Cuisinart TOA-60 Air Fryer Toaster Oven Review: The Counter Space Hero That Almost Gets It Right

Ever stared at your cramped countertop and wondered if you really need three separate appliances to toast bread, reheat pizza, and make crispy chicken wings? The Cuisinart TOA-60 Air Fryer Toaster Oven promises to be the Swiss Army knife of kitchen counters, combining seven cooking functions into one sleek stainless steel package.
The Quick Verdict
The Cuisinart TOA-60 delivers impressive versatility and solid performance across most cooking tasks, making it an excellent choice for small kitchens, busy families, or anyone looking to streamline their appliance collection. However, temperature inconsistencies and the need for recipe adjustments prevent it from being perfect. It’s best suited for households that value convenience and counter space over precision cooking, though those who enjoy experimenting in the kitchen will appreciate the learning curve.
Performance & Quality: Where It Shines (And Where It Stumbles)
The TOA-60 packs serious power with its 1800-watt heating system and six nichrome elements, plus a top-mounted convection fan that circulates air efficiently. It preheats quickly, so it’s a good option for reheating leftovers. It makes good toast fairly quickly. It also air fries rapidly, which means less waiting around when hunger strikes.
The build quality feels substantial – this isn’t some flimsy countertop gadget that’ll wobble every time you open the door. The stainless steel construction gives it a professional appearance that won’t look out of place in most kitchens, and the compact footprint makes it manageable even in tight spaces.
But here’s where things get interesting (and slightly frustrating): The Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven (TOA-60) has disappointing temperature stability. It doesn’t maintain a stable temperature during cooking, and its actual temperature is often much higher than your selected setting. This means you’ll need to become a bit of a temperature detective, typically setting the dial about 25°F lower than most recipes call for.
User Experience: Simple Controls, Learning Curve Required
The interface couldn’t be simpler – analog dials for temperature, time, and function selection. No fancy digital displays or smartphone apps here, which some will love for its straightforward approach. The seven functions include air fry, bake, broil, toast, warm, and convection bake, covering pretty much every cooking method you’d need for everyday meals.
Setup is refreshingly easy – just plug it in, remove the protective plastic, and you’re ready to cook. The included accessories (baking pan, air fryer basket, and wire rack) fit perfectly and feel well-made, not like afterthoughts thrown in to justify the price.
However, there’s definitely a learning period. cooking times and the temperature will likely need adjusting to achieve the best results. For non-meat dishes, we needed to set the temperature to about 25°F lower than standard recipes suggest. Once you figure out these quirks, though, the cooking results are quite impressive.
Real-World Testing: Daily Kitchen Duties
After extensive testing with everything from frozen french fries to homemade cookies, the TOA-60 proves its worth in several key areas. Toast comes out evenly golden, and the air frying function produces genuinely crispy results that rival dedicated air fryers. Reheating leftover pizza actually makes it taste fresh again, not like cardboard – a minor miracle in the appliance world.
The oven handles small batch baking admirably, perfect for making cookies for two or roasting vegetables for a weeknight dinner. Happy customers rate how convenient it is in terms of the multiple cooking settings, with one user explaining how it replaced their existing air fryer, toaster, and toaster oven all at once.
Where it struggles is with larger items or cooking for big families. The interior capacity, while decent for a countertop unit, limits you to smaller portions. Also, items placed closer to the heating elements can overcook while others remain underdone, requiring some strategic food placement and occasional rotation.
Pros & Cons
What Works Really Well:
- Space-saving design that genuinely replaces multiple appliances without hogging counter space
- Quick preheating gets you cooking faster than a conventional oven
- Versatile cooking options handle everything from toast to air-fried chicken wings
- Solid build quality feels like it’ll last for years of daily use
- Easy cleanup with removable, dishwasher-safe accessories
The Not-So-Great Stuff:
- Temperature inconsistencies require recipe adjustments and careful monitoring
- Limited capacity means cooking in batches for larger families
- Uneven heating in some spots, especially near the heating elements
- No digital controls might feel dated to some users who prefer precise settings
Bottom Line: A Worthwhile Kitchen Compromise
The Cuisinart TOA-60 isn’t perfect, but it’s really good at being really useful. If you’re working with limited counter space, cooking for 1-4 people regularly, or just want to simplify your kitchen setup, this appliance delivers genuine value. On Amazon, it had 4.4 stars out of 5, with 72% of users giving it 5 stars, which speaks to its real-world performance despite the temperature quirks.
The temperature inconsistencies are annoying but manageable once you understand the pattern. Think of it as developing a relationship with your appliance – a little patience and experimentation leads to consistently good results. For most home cooks, the convenience and space savings outweigh the need for precision temperature control.
If you’re someone who follows recipes to the letter and gets frustrated by appliances that require adaptation, you might want to consider other options. But if you enjoy the process of figuring out what works and appreciate having fewer things cluttering your counters, the TOA-60 could become your new favorite kitchen companion.
You can check the current price and read more customer reviews on Amazon to see if this versatile appliance fits your cooking style and kitchen needs.