My toaster oven gets used more than my full-size oven. Heating up a slice of pizza, toasting bagels for the kids, roasting 2 chicken thighs for me when my husband’s traveling, reheating leftovers without making them rubbery in the microwave – I’d be lost without one.
I tested three popular options for 8 weeks. Here’s what I learned about toaster ovens, air fryers, and the lies marketing tells about both.
Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro – the gold standard
At $499, the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro is expensive, but it’s also the only toaster oven I’ve ever used that does every task well. 13 cooking functions including air fry, dehydrate, slow cook, proof bread, and reheat. Element IQ system distributes heat exactly where needed.
Toast is consistently even – 4 slices browned identically. Air-fried fries crispy outside, tender inside. Frozen pizza heated through without burning the cheese. Pulls 1,800 watts max but cycles down on smaller foods.
Pros:
- Most accurate temperature of any toaster oven (within 5F of setting)
- 13 functions that all actually work well
- Massive interior – fits a 13″ pizza or 6 slices of toast
- Built like a tank – my mom’s been using hers daily for 6 years
Cons:
- $499 is real money
- Takes up 20″ of counter space
- Heat dial is digital – hard to fix if electronics fail
Cuisinart TOA-65 – the smart-money pick
At $249, the Cuisinart TOA-65 (often $199 on sale) is the best value toaster oven I’ve tested. 7 functions including air fry, fits a 12″ pizza, even heating, and convection fan that actually works.
Compared to the Breville: 90% of the performance at half the price. The toast browning is slightly less even (3 out of 4 slices identical), and the temperature accuracy is within 10-15F instead of 5F. For most home cooks, you won’t notice these differences.
Hamilton Beach Sure-Crisp – the budget option
At $109, the Hamilton Beach Sure-Crisp is the entry-level air fryer toaster oven worth buying. 6 functions, decent toasting, basic air fry capability. Fits a 12″ pizza but not a chicken.
What you give up: temperature accuracy is sloppy (15-25F variance), the interior light is missing (you’ll be guessing if your toast is done), and the construction feels plastic-y. But for $109, it works, and it’ll last 3-5 years before something goes wrong.
Toaster oven comparison table
| Feature | Breville Air Fryer Pro | Cuisinart TOA-65 | Hamilton Beach Sure-Crisp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price (June 2026) | $499 | $249 | $109 |
| Cooking functions | 13 | 7 | 6 |
| Interior capacity | 0.8 cu ft | 0.6 cu ft | 0.6 cu ft |
| Max temp | 480F | 450F | 450F |
| Convection fan | Yes (3 settings) | Yes (2 settings) | Yes (1 setting) |
| Toast slots | 6 slices | 4 slices | 4 slices |
| Temperature accuracy | +/- 5F | +/- 15F | +/- 25F |
| Expected lifespan | 10+ years | 5-7 years | 3-5 years |
| Warranty | 2 years | 3 years | 1 year |
Does the air fry function actually work?
In all three units, yes – but with caveats. “Air fry” is just convection with a fan. It crisps food well but doesn’t match a dedicated air fryer (Ninja, Cosori) on small batches. Best use cases for toaster oven air fry: frozen foods like fries, chicken wings, mozzarella sticks. Worst use cases: dry, low-fat foods that need very fast crisping.
If you want one device for air frying AND oven duties, get the Breville or Cuisinart. If you want pure air fry performance, buy a dedicated air fryer.
What I cook in my toaster oven daily
- Toast / bagels / English muffins (every morning)
- Frozen pizza (kids’ Friday dinner)
- Chicken thighs for 1-2 people (no need to fire up the full oven)
- Reheating leftover pizza without sog
- Roasted vegetables (sheet pan dinners for two)
- Baked potatoes (1 hour at 400F)
- Reheating french fries to crispy (air fry mode)
- Garlic bread
- Cookies (2 sheets at a time)
- Toasting nuts and seeds
What about replacing the full oven entirely?
For 1-2 person cooking, yes, your toaster oven can replace your full oven for 90% of meals. The Breville especially fits a 14lb turkey breast (Thanksgiving for two) or two 9-inch cake pans simultaneously.
You still need a full oven for: large roasts, multiple sheet pans at once, anything wider than 14 inches. But weekday family meals? The toaster oven handles it.
Energy savings
A toaster oven uses 1,200-1,800 watts. A full-size oven uses 2,500-5,000 watts. For small meals, the toaster oven uses about 1/3 the electricity. Also doesn’t heat up your kitchen in summer.
If you cook for 1-2 people regularly, the energy savings from using your toaster oven instead of the full oven adds up to $50-80/year in electricity.
Which toaster oven should you buy?
Splurge buyer who’ll use all features: Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro.
Value-conscious daily user: Cuisinart TOA-65.
Budget under $120, basic needs: Hamilton Beach Sure-Crisp.
Already own an air fryer + you just need a toaster: skip and get a 4-slice Cuisinart toaster for $49.
For more kitchen appliances, see my picks for the best air fryers under $150, stand mixers, and pressure cookers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a toaster oven worth it if I have a regular oven?
Yes – especially for 1-2 person households and summer cooking. Toaster ovens preheat in 3 minutes vs 10+ for a full oven, use 1/3 the electricity, and don’t heat up your kitchen. Most homes use the toaster oven 3-5x more than the full oven.
Can I bake a cake in a toaster oven?
Yes – up to 9-inch round or 8×8 square pans. The Breville fits two 9-inch pans side by side. Convection ovens actually bake cakes better than traditional ovens (more even heat). Just reduce temperature by 25F when using convection.
How long do toaster ovens last?
Premium units (Breville, Cuisinart): 7-10 years. Mid-range: 5-7 years. Budget units (under $80): 2-4 years. The element fails first, then the temperature sensor. Heavy daily use shortens lifespan.
Are air fryer toaster ovens better than regular air fryers?
Different strengths. Air fryer toaster ovens are versatile (toast + bake + air fry), regular air fryers are faster for small batches and use less counter space. For a household of 3+, the toaster oven version is more useful. For 1-2 people, a dedicated air fryer is more practical.
