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For most people, the Cuisinart TOA-60 is the best oven-style air fryer — it air-fries, toasts, and bakes, fits a 12-inch pizza, and costs around $200. If you want premium build and more functions, step up to the Breville Smart Oven Air.
Check Price on Amazon →Oven-style vs basket — which is right
An oven-style air fryer is a countertop toaster oven with a strong convection fan, so one machine air-fries, toasts, bakes, and reheats. The appeal is capacity and flexibility: flat racks fit a 12-inch pizza or a tray of wings in a single layer, you can watch food through a glass door, and you may be able to retire a separate toaster oven. The catch is size — these units are wide and deep, and they eat serious counter space.
If you cook for a family, batch-roast vegetables, or want one appliance instead of three, oven-style is worth it. If you mostly reheat and crisp for one or two people, a basket model is smaller, cheaper, faster to preheat, and easier to clean. Below are the two oven-style units we would actually recommend, plus an honest note on when to skip the category entirely.
Quick comparison
| Model | Best for | Capacity | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cuisinart TOA-60 | Best oven-style overall | ~0.6 cu ft | ~$200 |
| Breville Smart Oven Air | Premium, most functions | ~1 cu ft | ~$350 |
| Ninja AF101 | Skip the category — basket pick | 4 qt | ~$80 |
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 oven-style air fryer: 1800 watts, a glass door so you can watch, and enough room for a 12-inch pizza or a full tray of fries in one layer. It genuinely replaces a separate toaster oven, air-fries well, and lands around $200 — far less than the premium options. For most households moving up from a basket, this is the one to get.
What We Like
- Air-fries, toasts, and bakes
- Fits a 12-inch pizza
- Glass door to watch food
- Replaces a toaster oven
What Could Be Better
- Large countertop footprint
- Slower preheat than a basket
Breville Smart Oven Air
If budget is not the constraint, the Breville Smart Oven Air is the premium oven-style unit. Its Element IQ system moves power around for even results, it runs 13 functions, and it holds around a cubic foot — enough for a big roast or a full batch. At roughly $350 it is a serious investment, but the build, evenness, and versatility are a clear step above. Buy it if this appliance is going to do most of your cooking.
What We Like
- Element IQ for even cooking
- 13 functions cover most tasks
- Large ~1 cu ft capacity
- Premium build and glass door
What Could Be Better
- Expensive at around $350
- Takes a lot of counter space
Ninja AF101 Air Fryer, 4-Quart
Before you commit the counter space, consider whether you need oven-style at all. For one or two people who mostly reheat and crisp, the basket-style Ninja AF101 preheats faster, cleans up in seconds, costs a quarter as much, and takes far less room. We include it here as the honest reality check: oven-style is fantastic for families and multitaskers, but overkill for many kitchens.
What We Like
- Far cheaper and smaller
- Fast preheat, quick cleanup
- Great for one or two people
- Dishwasher-safe basket
What Could Be Better
- No toast or bake modes
- Too small for a family
Buying an oven-style air fryer
Measure your counter and clearance first
Oven-style units are wide and deep and need clearance above and behind for heat. Measure the spot before you buy — more than one person has ordered a Breville or Cuisinart only to find it will not fit under the cabinets.
Decide if it replaces another appliance
The value case is strongest when it retires your toaster oven or a second appliance. If it just adds a third machine to the counter, the space cost is harder to justify versus a compact basket fryer.
Expect a slower preheat
A big oven cavity takes longer to come up to temperature than a small basket. For quick single servings that matters; for batch roasting and family meals the extra capacity easily outweighs the wait.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best oven-style air fryer?
The Cuisinart TOA-60 is the best oven-style air fryer for most people: it air-fries, toasts, and bakes, fits a 12-inch pizza, has a glass door, and costs around $200. If you want premium build, more even cooking, and 13 functions, the Breville Smart Oven Air is the step-up pick at around $350.
Is an oven-style air fryer better than a basket?
It depends on your cooking. Oven-style units hold far more, fit flat items like pizza, and can replace a toaster oven, which suits families and batch cooking. Basket models are smaller, cheaper, preheat faster, and clean up more easily, which suits one or two people who mostly reheat and crisp. Neither is strictly better — match it to your household.
Do oven-style air fryers take up a lot of space?
Yes. They are wide and deep and need clearance above and behind for heat, so they take up considerably more room than a compact basket fryer. Always measure your counter and cabinet clearance before buying — units like the Breville and Cuisinart are large enough that fit is a common surprise.
Can an oven-style air fryer replace my toaster oven?
In most cases, yes — that is a big part of the appeal. Models like the Cuisinart TOA-60 and Breville Smart Oven Air toast, bake, and air-fry, so they can retire a standalone toaster oven and free up its space. That combo role is what makes the larger footprint worthwhile for many kitchens.