For the longest time, my kitchen counter felt like a battleground for appliances. A toaster, a separate air fryer, and the occasional need to heat the entire full-sized oven for a small meal created clutter and inefficiency. I was constantly seeking a way to consolidate these gadgets into one powerful, reliable machine that could deliver crispy, delicious food without the hassle and mess of deep-frying or the long preheat times. Not solving this meant more clutter, more cleanup, and less enjoyable weeknight cooking.
An air fryer toaster oven is designed to solve several common kitchen problems at once. It aims to save precious counter space, cook food faster and more efficiently than a conventional oven, and provide a healthier way to achieve the crispy texture of fried foods using super-heated, circulating air instead of oil. The ideal customer for this category of appliance is a home cook who values versatility and efficiency. This could be someone in a smaller home or apartment who wants the functionality of an oven without the size, or a family cook who wants to prepare smaller meals quickly without heating up the entire kitchen.
However, this type of appliance isn’t for everyone. If you only ever make toast or have a kitchen with extremely limited counter space, a simpler, smaller toaster might suffice. Likewise, if you frequently cook very large meals for a big crowd, you will still need your full-sized oven. Before you buy, consider the following:
- Countertop Footprint: These are not small appliances. Measure your available space, paying close attention to the height, especially if you have low-hanging cabinets. Remember to account for clearance space for ventilation.
- Capacity: How many people are you cooking for? Check the interior dimensions to ensure it can handle your typical needs, whether it’s a 12-inch pizza, a whole chicken, or six slices of toast.
- Functions: Do you just want to air fry and toast, or would you use features like dehydrating, proofing dough, or slow cooking? Make a list of your must-have functions to narrow down your options.
- Ease of Use & Cleaning: Look for intuitive controls, clear displays, and accessories that are easy to clean. A nonstick interior and dishwasher-safe parts can save you a lot of time and effort.
- Endless Functions : This premium nonstick air fryer toaster oven combo is equipped with versatile functions including air fry , bake,...
- Large Capacity: Generous .6-cubic feet toaster oven interior with large viewing window and interior light. Large enough to air fry up...
A Closer Look at the Cuisinart TOA-65
The Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven TOA-65 presents itself as the ultimate all-in-one countertop cooking solution. It promises to seamlessly blend the functions of a premium convection toaster oven with a high-performance air fryer, effectively replacing multiple kitchen gadgets. When you purchase this unit, you receive the oven itself, an oven rack, a dishwasher-safe baking pan, and a dedicated air fry basket. This specific model is geared towards the home cook who wants digital precision and a vast array of cooking options at their fingertips, from air frying wings to proofing bread dough. It’s not for the technophobe who prefers simple analog knobs or someone who needs an extremely compact unit.
Pros:
- Incredibly versatile with 13 different cooking functions.
- Powerful and fast, significantly reducing preheat and cook times.
- Spacious 0.6-cubic-foot capacity fits a whole chicken or 12-inch pizza.
- Stainless steel construction feels durable and premium.
- Interior light is a huge plus for monitoring food.
Cons:
- The digital control knob has a learning curve and is a potential point of failure.
- Runs significantly hotter than the set temperature, requiring adjustments.
- Requires substantial counter space and proper ventilation.
- Cleaning the interior ceiling and fan can be challenging over time.
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- AIR CRISP TECHNOLOGY: 400℉ superheated air surrounds food for hot, crispy results with little to no oil.
- CAPACITY: 3-quart air fryer perfect for cooking meals for 2-4 people, featuring an elegant ROSE finish.
A Deep Dive into Features and Performance
After using this appliance for years, I’ve developed a deep understanding of its strengths and quirks. It has truly become the workhorse of my kitchen, but it’s not without its learning curve. Here’s a breakdown of the features that matter most.
Ultimate Versatility: 13 Cooking Functions in One
The main selling point of this Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven is its sheer versatility, and it does not disappoint. It boasts an impressive array of functions: Air Fry, Bake, Broil, Pizza, Roast, Toast, Bagel, Reheat, Warm, Proof, Dehydrate, Low (for slow cooking/braising), and even a Dual Cook feature.
The Air Fry function is spectacular. Using the high-velocity fan and high heat, it produces perfectly crispy chicken wings, french fries, and vegetables with minimal oil. It cooks much faster than other air fryers I’ve seen friends use. The key, I’ve learned, is to give the food space in the basket and to expect it to be done sooner than you think.
The Bake and Roast functions have effectively replaced my main oven for 90% of my needs. It preheats in a fraction of the time and cooks evenly. I can roast a 4-pound chicken that comes out with crispy skin and juicy meat. The Toast and Bagel settings are also excellent, providing even browning across multiple slices—something many basic toaster ovens struggle with. The interior light is invaluable here, letting you watch closely to get the perfect shade.
Powerful Performance with a Warning
This machine is powerful. The 1800 watts combined with a very effective convection fan means business. Food cooks fast—very fast. This is a massive benefit for busy weeknights, but it comes with a critical warning that I learned the hard way: this oven runs hot. In my experience, it can be anywhere from 25 to 75 degrees hotter than the temperature you set on the digital display.
At first, I burned a few batches of toast and overcooked some chicken nuggets. The solution is simple: treat the temperature settings as a guide, not a rule. I now routinely set the temperature about 25°F lower than a recipe calls for and start checking for doneness a few minutes early. Once you get the hang of it, this raw power becomes a feature, not a flaw, allowing you to get dinner on the table in record time. This is the single most important piece of advice I can give a new owner of the Cuisinart TOA-65.
Spacious Capacity and Thoughtful Design
With a 0.6-cubic-foot interior, this air fryer toaster oven combo has enough room for most daily tasks. I can easily cook for my family of four. The ability to toast six slices of bread, air fry three pounds of wings, or bake a 12-inch pizza is genuinely practical. The large viewing window and bright interior light are design choices I appreciate every single day, as they eliminate the guesswork of opening the door and letting heat escape.
However, the generous interior comes with a large exterior footprint. It’s a tall unit, and it requires significant clearance, especially at the back where it exhausts a lot of hot air. Placing it directly against a backsplash without a few inches of breathing room is a bad idea and could lead to overheating issues, a potential cause for the component failures some users report.
The Digital Controls: A Double-Edged Sword
The TOA-65 features a crisp LCD screen and a single push-button dial to control everything. Aesthetically, it’s sleek and modern. Functionally, it takes some getting used to. The process is typically: spin the dial to a cooking function, push to select; spin to the desired temperature, push to select; spin to the time, push to select; then press the separate Start button. It’s not immediately intuitive.
More concerning is the long-term durability of this control knob. After a couple of years of heavy use, I’ve noticed it can sometimes be finicky, requiring an extra push or jiggle. Given its location directly above the oven door, it’s exposed to a lot of heat and steam. This seems to be a common point of failure, and while Cuisinart’s warranty support is reportedly excellent, it’s a design flaw worth noting in a premium appliance like this.
What Other Users Are Saying
I spent some time looking through online forums and reviews to see if my experiences aligned with others, and the consensus is quite clear. Users consistently praise the cooking speed and power of this Cuisinart oven, often noting that it outperforms competitors in side-by-side comparisons for both baking and air frying. The versatility is a huge selling point. However, many also echo my warning about the appliance running much hotter than its set temperature, leading to a necessary adjustment period. The most significant shared concern revolves around the long-term reliability of the digital control dial.
Final Verdict
If your kitchen is crying out for a do-it-all appliance that can simplify mealtime and declutter your countertops, the Cuisinart TOA-65 is a formidable contender. It solves the problem of needing multiple gadgets by combining a powerful air fryer and a high-quality convection oven into one sleek unit. Its incredible speed and cooking versatility make it a joy to use once you master its quirks. While the tendency to run hot and the questionable durability of the control knob are valid concerns, its overall performance makes it a kitchen workhorse I wouldn’t want to be without. For anyone ready to embrace faster, more efficient cooking, this is an excellent choice.
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Last update on 2025-11-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API