When I first spotted the Our Place Wonder Oven, I didn’t know what to think. I’ve relied on my air fryer for ages, so trying out a new cooking gadget was exciting but also a bit scary. After giving both a go here’s what I think about the Wonder Oven compared to the trusty air fryer based on my own time with them.
Definition and History
Wonder Oven
Let’s kick things off with a brief rundown. The Our Place Wonder Oven is the latest creation from the company that gave us the famous Always Pan in 2023. They’re selling it as a do-it-all countertop oven that says it can bake, roast, toast, and air fry. What caught my eye was how many things it can do picture having one gadget to replace your toaster, oven, and air fryer. Pretty bold statement, don’t you think?
Air Fryer
Air fryers have been with us for a while now and people love them for making crispy fried-tasting food without needing much oil. They became super popular around 2017 even though Philips invented them back in 2010. I’ve owned my reliable air fryer for ages, and I use it for all sorts of things – from making crispy chicken wings to warming up leftover pizza.
How It Works
The Wonder Oven operates like a small convection oven cooking food with hot air. It offers several cooking options such as air frying, toasting, baking, and roasting. What caught my eye was its ability to distribute heat . This feature means you don’t need to flip or turn your food as much something I have to do a lot with my air fryer.
In contrast, air fryers cook food with minimal or no oil by using fast-moving hot air. This high-speed air circulation creates a crispy exterior that many people enjoy. While air fryers are designed to produce fried-like textures, they can also roast and bake. With the Wonder oven, it’s a bit lacking in that area.
Common Uses
After making these both appliances work for their money, here are the common ways I’ve found with which you can use both the devices:
Wonder Oven:
- Roasting vegetables: This device had me enjoying the most flavorful rossted potatoes ever. And bonus I didn’t even have to flip it halfway!
- Toasting: It does a great job toasting up my usual toasted bread which I pair with a poached egg on top.
- Baking: Did I mention you can make delicious cookies in these? It came out crunchy on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside. I loved it!
Air Fryer:
- Crispy chicken wings: Air fryers are great at creating fried-like textures. My chicken wings came out crispy without any extra oil.
- Fries: Homemade or frozen fries turn out crispy and delicious.
- Reheating leftovers: This has become my go-to method to bring leftover pizza back to life. The Wonder Oven can also handle this task, but the air fryer gives that almost-fried crunch I want.
What We Like – Wonder Oven
- It is versatile
- Cooks food evenly
- The design is chic and aesthetic
What We Don’t Like
- It is pricier
- It has a slower and uneven cooking times
What We Like – Air Fryer
- It is fast and there is no need to pre-heat.
- Makes good Crispy food.
- It is cost Efficient.
What We Don’t Like
- It doesn’t come with a lot of range.
- It has no compartments and a smaller basket.
Main Differences Between the Wonder Oven and Air Fryer
After using both for a few weeks, two big differences caught my eye:
- Versatility: The Wonder Oven wins hands down here. It has the ability to toast, roast, bake, and air fry, while the air fryer just mimics frying textures.
- Speed: My air fryer cooks super fast. The Wonder Oven though quick, can’t quite keep up with the air fryer for certain foods.
- Capacity: The Wonder Oven boasts a bigger cooking area making it ideal for family-sized meals. My air fryer’s basket is on the smaller side so I end up cooking in batches for larger portions.
- Price: This marks another major distinction. The Wonder Oven costs a lot, while air fryers come cheaper.
Which One to Choose?
Now, the big question: Which one should you get?
Wonder Oven
- You want one appliance that does it all: If you enjoy baking, roasting, toasting, and air frying, the Wonder Oven fits the bill. I often use it to toast bread, bake cookies, and roast vegetables – tasks my air fryer can’t handle well.
- You have a small kitchen or hate mess: If you aim to combine several kitchen tools, the Wonder Oven’s many functions make a big difference. It takes the place of a toaster, air fryer, and sometimes even an oven.
- Baking and roasting play a big role in your cooking: The Wonder Oven proves more dependable for jobs that need steady heat such as baking cakes or roasting bigger batches of veggies or meats. It outperforms a standard air fryer in these areas.
- Large family servings: Thanks to its bigger size, you won’t need to cook in shifts like you would with a smaller air fryer. Whether I’m cooking a whole chicken or making a meal for guests, the Wonder Oven offers more room and adaptability.
Air Fryer
- You want quick and efficient cooking: If you’re all about cooking fast, you can’t beat the air fryer. It gets hot right away and cooks food way quicker than the Wonder Oven. When I’m in a rush on weeknights, I always turn to it for speedy meals like crispy chicken strips or warming up yesterday’s dinner.
- You crave that crispy fried-food taste: For those who love crunchy food without drowning it in oil, the air fryer comes out on top every time. Whether it’s chicken wings or French fries, the air fryer shines at giving food that golden, crispy outside.
- You’re on a budget: Air fryers cost less than the Wonder Oven. If you don’t need all the fancy features, and you fry or reheat food, an air fryer can be a solid, money-saving choice.
- You’re not feeding a crowd: Because air fryers have smaller baskets, they work best when you’re cooking for one or two people. This suits quick solo meals or snacks.
Situations Where Both Can Come in Handy
- Meal prep: Prepping meals for the week becomes easier when you use both devices. I often roast vegetables in the Wonder Oven while air-frying proteins at the same time. This method helps me save time and cook multiple dishes .
- Cooking different textures for the same meal: For more elaborate dinners, the Wonder Oven works great for items like roasted vegetables or casseroles, while the air fryer excels at creating crispy sides or proteins. As an example, I can air fry crispy tofu and roast sweet potatoes in the Wonder Oven at the same time.
- Entertaining guests: When you’re having people over, owning both machines can be a huge time-saver. At my house parties, the Wonder Oven handles bigger meals like roast chicken or casseroles, while the air fryer whips up quick snacks such as cheese sticks or spring rolls.
In the end, picking between the Our Place Wonder Oven and an air fryer depends on what matters more to you: many uses or quickness. But if you’re like me, and you have room for both, they work well together making your kitchen more productive and useful.