Side-by-side comparison based on expert reviews and community consensus.
Cuisinart TOA-26 Compact Air Fryer Toaster Oven
Most VersatileDash Compact Air Fryer (2-Quart)
Best Ultra-CompactPrice
$100-$150
$40-$50
Summary
The only small air fryer that also toasts, bakes, broils, and makes pizza — all in a compact footprint. Good Housekeeping's top-tested air fryer toaster oven, it browned wings in 20 minutes and fries in 15.
CNET's pick for best small air fryer for beginners — lightweight, colorful, and designed specifically for small apartments. At $50 with a retro look and 5 color options, it's the easiest entry point into air frying.
Pros
- 6 cooking modes: air fry, toast, convection bake, convection broil, pizza, warm
- Fits 1 lb of wings with room to spare plus 1 lb of fries in a single layer
- Mechanical dials are intuitive and durable
- Salmon came out tender and flaky with crisped skin in testing
- Lightest and most portable of all small air fryers — easy to move and store
- Good cooking power despite compact 2-quart size
- Available in 5 colors with a fun retro aesthetic
- ~$50 price point — lowest barrier to entry
Cons
- No built-in timer — you have to track cooking time yourself
- Larger footprint (18"W) than basket-style air fryers
- Fries came out slightly drier than preferred in GH testing
- More expensive than standalone mini air fryers
- 2-quart capacity is the smallest on this list — tight for anything beyond snacks
- Fewer cooking presets than Ninja or Cosori competitors
- Not ideal if you want to cook full meals regularly
Our take
If you're replacing both a toaster and an air fryer, this is the move. It does both jobs well enough that you won't miss having separate appliances, and it's significantly cheaper than Cuisinart's full-sized version.
Reddit users literally call this the air fryer 'made for New York apartments.' If counter space is your primary constraint and you're cooking for one, the Dash gets out of your way when you're done with it.
Buy
