Cuisinart TOA-26 vs TOA-28: My Surprising Pick

Cuisinart TOA-26 vs TOA-28: If you’re stuck between the Cuisinart TOA-26 and Cuisinart TOA-28, I completely understand the struggle. I’ve used both in my own busy U.S. kitchen, and on paper, they might look nearly identical. But in actual day-to-day cooking, they behave differently in ways that matter.

Both are air fryer toaster ovens designed for small to medium kitchens, offering the convenience of multiple cooking functions air frying, baking, toasting, broiling all in one compact unit. They’re both powered by 1500 watts, heat up faster than most full-sized ovens, and are designed to save counter space while still delivering solid cooking results.

Here’s the quick picture before we dive deep:

Cuisinart TOA-26 → The compact, budget-friendly option that works great for singles, couples, or anyone with very limited counter space. It’s straightforward, easy to use, and heats up quickly.
Cuisinart TOA-28 → The slightly upgraded, roomier sibling with better airflow, an interior light, and more cooking capacity without taking up much more space. It’s a little more modern in feel and performance.

When I first started using these, I honestly thought the differences would be minimal. But after weeks of cooking everything from frozen fries to banana bread, I started to notice that one of them consistently made my cooking experience smoother, faster, and just… easier.

In this guide, I’ll break down each model individually, share my real-life experiences, and then put them head-to-head so you can see exactly which one might be the better fit for your kitchen.

Is the Cuisinart TOA-26 Good?

Yes but it’s not just “good” in the way a lot of budget-friendly kitchen appliances are. The Cuisinart TOA-26 is genuinely useful if you want something small, simple, and reliable for everyday cooking without the hassle of preheating a large oven or cluttering your counter with multiple appliances.

I’ve been using the TOA-26 for months, and it’s become one of those appliances I reach for instinctively whether I’m making breakfast toast, air-frying chicken wings, or reheating leftovers.

Real-Life Use: Why It Works for Me

One of the biggest wins for me with the TOA-26 is how quickly it gets food on the table. On weeknights, I often want dinner in under 20 minutes, and this little oven delivers.

Example:
One Thursday night, I came home from work with exactly 25 minutes before my online meeting started. I had frozen breaded chicken tenders and some sweet potato fries in the freezer. I tossed both on the tray, set the oven to air fry at 425°F, and by the time I had changed clothes and made a quick salad, everything was hot, crispy, and ready to eat no flipping required.

Another time, I had a friend over for coffee, and we decided on an impromptu dessert. I sliced a store-bought pound cake, buttered it lightly, and toasted it in the TOA-26. In minutes, we had warm, golden slices that we topped with strawberries and whipped cream. Simple, quick, and unexpectedly fancy.

Specs That Actually Make a Difference

1500 watts of power → Heats up quickly and maintains temperature well.
2.5-pound food capacity → Ideal for singles or couples. It’s enough for two chicken breasts, a tray of fries, or a few pieces of toast at once.
Temperature range from Warm to 450°F → Lets you handle everything from gently warming bread to broiling fish.
Three manual dials → Function, temperature, and time. No touchscreens, no complex menus just straightforward cooking.
Glass door & interior light → Lets you see your food without opening the door and losing heat.

What I Love About the TOA-26

1. Small but Mighty
Living in a small home means I have to be picky about appliances. The TOA-26 earns its counter space because it handles so many cooking tasks in one compact body.

2. Consistently Good Results
It air-fries frozen fries evenly, makes toast without burning the edges, and reheats leftovers without drying them out.

3. Energy Saver
It uses far less energy than my full-sized oven, which is great for keeping utility bills in check.

Where It Falls Short

No Audible Timer → When the cooking time ends, there’s no beep. I’ve missed it a few times while multitasking.
Small Interior → A whole frozen pizza won’t fit. If you need to cook larger meals, this isn’t the one.
Loose Crumb Tray → If you pull the oven forward, the crumb tray can slide and spill.

My Verdict

If you’re a single person, a couple, or someone who cooks in small batches, the Cuisinart TOA-26 is a fantastic choice. It’s quick, compact, and doesn’t try to overcomplicate things. You just plug it in, twist a few dials, and you’re cooking.

For U.S. buyers, it’s especially good for apartments, dorm rooms, and RVs where space is tight but you still want variety in your cooking options. That said, if you need more capacity or extra features, the Cuisinart TOA-28 might be worth the slight upgrade.

Is the Cuisinart TOA-28 Good?

Absolutely and in ways that might surprise you if you’re coming from a smaller model like the TOA-26. The Cuisinart TOA-28 is like the slightly taller, more capable sibling who still lives in the same compact kitchen-friendly body but handles more food and feels a bit more refined in daily use.

When I first unboxed it, I didn’t expect a huge difference from the TOA-26. They’re both 1500-watt air fryer toaster ovens, both fit on small counters, and both use simple manual controls. But after cooking with the TOA-28 for a few weeks, I started noticing little upgrades that made cooking smoother, faster, and less hands-on.

First Impressions & Real-Life Story

The very first thing I cooked in the TOA-28 was banana bread. It might not be the first dish people think of for an air fryer oven, but I wanted to see how it handled baked goods. In my old toaster oven, banana bread tends to burn on the edges while the middle stays underdone.

The TOA-28 handled it beautifully golden crust, moist interior, and no burnt spots. The slightly taller design gives better airflow around baked goods, and the convection bake mode spreads the heat evenly.

Another time, I used it for frozen French fries. In the TOA-26, I usually flip them halfway for even crisping. With the TOA-28, I skipped the flip and still got perfectly golden fries with soft, fluffy centers.

One underrated feature? The interior light. It sounds small, but being able to check on food without opening the door (and letting heat escape) is a genuine time-saver.

Specs That Stand Out

1500 watts → Same power as the TOA-26 but feels more efficient due to better airflow.
Capacity: Holds up to 3 pounds of food, making it more suitable for small families or anyone who likes to cook a bit extra for leftovers.
Temperature Range: Warm to 450°F covers air fry, bake, broil, toast, warm, and convection bake.
Settings: Six cooking functions, including convection bake for more even results.
Interior Light: Lets you keep an eye on your food without losing heat.

What I Love About the TOA-28

1. More Room Without More Bulk
It’s just a bit taller than the TOA-26, but that extra space makes a real difference. I can air fry a larger batch of wings or bake a loaf of bread without feeling cramped.

2. Stronger Airflow = Better Crisping
The fan seems stronger and better placed, which means I rarely need to flip food midway.

3. Interior Light
This might be my favorite small upgrade. When you’re toasting, air frying, or baking, being able to see progress without opening the door is a game-changer.

4. Still Simple to Use
Like the TOA-26, it uses manual dials no digital menus, no confusing buttons. Just twist to your desired setting and go.

Where It Could Be Better

No Digital Timer → Just like the TOA-26, it uses a dial timer. It’s easy enough to use, but it’s not to-the-second precise.
Fan Noise → The fan can get a little loud in air fry mode. It’s not enough to be annoying, but you’ll notice it, especially at night.
Toast Shade Settings → You might need a little trial and error to find your perfect shade level.

Real-World Cooking Examples

Family-Size Wings: I cooked 2.5 pounds of seasoned wings in one go. They came out crisp and juicy without crowding the tray.
Full Breakfast Spread: Toasted bread, roasted tomatoes, and baked eggs all at once.
Leftover Revival: Revived day-old pastries to bakery-fresh quality.

My Verdict

The Cuisinart TOA-28 is perfect if you love the idea of a small air fryer toaster oven but want just a bit more capacity and refinement. The interior light, better airflow, and extra cooking space make it feel more premium without making it bulky.

For U.S. buyers in apartments, small homes, or RVs, it’s a solid investment if you cook more than two servings at a time or just want more flexibility. It’s still easy to store, easy to clean, and simple to use but with a little extra performance edge over the TOA-26.

Cuisinart TOA-26 vs TOA-28: Detailed Comparison

When I used both ovens side by side for several weeks, I realized this wasn’t just a case of “same appliance, different size.” The TOA-26 and TOA-28 share the same DNA both are 1500-watt air fryer toaster ovens with manual controls but they behave differently enough that your choice will affect your day-to-day cooking experience.

Here’s a detailed breakdown based on capacity, performance, features, ease of use, cleaning, and price/value with real-life examples from my U.S. kitchen.

1. Cooking Capacity

TOA-26 → 2.5 lbs food capacity. Perfect for singles or couples. Fits 4 slices of toast, 2 chicken breasts, or a small tray of fries.
TOA-28 → 3 lbs food capacity. Great for small families or cooking extra for leftovers. Fits 6 slices of toast, a bigger tray of fries, or 2.5 lbs of chicken wings in one go.

Example:
On “Wing Night,” the TOA-26 meant two separate cooking batches for my group of friends first round eaten while the second was still cooking. The TOA-28 handled everyone’s wings in one batch, keeping us all happily eating together.

Winner: TOA-28 The extra space makes a difference if you cook for more than two people.

2. Cooking Performance & Airflow

TOA-26 → Even heating, but sometimes requires flipping halfway through for perfect crisping.
TOA-28 → Better airflow design. Fries, wings, and veggies brown more evenly without flipping.

Example:
Frozen fries in the TOA-26 need a mid-cook shake to get all sides crispy. The TOA-28’s stronger fan handled them in a single run with golden results all around.

Winner: TOA-28 Less hands-on time for similar or better results.

3. Extra Features

TOA-26 → Glass door, interior light, simple three-dial controls.
TOA-28 → Same glass door and manual controls plus an interior light and a slightly taller cooking chamber for better airflow around food.

Example:
Baking banana bread in the TOA-28 was easier because I could check progress through the light without opening the door. In the TOA-26, I had to open the door mid-bake and risk losing heat.

Winner: TOA-28 The interior light and taller chamber feel like small but meaningful upgrades.

4. Ease of Use

Both ovens are refreshingly simple twist a function dial, set a temperature, and adjust the timer. No touchscreen menus or unnecessary tech to deal with.

However…

TOA-26 → Slightly smaller footprint makes it easier to fit in cramped spaces or RV counters.
TOA-28 → Still compact, but taller. If your cabinets are very low, measure first.

Winner: Tie depends on your counter space.

5. Cleaning

TOA-26 → The crumb tray can slide if you move the unit, which sometimes causes spills. Interior wipes clean easily.
TOA-28 → Same cleaning process, but the taller interior means slightly easier access when wiping down.

Winner: Slight edge to TOA-28 more space to maneuver your cleaning cloth inside.

6. Price & Value

TOA-26 → Usually $20–$40 cheaper than the TOA-28 in the U.S. market. Best if you’re on a tight budget.
TOA-28 → Slightly higher price but offers better airflow, capacity, and an interior light.

Winner: Depends on your needs TOA-26 for budget-conscious buyers, TOA-28 for those who want the most features for the money.

FAQs: Cuisinart TOA-26 vs TOA-28

1. What is the main difference between the Cuisinart TOA-26 and TOA-28?
The TOA-28 has a slightly larger cooking capacity (3 lbs vs. 2.5 lbs) and better airflow, which means more even cooking without flipping. It also includes an interior light and a taller cooking chamber.

2. Which model is better for a small kitchen or RV?
The TOA-26 is better for very tight spaces because of its smaller footprint. If you have just a little extra counter clearance, the TOA-28’s extra height might still fit and give you more versatility.

3. Do they both toast bread the same way?
Yes both make evenly browned toast, though you may need to adjust the shade setting to your liking. The TOA-28’s airflow can sometimes make the toast a touch more uniform in color.

4. Is there a big price difference?
In the U.S., the TOA-28 usually costs about $20–$40 more than the TOA-26. Prices vary depending on sales, but the gap is small considering the extra features.

5. Do either of them have a digital timer?
No. Both models use a manual dial timer. Some people like the simplicity, but it’s less precise than digital.

6. Which one is better for baking?
The TOA-28 has a slight edge for baking because of its taller interior and improved airflow, which helps with even browning for cakes, bread, and pastries.

7. Are both models easy to clean?
Yes both have a removable crumb tray and nonstick interior. The TOA-28’s taller chamber makes it slightly easier to wipe inside.

8. Can they replace a full-sized oven?
For small households or light baking, yes. They’re great for air frying, toasting, roasting, and small-batch baking. But if you cook large roasts or full-sheet pans, you’ll still need a standard oven.

9. Which one is quieter?
They’re similar in noise level. The TOA-28’s fan is slightly stronger and may sound a bit louder during air fry mode, but not by much.

10. Which one should I buy if I live alone?
The TOA-26 is perfectly sized for solo cooking and will save you a bit of money. But if you want to cook in slightly larger batches or enjoy baking, the TOA-28 might still be worth it.

Final Verdict

If you live alone, have very limited counter space, or just want an affordable all-in-one air fryer toaster oven, the Cuisinart TOA-26 will do the job beautifully.

If you cook for more than two people, value not having to flip food halfway through, and like having an interior light for visibility, the Cuisinart TOA-28 is worth the small price jump.

My Personal Pick:
I keep the TOA-28 on my counter because it gives me more flexibility and less babysitting while cooking but I still think the TOA-26 is a fantastic budget-friendly choice.

Cuisinart TOA-26 vs TOA-28: My Surprising Pick