1 twice baked potato half: 383 calories, 22g fat (13g saturated fat), 63mg cholesterol, 509mg sodium, 35g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 4g fiber), 13g protein.
1 potato half: 443 calories, 27g fat (14g saturated fat), 73mg cholesterol, 749mg sodium, 34g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 4g fiber), 18g protein.
1 serving: 80 calories, 1g fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 0 sodium, 19g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 4g fiber), 3g protein.
6 ounces cooked chicken: 157 calories, 6g fat (1g saturated fat), 63mg cholesterol, 498mg sodium, 1g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 23g protein.
3 ounces cooked chicken: 190 calories, 4g fat (0 saturated fat), 56mg cholesterol, 690mg sodium, 13g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 28g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1 starch.
1 cookie: 123 calories, 8g fat (5g saturated fat), 20mg cholesterol, 62mg sodium, 12g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.
1 serving: 256 calories, 14g fat (7g saturated fat), 84mg cholesterol, 267mg sodium, 6g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 29g protein.
1 serving: 676 calories, 36g fat (6g saturated fat), 47mg cholesterol, 1431mg sodium, 60g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 3g fiber), 24g protein.
6 shrimp with 2 tablespoons sauce: 410 calories, 10g fat (8g saturated fat), 138mg cholesterol, 418mg sodium, 58g carbohydrate (34g sugars, 2g fiber), 24g protein.
1 s'more: 147 calories, 5g fat (2g saturated fat), 3mg cholesterol, 109mg sodium, 25g carbohydrate (14g sugars, 1g fiber), 2g protein.
1 cup: 243 calories, 10g fat (1g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 611mg sodium, 34g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 3g fiber), 4g protein.
5 ounces cooked pork: 582 calories, 32g fat (11g saturated fat), 122mg cholesterol, 1192mg sodium, 37g carbohydrate (30g sugars, 2g fiber), 35g protein.
1 chimichanga: 270 calories, 16g fat (9g saturated fat), 39mg cholesterol, 403mg sodium, 27g carbohydrate (12g sugars, 1g fiber), 5g protein.
1 piece: 69 calories, 1g fat (0 saturated fat), 12mg cholesterol, 183mg sodium, 13g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 2g protein.
1 meatball: 150 calories, 9g fat (4g saturated fat), 63mg cholesterol, 405mg sodium, 4g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 13g protein.
1 piece: 257 calories, 11g fat (1g saturated fat), 24mg cholesterol, 618mg sodium, 35g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 1g fiber), 5g protein.
3/4 cup: 287 calories, 20g fat (12g saturated fat), 58mg cholesterol, 433mg sodium, 16g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 1g fiber), 12g protein.
The post I Tried Air-Fryer Twinkies, and It’s By Far the Best Way to Eat This Snack appeared first on Taste Recipes.
]]>This technique isn’t unique to Twinkies. Home bakers have been experimenting with air-fryer Oreos and air-fryer s’mores since air fryers began to boom in 2017. Here’s how to make the method work for Hostess snack cakes!
Of course you can put Twinkies in an air fryer! If you’re unfamiliar with air fryers, the top section of the appliance holds a heating mechanism and a fan. You put the food you want to fry in the basket, and hot air rushes around the food to crisp it up.
I don’t have a dedicated air fryer, but I do have an Instant Pot air fryer lid, which does the same thing. I have to insert the basket that came with the lid, clamp the air fryer lid onto my beloved Instant Pot and I’m ready to crisp.s
I like to cook on parchment when using the air-fryer basket. I like the precut circles because they don’t curl up and touch the food as much as the rolled parchment. This probably goes without saying, but never use waxed paper in an air fryer. It will melt!
I simply set a Twinkie on the paper and turned on the Instant Pot air fryer for three minutes at 400°F. When the timer went off, I had a crispy Twinkie—like a lighter version of the deep-fried Minnesota State Fair treat.
You can also make Twinkies from scratch and then air-fry them, but I bought mine for this taste test.
I gobbled up the air-fryer Twinkies like potato chips. How did I not realize you could do this before now?! The outside of the cake firms up so much you can rap it with a knife, as all the TikTok creators are doing. It browns up nicely, creating a satisfying crunch when you bite into it. If you’re a fan of crispy cookies, brownies and treats, these are for you.
The inner filling, once thick like frosting, transforms into the consistency of melted marshmallow. Inspired by some of the TikTok videos, I drizzled one air-fried Twinkie with chocolate syrup and dotted it with a cherry. Not sure it needed the extra sweetness, but it looked much fancier this way, and who doesn’t love chocolate syrup and cherries?
My store offered regular Twinkies, plus chocolate cake Twinkies (with a chocolate filling) and pumpkin spice Twinkies (with a pumpkin filling). I tried them all in the Instant Pot air fryer, and the chocolate ones turned out the most delectable by far. It reminded me of a chocolate lava cake! Unfortunately, the pumpkin spice Twinkies tasted too sweet for my liking. Hostess needs to take these back to the pumpkin patch and leave them there.
Overall, I would opt for the chocolate cake or original Twinkies when you’re looking for air-fryer desserts to make in a hurry!
The post I Tried Air-Fryer Twinkies, and It’s By Far the Best Way to Eat This Snack appeared first on Taste Recipes.
]]>1 serving: 105 calories, 1g fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 22mg sodium, 21g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 3g fiber), 3g protein.
The post We Tested 10 Air Fryer Toaster Ovens—These 6 Are the Best appeared first on Taste Recipes.
]]>Pros:
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According to our testing, the best air fryer toaster oven overall is the KitchenAid Dual Convection Countertop Oven. As expected with KitchenAid, this air fryer toaster oven combo holds up just as well as the brand’s classic stand mixer—and it’s good-looking to boot. The tinted door looks sophisticated and sleek, though it slightly obscures the interior, which some may not prefer. That said, this luxe machine makes some seriously good chow if you take the time to learn the ins and outs.
Apart from making near perfect toast, it’s also capable of above-average rise, caramelization and evenness when baking a cake. When it comes to chicken, this oven is one of our top picks in terms of performance. An onboard meat probe offers additional flexibility when roasting a whole hen. The probe is short, so we oriented the chicken with the breast facing the probe jack. There’s no guessing when it comes to cooking time—just set a desired target temperature for the probe, and the oven will beep once it hits that mark. Easy peasy!
Lots of settings come baked in, including preheat, proof and dehydrate. The machine combines an LCD screen with buttons and one knob, making the overall learning curve manageable for the average home cook. While the buzzer is a bit quiet, we consider the consistent performance and easy-to-master controls well worth the tradeoff. Whether you need a second oven for family functions or just want a quicker way to cook, the KitchenAid countertop oven is our top pick.
Max Temperature: 450ºF | Dimensions: 16-2/5″D x 13″H x 13″W | Settings: Toast, Bagel, Bake, Broil, Air Fry, Dehydrate, Meat Probe, Convection Bake, Roast, Keep Warm, Preheat, Proof | Dishwasher Safe: Multipurpose pan, air fry basket, broiling rack
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We’re not strangers to smart kitchen gadgets, but the Alexa integration on the Cosori smart air fryer takes the cake—literally. The companion VeSync app allows you to automatically set the time and temperature for more than 95 available recipes. But that’s not the only impressive part of this budget-friendly air fryer. The LCD screen is nice and bright, the buttons are easy to follow and there’s only one knob to control for simplicity’s sake. An automatic preheat function also kicks in when you set the time and temperature, which we prefer over having to preheat manually.
This air fryer toaster oven offered up crispy chicken skin and gorgeous caramelization on our cake. But our testers kept noting a trend of slightly uneven cooking, particularly regarding the cake test. Most of the cake had a beautiful, consistent color, while the front portion came out much lighter. In terms of toast, the slices in the back were slightly darker than the ones in the front. While a bit annoying, rotating the pan while cooking fixes the issue. Given the low price point, we don’t mind the extra attention required.
Additionally, despite being rather easy to clean, the unit is quite tall, heavy and bulky. It couldn’t fit on some of our shelf racks, so consider the size of this behemoth before snagging it for your home kitchen. However, if you plan on roasting whole birds trussed to the heavens, the taller height is definitely a bonus.
Long term tester Matt Fukuda is still smitten with his unit after nearly six months of use. “Its really convenient having the oven, toaster oven and air fryer all in one device,” he says. “We use it for things like toasting breakfast sandwiches, cooking chicken nuggets and reheating pizza. My wife in particular loves it and cant imagine life without it.”
His biggest complaint is the rather large size. “The only thing I’ve noticed is that because it’s so big, you don’t get an even toast on both sides of your bread, but it doesn’t really bother me that much.”
Max Temperature: 450°F | Dimensions: 16.3″D x 16.9″W x 15.5″H | Settings: Air Fry, Bake, Toast, Roast, Broil, Pizza, Dehydrate, Slow Cook, Reheat, Ferment, Keep Warm | Dishwasher Safe: No
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The best air fryer toaster ovens should offer a cooking shortcut—but not at the expense of your food. GE’s UltraFast smart oven air fryer shortens dinner prep without compromising user experience or taste. Like the brand’s viral ice nugget maker, this appliance is a bit pricey, but that’s expected due to the obvious uptick in quality. If you’re seeking out a machine that’s more of a permanent kitchen staple than an average toaster oven, it’s well worth the splurge.
The interior light is bright, and it is easy to peek inside to check on cooking progress. Additionally, the racks push themselves in when the door closes. The whole unit is controlled by an intuitive touchscreen that assists while navigating the menu and settings, making it super simple to start cooking. A “+2 Timer” feature adds more time in the middle of cooking, similar to the Breville toaster’s “a bit more” feature. While it toasts rather unevenly, this unit performed the best in the fries test. No floppies found—finally!
Tester Sheri also notes the control panel is flat, so it’s easy to wipe clean versus competitors with a bevy of buttons and knobs. That’s good since this machine is particularly susceptible to fingerprints—especially if you’re cooking chicken, which we highly recommend trying. Our chicken’s skin was flavorful, with a hint of smokiness, and the breasts were still quite moist.
Max Temperature: 500ºF | Dimensions: 11.5″H x 17.3″W x 19.6″D | Settings: Warm, Toast, Broil, Roast, Air Fry, Cake, Reheat, Pizza, Cookies, Bake, +2 minutes | Dishwasher Safe: Baking pan
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Those who have “heirloom build” and “easy controls” on their air fryer toaster oven bingo card can stop searching now. The Breville smart oven is a bit on the bulky side, but we consider that a feature rather than a bug. In our Breville smart oven air fryer review, Content Director Nicole Doster notes that over the past few years, she’s used her Breville smart oven to cook everything from biscuits to bacon to bagels—and even a whole roast chicken.
“What makes the Breville different from most other air fryers out on the market is its size. It’s a little larger than a microwave, and unlike most egg-shaped air fryers, the Breville Smart Oven uses a flat mesh basket that slides into a rack to air fry food,” she says. “This allows you to fit more food across a larger surface area compared to the typical air fryer. And since the oven door is glass, you can check in on food as it cooks.”
We love that the LCD screen offers easy controls for the first-time user. Even browning and an automatic preheat function round out this top pick. Overall, this machine made the most impressive roasted chicken of the bunch, too. Ellie Crowley, Associate Culinary Producer, provided professional expertise throughout these tests. She liked the evenness of the golden brown color and the sound that the skin made when tapped, indicating crispiness. If you’re hunting down an option that works just as well as your main oven, this is our top choice.
Max Temperature: 480ºF | Dimensions: 21.5” W x 17.5” D x 12.7” H | Settings: Toast, Bagel, Broil, Bake, Roast, Warm, Pizza, Proof, Air Fry, Reheat, Cookies, Slow Cook, Dehydrate | Dishwasher Safe: No
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Much like the viral Japanese Balmuda steam oven, the Our Place Wonder Oven bakes, roasts, toasts, reheats and broils—all with the option of added steam to prevent foods from drying out. However, instead of stopping there, Our Place integrated an air fryer, making this a true six-in-one appliance and the best air fryer toaster oven for those in smaller spaces. Just don’t expect enough room for a party of people—the interior is small, and the shelves don’t stay secure enough for large items when pulled out.
Just like Our Place’s viral Always Pan, the Wonder Oven comes in a variety of pretty shades reminiscent of a vintage Easy Bake. Manual dials make it simple to start using, and a retro bell signals when the oven finishes cooking. And cook it does! Our cake turned out nearly perfect, and the chicken was crispy and juicy enough to proudly serve guests. Because this one only has coils on the top of the interior, it’s also easy to clean without obstacles.
The Product Testing Team members aren’t the only ones who enjoyed using this countertop oven. Last year, I owned a Wonder Oven while testing it for a Wonder Oven review. Unfortunately, my personal unit stopped turning on after about two months of use, which was a huge bummer! While I believe I received a faulty unit, it’s worth noting, especially given the high price point. Luckily, Our Place has excellent customer service, and the oven itself boasts a one-year warranty if this happens to other units.
Since then, I’ve tried and reviewed the newer, larger version of the oven, and so far I’ve had no issues!
Max Temperature: 450ºF | Dimensions: 11.6″H, 10.6″D, 11.5″W | Settings: Air Fry, Bake, Broil, Reheat, Roast, Toast (plus the ability to steam) | Dishwasher Safe: No
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Those trying to expand their culinary horizons will have no trouble doing that with the Kalorik Maxx digital air fryer oven. The machine comes with myriad accessories, including a bacon tray, steak tray, rotisserie spit and a cookbook, along with the usual crumb tray, air rack and baking tray. It’s truly more of a luxury small kitchen appliance than a traditional toaster oven.
We were significantly impressed with the golden brown fries, especially since we used the French fry preset for the batch. Overall, there are 21 different presets for the discerning home cook. Just don’t expect each to work perfectly, especially for the price. But for those looking for an all-in-one, it’s an excellent option—especially given the inclusion of a spit accessory for roasting. In fact, our chicken was so good it rivaled the supermarket.
One thing to keep in mind is that the French doors, while attractive, don’t seal very well. This leads to a little air leakage and slightly uneven results, particularly while baking. Additionally, whereas the KitchenAid option had a quiet bell, this one is rather loud and obnoxious. But hey—at least you won’t forget your French fries!
Max Temperature: 500°F | Dimensions: 12.5″D x 15.75″W x 14″H | Settings: Air Fry, Bake, Toast, Roast, Rotisserie, Braise, Sear, Dehydrate, Broil, Warm | Dishwasher Safe: No
When shopping for an air fryer toaster oven, first consider your budget. The best air fryer toaster ovens come in an array of price points. Choose from budget-friendly options that fall around $100 to luxe appliances that cost upwards of $400. Those who plan on using their air fryer toaster oven regularly—or those who are serious home cooks—should think about snagging a model that’s built to last.
Additionally, think about the size you’ll need. Those who want to use their oven for roasting chicken and baking cakes should pick an option that’s big enough. This goes doubly so for folks who want to use their air fryer toaster oven as a second oven for holiday meals and hosting.
Lastly, consider the controls and features you’ll use the most. While a meat probe is a nice inclusion, it’s not necessary for vegetarians. On the flip side, investing in a smart oven that preheats automatically is perfect for those who don’t have much time on their hands to cook.
Our testing team has a combined decade of experience testing and evaluating everything from the best upright freezers to the best toasters. Many of us have backgrounds in kitchen and culinary careers ourselves. The remainder of our team are simply passionate home cooks who want to recommend the very best products using honest and fair testing practices. We would never recommend a product we don’t love, regardless of how popular or big the brand is.
Our Product Testing Team began by sourcing the most popular and best-rated air fryer toaster ovens on the market. In total, they tested 10 air fryer toaster ovens and performed roughly 10 tests on each. They spent a collective 80 hours on this test, including researching, sourcing, intaking and testing the products. Overall, the team collected roughly 375 data points.
While testing, the team used Kroger white bread and French fries for the toast and air-fry tests and Duncan Hines yellow box cake mix for the bake test. For the roast test, they roasted six chickens—weighing between 4 and 5 pounds—coated in Lawry’s Total Seasoning.
Testers measured the height, width and depth of the interior chamber and the length of the cord. From there, they weighed the toaster oven with the standard baking rack in it. They then attempted to place various kitchen pots and pans (a lidded 5.5-quart Dutch oven, 13×9-inch casserole dish with handles and 12-inch pizza pan) within the chamber to see if they fit. The baking rack was on the lowest rung during this test.
Testers first toasted the maximum number of slices of white bread that would fit on the medium toast setting of each oven. They then evaluated the bread slices on their overall browning capabilities and the evenness of that browning.
For the fry test, testers air-fried frozen French fries according to the bag’s instructions or, if provided, the manual’s instructions. Testers then picked out any over- or under-cooked fries, noting how many fell into each category. Additionally, testers tasted the properly cooked French fries to evaluate them for crispiness.
Using the top eight ovens, testers baked a boxed yellow sheet cake in the oven. Each cake was made in a quarter sheet pan with roughly 3 cups of batter and was baked until a toothpick comes out clean. Testers then assessed the evenness of the bake.
After eliminating all but five ovens, testers seasoned a whole chicken with AP seasoning and roasted it in the oven for 90 minutes at 375 degrees on the roast setting or according to the manual’s guidelines. They evaluated the chicken’s fit within the appliance and the final results of the cooked chicken. They also paid attention to juiciness, crispiness of skin and other factors.
Testers disassembled and cleaned the ovens according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
A toaster oven is not the same as an air fryer, so if you’re on the fence, we recommend opting for an air fryer toaster oven. While air fryers and toaster ovens offer similar cooking methods, they’re not interchangeable. Toaster ovens have electric coils that heat up and cook food, while an air fryer works by using rapid air technology to create heat. While a traditional toaster oven is an excellent option for reheating leftovers and crisping up slices of bread, an air fryer is ideal for crunchy foods like fried chicken and French fries.
Cleaning an air fryer toaster oven is a bit like cleaning an air fryer. First, turn off and unplug the appliance. Then, remove the basket, tray, pan or crumb tray (if included). You can sometimes place these in the dishwasher, or you can use soap and warm water. Don’t immerse the main unit in water. Instead, use a rag and warm water to buff off any splatters or spots. You’ll also want to use a soft dish brush to clean any food off of the heating coils. Once each component is clean, dry them thoroughly and replace them to get cooking.
The post We Tested 10 Air Fryer Toaster Ovens—These 6 Are the Best appeared first on Taste Recipes.
]]>1 serving: 77 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 1mg sodium, 21g carbohydrate (15g sugars, 4g fiber), 0 protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch.
3 ounces cooked beef: 281 calories, 20g fat (10g saturated fat), 77mg cholesterol, 438mg sodium, 1g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 25g protein.
1 serving: 47 calories, 4g fat (1g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 156mg sodium, 3g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 1g fiber), 1g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 vegetable, 1 fat.
1/2 flatbread: 455 calories, 23g fat (11g saturated fat), 92mg cholesterol, 988mg sodium, 32g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 1g fiber), 27g protein.
1 cookie: 23 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 2mg cholesterol, 3mg sodium, 5g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.
about 7 shrimp: 158 calories, 8g fat (1g saturated fat), 138mg cholesterol, 577mg sodium, 1g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 19g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1-1/2 fat.
1 corn dog: 229 calories, 11g fat (4g saturated fat), 20mg cholesterol, 398mg sodium, 26g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 1g fiber), 6g protein.
1 serving: 47 calories, 4g fat (1g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 156mg sodium, 3g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 1g fiber), 1g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 vegetable, 1 fat.