What is an Air Fryer Oven?
An air fryer oven takes the latest craze of air fryers that use convection heat to cook rapidly in a confined space and combines it in a toaster oven with other cooking functions, like baking, broiling, toasting and sometimes rotisserie-cooking and dehydrating too. It is basically a multi-function countertop convection oven with a motorized fan on top of the unit that blows the hot air down directly on foods, rather than circulating the air around the oven cavity. It’s perfect for the cook who would like to have the ability to air fry, but wants to have multiple cooking functions without sacrificing more counter space.
Why an Air Fryer Oven is a Good Idea
In addition to having multiple functions, air fryer ovens tend to have a larger capacity than basket-style air fryers – usually 5 to 10 quarts – and being square or rectangular in shape makes them more space efficient than round air fryers. That gives you the ability to cook more at one time without having to do batches of air frying. The larger cavity also allows you to use other vessels in the kitchen inside the oven, like quarter sheet pans, 2-quart casserole dishes and larger cake and baking pans.
Air fryer ovens also come with adjustable rack positions. This gives you the ability to move the food closer to, or farther away from the source of heat at the top of the oven – handy if you want to really brown something quickly (like an air fried rib eye steak), or don’t want to over-brown an item (such as baked goods like Cheddar Cheese Biscuits). Some ovens claim that you can cook multiple racks of food at one time, but that’s not really true or effective. There’s no way three racks of food in an air fryer can cook evenly, unless you rotate the racks in the oven during the cooking process. The top rack position will always get more heat than anything below it, so take that claim with a grain of salt. Still, it’s nice to be able to adjust the rack position in the oven.
There are other advantages to an air fryer oven. Most come with a glass door so you can see your food as it cooks making it possible to judge how it is coming along. They also tend to be a little quieter than basket-style air fryers.
Easier to Clean
This could be a deciding factor for you, and could be debatable, but I find air fryer ovens easier to clean than basket-style air fryers. You have better access to the inside of the oven and can wipe down the sides, back and top of most ovens. Also, most of the accessories inside an air fryer oven are dishwasher safe or can be cleaned easily in the sink. Air fryer baskets and drawers tend to be a little more cumbersome.
Things to Consider Before Buying
Of course, there’s always a price to pay for advantages and in the case of air fryer ovens, that is often the price! Air fryer ovens tend to be more expensive than basket-style air fryers, but you do get multiple functions out of one appliance, so it might be worth it to you.
The other big consideration if you are thinking of adding an air fryer oven to your kitchen is the space it takes up. It’s usually a larger footprint on your countertop and it’s not an appliance that you can easily put away in a cabinet, so make sure you have the room for it before you bring it home and be sure you like the look of it too!
Air fryer ovens can take a little longer to pre-heat (5 minutes instead of 2 minutes) and it can project more heat into your kitchen, but I don’t think these two cons are significant enough to dissuade you if you think a multi-function convenience is for you.
When looking at different air fryer ovens, consider the following:
- Do you like the design or look of the oven.
- Where will it go in your kitchen – will it fit under your cabinets?
- What other functions do you want in your oven – need rotisserie? Want to dehydrate?
- What accessories are included? Will you use them and where will you store them?
What to Cook in an Air Fryer Oven
So, you’ve decided to get an air fryer oven! Congratulations! Now you need to know what foods are really suited to air frying. Browse through the air frying recipes section of the website to find all sorts of meals and snacks designed just for your new toy.
If you’d like to figure out how to convert your favorite traditional recipes to the air fryer, click here for a lesson on converting recipes. If you like to cook without a recipe, you’ll find the cooking time charts super helpful. Or, if you’re looking for some tips to get the most out of your new kitchen helper, click here!
The Blue Jean Chef® Air Fryer Toaster Oven
I personally like air fryer ovens too! So much so that I worked to develop an air fryer oven with all the features that I like – a digital control for precision, two easy to turn dials controlling function, temperature, time and fan speed, a toggle light switch so you can see what’s going on inside, etc… If you are interested in learning more about this oven, you can read more here, or watch the video below to see how the oven works.
Hi Meridith
Love this article. I have an Oster air fryer oven and love it.
Question: what brand is the one you use in the pictures? Mine is old and the ‘basket’s and tray are looking their age.
I love your articles, recipes and help.
Marley Cohen
marleycohen@rocketmail.com
Hi Marley. I have used several brands of air fryers – Cook’s Essentials, Philips, Elite, Power Air Fryer. As for the air fryer oven in this article. It is not yet branded… Feel free to email me at hello@bluejeanchef.com if you have other questions.
ML
Meredith – this has been so very helpful. Thank you for taking the time to explain it all. Now armed with solid information we are off to search for an air fryer!
This is a great article. Thank you so much. Are you coming out with your own A F?
Sue Bacon
Hi Sue. I do have my own Air Fryer Oven. 🙂 You can read more about it here: https://bluejeanchef.com/product/blue-jean-chef-24-quart-air-fryer-toaster-oven/
Hi Meredith:
Thank you for all your info. I found it very useful. I originally had a Cosori air fryer and it was fabulous. The only complaint I had was having to cook in batches when I had company, I then went out and bought a 26 qt Kalorik air fryer oven. It’s quite large but you can cook so much in it. There are several different places to put your rack and each place is labelled on the window. I made drumsticks tonight and they were cooked to perfection with the exception of crispy skin. I’m not sure what I did wrong but I will try again soon. I wish I had known you were coming out with your own. It looks awesome. TYVM for your recipes. I enjoy trying the different ones.
I am eagerly waiting for the delivery of your AF Meredith. Purchased it from The Q
Thank you for your information. I have an Air Power Elite oven, but the pictures for setting the temp and time are not helpful. Your chart is very helpful.
Meredith, I received your oven a few days ago and am very pleased. I have used the bake, toast functions and also the rotisserie (Cornish hen). All foods were cooked very well and today I am going to try the air fry function for chicken cutlets. I am 75 years old and find this oven to be perfect for me. Thank you for coming out with your air fryer/oven.
Hi Meredith,
I have your Air Fry Oven and I really like it. I have two questions? One can the “Bell” volume be increased I have a hard time hearing it. Two can I purchase a second oven rack? Thanks in advance for your consideration.
Hi Michael. I’m afraid there is no volume control on the oven and yes, if you call the number on the back of the oven manual, you can purchase additional parts.
ML
Just unpacked your air fryer oven – bought from qvc.
Would like to know how to cook a frozen steak – broil? air fry? timing?
Understand it can be done but I’m not sure of best way to do it in your air fryer oven.
Thanks for your help – Lois
Hi Lois. I will tell you right off the bat that the steak will be better tasting if you let it defrost first – a defrosted steak will cook more evenly than a frozen steak. Having said that, you can cook a steak from frozen if it is no thicker than 1-inch. Season the steak with salt, pepper and any spices you like and put it in the air fryer basket. Rest the basket in the tray and place the tray in the middle position in the oven. Put the oven on in the AIR FRYER mode at 400ºF for 15 to 22 minutes, flipping halfway through the cooking time. How long you cook it will depend on how you like your steak cooked – 15 minutes for a rare/medium-rare steak and longer for more cooked doneness. Hope that helps.
I never thought I would be fan of a toaster style oven, but I couldn’t resist when Meredith rolled out her model. The construction overall of the unit is solid and I’m glad I went with the Barnyard Red even though my color craze is purple cobalt or seafoam (metallics) or copper. Not happy there isn’t a dehydrator feature and would prefer that AirFryer basket didn’t need to sit on the drip/bake pan, having its own arms to slide in and out of the unit would be great (maybe that can be an after market feature……and possibly making the basket wider). Love the quietness of the unit even months later…..though I’d like for the end beep to be louder. And even though the fan doesn’t seem to blow the juices around much like other units I own, the clean up has become slightly challenging in certain areas.
Overall though I came into the AirFryer craze late, but committed hard and of all my various models I currently own and use my loving dubbed “Ruby” (Blue Jean Chef AirFryer Toaster Oven) has become my fav go to even without a dehydrator feature.
I did, indeed, love the Bluejean Chef, when I first received it. However, this didn’t last long. I really tried. When the screen stopped showing the cooking time, I worked around this. Now, it takes forever for it to be “ready” for BAKE and the AIR FRY never gets hot enough for air frying even after waiting over 20 minutes. My loyalty is fast fading away. What am I to do.
Disappointed in Maryland.
Hi Myra. I think you’re referring to the BJC Air Fryer Oven. It sounds like something has definitely gone wrong with your unit. Did you contact customer service? If not, please do so. You can reach them here: bjcwarranty@synergyhousewares.com or 866-444-4033 M-F 9:00am-5:00pm EST. You should also email me at hello@bluejeanchef.com so that I can make sure the problem is remedied quickly. Sorry you have had any trouble with your unit.
ML
Is the basket with the extended legs available. I noticed you used it while I was reading your recipe for air fryer fried chicken. I Love my BJC air fryer toaster oven and this would be a very useful basket to have. Thank you
There is not a basket with a stand available for the Blue Jean Chef® air fryer oven. The basket that comes with the unit work great and allows sufficient air to circulate under the food while air frying.