The Breville Air Fryer and a standard countertop Convection Oven both use a fan to cook food faster and more evenly, but they primarily differ in speed, size, and cooking results. Breville's appliances are designed as high-intensity, compact countertop units that excel at making food exceptionally crispy, while a traditional convection oven is a larger, more versatile workhorse built for baking, roasting, and handling bigger meals.
Here’s everything you need to know about these popular kitchen appliances to help you decide which one is right for your kitchen.
Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer
Breville devices are high-performance countertop appliances that use intense, circulating hot air to deliver crispy results on foods like french fries, wings, and roasted vegetables with minimal oil. Known for their premium build quality, modern stainless steel aesthetic, and precise cooking controls, Breville units are effectively high-powered convection ovens optimized for air frying in a sleek, compact design.
- What it is: A premium countertop appliance that combines convection oven technology with a powerful fan to "air fry" food, making it crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
- Key features: Element iQ System for smart heating, dedicated air fry and dehydrate functions, digital LCD display, and multiple cooking modes in one unit.
- Price: Ranges from $200 to $400, with popular models like the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer priced around $350.
- Style: Sleek and modern, with a brushed stainless steel finish and an intuitive digital interface that complements contemporary kitchens.
- Materials/Construction: High-quality stainless steel exterior, durable non-stick interiors, and precisely engineered heating elements built for longevity.
- Pros: Delivers exceptionally crispy results quickly. Compact design fits on most countertops. Preheats faster than a larger oven. Easy-to-use presets for common cooking tasks.
- Cons: Smaller capacity is not ideal for large families or batch cooking. Can be noisier than a standard oven due to the powerful fan. Higher price point compared to basic air fryers.
The Breville air fryer is for the home cook who wants the best possible air frying results for single meals or small batches and values speed, convenience, and superior design.
Shop this product: breville.com/us/en/products/ovens/bov900.html
Countertop Convection Oven
A countertop convection oven is a multi-functional kitchen appliance that uses a fan to circulate hot air, allowing for faster and more even baking, roasting, and broiling than a conventional oven. With a larger interior volume and multiple rack positions, it is designed for versatility, capable of handling everything from a whole chicken to a batch of cookies, and many models now include an air fry setting.
- What it is: A versatile countertop appliance with a fan for even heat distribution, suitable for a wide range of kitchen tasks including baking, roasting, broiling, and toasting.
- Key features: Large capacity that can often fit a 9x13 inch pan or a 12" pizza. Multiple rack positions for multi-level cooking. Broader range of functions: bake, roast, toast, broil.
- Price: Quality countertop convection ovens typically range from $150 to $500, depending on brand, size, and features.
- Style: Varies by brand but premium models often feature professional-style stainless steel finishes and clean digital controls.
- Materials/Construction: Typically made with a combination of stainless steel and heavy-duty components. Premium models feature dual-pane glass doors and robust cooking racks.
- Pros: Large capacity is great for families or cooking multiple dishes. Extremely versatile, it can replace a toaster and supplement a full-size oven. Cooks more evenly than traditional ovens.
- Cons: Takes up significant counter space. Generally takes longer to preheat than a smaller air fryer. The air fry function is often less intense and slower than a dedicated air fryer.
A countertop convection oven is perfect for home chefs who need a versatile appliance for a wide range of cooking styles and want the capacity to cook for families or entertain guests.
Shop this product: cuisinart.com/shopping/appliances/convection-ovens/
Breville Air Fryer vs. Convection Oven Comparison
Performance & Cooking Results
The primary difference in performance lies in the intensity of the convection fan. A Breville Air Fryer uses a high-speed fan and concentrated heat in a small chamber to produce exceptionally crispy, browned textures much faster than other methods. This makes it a specialist for anything you want to "fry," like potatoes, chicken wings, and frozen snacks.
A traditional convection oven also circulates air but with a less intense focus. Its strength is in creating a perfectly even heat environment for baking cakes, roasting large cuts of meat, or cooking multiple trays of food at once. While many modern convection ovens have an "air fry" setting, the results are typically less crispy and take longer to achieve due to the larger cooking space.
Dimensions & Capacity
Space is a major factor in this comparison. Breville air fryers and other compact models are designed for countertop convenience, typically measuring 12-15 inches wide and taking up minimal space. Their smaller capacity is ideal for 1-4 people but limits batch cooking.
A countertop convection oven is a much larger appliance, often measuring 18-22 inches wide and requiring a dedicated spot on your counter. However, this grants it enough capacity to roast a whole chicken, bake a pizza, or cook a side dish and main course simultaneously using different racks. If you often cook for a family or entertain, then a convection oven's capacity is a huge advantage.
Price & Value
A premium appliance like a Breville Air Fryer is an investment, usually costing between $250 and $400. You are paying for specialized performance, excellent build quality, and a sleek design. If your main goal is superior air frying, it offers great value.
Countertop convection ovens can be found in a similar price range ($150-$500), but they offer more functional value. For about the same price as a high-end air fryer, you get an appliance that can also toast, bake, roast, and broil effectively and often replaces a toaster. The clear winner on pure functional versatility for the price is the convection oven.
Who Each One Works Best For
The Breville air fryer is perfect for individuals, couples, or small families who prioritize speed and convenience for everyday meals. It shines in small kitchens where counter space is limited, and its ability to quickly crisp up foods is its biggest draw. If you find yourself consistently cooking frozen foods or reheating leftovers and want them to taste freshly made, the air fryer is for you.
The countertop convection oven is better suited for larger families or anyone who loves to bake and roast. It’s the ideal appliance for home chefs who want the performance of a full-size oven without heating up the entire kitchen. If versatility is your main criteria - meaning you want one device that can handle baking bread, roasting vegetables, and cooking a family-sized casserole, all while offering an air frying function - then a convection oven is the superior choice.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both devices are excellent kitchen tools that make cooking more convenient, but they serve different needs.
Choose the Breville Air Fryer if:
- You're primarily making crispy, 'fried' foods for one to four people.
- You have limited counter space and need a compact appliance.
- You value cooking speed and quick preheating for weeknight meals.
- The quality of the 'crisp' is your most important measure of performance.
Choose the Countertop Convection Oven if:
- You need a versatile appliance that can bake, roast, broil, and air fry.
- You regularly cook for a family or entertain guests and need a large capacity.
- You want to cook multiple types of food or dishes at the same time.
- You have plenty of counter space and want to supplement or replace your full-size oven.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main difference between an air fryer and a convection oven?
An air fryer is essentially a small, high-powered convection oven. It uses a more intense fan and a compact space to circulate air faster, which results in extra-crispy food. A standard convection oven focuses on even cooking for larger dishes and doesn't get the same level of crispiness as a dedicated air fryer.
Can a convection oven do what an air fryer does?
Yes, most modern countertop convection ovens include an air fryer setting that uses a high fan speed. While it can produce crispy results, it's typically slower and less effective than a dedicated, smaller air fryer due to the larger internal volume.
Is it worth having both an air fryer and a convection oven?
For most people, no. A high-quality countertop convection oven like the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer successfully combines both functions into one appliance, making owning both redundant. If you have a basic convection oven, you might want a separate, smaller air fryer for quicker, crispier results.
Which appliance is faster?
An air fryer is much faster. Its compact size allows it to preheat almost instantly, and the high-speed fan cooks food in a fraction of the time it would take in a larger oven.
Which one is better for baking bread or cakes?
The convection oven is the clear winner for baking. Its larger cavity and even heat distribution are designed for baking tasks, ensuring that goods like bread, cakes, and cookies cook through evenly without burning on the outside.
Is a Breville air fryer worth the price?
For those who value performance and design, yes. Breville appliances are known for their durable build quality, smart technology, and consistent, high-quality results, making them a worthwhile investment for frequent users.
Which one is easier to clean?
Smaller air fryers with removable, dishwasher-safe baskets are generally easier to clean for small jobs. However, both appliances can be challenging to clean after cooking greasy foods, as drips and splatters can bake onto the interior walls and heating elements.
Do countertop convection appliances use a lot of energy?
No, one of their main benefits is energy efficiency. Because they are smaller than full-size ovens, they preheat much faster and require less energy to maintain temperature, making them a great option for small to medium-sized cooking jobs.
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