Like many, my journey into the world of air frying began with a simple craving: crispy, “oven-fried” chicken wings, minus the day-long prep and mediocre results. I’d seen countless online raves about air fryer magic, promising effortless crispiness. However, kitchen counter real estate was precious, and my trusty oven had always (mostly) sufficed.
Fast forward to last month, when “trusty” turned traitor. Our oven became stubbornly unreliable, leading to culinary chaos. A new cooking solution was urgently needed. Counter space was cleared, appliances rearranged, and suddenly, an air fryer seemed less like a luxury and more like a necessity.
Naturally, being a content creator for conduct.edu.vn, and a regular Tomsguide.com reader, I turned to the experts. I browsed Toms Guide’s comprehensive best air fryers list and polled my network for personal recommendations. While I trust the rigorous testing at Tom’s Guide, there’s something extra reassuring about a “my friend swears by this” endorsement.
The Mistake in My Toaster Oven Choice
Here’s where my story takes a turn, and where my quest for the perfect air fryer intersected with the allure of a toaster oven. With our oven out of commission and influenced by roommates who favored the aesthetic of toaster oven-style air fryers (“those canister ones look cheap!”), I landed on the Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven, specifically the Cuisinart TOA-70 ( $229 on Amazon). A trusted friend vouched for it, and I thought, “time to finally embrace this air fryer trend!”
Initial impressions were positive. The Cuisinart looked sleek and substantial, and I was impressed by its versatility – convection bake, broil, grill, roast, toast, reheat, defrost, and more. It felt like a premium appliance, ready to tackle any kitchen task.
Then came the post-cooking reality: the cleanup.
(Image credit: Henry T. Casey / Tom’s Guide)
As the Toms Guide Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven review accurately pointed out, “This model didn’t score well for ease of cleaning — none of the accessories are coated with a nonstick finish and Cuisinart doesn’t recommend popping them in the dishwasher.” The included baking pan/drip tray, in particular, became my nemesis. Cleaning it required significantly more effort than anticipated.
I now understand the weight of this Toms Guide review statement: “It can take a bit of elbow grease to scrub off bits and pieces from the air fryer basket and burnt-on grease from the baking pan.” This was an understatement. My first attempt at air-fried wings was a culinary success – perfectly crispy and delicious. However, the air fryer basket, with its tiny wire mesh, demanded a level of meticulous scrubbing I hadn’t budgeted for.
UPDATE: A helpful commenter suggested using Easy Off oven cleaner on the basket. I’m definitely investigating this!
Cleaning the Cuisinart air fryer basket is indeed a frustrating chore. (Image credit: Henry T. Casey / Tom’s Guide)
It was during this scrubbing session that the siren song of “non-stick coating” echoed in my mind, louder than before. Scrolling back through air fryer listings, those words seemed to jump off the page. A Homer Simpson-esque “d’oh!” moment was definitely had.
UPDATE: Another commenter pointed out a removable tray inside the Cuisinart for easier cleaning of the interior! This wasn’t obvious in the manual, and is a game-changer for internal cleaning.
The Air Fryer Lesson: What I Wish I’d Known (and Bought)
Circumstances dictated my choice somewhat. The Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven is currently serving as our primary oven replacement. Without that immediate need, I would have likely utilized Amazon’s generous return policy within the 30-day window. I’m committed to finding better cleaning methods and adapting to this appliance.
But for those of you venturing into the air fryer world, learn from my experience, especially if you’re browsing tomsguide.com for “best toasters” and considering a multi-functional appliance. If a dedicated air fryer is your primary goal, and oven replacement isn’t a factor, a toaster oven-style model might not be the ideal choice.
Consider the Cosori Smart Wifi Air Fryer review on Toms Guide, consistently ranked as a top air fryer. Its focus on air frying, coupled with likely easier cleaning (due to simpler design and non-stick surfaces in many models), might be a better fit for dedicated air frying enthusiasts. Also, I confess, I miss digital timers. The Cuisinart’s dials feel decidedly old-school.
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