Congratulations, you are part of the air fryer club. But now what? What do you do with it? There are so many presets, dials and buttons. What even is a preset? Should you use presets? What is the difference between the air fry and bake preset? Read on to learn all this plus more tips and tricks to get the most out of this iconic, game changing kitchen appliance.
The Cuisinart Digital AirFryer Toaster Oven is my favorite kitchen appliance. I use this daily in fact multiple times a day. Here are some of my favorite air fryer recipes, The Best Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings and Air Fryer Tater Tots. The air fryer has completely replaced my toaster, I use it more then the grill and I use it often instead of the oven and stove.
I was overwhelmed when I saw the 10+ presets on the Cuisinart Digital AirFryer Toaster Oven. I wanted to make sure I wasn’t doing something wrong. I also wanted to get the best, most delicious meals for my family.
What Is a Preset?
Preset is just a fancy word for a convenient, easy to use setting on an air fryer. It is the manufacture’s recommendation for time and temperature based on the food. The preset is programmed into the air fryer at a default setting but the time and temperature can be adjusted. Some presets include a built in preheating stage like the Pizza and Bake preset on the Cuisinart Digital AirFryer Toaster Oven. See my post on whether you should preheat an air fryer, Should You Preheat an Air Fryer (How to, How long).
Should You Use the Preset?
You should use and continue to use presets only if they work for you. Let me explain. Presets are programmed into the air fryer for certain foods which can include fresh or frozen and for a default time and temperature. You have to read your user manual to determine if the preset you are using corresponds to what you are cooking. In the Cuisinart Digital AirFryer the Fries preset is set or programmed to frozen fries. If you are making fresh cut fries then you will require a different time and temperature then the preset Fries setting.
You also have to take into consideration how much you are cooking. If you are cooking multiple batches then the air fryer will be warm or preheated from cooking. A preheated air fryer will cook food faster as the air fryer is at an ideal temperature and food will start to crisp faster. A preheated air fryer will affect cooking time for subsequent batches and the preset time will need to be adjusted.
The air fryer and presets allow you more freedom in the kitchen. I no longer need a toaster, a toaster oven and I often use the air fryer in place of the grill, stove and oven. I have completely tossed my toaster. If I ever needed a bread proofing box then this air fryer would solve that problem without an additional kitchen appliance. The air fryer is a multipurpose tool allowing more counter space in your kitchen and more cooking possibilities.
Does Anyone Use the Preset? Do I Use the Preset?
I have found the presets for Wings, Nuggets, Toast and Bagel to be pretty accurate. I do have to adjust them when I am cooking multiple batches. I mostly use the presets as a guide for time and temperature range. We are creatures of habit and tend to cook our favorite meals over and over. Once I have perfected a recipe then I just dial in the time and temperature versus using the preset setting.
Would I Recommend the Cuisinart Digital AirFryer Toaster Oven?
I use the Cuisinart Digital AirFryer multiple times a day. First, Cuisinart is a name you know. It can be seen and recognized in kitchens all over the US. Cuisinart has a great warranty and customer service has always been helpful.
Here are my favorite features:
- Cuisinart has a large tray to accommodate our family of 4. I can easily fit 4 burgers into the large pull out tray. The tray slides out easily and quickly and then back into the air fryer. This is one of my favorite features as I can put a lot into this tray.
- This air fryer has simplified cooking by making fast, easy and delicious meals for my family consistently.
- The baking drip pan and crumb tray can be removed easily and make clean up easier.
- This air fryer features a large viewing window and interior light button. I can easily view what I am cooking and adjust time accordingly.
- The control panel is user friendly and features 2 large dials. The first dial allows you to scroll through presets and the second dial allows you to select temperature, time, shade and slice options.
- The warranty and customer service sets this above other air fryers.
- This Cuisinart air fryer is aesthetically designed. This air fryer sits nicely on my counter and has a sleek design with a great brushed nickel/stainless steel color.
- The digital settings allow for precise time and temperature.
What are the cons?
- The Cuisinart Digital AirFryer Toaster Oven is more expensive then other air fryers on the market. However given its versatility and large tray, it is a winner for us.
- There are so many presets that it is easy to overshoot what you need with the dial when scrolling.
- The fan is loud and continues for a few minutes after cooking.
What Are the Cuisinart Digital AirFryer Toaster Oven Presets?
1.AirFry Preset
The AirFry preset has options for:
- Fries-default is set for frozen fries
- Wings-defaults is set for fresh chicken wings
- Nuggets-default is set to frozen precooked nuggets
- Snacks-default is set to frozen precooked snacks
- Vegetables-default is set for fresh vegetables.
2. Toast Preset
The Toast preset can be used for up to 6 slices of toast. Simply select 1 to 6 slices and select toast shade from 1 to 7 by scrolling the knob.
| Shade Guide | Shade Number |
| Light | 1, 2 |
| Medium | 3, 4, 5 |
| Dark | 6, 7 |
Tips:
For best results if toasting 2 pieces then center the items in the middle of the tray.
3. Bagel Preset
Place bagels in the center of the basket with cut sides facing up. The Bagel preset can be used for up to 6 slices with a bagel shade setting from 1 to 7.
4. Bake Preset
Bake preset can be used for temperatures 200-450 degrees F for up to 2 hours. The default setting is 350 degrees F for 30 minutes. Bake can be used with low fan speed and high fan speed. Low fan speed is used for more delicate items like eggs and baked goods like cookies, muffins and cakes. The Bake preset includes a preheating stage.
5. Broil Preset
The Broil preset has a default setting is 450 degrees F for 5 minutes. The key to the Broil preset is to watch your food carefully as items can brown quickly.
6. Pizza Preset
The pizza preset is for fresh and frozen pizza. For fresh pizza the default is 450 degrees F for 10 minutes and for frozen pizza the preset is for 400 degrees F for 10 minutes. Fresh or frozen pizza will determine where to place your pizza in your air fryer. Frozen pizza will go on the rack in position 1 and fresh pizza will go directly on the baking drip pan in position 1.
7. Roast Preset
The Roast preset can be used at 200 degrees F – 450 degrees F for up to 2 hours . The default is 375 degrees for 45 minutes. The Roast preset works well with meats, poultry and and vegetables. Roasting allows meats to brown on the outside while being mouthwatering on the inside. Roasting will help vegetables caramelize.
8. Dehydrate Preset
The Cuisinart air fryer can be used to dehydrate foods. What foods can be dehydrated? Here is a small sample of what the Cuisinart air fryer can dehydrate
- Herbs/Spices-basil, chives, cilantro, dill, garlic, gingeroot
- Fruit-apples, bananas, figs, mangoes, pineapples, pears, plums, cranberries, blueberries, cherries, grapes
- Vegetables-beans, broccoli, beets, kale
- Meat and fish
The manual provides a great chart to use a guideline that includes category, food, preparation, temperature, fan speed and time.
9. Proof Preset
The Proof preset can be used to proof bread or or pizza dough. The Proof preset can be used at 80-100 degrees F for up to 2 hours. This low temperature is ideal and needed to allow the yeast to grow. The proof setting is an alternative to a bread proofing box that bakers may have or need to buy.
What is Proofing?
Proofing is one step in the bread making process and used before baking the bread or pizza dough. Proofing activates the yeast in the bread or pizza dough. Carbon dioxide gas is produced when the yeast in the dough ferments the sugars and starches. Carbon dioxide gets trapped as tiny pockets of air within the dough and this is what causes the yeast to rise. Proofing is an important step allowing the dough to expand and rise.
10. Low Preset
The Low setting preset can be used at 100 degrees F to 300 degrees F° for up to 12 hours . The default is 200 degrees F for 2 hours. This preset works best for slow cooking and braising.
11. Warm Preset
The Warm preset will keep food warm once cooked. The warm preset can be used at 150-300 degrees F for up to 2 hours. The default is 150 degrees F for 30 minutes.
12. Dual Cook
The Dual Cook preset allows just that, dual cooking. For example you are able to bake then broil. This would come in handy for baking a casserole then switching to broil to brown the top.
In the dual cook preset your can use 2 different cooking methods or 2 different temperatures. In the dual cook preset you can use Bake, Broil, Roast, Pizza, Warm and Airfry.