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⚡ In a hurry?
If you want an air fryer that also makes real toast, you need an oven-style unit — basket air fryers cannot lay bread flat to toast it evenly. The Cuisinart TOA-60 (~$200) is the value pick with a dedicated toast function; the Breville Smart Oven Air (~$350) is the premium choice with toast among roughly 13 functions.
Check Price on Amazon →Basket air fryers cannot toast bread
Here is the honest limitation people run into: a basket air fryer — the Ninja AF101, Cosori Pro LE and similar — cannot really make toast. Bread needs to sit flat and get even radiant heat on both faces, and a deep, vertical basket with a fan does not do that; you end up with unevenly dried-out bread, not proper toast. So if “also makes toast” is on your list, a basket model is the wrong tool.
What you actually want is an oven-style air fryer with a real toast function. These are the machines that replace both your air fryer and your toaster (and often your toaster oven), because they have a flat rack, radiant elements and a dedicated toast setting. Below are the oven-style units that genuinely toast well while still air frying, baking and roasting.
Quick comparison
| Model | Best for | Capacity | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cuisinart TOA-60 | Best value toast + air fry | Fits 12" pizza | ~$200 |
| Breville Smart Oven Air | Best toast overall | Large, 13 functions | ~$350 |
| Instant Vortex Plus | Budget oven-style | 6 qt | ~$100–140 |
Prices are typical street prices and move around — tap any “Check Price” button for the current number.
Cuisinart TOA-60 Air Fryer Toaster Oven
The TOA-60 is the sweet-spot pick for someone who wants one appliance that air-fries and makes proper toast. It has a dedicated toast function, a flat rack, and a chamber roomy enough for a roughly 12-inch pizza, so it also bakes and roasts. For most kitchens it comfortably replaces a separate toaster and air fryer at a reasonable price.
What We Like
- Dedicated toast function that works
- Also air-fries, bakes and roasts
- Replaces toaster + air fryer
- Roomy flat chamber
What Could Be Better
- Bigger footprint than a basket fryer
- Costs more than a basket model
Breville Smart Oven Air
The Breville Smart Oven Air is the premium answer: roughly 13 functions including a proper toast setting, excellent even heating, and enough capacity to toast several slices at once or handle a full tray. If you toast daily and want the most consistent, evenly browned results alongside top-tier air frying and baking, this is the one to buy.
What We Like
- Excellent, even toast browning
- Roughly 13 functions incl. toast
- Premium build and heating
- Toasts several slices at once
What Could Be Better
- The priciest pick here
- Large and heavy on the counter
Instant Vortex Plus
For a cheaper route to toast-plus-air-fry, look at the oven-style version of the Instant Vortex Plus, roughly $100–140. It is more affordable than the Cuisinart or Breville and covers the basics. Check the exact listing — the standard 6-quart basket version does not toast bread flat, so you want the oven-style Vortex with a flat rack and toast setting if toast is the goal.
What We Like
- Cheapest oven-style route to toast
- Good everyday air fryer too
- Widely available and often on sale
- Simple digital controls
What Could Be Better
- Only the oven-style version toasts
- Smaller than the Cuisinart or Breville
How to buy an air fryer that also toasts
Oven-style only — skip baskets for toast
A basket air fryer cannot lay bread flat for even browning. If toast matters, shop oven-style units with a flat rack and a real toast function, and ignore basket models entirely for this job.
Look for a dedicated toast setting
Air frying and toasting are different heat patterns. A proper toast function (like the TOA-60 and Breville have) browns both faces evenly, rather than just blasting the bread with fan heat.
Count the slices and the counter
Oven-style units toast several slices at once but take real counter space. If it is replacing your toaster and air fryer, measure the footprint and cabinet clearance before buying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an air fryer make toast?
A basket air fryer cannot make proper toast — bread needs to lie flat with even radiant heat on both faces, which a deep, fan-driven basket cannot provide, so you get unevenly dried bread instead. An oven-style air fryer with a flat rack and a dedicated toast function, like the Cuisinart TOA-60 or Breville Smart Oven Air, makes real toast easily.
What is the best air fryer that also makes toast?
The Cuisinart TOA-60 is the best value at around $200 — an oven-style unit with a dedicated toast function that also air-fries, bakes and roasts. For the best toast overall, the Breville Smart Oven Air at around $350 offers even browning across roughly 13 functions. Both replace a separate toaster and air fryer.
Do I need a separate toaster if I have an air fryer?
It depends on the type. With a basket air fryer, yes — it cannot toast bread flat, so you still need a toaster. With an oven-style air fryer that has a toast function, like the Cuisinart TOA-60 or Breville Smart Oven Air, no — it replaces both the toaster and the air fryer in one appliance.
Why does toast come out uneven in a basket air fryer?
Because a basket air fryer is not designed to toast. Its deep, vertical basket and strong fan dry the bread with circulating hot air rather than browning it evenly with radiant heat on flat surfaces, so slices come out patchy and leathery instead of crisp. An oven-style unit with a flat rack and toast setting solves this.