Air fryer ovens: Your shortcut to quick and delicious baked treats with our buying guide and top suggestions

Not an avid baker but still want an oven for quick recipes? Then the air fryer oven might be the perfect appliance for you.

An air fryer oven is the new age appliance we all need to introduce to our kitchens. An air fryer oven is a kitchen appliance that combines the functions of an air fryer and a traditional oven. It circulates hot air around the food to cook it quickly, similar to deep-frying but with little to no oil. Many models also bake, roast, toast, and broil, making them more versatile than a standard air fryer.

The perfect kitchen appliance to bake quick and easy recipes without the hassle of using a full-sized oven. (AI generated)

By Neha Ravi Khandelwal

Neha Khandelwal
Content Lead, HT Travel | Travel & Lifestyle Journalist
With over 10 years of content writing experience, Neha Khandelwal is a lifestyle journalist and the Content Lead at HT Travel. She specialises in destinations, hotels, aviation, luggage, travel gear, and practical guides that help readers plan smarter and travel better. Her work combines first-hand experience, expert insights, and extensive research to create stories that are informative, useful, and easy to follow.

Career Journey & Experience
Neha began her writing career as a freelance journalist in 2010 before entering mainstream media with The Times of India in 2022. She later joined Hindustan Times, where she has written extensively across travel, lifestyle, home, and consumer trends. Her professional background extends beyond journalism. Before moving into digital media full-time, she spent nearly a decade in interior design, managing residential projects from concept to execution. She also trained in visual merchandising with Shoppers Stop and Pantaloons and worked with women-led startups across design and operations. These experiences continue to shape her storytelling, especially in how she evaluates hotels, design-led stays, hospitality spaces, and travel experiences.

A naturally curious learner, Neha has completed beginner certifications in pottery, scuba diving, baking, creative writing, and other creative pursuits. She has read more than 2,000 books, trained in Bharatanatyam for 8 years, and ghostwritten a book on Ladakh tourism.

Subject Expertise
Travel is at the heart of Neha's work. She covers destinations, hotels, airlines, luggage, packing strategies, travel accessories, and emerging travel trends through a mix of reporting, product testing, and conversations with industry experts. A frequent traveller herself, she approaches every trip with a journalist's curiosity and a planner's mindset, focusing on experiences that readers can realistically recreate. From choosing the right cabin bag to decoding hotel openings and destination trends, her writing prioritises practical advice over promotional claims. Her background in interior design also gives her a distinct perspective on architecture, hospitality design, boutique hotels, luxury stays, and thoughtfully designed spaces.

Education & Professional Background
Neha holds a Master's degree in Interior Design. Her early experience in interior design, visual merchandising, and design operations gives her a unique understanding of aesthetics, functionality, and user experience, adding depth to her coverage of hotels, resorts, and travel spaces.

Editorial Philosophy
"As an avid, research-driven traveller, my goal is simple. To answer the questions you actually have before booking a trip. I cut through the promotional noise with honest reporting and expert insights. Making travel planning seamless, smart, and reliable so you always know where to go next."

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These relatively smaller ovens come built into the regular air fryers, giving you a compact yet quick solution for easy baking at home and even at the office. The air fryer oven can easily occupy minimal countertop space and give you the benefits of both a basic air fryer and a small-sized quick oven option that can roast, grill, and bake your single-serve cookies, small chicken pieces, and more.

Why use an air fryer oven for baking?

An air fryer oven bakes faster due to its rapid hot air circulation, offering even cooking. It preheats quickly, saving time and energy compared to traditional ovens. Its compact size makes it convenient for small batches without heating the entire kitchen.

Benefits of using an air fryer oven for baking

Benefits	Description
Faster Baking	Hot air circulation ensures quicker cooking times than a traditional oven.
Energy Efficient	Heats up and cooks faster, using less electricity and time.
Crispy Texture	Provides a crisp finish, ideal for items like pastries or crusted dishes.
Even Cooking	Hot air flows evenly, reducing the risk of uneven baking or undercooking.
Compact Size	Suitable for small kitchens, great for baking in limited spaces.
Preheats Quickly	Requires minimal preheating time, saving effort and energy.
Multi-Functionality	Can also roast, toast, and broil, making it versatile for various recipes.
Minimal Oil Use	Bakes with little or no oil, resulting in healthier, lighter baked goods.

Some top picks for air fryer ovens

What are the different types of air fryer ovens?

Basket-style air fryer oven: Compact with a pull-out basket; ideal for smaller batches and simple baking.

How to Use	Who Can Use
Preheat the oven.	Beginners looking for an easy, compact option.
Place food in the pull-out basket.	Small families or individuals cooking small portions.
Set temperature and timer.
Shake the basket halfway for even cooking.

Top picks:

Toaster oven air fryer: Combines toaster and air fryer functions; useful for baking, toasting, and roasting.

How to Use	Who Can Use
Preheat the oven.	People who need a toaster and air fryer in one.
Place food on trays or racks.	Small to medium-sized households.
Set the mode (bake, toast, air fry).
Adjust temperature and timer.

Convection air fryer oven: Features convection fans for faster and more even cooking, especially for baking.

How to Use	Who Can Use
Preheat the oven.	Home cooks need faster, more efficient baking.
Place food on trays or racks.	Frequent bakers or cooks for families.
Set the convection mode, temperature, and timer.
Monitor food for even baking.

Top picks:

Rotisserie air fryer oven: Comes with a built-in rotisserie function, great for roasting meats alongside baking.

How to Use	Who Can Use
Preheat the oven.	Home chefs want to roast meats and bake.
Attach food to the rotisserie rod.	Medium to large households need versatile options.
Place food in the oven and set to rotisserie mode.
Set timer and temperature as needed.

Multi-function air fryer oven: Offers various cooking modes such as baking, broiling, and dehydrating for versatility.

How to Use	Who Can Use
Preheat the oven.	Cooks need flexibility with multiple functions.
Choose the desired function (bake, air fry, roast).	Larger families or those cooking a variety of dishes.
Set temperature and timer.
Monitor and adjust as needed.

Top picks:

Smart air fryer oven: Includes smart features like app control, programmable settings, and timers for easier baking.

How to Use	Who Can Use
Connect to the app or use the control panel.	Tech-savvy individuals want convenience and automation.
Preheat and select a cooking mode.	Busy people need remote controls for cooking.
Set timer and temperature, or use pre-programmed recipes.
Monitor cooking remotely using the app.

Understanding the different types of ovens

Feature	Air Fryer	Air Fryer Oven	OTG Oven	Microwave Oven
Cooking Method	Rapid hot air circulation for frying.	Hot air circulation for frying, baking, etc.	Uses heating coils for baking, grilling, and toasting.	Microwave radiation for cooking and heating.
Functions	Air fry, roast, and reheat.	Air fry, bake, roast, toast, broil.	Baking, grilling, toasting, broiling.	Heating, defrosting, cooking, reheating.
Speed	Fast, cooks food quickly.	Fast, cooks faster than OTGs.	Slower compared to air fryers and air fryer ovens.	Fast, especially for heating and defrosting.
Energy Efficiency	High, due to rapid cooking.	High, uses less energy than OTGs.	Medium requires more energy for longer baking times.	High, especially for heating tasks.
Size	Compact, and fits on countertops.	Slightly larger, but compact compared to OTGs.	Larger, requires more counter or shelf space.	Compact to medium, depending on the model.
Best For	Small portions of fried food, quick snacks.	Baking, frying, roasting, toasting in small to medium quantities.	Baking, toasting, grilling, and slow cooking.	Heating, defrosting, and simple cooking tasks.
Oil Consumption	Minimal or no oil is required.	Minimal or no oil is required.	Varies by recipe, typically more than air fryers.	No oil is needed for most functions.

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Air fryer ovens: FAQs

• How does an air fryer oven work?

  An air fryer oven circulates hot air rapidly around the food using a fan, which cooks it evenly and gives it a crispy texture similar to frying but with little to no oil.

• Can I bake in an air fryer oven?

  Yes, air fryer ovens are versatile and can bake a variety of foods, including cakes, cookies, and bread. They often come with different cooking modes for baking, roasting, and more.

• How do I clean an air fryer oven?

  To clean an air fryer oven, unplug it and allow it to cool. Remove the trays and racks, which can usually be washed with warm, soapy water. Wipe the interior with a damp cloth. Some parts may be dishwasher safe; check the manufacturer's instructions.

• What can I cook in an air fryer oven?

  You can cook a wide range of foods, including fries, chicken wings, vegetables, and even baked goods. It’s also suitable for roasting meats and toasting bread.

• How do I know the cooking times for different foods?

  Most air fryer ovens come with a recipe guide or cooking chart. You can also refer to online recipes and guides specific to air fryer ovens. Adjust cooking times and temperatures based on the size and type of food.

At Hindustan Times, we help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and products. Hindustan Times has an affiliate partnership, so we may get a part of the revenue when you make a purchase. We shall not be liable for any claim under applicable laws, including but not limited to the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, concerning the products. The products listed in this article are in no particular order of priority.

 

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