Is Our Place Air Fryer Worth It? | A Candid Review

Scrolling through social media, you have probably seen the Our Place Wonder Oven everywhere. That sleek, minimalist design makes it easy to believe it is the missing piece in your kitchen setup. The real question is whether the cooking performance actually matches the aesthetic promise.

The honest answer is complicated. The Wonder Oven, and especially the newer Pro model, has genuinely convinced some serious food writers it deserves a spot on the counter. Independent technical testing, however, points to some real trade-offs with evenness and preheat time that are worth knowing about before you buy.

What Sets the Wonder Oven Apart

The standard Wonder Oven is a 6-in-1 appliance capable of air frying, roasting, toasting, baking, broiling, and reheating. The Pro version takes that to nine functions, adding a dedicated proofing mode, a broil setting, and a dehydrate function that the standard model lacks.

Feature-wise, it also includes triple-rack cooking and what the manufacturer calls steam infusion. On top of that, Our Place markets the oven as free from PFAS, PTFE, and other non-stick coatings, which is a meaningful selling point if you are trying to avoid those materials in your cookware.

Why the Reviews Are So Polarized

Look across the major testing outlets and you will see a clear divide. The split comes down to which model was tested and what the reviewer prioritizes — speed and crispness versus style and versatility. Here are the main factors driving the disagreement.

• Standard versus Pro results: Rtings found the standard model struggles to crisp food evenly, while the Pro model leaves more of each batch crunchy.
• Preheat time: The standard oven heats up relatively quickly, but the Pro takes longer to reach temperature despite cooking faster overall.
• Evenness of cooking: Several testers reported that food needs to be rotated or shaken midway through, which is harder in an oven-style unit than a basket air fryer.
• Noise level: One blog reviewer noted the Wonder Oven is noticeably quieter than basket-style machines and does not blast food around inside the chamber.
• Countertop versatility: It can replace a toaster, a small oven, and an air fryer, which is a real space-saver for small kitchens.

The takeaway is that the model you choose and the types of food you cook most will heavily shape your experience with the appliance.

Standard vs. Pro: Which Model Delivers Better Results

The biggest jump between the two models is in cooking performance. The standard Wonder Oven launched as a solid but unremarkable air fryer, while the Pro version corrected several of the original’s weak spots. Rtings put both through standardized testing, and the difference was measurable.

The key takeaway from the rtings Pro vs standard analysis is that the Pro delivers noticeably crispier food across multiple cooking modes, even though it requires a slightly longer preheat window. For most buyers, the extra upfront cost for the Pro seems to be justified by the better cooking results.

Food & Wine’s reviewer put it plainly — the Pro model was convincing enough to change their mind about air fryers being worth the counter space at all.

If you are deciding between the two, the Pro is the smarter buy for anyone who plans to use the air fry function regularly. The standard model works, but the Pro does the job considerably better.

What Long-Term Testers Found After Months of Use

Beyond the controlled lab tests, several major outlets ran the Wonder Oven as part of their daily routine for weeks or months. Their findings help paint a realistic picture of what ownership looks like.

1. The Kitchn’s reviewer reported using the oven almost every day and called it “phenomenal” for toasting, baking, and roasting.
2. CNN Underscored concluded after two months that it is a quality tool that helps prepare all kinds of meals in a small kitchen, even calling out specific shortcomings.
3. Wirecutter (NYT) was less impressed overall, suggesting the oven does not live up to the hype compared to other models in the same price bracket.
4. Bon Appétit noted the inherent oven-style limitation — it is harder to toss or shake small foods mid-cook compared to a basket-style air fryer.

Notice the trend: reviewers who loved it valued versatility and design, while those who disliked it prioritized pure cooking speed and evenness.

Where It Falls Short for Many Buyers

The most consistent complaint across critical reviews is uneven cooking and slower total cook times. If you are used to a basket-style air fryer that blasts heat from all sides, the Wonder Oven’s oven-style convection can feel less aggressive. One blogger’s detailed experience with slow and uneven cooking highlights the need for frequent shaking and rotating, which is harder in an oven-style unit.

Bon Appétit’s assessment reinforces this — oven-style air fryers make it harder to toss small foods mid-cook compared to a basket machine. If your priority is set-it-and-forget-it crispness for frozen snacks, this may be a frustration worth noting before you decide.

The manufacturer claims the oven preheats 75 percent faster than a traditional oven, but that comparison skips over the fact that most air fryers also preheat quickly. Against dedicated basket fryers, the Wonder Oven is often slower start to finish.

The Bottom Line

The Our Place Wonder Oven is a beautiful countertop appliance that does a respectable job across multiple cooking functions, especially in the Pro version. It is a better fit for someone who values design, versatility, and non-toxic materials over raw cooking speed. For pure performance, dedicated basket air fryers or higher-powered convection ovens often deliver faster, crispier results for the same price.

Before hitting checkout, line up your shopping list against what you cook most — quick frozen snacks appreciate a basket fryer’s speed, while sheet-pan dinners and roasted vegetables suit the Wonder Oven’s versatility much better.