CNET experts have tested dozens of hybrid air fryer toaster ovens, naming the Ninja Foodi as the best overall for 2025 due to its powerful performance and compact design. The review highlights models from brands like Breville and Our Place that excel in versatility and style. These appliances offer a space-saving alternative for cooking everything from chicken wings to cookies.
In their latest roundup, CNET kitchen testers evaluated air fryer toaster ovens for functions like air frying, broiling, baking, and toasting, focusing on speed, consistency, and ease of use. The Ninja Foodi emerged as the top pick, preheating to 350 degrees Fahrenheit in just 50 seconds and delivering the crispiest chicken wings in 30 minutes at 450 degrees. It also tied for best broiled salmon, producing a caramelized crust on a 4-ounce fillet in four minutes, and baked Toll House cookies nearly perfectly at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Its compact size—about 6 inches tall—allows it to flip up against the wall, saving counter space, though the small interior limits bulkier foods and requires more frequent cleaning due to splatter-prone walls.
The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro took second place, winning the French fries test with golden results in six minutes at 450 degrees and matching the Ninja in cookie baking. Priced at $400, it features a roomy interior for whole chickens, plus presets for bread-proofing, dehydrating, and pizza, making it a near-replacement for full-size ovens. However, its larger footprint demands more counter space.
For style, the Wonder Oven Pro from Our Place impressed with excellent temperature consistency, quiet operation, and eight modes that handled air frying, roasting steak and Brussels sprouts, and dehydrating fruit equally well. Available in multiple colors, it offers more cooking space than its predecessor but is harder to clean than traditional air fryers.
Budget buyers may prefer the Cuisinart Compact Airfryer Toaster, often on sale for around $100, with manual dials for basic functions. It provides strong air frying power but can overcook unevenly, as seen in burnt fry edges in three minutes. Other tested models like KitchenAid and Calphalon performed adequately but lagged in speed and consistency.
CNET notes that holiday sales make these versatile appliances ideal gifts, with deals like the Ninja Foodi 8-in-1 XL Pro at $179, down $121. Innovations in the industry include hybrid-steam models and self-cleaning features on the horizon.
