Bucket: got things crispier, easier to clean, but small capacity.

Toaster oven: can fit a ton more food, including multiple layers. I often use two levels: one for protein and one for vegetables. Cooking two things at the same time makes it worth it for me

I like my cuisnart one.

Reviving this thread to hear brand recommendations. I’m eyeing the breville smart oven and the cuisinart.

We had the first generation bucket kind and it was my favorite appliance. Yes, the capacity was small but I had pretty much walked away from frying in oil based on how well it worked. It died a few months ago and we switched to the toaster oven style, and I hesitate to even call it an air fryer based on how things come out. That bucket was a marvel at making things crispy in ways the new one just doesn't. I'm seriously considering getting another bucket and giving the toaster thing to my college kid.

Love mine. Have the ninja too. You can absolutely get it for less if you shop around: https://www.ninjakitchen.com/products/ninja-foodi-smart-xl-pro-air-oven-zidDT251?utm_source=GOOGLE&utm_medium=cpla&utm_campaign=Shopping_Ninja_PMAX_Kitchen_Oven&utm_adgroup=&utm_term=&gclsrc=aw.ds&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIj936ieDQgwMVA05HAR1mmQ-uEAQYCCABEgLmovD_BwE

Anonymous wrote:I researched a ton and spoke to a bunch of friends with air fryers. From what I learned, the biggest difference was the toaster oven style ones hold more food, and the basket ones are better at getting food really crispy. Not that the toaster oven style doesn’t get things crispy, just that the basket is a little better.

+1 The basket ones have an annoyingly small capacity, but they do a much better job with crisping food than the toaster-oven style ones, which tend to perform about the same as a regular oven’s convection function. It’s a choice between results on one hand and versatility/attractiveness on the other.

the toaster oven type is impossible to clean and the bucket type is super easy to clean

I researched a ton and spoke to a bunch of friends with air fryers. From what I learned, the biggest difference was the toaster oven style ones hold more food, and the basket ones are better at getting food really crispy. Not that the toaster oven style doesn’t get things crispy, just that the basket is a little better.

We have the cuisinart toaster oven/air fryer combo. LOVE IT.

I have a Ninja toaster oven style one with the air fry setting. Purchased at Target. We use it constantly as a toaster, regular oven, and air fryer. It heats up so fast! (Now, I use the regular oven very infrequently.) I am unsure if the toaster oven style air fryer is comparable to the "bucket" style" because I have not had one of those. My fries come out very nicely and I am satisfied!

Anonymous wrote:I love mine - like it a lot better than the tiny bucket kind.

+1. I do most of my cooking in it. It heats up faster than the oven.

I have one. It came with a baking sheet and a basket type thing as well, it’s not super deep, the basket I mean, but I’m happy with what it does. We are a family of 3 though so don’t cook a lot in it at once.

No they are not the same. I have both and use the bucket style for reheating French fries or anything I need really crispy.

I love mine - like it a lot better than the tiny bucket kind.

Is a toaster oven style air fryer the same as a basket type? Any reason to choose one over the other?

I like the idea of also using it as a regular toaster oven and for it to live in the counter where the current one is.