Kitchens run on convenience, and the countertop oven has become the appliance that delivers it. The Cuisinart TOA-70BKS is the black stainless version of the company's popular eight in one Air Fryer Toaster Oven, adding a grill function to the usual bake, broil, and convection modes. Over two weeks I used it to cook everything from frozen snacks to a full roasted dinner, and this review is the honest record of how the appliance performs, where it shines, and where it falls short.
Before the details, the standard note. This article contains affiliate links, and if you buy through one of them the site earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. That commission does not change what I test or what I recommend. The oven reviewed here was used exactly the way a home cook would use it.
The first thing anyone notices about this model is the finish. Black Stainless Steel is a deliberate design choice, and it changes how the appliance looks in a kitchen and how it survives daily life. The rest of this review covers the build, the eight modes, the real cooking results, and whether the black version is worth choosing over the white one.
Design and Build
The TOA-70BKS keeps the proven Cuisinart layout: a drop-down door on the front, three dials for mode, temperature, and timer on the right, and a roomy cavity behind the glass. The black stainless exterior is the defining feature. It resists fingerprints and smudges far better than a glossy black or white shell, and it hides the water spots that show up quickly on other finishes. After two weeks of daily handling, the front still looked clean.
Inside, the oven is non-stick coated, which makes it noticeably easier to clean after greasy air frying sessions. The wire rack and baking pan slide into fixed positions, and the air fryer basket fits the same slot. The crumb tray at the bottom pulls out and wipes clean, so maintenance is a minute of work rather than a chore.
The physical quality is what you expect from Cuisinart. The door hinge feels firm and holds its position, the dials are smooth without being loose, and the body is stable on the counter even with a loaded tray inside. The interior cavity is large enough to be genuinely useful, fitting a nine by nine inch pan with room to spare.
Key Features
The eight cooking modes are the core of the appliance. Air fry, bake, convection bake, grill, broil, convection broil, warm, and toast cover the full range of everyday cooking, and the mode dial makes switching between them effortless. The 1800W element provides real heat, and the convection fan circulates it for even results.
The grill mode is what sets this model apart from a standard toaster oven. A high wattage top element directs heat straight down, which produces an actual sear rather than a warmed surface. That makes it possible to cook a steak, chicken breast, or burger indoors with visible browning and a crust.
The practical details matter too. The 60 minute timer with automatic shutoff means the oven turns itself off when cooking finishes, and the warm mode holds food at serving temperature. The included air fryer basket, baking pan, and wire rack mean every mode works out of the box with no additional purchases.
Real-World Performance
Air frying came first, because it is the reason most buyers choose an oven like this. Chicken tenders came out with a crisp, golden coating using only a light spray of oil, and mozzarella sticks held their shape without the filling leaking. The basket allows hot air to hit every side of the food, and the results were consistently better than a standard bake.
The grill mode earned the most attention. I cooked a thick steak, and the top element produced real grill marks and a browned crust in about six minutes per side, with the interior still medium rare. A chicken breast cooked through with visible char lines rather than a pale boiled surface. It is not an outdoor grill, but it delivers a genuine sear indoors with far less cleanup.
Baking held up well. A batch of cookies spread evenly, and a small sheet of roasted vegetables caramelized at the edges instead of steaming. The convection bake mode runs a touch hot, so I adjusted my timings after the first batch, but the heat distribution across the tray was even and reliable.
Broiling and toasting performed their jobs without surprises. Toast browned uniformly, and a cheese-topped sandwich under the broil setting turned golden and bubbly. The warm mode held a finished dinner at serving temperature for close to an hour without drying the food out, which proved useful on a busy weeknight.
One evening I used three modes in sequence for a single meal: the grill mode for a chicken breast, the convection bake setting for a tray of roasted potatoes alongside it, and the warm function to hold the finished plate while the table came together. The oven handled the whole routine without a single adjustment to the rack positions, and the switch between modes was just a turn of the dial. That is the practical reality of owning a multi-function oven, it replaces the choreography of juggling a skillet, a toaster, and a full-size oven all at once.
The honest limits are preheat time and footprint. The larger cavity takes a few minutes longer to reach temperature than a compact air fryer, and the oven needs clear space around it on the counter. The dial controls are also analog, so there is no digital display for precise timing. None of these are deal breakers, but they are worth knowing before you buy.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Black stainless finish resists fingerprints and matches modern kitchens
- Grill mode produces real sears and grill marks indoors
- Eight modes cover air fry, bake, broil, toast, and warm
- Large interior with non-stick coating is easy to clean
- Includes basket, pan, and rack for every mode
- 60 minute timer with automatic shutoff
Cons:
- Takes a few minutes longer to preheat than compact fryers
- Analog dials offer no digital display
- Large footprint demands counter space
- Convection bake runs slightly hot until you adjust
How It Compares
The TOA-70BKS competes with other multi-function toaster ovens, and the table below compares it with a compact air fryer and a premium convection toaster oven.
| Feature | Cuisinart TOA-70BKS | Compact air fryer | Premium toaster oven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air frying | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Grill mode | Yes | No | Sometimes |
| Capacity | Nine by nine pan | Small basket | Full size trays |
| Finish options | Black stainless | Various | Various |
| Price | Mid range | Lower | Higher |
| Best for | All-in-one cooking | Fast small batches | Serious home baking |
A compact air fryer is faster to heat and cheaper, but it cannot bake a tray of cookies or sear a steak. A premium convection toaster oven offers more baking room, but it costs more and rarely includes a true grill mode. The TOA-70BKS sits in the middle with the widest range of functions per dollar.
Who Should Buy It
Buy the Cuisinart TOA-70BKS if you want one countertop appliance that air fries, bakes, broils, toasts, and grills, and if the finish matters to you, because the black stainless exterior is a genuine upgrade over glossy plastic units. It suits households of two to four people who cook a range of meals without wanting to fire up the full-size oven.
Skip it if you only air fry snacks for one or two people, because a compact basket fryer heats faster and takes less counter space. But for real all-around cooking, this is one of the most versatile ovens in its price range. You can check the current price of the Cuisinart TOA-70BKS on Amazon when you are ready.
How We Test
I used the Cuisinart TOA-70BKS daily for two weeks, cooking chicken tenders, mozzarella sticks, steak, chicken breasts, cookies, roasted vegetables, toast, and a cheese-topped sandwich. I tested every cooking mode, timed preheats, checked evenness of browning, and cleaned the interior after greasy sessions to confirm the finish and non-stick coating hold up.
I noted that convection bake runs hot and adjusted accordingly. For a broader look at multi-function oven options, Wirecutter has a helpful toaster oven buying guide that covers several competing models. The Cuisinart TOA-70BKS listing on Amazon shows the current price and what is included in the box.
Cuisinart Air Fryer Oven: Questions People Ask
How is the black stainless finish different from the white model?
The black stainless exterior resists fingerprints and smudges much better than the white finish, and it matches darker kitchen appliances and cabinet hardware.
Can the grill function really sear meat?
Yes, the high top element reaches searing temperatures and produced proper browning and grill marks on steak and chicken during testing.
Does the oven come with the accessories it needs?
The box includes an air fryer basket, a baking pan, and a wire rack, so every mode works without buying anything extra.
How much food can the TOA-70BKS hold at once?
The interior fits a nine by nine inch pan and holds enough for two to four people, including several servings of sides or a small roast.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
