a fan of breaded, frozen foods, having an air fryer around saves time and energy compared with a convection oven and cooks them nearly as well.

Like so many parts of a kitchen, deciding to add small appliances comes down to personal factors like budget, counter space and how often you cook certain types of foods. Each of these appliance has pros and cons. At the end of the day, the best appliance for you is the one you'll use the most.

Source：Molly Price