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The Cuisinart Compact Airfryer Toaster Oven is a remarkable countertop oven with a petite design. Still, it has a large enough capacity to fit up to 2.5 lbs. of food.
This specific air fryer oven has two versions, the Cuisinart TOA 28 and the Cuisinart TOA 26. Both models have 6 presets and functions, toast darkness dials, adjustable cooking temperatures, and stainless steel design with viewing window.
We’ll talk about the differences between these appliances as you read along.
However, you’ll find that this review focuses on the Cuisinart Compact Air Fryer Toaster Oven TOA-28, as it has a bit more components than the TOA-26.
Now let’s dive into the pros and cons.
PROS
- Affordable
- Analog interface
- Compact, can fit up to 2.5 lbs. of food
- It doesn’t take up too much counter space
- Quiet operation
- Accessories have a nonstick coating
- BPA and PFOA free
- 3-years warranty
CONS
- Baskets and trays aren’t dishwasher safe
What can you cook in the Cuisinart Compact Airfryer Toaster Oven?
As the name implies, this kitchen gadget can air fry, toast, and so much more. Here’s a list of what you can do with your kitchen appliance.
*Pizza function is only available on TOA-26, whereas TOA-28 has the Bagel preset
This toaster air fryer can fit up to 4 slices of bread or bagel halves. You can select your toast shade level (light, medium, dark). Now everyone in your family can have their toast according to their preference.
Additionally, you can use the toast function for either frozen or fresh bread and pastries. Say, for example, you want to toast a slice of bread. You can operate the oven by turning the function dial to toast.
Next, adjust the temperature dial to 450ºF. Then, select the desired toast darkness setting by turning the dial to either light, medium, or dark. Once the bell rings, your toast is ready.
Pro tip: For the best results, evenly space and don’t overlap your bread.
More than the toasting function, this appliance can also air fry.
So, let’s get down to it.
If you’re craving chicken wings, did you know that you can fit 1½ to 2 pounds (that’s about a maximum of 24 pieces) in this air fryer? Plus, you can have crispy, golden brown wings in as little as 20 to 25 minutes at 400ºF. See how you can level up your game night snacks?
By the way, the product manual comes with 20 plus recipes. This gives you additional cooking inspirations so you can serve your family a variety of delicious dishes.
Is Cuisinart TOA 28 easy to use?
Thanks to the intuitive analog controls, cooking in the Cuisinart Compact Air Fryer Toaster Oven is a walk in the park.
If you want to operate the oven seamlessly, follow this simple process…
First, put the rack, pan, or air fryer basket in the appropriate position. Then, turn the Functional Dial to the setting you want. Next, select your desired temperature by rotating the Temperature Dial (warm to 450ºF).
Then adjust the time to what your recipe calls for. The time can be set up to 60 minutes. Your food will be ready once the timer reaches OFF or when your appliance rings to indicate the end of the cooking cycle.
A note from the product manual says: “When setting the timer or toast shade, always turn the dial clockwise beyond your desired time or shade. (no less than the 20-minute mark). And then turn it back counterclockwise to the desired time.”
To give you an example: If you want to set the timer to 20 minutes, turn the Time dial to the right past the 30-minute mark. Then turn back counterclockwise back to the 20-minute mark.
Now that you know how to operate the Cuisinart TOA 28. Let’s move on to the cleanup.
How to clean the Cuisinart Compact Air Fryer Toaster Oven?
Cleaning this oven isn’t as complicated as you think.
Like all other kitchen appliances, ensure that the AirFryer is unplugged from the electric outlet and let it cool completely before cleaning.
Cleaning the exterior of the air fryer can be done by wiping it with a clean, damp cloth. Remember to dry the surface after to keep it neat and shiny.
On the other hand, the interior walls can be cleaned using a moist cloth and a mild liquid soap solution or a spray solution on a sponge.
Surprisingly enough, the Air Fryer Basket, rack, and Baking/Drip pan aren’t dishwasher safe. So, you must hand wash them in hot, soapy water with a non-abrasive sponge.
Pro Tip: To remove hard greasy residue, soak the Air Fryer Basket, rack, and Baking/Drip pan for a few minutes for easy scrubbing.
See it in Action
Don’t take my word for it, here’s a short video demonstration from the brand.
The Cuisinart Compact Airfryer Toaster Oven is a practical multi-use kitchen appliance that has 6 functions: Convection Bake, Convection Broil, AirFry, Toast, Pizza/Bagel and Warm. With its compact size, it has a mighty power of 1500W. Plus, it can cook 2.5lbs of food or 4 slices of toast in one go.
Compare Cuisinart TOA-28 and Cuisinart TOA-26
As pointed out in the introduction, this particular air fryer has two models.
 |  | |
| Air Fryer Name | Cuisinart TOA-26 | Cuisinart TOA 28 |
| Price Range | $$ | $$ |
| Timer | n/a | Built-in timer |
| Unique preset(s) | Pizza preset | Bagel preset |
| Get at Amazon → | Get at Amazon → |
The first difference is the dials…
Cuisinart TOA-26 has three dials (Function Dial, Temperature Dial, and Toast Dial). In comparison, the TOA-28 has four dials (Function Dial, Temperature Dial, Toast Dial, and Time Dial).
The extra dial in the Cuisinart TOA 28 allows you to adjust the time from 0 to 60 minutes. In other words, you don’t need to grab your phone or a separate timer just to set a timer.
The second one is preset. Both models have 6 functions, but only 5 are identical. The 6th preset for TOA-28 is the Bagel function, while TOA-26 has a Pizza function.
You can use the Pizza function in Cuisinart TOA-26 to cook frozen pizza or pizza from scratch. For homemade fresh pizza, you can heat up your oven to the recommended baking temperature of 450°F. Make sure to spray the pan with a nonstick cooking spray for easy cleanup.
The Bagel Function in the Cuisinart TOA 28, on the other hand, is ideal for toasting bagel halves. Get perfectly toasted bagels by putting your bagels with the cut sides facing up.
In conclusion, even though the only significant difference is the timer, the Cuisinart TOA-28 wins this comparison.
*Product Images and Videos Courtesy of Cuisinart
Technical Specifications
| Type | Air Fryer |
| Brand/Series | Cuisinart |
| Model # | TOA-28 and TOA-26 |
| Price | $$ |
| Rating | 4.2 out of 5 |
| Wattage | 1500 Watts |
| Functions | 6 functions: Convection Bake, Convection Broil, AirFry, Toast, Pizza and Warm |
| Air Fryer Type | Toaster Oven |
| Basket Shape | Rectangular |
| Basket Material | Stainless Steel / Non-stick |
| Capacity | 9 quarts |
| Dishwasher safe | No |
| PFOA, BPA Free | Yes |
| Colors | Silver |
| Dimensions | 12.5 x 15.5 x 11.5 inches (31.75 x 39.4 x 29.2 cm) |
| Cord Length | 22 inches (0.5m) |
| Application | Personal Use |
| Warranty | 3 Year |
