What’s the difference between an air fryer and an air fryer oven?

If you’ve ever heard people discussing air fryers and air fryer ovens and wondered if they’re the same, you’re not alone. But the truth is, they’re not interchangeable. Keep reading to learn about the differences between them and determine which type of air fryer is the right choice for you.

What is an air fryer oven?

An air fryer oven is a type of air fryer, similar to a single or dual-drawer model. However, it deviates from the traditional air fryer design and structure. Instead, as the name suggests, it resembles a mini countertop oven. It comes equipped with all the features you would expect from an oven: a pull-down door with a glass viewing panel, space for multiple cooking racks, and an internal light.

Wondering why you should opt for a countertop oven instead of your built-in oven? The answer lies in its smaller internal cavity and powerful fan for circulating hot air, making it faster and more cost-effective to cook with. For a detailed list of our top recommendations, check out our roundup of the best air fryer ovens we’ve tested.

Advantages of air fryer ovens

One of the key advantages of air fryer ovens is the ample cooking space they offer. They are significantly larger than standard air fryers, with capacities ranging from around 10QT/10 liters to 25QT/25 liters. The largest model we’ve tested, from HySapientia, boasts a massive 26QT/24-liter capacity.

The generous size allows you to replace your built-in oven for a wider range of cooking tasks. Unlike most conventional air fryers, an air fryer oven can accommodate a 12-inch frozen pizza, roast a whole chicken, or cook a meat and potato joint simultaneously. It also provides ample space for baking full-size cakes.

Another major advantage is their versatility, although the cooking modes other than air frying may vary from one model to another. Most models include a dedicated toasting setting for bread, bagels, and more, eliminating the need for a separate toaster and reducing countertop clutter. Additionally, you can use them for roasting, baking, and grilling.

Some models even feature a rotisserie setting and come with a spit, such as the Cosori air fryer oven, the HySapientia, and the Breville Halo rotisserie air fryer oven.

Additionally, some models serve as a microwave as well, like the Drew&Cole microwave oven air fryer combo. They typically come with all the necessary cooking accessories, such as grilling racks, air fryer baskets, and crumb trays, although certain models may offer additional accessories that can be purchased separately.

Disadvantages of air fryer ovens

While an air fryer oven offers a larger cooking capacity, it may not be as cost-effective to cook with as a smaller, single-drawer model. If you frequently use it to grill a single chicken breast or toast bread, you may not achieve the same electricity savings. Moreover, compared to conventional air fryers, air fryer ovens require more counter space due to their larger size.

Cleaning air fryer ovens can also be more challenging than cleaning conventional air fryers, as not all parts of the cooking area are coated with non-stick material.

Should you buy a dual-drawer air fryer or an air fryer oven?

If you’re in the market for a large-capacity air fryer, you have two main options: a dual-drawer model or an air fryer oven. Both options are similarly priced, but the right choice for you depends on your intended use.

Consider purchasing an air fryer oven to:

• Cook large roasts
• Make rotisserie chicken
• Bake full-size cakes
• Toast bread and bagels
• Cook large frozen pizzas

Opt for a dual-drawer model to:

• Cook two separate dishes simultaneously using different cooking methods
• Save energy by cooking in a single drawer

For a comprehensive list of our top recommendations for dual-drawer air fryers, check out our roundup of the best options available. However, there is one dual-drawer model that combines many of the advantages of an air fryer oven: the 10-liter Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer, known as the Foodi FlexBasket in the US with a slightly smaller 7QT capacity.

The FlexDrawer is a dual-drawer air fryer that stands out due to one key feature: the ability to remove the divider between cooking spaces, creating a single, large cooking \”megazone.\” To learn more about the FlexDrawer, read our review, or explore our list of the best Ninja air fryers to compare it with other models.