Many people enjoy the diversity that multiple cooking techniques bring to their cuisine, but they often don’t have a place to store the individual appliances — or a budget to afford them.
If you’re looking to clear up some counter space but aren’t ready to sacrifice functionality, read on.
Portable toaster ovens with air frying functionality offer up an affordable way to use a multitude of cooking techniques while saving some counter and cabinet space.
In this guide, we’ll compare the PowerXL Air Fryer Grill to the Emeril Lagasse 360 Air Fryer and Toaster Oven.
Both toaster ovens have multiple cooking functions like baking, air frying, toasting, and roasting, but there are some differences to consider before purchase, and we hope this guide will make that decision easier.
1. PowerXL
1.1 PowerXL Air Fryer Grill
This stainless-steel air fryer and toaster oven has much to offer as an eight-function appliance that can bake, air fry, grill, reheat, toast, and roast — and it also has a rotisserie and pizza function.
As its name suggests, a unique feature about this machine is that it functions as an indoor grill.
Say goodbye to strictly outdoor grilling — the PowerXL air fryer and grill offers the perfect solution if the weather is less than perfect.
It comes with a grill pan as well, so it fits perfectly into the machine and you can achieve an ideal sear.
This appliance has 1,500 watts of power and weighs just over 24 pounds, with an internal capacity of 930 cubic inches.
It can hold a 10-pound chicken and grill up to six large burgers at a time.
Its rapid-air technology and XL fan circulate heat so that you have a more health-conscious way to fry food and achieve crispiness without all the fat.
Even with eight functions to offer, the PowerXL is still compact enough to save some counter space with dimensions of 15.2” (D) x 19.3” (W) x 10.5” (H).
There is a 60-minute maximum cooking time on the PowerXL, and it heats up to 450 degrees.
Included with the appliance is an oven rack, baking pan, air frying rack, grill plate, drip tray, rotisserie spit set, egg and muffin tray, and a griddle plate, so you won’t need to dish out any extra cash to use all the functions of this appliance.
Even though this is a great machine, there are a couple things to be wary of before purchasing the PowerXL.
Some reviewers have shared that the fan noise is loud, so if you are averse to a louder appliance or prefer a whisper-quiet machine, this should be considered.
Additionally, be mindful that the PowerXL can get smoky when cooking meats directly on the rack or using the rotisserie function.
It’s important that poultry is properly trussed to ensure minimal drip.
Be careful of dripping oils and properly clean the drip tray to eliminate the amount of smoke from the machine.
2. Emeril Lagasse
2.1 Emeril Lagasse 360 Toaster Oven
The second product to review is the Emeril Lagasse 360 Toaster Oven.
This is a stainless-steel appliance that offers 12 cooking functions, including air fry, bake, rotisserie, dehydrate, toast, reheat, roast, broil, bagel, pizza, slow cook, and warm/reheat.
The Emeril Lagasse 360 Toaster Oven is more advanced than your ordinary toaster oven since it uses a 360-degree quick-cook technology to cook your food evenly and to reach a high heat for air frying.
This appliance has 1,500 watts of power and can reach a temperature of up to 450 degrees.
Additionally, since it has a slow cook and dehydrate function it can cook for up to 72 hours, while most toaster ovens have a maximum cook time of around 60 minutes.
The Emeril 360 LCD digital display provides a high-tech, modern aesthetic with all 12 cooking pre-sets featured on screen, along with a temperature dial that allows you to override pre-set cooking temperatures and to choose a toasting shade.
At 20.5 pounds, the 360 Toaster Oven has 930 cubic inches of capacity, can toast up to six slices of bread at once and can hold a 10 to 12-pound chicken.
Its exterior dimensions are 15.1″ D x 19.3″W x 10.4″ H. It also has a non-stick interior.
Included with this appliance is an oven rack, baking pan, air frying rack, drip tray, and a rotisserie spit set.
As an added bonus, with your purchase you also get a cookbook with recipes written by Chef Emeril Lagasse!
One thing to be mindful of with this appliance is to be very gentle with the cleaning process — particularly for the cooking trays.
It is recommended to clean each part with warm, soapy water and to not use an abrasive sponge.
Some reviewers have shared that the pans will discolor when cleaned.
Also, if the air frying function is most important to you, this one will take some patience and a strict adherence to the instructions to get your perfect fry.
3. Differences
We’ve outlined what each appliance has to offer, but what are the main differences?
Both toaster ovens are sure to clear up some counter space and to save you money on purchasing multiple appliances for different cooking techniques, but it all comes down to what the most important qualities are to you.
One of the main differences to highlight between the two products is that the PowerXL is an eight-function appliance, while the Emeril 360 Toaster Oven is a 12-function appliance.
This means that the Emeril 360 Toaster Oven has a slow cook, dehydrate, reheat, and broil function that the PowerXL does not.
If these are functions you know you’ll use often, you should consider purchasing the Emeril 360.
Also, because of the dehydrate and slow cooking functions, the Emeril 360 has a much higher cook time maximum at 72 hours, versus the PowerXL’s 60-minute maximum cook time.
The PowerXL requires manual operation with dials to control cook time, temperature, and cooking function, while the Emeril 360 has a digital LCD display for cooking functions and quick-touch buttons for the oven fan, light, and “cancel”.
If you’re looking for a more advanced machine to take your cooking abilities up a notch, the Emeril 360 Toaster Oven is an excellent choice.
It will likely just require more reading and understanding of how to use each function.
Fortunately, the appliance does come with a recipe book by Emeril so you can get the most out of the machine and garner some delicious recipe ideas.
When looking at the PowerXL in comparison to the Emeril 360, this appliance is a bit simpler to use and operates more like a classic toaster oven with the manual dials and a maximum cook time of 60 minutes.
However, it does offer a grill function that the Emeril 360 does not.
This is an important benefit because some people may not have the space or outdoor location for a grill, so this toaster oven is a great option for those who still want to grill their meats and vegetables and host family or friends for barbeques.
It even comes with a grill pan so you will not need to purchase that separately.
In addition, your purchase of the PowerXL includes eight different cooking trays and tools so that you can use each function without needing to purchase additional products.
In comparison, the Emeril 360 only comes with five cooking pans or tools.
When comparing size, the PowerXL is just slightly heavier than the Emeril 360, but the four-pound difference isn’t too significant, and both have the same interior cubic feet.
4. Summary
In conclusion, the Emeril 360 offers a better value for the price since it’s roughly $50 cheaper than the PowerXL and it has 12 functions instead of eight.
It is also slightly lighter than the PowerXL, and its digital LCD display adds a nice, elevated touch.
Since it is the product of a well-renowned chef, its functionality is a draw for anyone looking to take their cooking skills to the next level.
The Emeril 360 may, however, require a little more experimentation and thorough read-through of the instructions and user manual.
Because it offers more functions, it could take more time to get accustomed to and may require stricter adherence to the cooking instructions and manual to get the utmost value from it.
If you’re looking for a simpler machine that still offers an array of cooking functions, the PowerXL is a great option.
It doesn’t have quite as many cooking functions as the Emeril 360, but the grill feature sets it apart from other toaster ovens and from the Emeril 360.
You’ll pay a slightly higher ticket for this machine, but if you’re looking for something a little more streamlined, you may deem it worth the higher price.
5. Comparison Table
| |
PowerXL Air Fryer Grill Toaster Oven | Emeril Lagasse 360 Toaster Oven |
|---|---|---|
 |
|
|
| Brand |
PowerXL |
Emeril Lagasse |
| Model |
PowerXL |
360 (S-AFO-001) |
| Color |
Stainless steel |
Stainless steel |
| Power |
1,500 watts |
1,500 watts |
| Voltage |
|
120V 60HZ |
| Warranty |
90 days |
90 days |
| Temp range and step |
Up to 450 |
Up to 450 |
| Time (min-max and step) |
60 min max |
Up to 72 hours with dehydrate function |
| Auto shut Off Time |
N/A |
N/A |
| Interior Dimensions |
12.7” (D) × 11.2” (W) × 8.3” (H) |
12.5 x 11 x 5.75 inches |
| Exterior Dimensions |
15.2” (D) x 19.3” (W) x 10.5” (H) |
15.1″ D x 19.3″W x 10.4″ H |
| Non-Stick Interior (Yes/No) |
Yes |
Yes |
| Interior Material Type (Stainless Steel etc) |
Stainless steel |
Stainless steel |
| Interior Cubic Foot |
930 cubic inches |
930 cubic inches |
| Capacity: # toast bread slices |
N/A |
6 slices |
| Interior Light (Yes/No) |
Yes |
Yes |
| Weight |
24.4 lbs |
20.5 lbs |
| Rack Positions (1, 2,3,4) |
3 |
4 |
| Rack size |
N/A |
N/A |
| Functions | ||
| Auto shut Off |
No |
No |
| Air Fry |
Yes |
Yes |
| Bake |
Yes |
Yes |
| Broil |
Yes |
Yes |
| Warm |
Yes |
Yes |
| Toast |
Yes |
Yes |
| Dehydration |
No |
Yes |
| Rotisserie |
Yes |
Yes |
| Accessories | ||
| Oven Rack |
Yes |
Yes |
| Baking Pan |
Yes |
Yes |
| Air Fryer Rack |
Yes |
Yes |
| Grill Plate |
Yes |
No |
| Drip Tray |
Yes |
Yes |
| Rotisserie Spit Set |
Yes |
Yes |
| Egg/muffin tray |
Yes |
No |
| Griddle Plate |
Yes |
No |
| |
|
|
| Does this get really hot around the oven? |
N/A |
Yes |
| Cleaning |
Rack and trays are dishwasher safe, but it’s recommended to clean the oven with warm, soapy water |
Recommended to clean with warm, soapy water and a non-abrasive sponge |
| Fan noise |
Complaints about noise |
|
| Racks and Dip tray Dishwasher Safe |
Yes |
|
| Dual Voltage (Yes/No) |
N/A |
N/A |
| Cord length |
6 feet |
3 feet |
