Air fryer vs toaster oven: I think they’re better at different things

I used to think an air fryer and a toaster oven were basically competing versions of the same appliance. After looking into it more, I realized they actually have pretty different strengths.

An air fryer is basically a small, powerful convection oven. The strong airflow gets around the food quickly, which is why it’s so good at making things crispy. Fries, reheating leftovers, chicken wings, frozen foods, vegetables, etc. are where it really shines.

A toaster oven feels more like a miniature regular oven. It’s better when you want to spread food out on a tray, especially things like toast, bagels, cookies, pastries, or small baked dishes. You also get the advantage of being able to see the food while it cooks.

The interesting part is that neither one completely replaces the other.

For example, the comparison I found rated them roughly like this:

Air fryer:

• Crispy foods: excellent
• Fries: excellent
• Reheating: excellent
• Faster cooking: usually better
• Chicken wings: excellent

Toaster oven:

• Toast and bagels: better
• Cookies and baking: better
• Flat foods: easier
• Watching food while cooking: better
• Larger batches: generally easier

And chicken wings were basically a tie.

So personally, if I mainly wanted fast, crispy food, I'd pick an air fryer. If I wanted a little countertop oven that could handle toast, baking and larger flat foods, I'd lean toward a toaster oven.

And if counter space wasn't an issue... honestly, having both makes a lot of sense.

The big takeaway for me is that choosing between them really comes down to what you actually cook most often, not which appliance is supposedly "better."

What do you guys use more: an air fryer or a toaster oven?