part0005

It seems that every other month some new kitchen gadget appears in our stores. Many of them boast that they can simplify your time spent in the kitchen. And many of them achieve that goal. While others turn out to be nothing more than a passing fad. But this new Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven will make cooking almost any meal easier to do.

The countertop appliance performs a variety of cooking techniques. Most of these are mentioned in the name of the oven. Yes, it will toast and even air fry. But, the oven also has two settings, bake, and convection bake along with broil and convection broil that enhance the quality of the meals you make. Let’s take a closer look at these functions.

Your toaster oven comes with a wire rack, baking pan, and a fryer basket. Inside the oven, you will see position 1 and position 2 slots. Both the rack and baking pan slide into these slots. What you are cooking and what function you are using determines which position you need to use.

Position 1 is ideal for baking delicate dishes, such as cakes. And for baking large items, like a beef roast or whole chicken. You would also use position 1 for casseroles and loaves of bread.

Position 2 is used for toasting, air frying, warming, and broiling. You can use position 2 when baking some items like cookies, brownies, and pastries which need to cook to a nice, golden brown.

Toast – Always use position 2 when toasting. Make sure the items you wanted to be toasted are centered on the rack or baking pan. To toast bread, bagels, English muffins, or other items first set the function dial to Toast. Set the temperature to Toast/Broil then set the on/Toast Timer to the desired setting, from light to dark. The timer will ding when the cycle has ended and the oven will turn off.

Warm – Unlike a microwave, your Cuisinart oven will reheat food evenly. So no more hot and cold spots. You can also use the warm function to reheat fried food and make them crisp again. How big the item is you are warming will determine what rack position to use. For warming foods, set function dial and temperature dial to Warm. Then turn the on/Timer button to the desired length of time you need, like 10 minutes.

Broil/Convection Broil – Broiling is good for meats, melting cheese and toppings on sandwiches, and for browning the tops of casseroles. Convection broil should be used for meats and fish as it browns food on all sides, not just the top. Generally, when broiling, you would use position 2 and the baking pan and fryer basket together. Set the function to either Broil or Convection Broil and temperature dial to Toast/Broil. Then just set the timer for the desired cooking time. Keep an eye on your food as it browns quite quickly on either of these functions.

Bake/Convection Bake – The bake function works just like a traditional oven. This setting is perfect for meats, casseroles, and delicate baked goods like cakes, muffins, and pastry. Convection Bake uses a fan to circulate the heat so food browns evenly and cooks faster. Use Convection Bake for things like pizza, bread, scones, and to roast meats. When convection baking you should reduce the temperature in the recipe by 25 degrees so you don’t overcook your food. (You won’t need to do that with the recipes in this book though.)

Like the previous function set the function dial to bake or convection bake. Then select the desired temperature. For most baked items, the oven should be preheated first. To do that with the Cuisinart, add five minutes to the desired cooking time. For example, if the recipe says to bake 30 minutes, set the on/Timer dial to 35 minutes. Wait five minutes before putting your dish in the oven.

Air Fry – When air frying foods, the baking pan should always be in position 2. You will place your food items in the fryer basket and set it on the baking pan. The baking pan works as a drip pan. You will notice that there will some space between the basket and the pan, this allows the heat to cook and crisp your food from all angles. Unlike some of the previous settings, you do not need to preheat the oven when on Air Fry, it heats up quickly.

Air frying is great for preparing food with a crispy, crunchy texture. But unlike traditional frying methods, you won’t be adding any calories or grease to your foods. Just set the function dial to Air Fry, then select your temperature and set the timer. For a crispier outside, you can spray the food lightly with cooking spray.

Saves you money – The toaster oven uses less electricity than your old oven. This saves you money on monthly bills. It also saves you money since it features so many cooking functions, you won’t need a bunch of other kitchen gadgets that clutter up your cupboards.

Saves you time – This compact oven fits nicely on the kitchen counter, taking up very little space. So, you don’t need to move it from cupboard to counter every time you want to use it. It also saves you time since food tends to cook faster in this toaster oven than it does in a traditional oven. The Cuisinart oven is larger than the usual air fryer, so you save time by being able to cook larger quantities of food at one time.

Saves you from unwanted fat and calories – Traditional fried foods are cooked in oil and grease. But air frying uses hot air that is circulated around the food giving it the same crispy crunch as oil frying. But now you get to eliminate 80% of the fat from your diet which equals a lot fewer calories.

Air frying is accomplished by circulating hot air inside the oven. The Cuisinart air fryer toaster oven has a heavy-duty fan on the top of the unit and inside the oven. So, the hot air reaches every surface of the food you are cooking to create a crispy, golden brown outside. As long as you don’t overcook your food, it will be tender and juicy inside. Another feature the Cuisinart has is a fan on the inside that circulates and filters the hot air. This means you won’t have any nasty cooking odors, like the smell of onions or fish in your home.

When the oven is set to broil, bake, or toast, it works like any oven, with an overhead heating element that distributes heat over the top of foods. This helps to cook casseroles, bread, and cake perfectly on the inside while giving foods a crusty, golden brown top.

If using foil in the oven, make sure it does not touch the top or sides of the unit as this can cause a fire or an electric shock.

No! When washing the rack, baking pan or fryer basket you should hand wash them in warm soapy water and air dry. To clean the inside and outside of the oven, use a mild detergent with a soft cloth or sponge. Never use any abrasive cleaners or steel wool pads as they can damage your oven.

Using foil is not recommended. It can cover the drip tray causing grease to accumulate and catch fire. If you must use foil, cut it to fit the top of your baking pan or bottom of the included baking pan perfectly. Never let the foil touch the top or sides of the oven.

That depends on which function you are using. For toasting or air frying food, preheating is not necessary. When baking or broiling allow the oven to preheat for at least five minutes before adding any food.

Yes, you can. Most crunchy fried foods have some sort of batter or coating on them. Just make sure you use the baking pan and fryer basket together. For best results, lightly spray the fryer basket with a little cooking spray to prevent your food from sticking, and losing all that crunchy coating.