Some toaster ovens have a convection function in addition to an air-frying feature. While similar, they’re best used for different things, so the most optimal setting depends on what you’re cooking.
A toaster oven’s convection mode uses a heating element at the top and bottom of the oven, which works along with a fan at the back of the cavity. This fan helps provide a uniform temperature within the oven and allows food to cook faster than in a conventional oven. Bakers especially appreciate convection mode because it allows multiple racks of, say, cookies to achieve the same results. But it’s also a handy way to roast meats or cook casseroles more efficiently.
Air-frying is a type of convection cooking, but the fan circulates at a higher speed, directing a hot airstream onto the food. To run a toaster oven on air fry mode, you place the food in a dedicated mesh air fry basket (which is typically included with the unit along with a drip tray) instead of a pan, so that the air can circulate all around the food—top, bottom, and sides—creating a completely crisped surface.
