How to Use a Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven

On this page (9 sections)

1. What do the controls on the Cuisinart air fryer toaster oven do?
2. How do you preheat the oven before the first batch?
3. How do you air fry in a Cuisinart toaster oven?
4. How do you toast bread and bagels in it?
5. How do you bake, broil and grill in the same oven?
6. How do you use the basket, pan and grill plate together?
7. How do you clean a Cuisinart air fryer toaster oven?
8. Which accessories make the oven easier to use?
9. What should you do before your first cook?

To use a Cuisinart air fryer toaster oven, turn the function dial to Air Fry, set the temperature and timer, and cook in the air fry basket on the oven rack. For toast, baking or broiling, switch the dial to that function and use the same temperature and timer controls.

The 8-in-1 design means one oven covers air frying, toasting, convection baking, baking, convection broiling, broiling, grilling and warming.

This guide walks through the controls in order. The Cuisinart TOA-70NAS uses a jog dial for function and touch controls for temperature and time, so the first step is simply learning which dial does what.

Once you know that, every function works the same way.

What do the controls on the Cuisinart air fryer toaster oven do?

The dial picks the cooking mode; the touch controls set temperature and time. On the TOA-70NAS, the jog dial moves through Air Fry, Toast, Convection Bake, Bake, Convection Broil, Broil, Grill and Warm.

The temperature dial spans 80°F to 450°F, and the timer runs up to 60 minutes with auto-shutoff.

The Toast function adds a separate shade selector for how dark your bread gets.

The oven runs at 1800 watts and heats through a top fan and heater assembly that Cuisinart calls AirAdvantage. That fan is what separates Air Fry from a plain Bake setting, because it pushes hot air around the food for a crispier surface.

Start by setting the function, then temperature, then time. Press start and the oven begins its cycle.

How do you preheat the oven before the first batch?

Run the oven empty for about 5 minutes on the function and temperature you plan to use. A preheated cavity gives fries and wings their crispest start and keeps baked goods from rising unevenly.

Set the dial to Air Fry at 400°F and let the timer count down while you prep the food.

Cuisinart builds in a 60-minute timer with auto-shutoff, so the oven turns itself off when the cycle ends. That means you can preheat and walk away without watching it.

For the very first use, run it empty for a few minutes to burn off any factory residue, then wipe the interior before cooking food.

How do you air fry in a Cuisinart toaster oven?

Set the function to Air Fry, place food in the air fry basket on the oven rack, and leave space around each piece. The basket lets hot air reach the food from every side, which is the whole point of the setting.

Crowd it and the pieces steam instead of crisping.

The oven's 0.6 cubic foot cavity holds about 3 lb of chicken wings in the basket. Spread them in a single layer with a little room between pieces, then cook at 400°F and check early the first time.

Shake the basket or flip the food halfway so the top browns evenly.

Use the timer's auto-shutoff as a safety net, not a cooking guarantee. Ovens vary by batch size and food thickness, so pull a piece and check it before the bell.

The interior light helps here, since you can look without opening the door and losing heat.

What foods work best on the Air Fry setting?

Fries, wings, vegetables, fish fillets and frozen snacks all crisp well because they benefit from fast moving hot air. Raw breaded foods also work, but pat them dry first so the coating sets instead of steaming.

Dense items like thick potato wedges need more time and a flip partway through.

Skip wet batters in the basket. They drip through the mesh and make a mess on the heating element.

For those, use the baking pan or the reversible grill/griddle instead.

How do you toast bread and bagels in it?

Turn the dial to Toast, set the shade you want, and let the oven run its toast cycle. The TOA-70NAS toasts 6 slices of bread at once, which suits a family breakfast or a batch of sandwiches.

Use the shade selector for light, medium or dark results.

The oven shuts off at the end of the toast cycle, so there's no timer to set. Thick slices and frozen bread need a darker shade than thin fresh slices.

Lay slices flat on the oven rack and keep them clear of the top element. If you like bagels, place them cut side up so the inner face browns while the crust stays soft.

How do you bake, broil and grill in the same oven?

Switch the function dial to the mode that matches the job and keep using the same temperature and timer controls. Convection Bake moves air for even heat on cookies and casseroles.

Regular Bake works for dishes that want a still oven.

Broil and Convection Broil send intense top heat for melting and browning. Warm holds food at low heat until serving.

The oven bakes a 12 in pizza and roasts a 4 lb chicken in its cavity. Use the baking pan or the reversible grill/griddle for those jobs.

The griddle side suits pancakes and eggs, while the grill side sears steaks and vegetables. Place the pan on the oven rack and give hot dishes room to breathe so air can circulate.

These HONGBAKE pans are rated to 450°F, matching the oven's top temperature. The nonstick coating releases cookies and roasted vegetables without a scrub.

Two pans let you run one batch while the other cools.

How do you use the basket, pan and grill plate together?

Match the accessory to the function: basket for air frying, pan for baking and roasting, grill/griddle for searing and breakfast. The oven includes an oven rack, baking pan and drip tray, air fry basket, and the ceramic nonstick reversible grill/griddle.

The stainless steel interior wipes clean more easily than a coated cavity.

Set the air fry basket on the oven rack for fries and wings so air reaches all sides. Use the baking pan for pizza, cookies and casseroles, and slide it under the rack when you want drips caught.

The grill/griddle plate sits on the rack for steaks, pancakes and eggs. Keep each piece in its lane and the oven stays easier to clean.

How do you stop food from sticking and dripping?

Line the baking pan with parchment or foil, but keep liners away from the top heating element. For the basket, a light oil spray on the mesh helps release breaded foods.

Place a liner or drip tray under anything fatty so grease doesn't bake onto the oven floor.

The bouti1583 liners are rated to 500°F and can be cut to size with household scissors. They suit the baking pan and the oven floor, and they're dishwasher safe.

Keep them flat and away from the heating element.

How do you clean a Cuisinart air fryer toaster oven?

Let the oven cool completely, then wipe the interior and wash the basket, pan and grill plate. A warm oven with baked-on grease is the main cause of smoke on the next batch.

Unplug it before cleaning and never spray cleaner directly into the cavity.

Wipe the stainless steel interior with a damp cloth and mild soap. Wash the air fry basket and pans in warm soapy water by hand.

The drip tray catches most of the mess, so empty and rinse it after every fatty cook. For deeper care, our Cuisinart air fryer toaster oven review covers what to expect from the oven over time.

Which accessories make the oven easier to use?

The basket that ships with the oven handles air frying, so add liners and small pans rather than more hardware. A liner protects the floor from drips, and small baking pans let you run two trays at once.

Both are simple upgrades that cut cleanup time.

Skip extra racks unless you routinely cook two layers at once. The oven's 0.6 cubic foot space gets crowded fast.

For more ideas on what pairs well with this style of oven, see our guide to the best toaster oven air fryer combos and how they differ from this model. If budget drives your choice, our roundup of the budget air fryer toaster oven options covers cheaper alternatives.

Readers weighing this oven against a rival can read the Cuisinart air fryer toaster oven vs Wonder Oven comparison.

What should you do before your first cook?

Set the function, temperature and time in that order, preheat for about 5 minutes, and load the right accessory for the job. Learning how to use a Cuisinart air fryer toaster oven comes down to those few steps repeated across all 8 functions.

Start with a simple batch of fries or toast to learn the timing, then branch into baking and broiling. Wipe the interior and wash the basket after each session so the next batch starts clean.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Air Fry and Convection Bake on a Cuisinart?

Air Fry runs the top fan and heater hard for fast, crispy results on foods like wings and fries. Convection Bake also moves hot air but at a gentler setting for cakes, casseroles and full meals.

Do I need to preheat a Cuisinart air fryer toaster oven?

Yes. Give it about 5 minutes on the function and temperature you plan to use so the cavity reaches heat before food goes in.

This is why fries and wings come out crispier on the second batch.

Can I put foil or parchment in the air fry basket?

You can line the baking pan or basket with foil or parchment as long as it doesn't touch the top heating element. Keep the liner flat and never let loose paper blow up against the fan.

How do I stop the Cuisinart from smoking?

Smoke usually comes from grease on the interior, the basket or the heating element. Wipe the cavity and wash the basket after every air fry session, and keep fatty foods from spitting upward.

What is the toast shade selector for?

The shade selector sets how dark your bread gets on the Toast function. Turn it toward light for thin slices and darker for thick or frozen bread, and the oven shuts off when the cycle ends.