Absolutely, you can toast bread in an air fryer, and the results can be surprisingly superior to a traditional toaster, especially for specialty toasts. As of December 2025, the air fryer has cemented its place as a multi-functional kitchen powerhouse, and toasting bread is one of its most popular—and fastest—uses. While a standard pop-up toaster relies on direct radiant heat, the air fryer utilizes powerful convection heating to circulate super-hot air around the bread, resulting in a crisp, evenly golden exterior that’s perfect for everything from simple buttered toast to gourmet breakfast creations. The key to success lies in mastering the precise time, temperature, and a few simple hacks to prevent the bread from drying out or flying around.

The entire process takes less than five minutes, making it a game-changer for busy mornings or when you need to toast a large batch of thick-cut artisan bread that simply won't fit in a standard toaster slot. Forget the days of unevenly toasted bread—the air fryer offers a new level of control and versatility. Keep reading to discover the perfect settings and the essential accessories that will turn your air fryer into the ultimate toasting machine.

The Ultimate Air Fryer Toast Settings: Time and Temperature Guide

The optimal settings for air fryer toast vary slightly depending on your specific model—whether you have a basket-style air fryer or an air fryer oven—and the thickness of your bread. However, a reliable starting point ensures a perfectly golden slice every time.

Recommended Time and Temperature

• Temperature: 350°F to 400°F (175°C to 200°C). Lower temperatures (350°F) work best for thinner, standard sandwich bread, while higher temperatures (400°F) are ideal for thicker slices like sourdough or Texas toast.
• Time: 3 to 5 minutes. Start with 3 minutes and check the bread. If you prefer a darker, crispier toast, add an extra minute or two.
• Flipping: For the most even toasting, especially with thicker slices, flip the bread halfway through the cooking time. For example, cook for 2 minutes, flip, and cook for another 1-2 minutes.

Air Fryer Toasting Variations

The type of bread you use will significantly impact the required time. Thicker, denser breads, like a rustic loaf or sourdough, will need the full 4–5 minutes at 400°F to achieve a deep golden color and satisfying crunch. Conversely, thin-sliced white bread may only require 2–3 minutes at 350°F to avoid burning.

Pro Tip for Frozen Bread: If you are toasting slices straight from the freezer, there’s no need to defrost them first. Simply add 1–2 minutes to the total cooking time.

5 Game-Changing Air Fryer Toast Hacks for Perfection

While throwing bread in the air fryer basket is easy, achieving truly *perfect* toast—crispy, golden, and not dry—requires a few expert tricks. These hacks address the common challenges of air fryer toasting, such as the high-speed fan drying out the bread or causing lightweight slices to fly around.

1. Prevent Bread From Flying (The Weight-Down Hack)

The powerful convection fan in an air fryer is notorious for blowing lightweight items like bread around the basket, leading to uneven toasting or contact with the heating element. The simplest solution is to weigh the bread down.

• Use a Rack: Place a small, oven-safe wire rack (like a cooling rack or a dedicated air fryer toast rack) directly on top of the bread slices.
• Use a Trivet or Skewers: A small metal trivet or even a few metal skewers placed across the bread can hold it firmly in place during the cooking process.

2. The Butter/Oil Barrier Against Dryness

The air fryer's intense, dry heat can remove too much moisture, leaving the toast feeling dry and cracker-like instead of tender on the inside.

• Brush with Fat: Lightly brush the bread with a thin layer of butter, olive oil, or a non-stick cooking spray before toasting. This creates a protective barrier that locks in moisture while allowing the exterior to crisp up.
• The One-Sided Butter Hack: For sandwiches, some experts recommend buttering only one side (the side facing up) and not flipping. This keeps the exposed side crispy while the unbuttered side remains slightly softer, ideal for fillings.

3. Use Thicker, Denser Bread

While you can toast any bread, the best results come from thicker, sturdier loaves. Thin slices of standard white bread can become crumbly and dry very quickly. Opt for a slice thickness of at least 3/4 inch.

• Best Bread Types: Sourdough, artisan loaves, Texas toast, and rustic breads.

4. Don't Overcrowd the Basket

For the air fryer's convection heating to work properly, hot air needs to circulate freely around each slice. Always arrange the slices in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Overlapping or stacking the bread will result in soft, unevenly cooked toast.

5. Preheat for Better Results

While not strictly necessary, preheating your air fryer for 3–5 minutes before adding the bread can ensure the cooking starts immediately and delivers a more consistent, golden color. This is especially helpful if you are using a larger air fryer oven model.

Air Fryer vs. Toaster: Which is Better?

The debate between the traditional pop-up toaster and the modern air fryer for toasting bread comes down to three factors: speed, capacity, and versatility. The air fryer excels where the toaster fails.

Traditional Pop-Up Toaster

• Pros: Faster for a single slice, provides better browning uniformity on standard bread, and is purpose-built for toast.
• Cons: Limited to thin slices, cannot handle thick-cut bread (like bagels or artisan loaves), and offers zero versatility for specialty toppings.

Air Fryer (Basket-Style or Oven-Style)

• Pros: Unmatched versatility. Can toast thick-cut bread, bagels, and even whole sandwiches (like grilled cheese). Perfect for gourmet toast recipes where toppings need to be melted or cooked (e.g., cheese toast, garlic bread). Higher capacity for batch cooking.
• Cons: Can sometimes dry the bread out (solved with the butter hack), takes slightly longer for a single slice than a dedicated toaster, and requires weighing down the bread.

Conclusion: If you only ever eat plain, thin, white bread toast, stick with your toaster. If you enjoy thick-cut artisan bread, gourmet toast, or need to toast a large volume, the air fryer is the superior appliance. For those with an air fryer toaster oven, you get the best of both worlds, often with a dedicated "Toast" function.

Gourmet Air Fryer Toast Recipes (Better Than a Toaster)

The air fryer truly shines when toasting bread with toppings that would melt, burn, or fall off in a traditional toaster. These recipes leverage the air fryer's convection power to cook toppings to perfection.

1. Air Fryer Cheesy Garlic Toast

This is a classic that’s messy in a conventional oven but perfect in the air fryer.

• Ingredients: Thick-cut bread, butter, minced garlic, garlic powder, and grated Parmesan cheese.
• Method: Mix softened butter, minced garlic, and a pinch of salt. Spread generously on the bread. Top with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. Air fry at 360°F for 3–4 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

2. Air Fryer Cinnamon Sugar Toast

A simple, sweet treat that caramelizes beautifully.

• Ingredients: Bread, butter, cinnamon, and granulated sugar.
• Method: Spread butter on the bread. Mix cinnamon and sugar and sprinkle heavily over the butter. Air fry at 350°F for 3 minutes, watching closely to ensure the sugar doesn't burn.

3. Air Fryer Breakfast Egg Toast

A complete breakfast cooked in one go—impossible in a pop-up toaster.

• Ingredients: Thick-cut bread, egg, cheese, and toppings (like tomatoes or shallots).
• Method: Cut a hole in the center of the bread. Place the bread in the air fryer basket. Crack an egg into the hole. Top with cheese and your desired toppings (tomatoes, shallots, etc.). Air fry at 340°F for 6–8 minutes, or until the egg white is set and the yolk is cooked to your liking.