My kitchen counter used to be a battlefield of appliances. A clunky toaster, a small air fryer that could barely handle a meal for two, and my big oven that felt like overkill for a small batch of roasted vegetables. The clutter was driving me crazy, and I knew I needed a single, powerful device to reclaim my space and streamline my cooking process. Not solving this would mean continued countertop chaos and inefficient meal prep for my family.
A combination toaster oven air fryer is a lifesaver for anyone looking to maximize kitchen functionality without sacrificing precious counter space. These versatile machines solve the problem of appliance overload by consolidating the functions of a toaster, a convection oven, and an air fryer into one compact unit. They are perfect for reheating leftovers to crispy perfection, baking small batches of cookies, roasting vegetables, or air frying your favorite foods with significantly less oil.
The ideal customer for this type of appliance is someone living in an apartment or a home with a smaller kitchen, a busy family needing to get meals on the table quickly, or anyone who loves the convenience of a multi-functional gadget. However, if you are a culinary purist who already has a high-end convection oven and a dedicated air fryer you love, or if you only ever toast bread, a combination unit might be redundant. Before you buy, consider these key factors: capacity (will it fit a pizza or a whole chicken for your family?), functions (does it have all the settings you’ll actually use?), footprint (measure your counter space!), and ease of cleaning (look for dishwasher-safe components).
- 7 Cooking Functions: Air fry, bake, broil, roast, toast, warm, and convection bake, all in one easy appliance with little to no...
- EvenCrisp Technology: Achieve the perfect crunch with 95% less oil than traditional deep frying
Getting Acquainted with the Instant Pot Omni
The Instant Pot Omni 19QT/18L Toaster Oven Air Fryer presents itself as the ultimate kitchen workhorse from a brand many of us already trust. It promises to consolidate seven different appliances into one sleek, black, stainless steel box. It’s designed to air fry, bake, broil, roast, toast, warm, and convection bake, essentially replacing a large portion of your existing kitchen gear. When you open the box, you get the main oven unit, an enamel baking tray, a stainless-steel oven rack, and a dedicated air frying basket. This appliance is for the home cook who craves versatility and efficiency. It’s not for someone who needs a simple, two-slice toaster and nothing more, as its size and range of features would be excessive.
Pros:
* Incredibly versatile with 7 distinct cooking functions.
* Spacious 18L/19QT capacity fits a 12″ pizza or 6 slices of bread.
* EvenCrisp technology delivers fantastic air frying results.
* Key components like the tray and basket are dishwasher-safe.
* Powerful 1800W heating element for quick cooking.
Cons:
* The toasting function is significantly slower than a dedicated toaster.
* Lacks audible alerts for preheat completion or when the cooking cycle ends.
* The fan can be quite loud during operation.
- 𝘼𝙞𝙧 𝙁𝙧𝙮𝙚𝙧 𝙐𝙥𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙚: Innovative TurboBlaze Technology delivers a powerful 3600 rpm fan speed...
- 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 the Omni’s Capabilities
After using this appliance for a considerable amount of time, I’ve gotten to know its strengths and weaknesses intimately. It has earned a permanent spot on my counter, but it’s not without its quirks. Let’s break down the features that matter most and how they perform in the real world.
Versatility: The 7-in-1 Cooking Functions
The main draw of the Instant Pot Omni is its promise to do it all, and for the most part, it delivers.
* Air Fry: This is where the Omni truly shines. Using the proprietary EvenCrisp Technology, it circulates super-hot air to produce incredibly crispy and evenly cooked food with a fraction of the oil. I’ve made everything from french fries and chicken wings to crispy Brussels sprouts, and the results are consistently excellent—golden brown on the outside and tender on the inside. It’s a game-changer for healthier cooking.
* Bake & Roast: As a small-scale convection oven, it’s fantastic. It preheats much faster than my full-size oven, making it perfect for weeknight meals. I’ve roasted whole chickens (up to about 4 lbs), baked small batches of muffins, and cooked casseroles. The adjustable temperature range from 170°F to 450°F provides great control. The convection setting ensures everything cooks evenly without needing to constantly rotate the pan.
* Broil: The broiling function works well for melting cheese on sandwiches, finishing a gratin, or getting a nice char on meats and vegetables. The heating element is powerful and effective.
* Toast: Here we find the Omni’s most notable weakness. While it can toast up to six slices of bread at once, it is slow. A cycle on a medium setting can take upwards of seven minutes. If you are a family that relies on quick toast in the morning rush, you might find this frustrating. It gets the job done eventually, but it doesn’t replace the speed of a pop-up toaster.
* Warm: The warming function is a thoughtful addition, perfect for keeping a dish at the right temperature while you finish preparing the rest of the meal.
Spacious Yet Compact: The Family-Sized Capacity
With a 19-quart (18-liter) interior, this multi-function appliance hits a sweet spot. It’s large enough to be genuinely useful for a family of four. I can easily fit a 12-inch pizza, which is a huge win for Friday pizza nights. Roasting a whole chicken or air frying a large batch of fries is no problem. Despite this generous capacity, its overall footprint (16.53″D x 15.55″W x 13.89″H) is manageable on the countertop, especially when you consider it’s replacing several other devices. It’s a well-designed space-saver.
User Experience: Controls and Quirks
The control panel is straightforward, featuring two simple dials—one for function and one for time/temperature—and a clear digital display. Selecting your cooking mode and making adjustments is intuitive. However, there is a massive design oversight that I, and many other users, find baffling: the lack of sound. The Instant Pot Omni does not beep or make any audible sound when it has finished preheating. The display simply switches from “ON” to the timer, which immediately begins counting down. If you’re not staring directly at it, you will miss your window to put the food in.
Even more surprisingly, it also doesn’t beep when the cooking timer reaches zero. The unit just silently shuts off. In a busy kitchen where you’re multitasking, this is a major flaw. You have to rely on a separate timer, which defeats some of the convenience of an all-in-one device. The fan, especially on the air fry setting, is also quite loud. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s noticeably louder than some standalone air fryers I have used.
Cleanup and Maintenance
This is one of my favorite aspects of this toaster oven air fryer. The stainless steel interior wipes down easily after use. More importantly, the included enamel baking tray and the air frying basket are both dishwasher-safe. After making something messy like sticky chicken wings, being able to just toss the basket and tray into the dishwasher is a huge relief. This simple feature makes me much more likely to use the appliance regularly, as I don’t have to dread a long, complicated cleanup process. It’s a practical design choice that shows Instant Pot understands its users.
What Others Are Saying
I wasn’t alone in my experiences, so I looked online to see what other long-term users thought. The consensus is overwhelmingly positive regarding the air frying performance and overall cooking versatility. Many users rave about how easy it is to clean and how it has streamlined their meal preparation. However, my complaints were also common themes. Many reviews echoed the frustration with the slow toasting function and, most significantly, the shocking lack of audible alerts for preheating and cooking completion.
Final Thoughts: Is the Instant Pot Omni Worth It?
The problem of a cluttered kitchen filled with single-use appliances is a real one, leading to frustration and inefficient cooking. The Instant Pot Omni 19QT/18L Toaster Oven Air Fryer tackles this issue head-on by offering a powerful, versatile, and family-sized solution in a single unit. It’s a fantastic choice because it excels at its primary functions, particularly air frying and roasting, and its dishwasher-safe components make cleanup incredibly simple. While its slow toast speed and silent operation are notable flaws, the overall convenience and performance make it a worthy centerpiece for any modern kitchen. If you’re ready to declutter your counter and upgrade your cooking game, Click here to check the price and learn more.
Last update on 2025-11-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API