KitchenAid Toaster Oven Air Fryer Review: The Best Overall Option

By Kim Bussing

Tested by Annamarie Higley, Sheri Kaz and Dylan Fischer

Taste of Home's Editorial Process

Published on Oct. 20, 2024

Discover the appliance that was ranked best overall in our air fryer toaster oven test. The KitchenAid dual-convection countertop oven is capable of everything from a roasted chicken to a golden piece of toast.

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Toast? Check. Roasted chicken dinner? Check. Sheet-pan cake? Check. Meet the KitchenAid toaster oven air fryer. It condenses the power of a full-size oven into an appliance that will fit on your countertop—with bonus air fryer capabilities.

Our Product Testing team tried it out firsthand, putting it through three rounds of thorough testing. Out of the 10 air fryer toaster ovens we tested, this emerged as the best overall option. And trust us, the competition—including models from Breville, Kalorik and Cosori—was tough!

The KitchenAid toaster oven air fryer is a workhorse of a kitchen appliance, letting you make perfectly golden morning toast or whip up healthier meals through its air fryer settings. Its quality shouldn’t be a surprise, given KitchenAid’s general caliber of products. (We rave about others in our KitchenAid food processor review and KitchenAid stand mixer review.)

This toaster oven’s 12 preset cooking functions are a testament to just what it can do, with options ranging from bagel toasting to baking to keeping your dishes warm. It’s designed for versatility, with a temperature range from 80 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Expect a couple of toys, including an air-fry basket, temperature probe (more on that later), 13×9-inch baking pan with a grill rack, removable metal drip and crumb tray and removable metal rack. It is a bit on the larger side, so expect this to be a permanent fixture on your countertop.

The KitchenAid countertop oven has a tinted door, which is ultimately a matter of personal preference. Some of our testing team found it sleek and sophisticated, a nice change to the more industrial appearance of other models. Others thought it risked getting grubby in the long run, and noted that it makes it hard to watch your food cooking.

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Our best overall air fryer toaster oven is packed with smart features, including a built-in meat thermometer.

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For every air fryer on our list, we started out testing with the basics: toast. There is a preset button for that—as well as buttons for the temperature/shade and the time/slices—so it was easy to program based on our preferences. We set six slices for a 4 out of 8 shade and waited 6 minutes and 30 seconds.

Though toasting took longer than other options, the KitchenAid countertop oven immediately proved itself a top performer with a nice golden brown piece of toast. Every slice in the two rows was browned evenly. This wasn’t a surprise, given the performance of the KitchenAid toaster.

Admittedly, the French fries weren’t as much of a success. We air-fried them at 390 degrees Fahrenheit for 11 minutes. Preheating took a little longer than expected, and after 17 minutes, our French fries were still droopy and overwhelming. They seemed warmed through, rather than crispy and crunchy.

The KitchenAid countertop oven redeemed itself with the sheet cake test. We baked the cake at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes and were impressed by the rise, caramelization and evenness.

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Then came the final test for our top contenders: a roasted chicken. Rather than setting a timer, we set a target temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit, which took about 50 minutes (the fastest of any we tested). It tasted delicious, and the meat was tender. The skin could have gotten a little bit crispier, but to be fair, we tasted it a little while after cooking, which may have contributed to that.

All you’ll need is some warm water, dish soap and cleaning cloths. We hand-washed the different elements inside, like the multipurpose pan that we’d used for the chicken. We wiped down the interior (which the manufacturer says is non-stick) and exterior with a damp cloth. As far as cleaning went, it was pretty standard. It’s recommended that you clean the air fryer each time you use it to reduce build-up.

Select the cooking function you want, set it to the desired temperature, and you’re ready to go! Before heating up the toaster oven, make sure the rack is situated in the right position.

Yes. KitchenAid makes several models of air fryer countertop ovens. There is a slightly less expensive digital option, but we like this one for its size and performance and how much it can handle.

Our team put multiple different air fryers to the test, evaluating both their features and their performance. We tested bread, frozen French fries, yellow sheet cake and roasted chicken, eliminating air fryers throughout each round. Plus, this isn’t our first small kitchen appliances test. Our team is well-versed in reviewing everything from food processors to single-serve coffeemakers.

I’ve written numerous product round-ups and gift guides, helping consumers find high-quality options that fit their lifestyles, preferences and budgets. I also grew up in a household that heartily embraced the concept of a countertop oven and I’ve remained a fan.

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Our best overall air fryer toaster oven is packed with smart features, including a built-in meat thermometer.

Shop on KitchenAid

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Shop on Walmart

The KitchenAid Air Fryer Oven costs $320. It’s available from KitchenAid as well as Amazon and Walmart.