Can Air Fryer Replace Toaster? | What The Experts Say

You bought an air fryer hoping it would clear counter space and replace everything else. The toaster seems like the most obvious victim—after all, hot air browns bread, right?

The short answer is: kind of, but not really. Product testers and food writers generally agree that an air fryer can make a version of toast, but it isn’t as fast or as even as what a $20 toaster delivers. Here’s what actually happens when you try.

How Air Fryers And Toasters Actually Work

Dedicated toasters use radiant heat from exposed coils that blast the bread directly. The high heat caramelizes sugars quickly, creating that golden-brown crunch in a couple of minutes.

Air fryers work differently. They use a fan to circulate extremely hot air around the food. The fan speed and basket shape mean the air hits the bread from multiple angles, which can produce a more even browning in theory—but in practice, the temperature is often lower than a toaster’s direct coil heat.

This is why reviewers from Serious Eats and others note that while both appliances share convection principles, the results for simple tasks like toast are not interchangeable.

Why The “Replace Your Toaster” Question Comes Up

Counter space is precious, and the promise of a single appliance that bakes, fries, and toasts is tempting. Plus, combination units that claim to do it all are flooding the market. Many buyers hope they can ditch the toaster without losing good toast.

• The convenience factor: Pulling out one appliance instead of two feels simpler. The idea of an all-in-one kitchen appliance is appealing for small kitchens.
• The versatility myth: Some air fryer marketing suggests the unit can handle everything your toaster, oven, and microwave do. Reviewers find that while air fryers are great for frozen fries and wings, they’re mediocre at producing a quick, consistent slice of toast.
• The cooking speed trade-off: An air fryer cooks most foods faster than a conventional oven, often by 20 to 30 percent. But toast is a special case—the high fan speed can dry the bread out before it browns evenly.
• The static heat difference: Toaster ovens use static heat from top and bottom elements. Air fryers rely on moving air. For toast, static heat delivers more reliable browning because the heat stays concentrated on the bread surface.

So the desire to downsize is real, but the physics of toast-making works against the air fryer’s design.

What A Combination Appliance Can Do

Some manufacturers build combination units that include dedicated toast slots or a toaster-oven mode with exposed heating elements. These appliances bridge the gap—they can air fry and also toast like a regular toaster oven. According to Food Network’s review of the best models, a combination air fryer toaster oven can perform anywhere from four to thirteen functions, including baking, air frying, and toasting.

These combo units are a reasonable compromise if you absolutely need one appliance. But testers note that their toasting performance is still not as fast or as crunchy as a simple two-slot toaster. You gain versatility at the cost of toast quality.

If toast is a daily staple, keeping a dedicated toaster alongside your air fryer is the smarter play.

How To Actually Toast Bread In An Air Fryer

If you’re determined to try, here is a method that many users find works well enough for the occasional slice. Results will vary by air fryer model.

1. Preheat the air fryer to 350°F or 175°C. Lower temperature prevents the bread from drying out before the Maillard reaction kicks in. Some models run hot, so 325°F may work better.
2. Place bread in a single layer in the basket. Don’t overcrowd. Single layer ensures air hits both sides, though the bread may still need flipping.
3. Toast for 3 to 4 minutes. Flip halfway through. Check at 3 minutes—the interior of the air fryer can have hot spots that over-brown one side.
4. Watch the bread carefully. Because air fryers circulate hot air, the crust may become hard before the center browns. Pull it out as soon as the top surface looks golden.

Even with these steps, testers from CNET and other sites report that the toast comes out drier and less evenly browned than from a dedicated toaster. It works for emergency toast but not for daily morning rituals.

The Real Performance Differences

Product testers have run side-by-side comparisons of air fryers, toaster ovens, and dedicated toasters. The biggest factor is cooking speed. An air fryer cooks faster than a toaster oven by about 20 to 30 percent on average, according to retail reviews. But toast responds differently—the rapid air movement dehydrates the bread surface, and the lower radiant heat slows browning.

Another difference is versatility. A toaster oven can bake, broil, and reheat without the strong fan that can blow bread crumbs around. As one food blog explains in its not designed for toasting guide, the appliance simply wasn’t built for that job. Dedicated toasters use concentrated heat that hits bread directly, making them faster and more predictable.

Here’s a quick comparison of key factors:

Another table showing typical cooking times for common foods can help you decide where each appliance excels.

The air fryer wins on speed and efficiency for most foods, but toast is the clear exception. If you make toast regularly, the dedicated appliance is worth the counter space.

The Bottom Line

An air fryer can make a passable piece of toast in a pinch, but it’s not a true replacement for a toaster. The physics of hot air convection versus radiant heat works against it. For regular toast eaters, the dedicated toaster remains the faster, more consistent, and more convenient choice. Combine that with the air fryer for everything else, and you have the best of both worlds.

If your counter is too cramped for two appliances, consider a combination air fryer toaster oven—but keep your expectations realistic: it’ll toast fine, not great. For daily use, the $20 toaster earns its spot next to your air fryer.