Best convection toaster oven reviews

We also check for evenly cooked baked goods as well as the ability to broil steak and melt cheese on open-faced sandwiches.

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For toaster ovens with air fryer functions, we test how quickly and evenly they crisp up chicken wings and frozen French fries. We also evaluate toaster ovens based on their design quality, user manuals, control panels, ease of use, number of rack positions, interior visibility, audible alert and cleanability.

What to look for when shopping for a toaster oven

✔️ Space: Consider how much room you have as well as what you want to use the oven for. If space is not an issue, dream big: Ovens like the Breville Smart Oven Air and the June Oven can fit a small turkey. If space is an issue, there are many compact ovens on the market, like the Hamilton Beach Sure-Crisp, that can still fit six slices of bread at one time, or a 13-inch frozen pizza.

✔️ Design: Since your toaster oven will most likely live on your counter, aesthetics are important. Digital toaster ovens with stainless steel housings are typically sleeker and more modern looking than their mechanical counterparts.

✔️ Rack positions: Most toaster ovens have two rack positions, but the largest have three. The added rack position allows for even more cooking versatility and usable space, especially for air frying or dehydrating. As a general rule of thumb, the uppermost position is used for broiling, the middle is used for toasting bread and baking and the bottom is used for cooking large roasts or pizzas.

✔️ Accessories: Most toaster ovens come with at least one rack and a baking/broiling pan. (Note: a heavier baking pan means less warping over time.) Most toaster ovens now come with a removable crumb tray that is dishwasher safe, too. Being able to toss them in the dishwasher is very important: Dishwasher-safe parts help with toaster oven maintenance by preventing caked-on gunk from building up.

✔️ Additional features: Some toaster ovens come with an air frying basket/rack, others with pizza stones or rotisserie spits and many include an interior light that helps you see inside without opening the door. We found this feature to be very useful and were also pleased with toaster ovens that had large, glass doors for the easiest viewing.

✔️ Settings: Toaster ovens come with a variety of different settings and functions. While some may only have a few such as toast, bagel, bake, broil, pizza and reheat, others like the June Oven have over 200 settings including convection, air fry, dehydrate, grill, slow cook, proof, roast and warm just to name a few. If you're specifically trying to replace a few different kitchen appliances with one, make sure that the toaster oven you purchase can perform the certain functions you are looking for.

Which is better, a microwave or toaster oven?

Toaster ovens and microwaves can be used interchangeably for kitchen tasks like reheating leftovers or melting butter and both can live on your countertop as a fixture of your kitchen.

A toaster oven utilizes a heating element to brown and toast food similarly to an oven. A microwave heats water molecules using electromagnetic waves, cooking food from the inside out. While this doesn't in a browning effect like a toaster oven, it is often faster. Ultimately, both perform very different functions and create different results because of how they operate.

If you cook a lot of popcorn, want quickly steamed vegetables and need to defrost ingredients, a microwave will be your best bet. However, if you are looking to bake golden cakes, toast multiple slices of bread at once and broil steak for a quick lunch, a toaster oven is a good choice. Because of their different strengths, many people have both kitchen appliances in the home.

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Why trust Good Housekeeping?

The Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Culinary Innovation Lab, Director Nicole Papantoniou oversees all content and testing related to kitchen appliances, tools, gadgets and gear. She's been testing kitchen appliances professionally since 2013 and lends her experience working at kitchen appliance companies where she helped develop popular air fryers and such recipes. Her knowledge extends to this roundup, in which Nicole conducted the testing, analyzed the data and rounded up the best toaster oven picks.

Nicole Papantoniou

Kitchen Appliances & Innovation Lab Director

Nicole (she/her) is the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, where she has overseen content and testing related to kitchen and cooking appliances, tools and gear since 2019. She’s an experienced product tester and recipe creator, trained in classic culinary arts and culinary nutrition. She has worked in test kitchens for small kitchen appliance brands and national magazines, including Family Circle and Ladies’ Home Journal.

Best toaster oven 2023, according to our experts

The best toaster ovens are quickly becoming some of our favorite countertop companions. These versatile appliances are a great way to declutter your kitchen, thanks to added functionalities that might just convince you to replace your toaster and air fryer. 

Because of their built-in fans, toaster ovens often use the same technology that you'll find in convection ovens. This fan keeps hot air circulating for quicker cooking times and more evenly crisped surfaces on your roasted vegetables or even a simple oven pizza. A toaster oven can even be used to replace the best air fryers thanks to their in-built frying baskets. 

We've tested the best toaster ovens on the market, ranking models from Cuisinart, KitchenAid, Ninja and more to help you find the right one for your kitchen.  

The best toaster ovens 2023, according to our experts

Why you can trust Homes & Gardens Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

(Image credit: kitchenaid)

1. KitchenAid Digital Countertop Oven with Air Fry

The best toaster oven with air fryer

Specifications

Dimensions: 16 x 17 x 11.3in

Power: 1800 watts

Capacity: 0.74 cubic feet

Cooking functions: 9

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Versatile

+

Sleek interface

+

Easy monitoring

+

Generous capacity

+

No-flip air frying

Reasons to avoid

-

Exterior gets hot to touch

-

Alerts could be louder

Why we love it
The KitchenAid Digital Countertop Oven with Air Fry is a beautiful appliance, with a sleek matte black exterior and glossy steel door. It's intuitive to use thanks to a simple dial on the front of the machine, which helps to pick a mode and then choose a time, up to 120 minutes. We found the bright LED display easy to read, and simple enough to toggle back and forth between the remaining cooking time and minutes.

There's an incredible range of modes: dehydrate, proof, bagel, toast, air fry, bake, broil, air fry, and keep warm, reaching temperature in just four minutes. Our expert reviewer Jaclyn especially appreciated the proofing function, which is a welcome addition for keen bakers. Every setting delivered consistent results, and the air fry basket is a stand out addition. It's very deep and cleverly designed so that you won't have to flip food half-way through. It turned out delicious, thick-cut fries, perfect tater tots, and even fried chicken. 

Our expert tester Jaclyn was full of praise for this oven, going as far as to say that it could replace an oven for feeding small families. Though it's compact enough to fit on a countertop, it has a fantastic capacity, with enough space for a sheet cake, a 12-inch pizza pan, or up to 2 full-size chickens.  If you're looking to cut costs and save space, this toaster oven can replace a toaster, air fryer and dehydrator all in one appliance. 

Good to know
When operating, the handle remains cool to the touch, but the sides of the oven get very hot. Toasting is this oven's weakest function - the heating element is only on one side, so it can cook batches of toast unevenly, and the highest heat setting is overkill, burning one of the slices of toast on test. The grill of the air basket is also a little untidy, spilling crumbs into the body of the machine. 

Jaclyn's full KitchenAid Digital Countertop Oven with Air Fry review has more details

(Image credit: Wolf Gourmet)

2. Wolf Gourmet Countertop Oven

Best premium toaster oven

Specifications

Dimensions: 22 x 12 x 16in

Power: 1800 watts

Capacity: Fits most 9 x 13in stoneware dishes

Cooking functions: 7

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Included temperature probe

+

Digital timer display

+

Sturdy and durable construction

+

Even cooking

+

Swappable dial colors

Reasons to avoid

-

Price

-

Lacks the smart features of similarly priced ovens

Why we love it
Wolf Gourmet comes with a hefty price tag, so it's no wonder that the Wolf Gourmet Countertop Oven is among the very best of the toaster ovens we tested for this guide.  Expert tester Terri says it's "the very best countertop oven that money can buy", and it's her go-to toaster oven. 

Settings include bake, roast, broil, toast/bagel, and there is also a proof setting which will work well in lieu of the best bread makers. Terri has been using this oven since 2020 without any issues, and if the five-year warranty is anything to go by, this toaster oven is built to last. 

This countertop oven allows you to toggle its convection setting, meaning you can turn it off for toasting or braising. The temperature probe is also easy to use, and we found that you can top up on timings to add some extra char to your steaks without compromising on how juicy it is on the inside. 

Good to know
After all that, you might be wondering why this oven isn't at the top of our guide. If it's so good, why haven't we put it in at #1? It's a simple matter of cost. There's no avoiding that the $700 price tag on this toaster oven puts it out of reach for some readers. What's more, other ovens on this list have more features and smart capabilities, such as being controlled by an app or by voice control. That said, if you can swing it, this well-built machine is every bit as luxe as you could imagine. It's the benchmark of toaster ovens.  

Our full Wolf Gourmet Countertop Oven Review has more details

(Image credit: Café)

3. Café Couture Oven with Air Fry

Best overall toaster oven

Specifications

Dimensions: 13.1 W x 5.0 H x 12.4 L inches

Power : 1800 W

Capacity: .8 cubic feet

Cooking functions: Air fry, convection bake, convection broil, bake, broil, warm, toast

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Fancy design

+

Wi-Fi connect enabled for SmartHQ App

+

Remote enable feature

+

Lightweight

+

Cord wrap on rear of oven

+

Control lock feature

+

Adjustable alarm volume and brightness display

+

14 cooking modes

Reasons to avoid

-

Could be too small for large families

-

Price

Why we love it 
This gorgeous toaster oven has a good capacity, allowing for a 12-inch pizza, a 9 x 13 inch pan (with no handles), or up to 6 slices of toast. The oven has a built-in WiFi, and  the SmartHQ App means can monitor and control the oven from your cell phone. The app makes it easy to adjust the oven temperature, change the cooking time, and stop the cooking cycle. You can even do this with voice command, but if you don't want to use an app you can also control it manually. 

It made a delicious baked salmon and a homemade pizza with perfectly melted mozzarella. It broiled tender, juicy chicken and gooey chocolate chip cookies. 

Good to know
We can't fault the performance, so why isn't topping the test? Well, just as the Wolf Gourmet above, it's a little pricey for a toaster oven. If you just want a simple oven to reheat a slice of pizza you might not want to spend $400. Not only that, while it While it held up well on test, the capacity may be a little small for bigger families. It's also a little pricey for a toaster oven. 

Terri's full Café Couture Oven with Air Fry review has more detail.

(Image credit: Fotile)

4. Fotile ChefCubii Countertop Oven

Best toaster oven for steam cooking

Specifications

Dimensions: 15.5 x 16 x 14 inches

Power: 1800 watts

Capacity: 1 cubic foot

Cooking functions: 4

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Steam function

+

Portable water tank

+

40 preset recipes

+

Simple controls

+

Self-cleaning

Reasons to avoid

-

Expensive

-

Oven door difficult to open

Why we love it

The Fotile ChefCubii has four main functions: it can steam, bake, air fry, and dehydrate. However, it goes much, much further than this, with a whopping 40 different preset menu functions. This means you can effortlessly proof bread dough or cook rice, make tacos, make egg tarts, cook BBQ ribs and dozens of other meals besides. This made it easy to cook - rather than needing to know anything about steaming or dehydrating, just pick one of the presets and get cooking. They're even printed on the interior of the door so you don't have to pull out the manual to find out which number to scroll to. These presets helped our expert tester Terri to cook juicy, tender pork chops and perfect cookies.

Yet despite all these features, the stand out function is the steam cooking. It's one of the healthiest ways to cook, leaving food juicy and tender, without the need for added oil. The ChefCubii utilizes a portable water tank/drip tray that slides into the bottom of the oven, and there's an indicator for when it needs to be refilled. It made delicious steamed shrimp.

What's more, the sleek, glossy white finish is also a welcome change to the sea of stainless steel. Thanks to a self-cleaning mode, it's also incredibly simple to clean.

Good to know
Terri's only complaint is that the door is made of two layers of tempered glass and one layer of low E glass, which seal very tightly, but these make the door difficult to open. Fotile explained that the ChefCubii is designed with a damping setup on the door (in the corners, metal hinges) for added compression and to make sure the unit is seamlessly closed up, but this meant that Terri needed to hold the top of the oven with one hand to stabilize and pull open the door with the other hand.

Terri's full Fotile ChefCubii Countertop Oven review goes into more detail.

(Image credit: Tovala)

5. Tovala Smart Oven

Best toaster oven for oven-ready meals

Specifications

Dimensions: 18.5" L x 12.32" D x 11.75" H

Power: 1525W

Capacity: 12.75" L x 11" D x 8" H

Cooking functions: Steam, Bake, Broil, Toast, Reheat

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Space-saving/lightweight

+

Optional meal delivery service

+

Steam, Broil, toast, and reheat functions

+

Scan to cook Tovala meals

+

Scan to cook numerous grocery items

+

Recipe library

Reasons to avoid

-

Tovala meals can be an expensive ongoing cost

-

Must have WiFi and smartphone to set up the oven

-

On the small side for family-sized meals

Why we love it
Unlike some other ovens on the list, the Tovala Smart Oven isn't just a toaster oven. It's main feature is a menu of oven-ready meals from a range of world cuisines - everything from Italian to Indian to Indonesian. 

Our expert reviewer Terri Williams found that these healthy meals were delicious - so delicious, in fact, that she would "pay money in a restaurant" for them, which is remarkable for what's essentially a TV dinner. Thanks to the app handling the temperature and timer, every single meal on test was "ridiculously easy to prepare" - the only way it would be easier would be "hiring a chef". 

If you don't want the ready meals, the usual cooking functions are all excellent, and Terri particularly liked the steam function. What's more, the Tovala is compatible with popular brands like Pillsbury, Eggo, Kashi, Amy’s, Annie’s, and Totino’s - just scan the barcode and the Tovala will cook waffles and pizza rolls to perfection. This oven takes up way less space than other toaster ovens on our list, so it's a good option if you're working with a smaller kitchen.  

Good to know
Terri found that there's a "hefty" ongoing cost. Prices start at $9.99 per meal, which is very expensive for home cooking. If you're cooking for a family, that's a lot of $10 meals, and the portions are quite small. You also need a smartphone and a good WiFi connection for this toaster oven to work, so if you're old-school and don't have either of these, or if your WiFi's slow or your cellphone is out of charge, you won't be able to use this oven. 

Terri's full Tovala Smart Oven review explains more

(Image credit: Calphalon)

6. Calphalon Cool Touch Toaster Oven

Best toaster oven for safety features

Specifications

Dimensions: 12.11" H x 19.25" W x 16.8" D

Power: Power

Cooking functions: Baking Pan, 12-inch Pizza Pan, Wire Rack, Crumb Tray, Dehydrate Basket

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Exterior stays cool to the touch while cooking

+

12 cooking functions

+

Turbo Convection and Programmable Step Cook feature

+

Easy-to-read LCD screen

+

Glass door to see what’s inside

+

Several accessories

Reasons to avoid

-

Does not include an air frying feature (that's a different model)

-

No recipe booklet

Why we love it
By far the best feature of this toaster oven is its safety. While you should never do this, it's completely safe to touch even at its top temperatures, which is a fantastic safety feature if you have kids. It has 12 modes - Toast, Bagel, Bake, Roast, Broil, Pizza, Cooking, Reheat, Dehydrate, Keep Warm, Defrost, and Bread Proof, and these are easy to select thanks to an LCD screen control panel and dials, and uses a combination of touchscreen buttons and control dials. 

Another ingenious feature that Terri loved is the step cook function, so you can program two back-to-back cycles. For example, you can set the oven to defrost and then automatically start the roast function, or set the oven to bake and then set “keep warm” as the second cycle if you need a minute to cook your sides. It also has an alert if you don't open the door, so if you forget you've got some cookies baking you'll be reminded to take them out. 

Speaking of which, Terri's cookies were well cooked, with a crisp crunch balanced by indulgent, melted chocolate, and pork chops were tender and juicy.

Good to know
The Performance Cool Touch Toaster Oven doesn't have an air fryer feature. A decade ago this wouldn't be a problem, but it's becoming an industry standard, one found in every model featured above. To be fair, there is another version that includes the air fryer, but it lacks the keep-cool sides. 

Terri's full Calphalon Cool Touch Toaster Oven review explains more

(Image credit: Breville)

7. Breville the Smart Oven Air Fryer Toaster Oven

Best toaster oven for toast

Specifications

Dimensions: 18.9" x 15.9" x 10.9"

Power: 1800 watts

Capacity: 0.8 cu ft. 6-Slice Toaster, 13'' Pizza, Roast a whole chicken, 9 cup muffin tray

Cooking functions: Air fry, convection bake, convection broil, bake, broil, warm, toast

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Easy to use 

+

Great toast setting 

+

Makes perfect pizza 

+

Makes great fries 

Reasons to avoid

-

Frustrating instructions 

-

Parts aren't dishwasher-safe

-

Magnetic autoeject rack can be tricky to use

-

Price

-

Pay for longer warranty

Why we love it
Alex, our Head of eCommerce, found that this oven is particularly great at making toast. It can make up to six slices at once, and toast them from frozen. You can precisely adjust the temperature and cooking time to select exactly how many slices you want to cook and how light or dark you'd like your bread to be. This oven turned out near-perfect toast; so good you use it to replace your toaster. 

That's to say nothing of its other features. The air fryer feature is a stand out when making fantastic fries, and the pizza function is a great option for a quick evening meal. It's easy to use, with a bright, intuitive interface. You can switch between Celsius and Fahrenheit at the touch of a button and adjust the temperature in 5-degree increments. It's straightforward to use and lives up to what it says. 

Good to know
The instructions aren't always clear, and there's a lot to bear in mind with different heights for different racks as you switch between functions. One of the most intriguing features is also the most frustrating — magnets in the oven door which pull the wire rack out as you open the door. When it works, this is useful, saving you from reaching into a hot oven as you take out your food. However, the magnets can also stick to the wire rack when you don't want them  to, which can be dangerous with hot food. The price is a little steep for a toaster oven, and if you want a longer warranty than two years, you'll have to pay for it. 

Alex's full Breville the Smart Oven Air Fryer Toaster Oven review has more detail. 

(Image credit: Instant)

8. Instant Omni Plus Air Fryer Toaster Oven

Best toaster oven for versatility

Specifications

Dimensions: 15.75 x 16.54 x 13.9in

Power: 1800 watts

Capacity: 18L

Cooking functions: 10

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Cooks superbly

+

Sleek and easy to use digital interface

+

10 different cooking functions, including rotisserie

Reasons to avoid

-

Pre-heating takes longer than others

-

Kind of noisy

-

Door pull can be hot to the touch if oven left on for an extended period of time

Why we love it
The Instant Omni Plus is a highly versatile air fryer toaster oven for those looking for a multi-functional countertop appliance. Whether toasting, air frying or simply reheating, the Instant Omni Plus cooks superb and tasty results. Its features include air frying, broiling, baking, roasting dehydrating, reheating, toasting, warming, convection, and a unique rotisserie feature. It easily fed a group of four and comes with a variety of trays to best match what you're cooking. To minimize clean-up, the mesh air fryer basket sits directly on top of the enamel baking sheet to keep anything from dripping onto the heating elements. There's also a wire oven rack for toasting or using your own cooking vessels within the oven. And all the accessories are dishwasher safe. 

We particularly like the large LED touchscreen that makes it easy to see cooking progress, time and temperature. The oven utilizes a golden quartz infrared heating system that also cooks food about 25 percent faster, which does present a bit of a learning curve, but leaves you with faster meal prep once you get the hang of it.

Good to know
The rotisserie feature is unique and created one of the best chickens we've ever made, but it was a much messier process than anticipated. We struggled to fit a four-pound chicken and had to pin it down so that it could rotate. What's more, the attachments to use the rotisserie feature are sharp and bulky, making it difficult to figure out proper storage, especially since it's unlikely the average user will make rotisserie daily. A little storage bag would have been a nice add-on. 

The pre-heating took a little longer than the other toaster ovens on test, and we found that the handle gets a little warm, so is best opened with a mitt. 

Jaclyn's full Instant Omni Plus review goes into more detail.

(Image credit: Ninja)

9. Ninja Foodi 8-in-1 Digital Air Fry Oven

Best toaster oven for small kitchens

Specifications

Dimensions: 9.7 x 7.5 x 15.1in

Power: 1800 watts

Capacity: Fits 13 x 13in baking tray

Cooking functions: 8

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Folds away to create counter space

+

Sleek curved display

+

Easy to clean

Reasons to avoid

-

Not the largest capacity

Why we love it
If you live in a small home and want something to speed up meal times without taking an entire counter's worth of space, the Ninja Foodi 8-in-1 Digital Air Fry Oven is designed just for you with a special space-saving Flip-Up design. It has eight modes: air fry, air roast, air broil, bake, bagel, toast, dehydrate and keep warm. While it can't rival full-sized air fryers, it still has the space for a 13 x 13in baking tray, and it comes with two inserts for air frying and baking. 

It can also fit up to nine slices of toast and up to 4 pounds of chicken wings. The flip-away design is distinctive and great for those with small homes, and it also has a pull-out crumb tray to make sure it's clean for day-to-day use.  Because it lifts up, it's easy to access the underside of the toaster oven to get an easy and deep clean, which is great news for those who plan to use this as their main toaster oven.

It makes fantastic toast and bagels - everything came out even, with some slight marks from the wire rack on one side of the toast.

Good to know
It doesn't look quite as stylish on a countertop compared to other toaster ovens. It also has a more narrow cooking height than other machines, so keep that in mind if you plan to cook bulky food items like a whole chicken.  

Our full Ninja Foodi 8-in-1 Flip Mini Oven review has more details

(Image credit: Cuisinart)

10. Cuisinart TOA-60 Air Fryer Toaster Oven

Best toaster oven for first-timers

Specifications

Dimensions: 15.5 x 16 x 14in

Power: 1800 watts

Capacity: 0.6 cubic foot

Cooking functions: 7

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Seven cooking modes

+

Speedy cooking

+

Energy and heat-efficient

+

Interior light

Reasons to avoid

-

Tricky to set accurate temperatures

-

Accessories can't go in the dishwasher

Why we love it
The Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven has a mid-size capacity that allows you to adjust the temperature, timer, and settings. You can air fry, bake, convection broil, warm, and more. The controls are incredibly straightforward, and you can simply twist the dial to add or take away time from your cooking cycle.  

Our expert tester Helen McCue found that the Cuisinart TOA-60 cooked fast, with finished nuggets in just 7 minutes, and an oven pizza in just 10. This is a great alternative to a conventional oven, as we were able to cook an entire chicken which came out crisp and delicious. It also baked delicious muffins, but note that a standard muffin tin is too wide for this compact appliance. 

Good to know
Because it operates with a dial, we found that it's tricky to find the exact temperature when turning it compared to other smart toaster ovens that use an app. Fries weren't as crisp as those from an air fryer,  and battered fish was a little dry.  Toast also needed turning halfway through cooking to reach an even level of brownness. 

Our full Cuisinart TOA-60 Air Fryer Toaster Oven review has more details

How we choose and review the best toaster ovens

(Image credit: Future / Helen McCue)

Where to buy the the best toaster oven

• Amazon
• Best Buy
• Macy's
• Target

We've reviewed every single toaster oven in our guide to help you find the best. We take our testing incredibly seriously and never award a rating or a badge to a product that's not been tested by a member of our team. 

Our best toaster oven page is one of the many pages we update with regular reviews of leading market choices, so this page will be sure to change as we add more of our testing results. 

For more insight into our testing process, our review guidelines go into more information. 

Our review panel includes:

Millie Fender is Head of Reviews at Homes & Gardens. Formerly our editor for all things cookware, she loves nothing more than reviewing a kitchen appliance in her own home, especially the best toaster ovens.  

A countertop oven is Jaclyn's favorite kitchen appliance, especially for cooking up sides alongside a main meal, reheating leftovers, or getting a perfectly toasty bagel. Our former ecommerce editor, Jaclyn finds out the best of the best for buying guides to help you fill your home with only the best.

Terri's tested over a dozen countertop ovens, and has written buying guides on countertop ovens and other kitchen appliances and home goods for several popular websites.

Helen McCue initially trained as a home economist. After starting her career in the food industry, she moved into home appliance reviews, utilizing her cooking skills and experience to put all kinds of products to the test, and over the years has reviewed hundreds of home and kitchen appliances for a variety of publications.

Alex is our Head of eCommerce, and he's review home, kitchen, and garden products for a variety of publications. He tested the Breville oven in this guide, and loved the toasting function.

What should I look out for in a toaster oven?

For one thing, you should consider the space you have available. While the best toaster ovens are excellent stand-ins for a regular oven, they do require counter space. We included the dimensions to make that consideration a little easier.  

Another design element would be dial controls versus buttons, and the inclusion of a digital display. Some may feature a combination of both to operate. Digital displays typically help you identify the exact settings a bit easier, but may drive up the price of your toaster oven, and can make the experience more sophisticated, though you will find yourself with more control. 

As for features, we recommend a toaster oven air fryer. That's not just because we're air fryer lovers, but convection technology will mean that your food will cook faster, and you'll end up with more options when it comes to mealtimes. Other functions like Steam cooking seems to be growing as an offering in toaster oven designs as well. 

How a toaster oven works

(Image credit: Ninja)

The basic function of a toaster oven is a grill to cook toast and bagels. It's a larger surface with more capacity than a toaster, so you can cook up to eight slices at once, or thick-cut artisan breads like homemade sourdough. However, modern toaster ovens have multiple functions. Our tests have found toaster ovens that can bake, dehydrate, air fry, and much else besides, including cook an entire rotisserie chicken. 

Thick-cut fries ready to be air-fried in a toaster oven

(Image credit: Future / Helen McCue)

Is a toaster oven the same as an air fryer? 

They're two different appliances. The basic difference is that an air fryer is an appliance that circulates hot air around food to cook it, where an a toaster oven toasts bread. However, the best toaster ovens and air fryers have multiple functions - though toaster ovens tend to have many, many more. 

Are toaster oven air fryers good?

The very best air fryers air fry better than most toaster ovens, so if you're after perfect, healthy fries, some toaster ovens might not cut it. However, many air fryers just can't compete with the best toaster ovens for functionality, and the best toaster ovens featured above are more than a match for air fryers, making delicious fries and baked salmon.  

If you're pushed for space, a toaster oven is a great option that can save you buying lots of different appliances. There's almost no limit on the appliances that can be replaced with the right toaster oven - you can get a dehydrator, air fryer, steamer, broiler, microwave and toaster all in one appliance, saving you money and space on your countertop. 

Do I need a toaster oven if I have an oven?

It depends on your space and what you're trying to cook. A traditional oven can roast and bake just fine, but a toaster oven offers quicker cooking, as well as multiple specialist functions like toasting, steaming rice, and in one of the above toaster ovens, spinning an entire rotisserie chicken. Lots of buyers do away with ovens in RVs or cabins and easily make do with a good toaster oven, so it depends on your kitchen setup.  

Can a toaster oven replace a microwave oven?

If it has a microwave function, absolutely. Even if not, the basic principle of heating food is the same, so classic microwave dinners like pizza rolls can turn out even better in a toaster oven.  

Can I bake in a toaster oven?

Cookies on test in the Fotile ChefCubii

(Image credit: Terri Williams)

This is an easy answer - you can absolutely bake in a toaster oven. Our expert tests trialled cookies, muffins and sheet cakes, and you can even use some toaster ovens to proof a loaf. 

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Best Toaster Oven Reviews & Buying Guide

If you live in a small apartment or college dorm, then a toaster oven is a must have. Or maybe you just don't like to use the oven often in your home. Maybe you want to save on electricity bills by using a toaster oven to make a small pizza instead of a regular oven.

No matter the reason, owning a toaster oven will not only save you money, time and space, but it will also ensure delicious food every time. Owning one is so convenient that it can change your life forever.

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Out of 2,000 reviews, all customers love this appliance. It is easy to use and easy to clean. You may have to pay a little more than most other models, but the lifetime warranty is a huge plus. A large toaster oven in which you can cook food quickly and safely.

• Available 8 different preparation options
• Large area of ​​the hob
• Easy LCD display
• Anti-stick Cavity

9002, pluses 8 different preset cooking methods for ease of use.
• Comes with a lifetime warranty for protection.
• The inner cavity has a non-stick coating for easy cleaning.
Cons
• Despite the warranty, you will have to pay more than any other model.
BREVILLE BOV650XL compact smart oven

It is the king of toaster ovens in the sense that it can do just about anything. There are 8 different preset cooking options such as toast, bagels, stir-fry, pastry, fry, biscuits, keep warm and pizza. There is also the option to use it as an air fryer if you need a healthy cooking option without using an air fryer.

The inside of the walls has a non-stick coating for easy cleaning. The package includes two small coasters, a baking sheet and a lower waste tray for easy cleaning. There are several different timer and alert settings, making it very user friendly. But most importantly, it is able to cook anything you put in it to perfection. It comes with a lifetime warranty in case something happens.

What others say.

Positive - "I've had this toaster for 7 years now and it works great!" "This model got the highest rating in Consumer Reports, so I took a chance and bought it and I'm glad I did! It fits perfectly in my very limited counter space."

Negative - There really aren't many complaints about this fixture, but the ones that do usually have the same few criticisms. Sometimes people report an error code on the LCD screen, which in turn does not turn on. Most of the reviewers were able to return the stove or get their money back.

The best mid-priced toaster oven

This toaster oven is very easy to use and does not complicate the work. Manual control is convenient and clear. If you properly use and care for this appliance, it will serve you for a lifetime.

Features & Benefits
• Baking, roasting and toasting options
• Easy to use and easy to clean
• 30-minute timer with auto-off
• Large cooking area
Pros
• The oven is equipped with a 30 minute timer and automatic switch-off.
• Has three cooking options: frying, toasting and baking.
• Knobs and knobs are heat resistant and easy to clean.
Cons
• The temperature may be slightly higher than the oven indicates.
Hamilton Beach Easy Reach 9 Benchtop Toaster Oven0011

Rating: 9/10

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Editorial Review

This toaster oven is one of the best manual ovens. It is also produced by renowned home brand Hamilton Beach. The device has a pleasant, elegant appearance and is able to fit on most countertops, despite the large working surface area inside the chamber.

All handles and grips are heat resistant and for hand use only. There is a 30-minute timer with an alarm clock and automatic shutdown. The package includes one single cooking grate and one sheet tray. There is also a pull-out food collection tray for easy cleaning.

What others say.

Positive - " This little oven is so easy to use and clean! I love the flip-top door that makes it easy and safe to take out hot food without getting burned. No bells and whistles, no convection. It just fries, reheats, bakes and fries. Perfect for those who cook for one or two!".

Negative - there is one typical complaint that, frankly, could have been avoided. Reviewers claim that the temperature at which the oven cooks is much higher than indicated on the display. However, it can be a preheat function, just like in an oven.

Best budget toaster oven

This machine is one of the cheapest models. It has its ups and downs, but it's better than any other cheap model on the market. If you take good care of her, she will do her job well.

Features and Benefits
• Capable of toasting 4 slices of bread or a 9-inch pizza
• Built-in 30-minute timer
• Four cooking options available
• Easy to use and easy to clean
Pros
• Has a built-in 30 minute timer with an alarm that will let you know when dinner is ready.
• Equipped with a removable crumb tray for easy cleaning.
• Able to cook food in 4 different ways from 150 to 450 degrees.
Cons
• Has a tendency to overheat if used incorrectly.
Mueller Austria Toaster Oven

Rating: 8.5/10

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Editorial Review

This mini oven is capable of cooking food quickly and accurately with every use. It is able to heat products at temperatures from 150 to 450 degrees. It also has 4 cooking options such as browning, baking, frying and reheating.

30 minute timer with alarm lets you know when dinner is ready. In addition, the appliance is very easy to clean thanks to the removable crumb tray. The set includes 2 wire racks and a small cooking tray.

What others say.

Positive - " I've tried other toasters in the past and they were usually returned for one reason or another, but this one is perfect. " "I like that it's pretty easy to use. No complicated, overly technical stuff. Basic features. We use it every day."

Negative - there have been a few complaints about the unit being made from flimsy or poor quality materials, but it is one of the cheapest on the market and you get what you pay for.

Best Price Toaster Oven

This oven is very inexpensive and can replace your oven if you want. Just take care of her and everything will be fine.

Features and Benefits
• Supplied with baking tray, roasting tray and baking rack
• Ability to cook food up to 450 degrees
• Large cooking area
• 60-minute timer with alarm clock
Pros
• Equipped with convection cooking option for faster cooking.
• Includes 60 minute timer with alarm.
• Has a large cooking surface, enough to cook a large pizza.
• Able to safely fry, bake and brown food at temperatures up to 450 degrees.
Cons
• Can be made from poor quality materials and break easily if misused.
BLACK+DECKER Extra Wide Convection Toaster Oven

Rating: 8.5/10

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Editorial Review

is a pretty good value last purchase on our list. It only costs a few dollars more than the Mueller Austria oven we reviewed and does a little more. The scope of delivery includes a wire rack, a frying tray and a cooking tray. There is also a removable crumb tray to get rid of food that has fallen to the bottom during cooking, making cleanup much easier.

It has the same cooking options as most other toaster ovens - baking, toasting, frying and keeping warm, but equipped with a 60-minute timer with an alarm signaling the end of cooking. This is twice as much as most mini ovens. It is also capable of cooking food at temperatures up to 450 degrees with ease.

Thanks to its large cooking surface, this oven can easily cook a large 12-inch pizza. There is even a convection mode for faster cooking with the help of a hot air fan.

What others say.

Positive - " Extra large, fits in a 13X9 glass dish with room to spare. Heats up in 5 minutes. Saves me from using our large oven, it's the perfect size for the two of us." "I've used several of these ovens and this one is by far the best. It cooks on par with 'real ovens' and is great for a 'jelly pan'."

Negative - Negative reviews are few, but mostly repeat typical complaints when it comes to toaster ovens. Some users have found that the temperatures are not as advertised, the appliance is not as durable as advertised, and the knobs are difficult to turn in the opposite direction.

Toaster Oven Buyer's Guide

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How to Choose a Toaster Oven

First of all, you want to find a model with solid construction and good functionality that will last you a lifetime. Make sure that the materials from which the mini oven is made are of high quality; otherwise you may end up with a very heavy stock.

If for some reason the device breaks down during use or during transport, it is advisable to provide a guarantee for it. This will protect her from anything that might happen in the future. Review all manufacturer warranties to find out what the warranty covers.

There are many different types of toasters and some of them have different functions. Try to get one that is not only easy to use, but also easy to clean. It is possible that some parts of the oven, such as baking sheets or coasters, can be placed in the dishwasher, but as for the oven itself, most of them will have to be washed by hand. Any extra features like pull-out trays and self-cleaning systems help a lot.

What to look for when buying a new toaster oven

First of all, you need to find out what you will be using the appliance for. If this is going to be your primary kitchen cooking appliance (instead of an oven, grill or microwave), it's best to go for a top-of-the-line model with a lifetime warranty. Since you will be using the appliance frequently, you want to be sure that it will work every time. If it is not, it will be nice to know that you can easily replace it at no additional cost.

You also need to determine how big you would like your model to be. If it is intended only for itself, then it is better to choose a more compact and compact version. Of course, you can't feed a family of six with one toaster oven, but some companies make larger models with multiple racks so you can cook multiple dishes at the same time.

What you plan to cook in the oven will determine how hot or strong your toaster oven will be. If you will be mainly reheating food and cooking the occasional pizza or two, then you may not need a very powerful model. If you will cook every day, then make sure you have a model with high power.

Building and engineering

For the most part, nearly all toasters share the same design. They are all shaped like a small box and are usually covered in stainless steel so they are easy to clean and also look good on the kitchen counter.

They also have one or two small racks for placing small sheet trays or food directly for cooking. The heating element may be at the bottom, at the top, or both. It is he who cooks or warms up food. There are also some models that can work as an air fryer, which is the new way to cook healthy food without using air. oil or fats.

Some models have manual dials, but newer models are more likely to be digital. They are equipped with LED backlit displays, timers and signals to indicate the end of cooking. Some models have special presets for foods like garlic bread, pizza and frozen foods, in case you don't want to guess at a specific time or heat setting. In general, most of them come with a user manual and are very easy to operate.

How to care for your toaster oven

Of course, you want to be sure that you are taking care of your appliance. Often small pieces of food fall to the bottom of the appliance, and over time and during use, old pieces of food burn and stick to the appliance. Sometimes they can emit unpleasant odors and smoke, so keep the bottom of the appliance clean.

A useful trick is to line the bottom with aluminum foil so that you can simply pull it out and throw it away for cleaning. Other models have pull-out trays that collect all the crumbs.

There are also some models that have a non-stick coating all over the inside of the oven, making it easy to clean with a damp cloth or towel. In any case, it is necessary to periodically clean the internal walls of the device. Also clean the grates and trays after each use. The doors are usually glass and need to be cleaned as well to keep the device looking great and you can see the inside.

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Benefits and technological features of convection ovens - recommendations for buying

Modern ovens, especially electric models, are equipped with a huge variety of functions. If you are at least a little versed in cooking, you will not need to go to a restaurant to have a delicious meal - you can cook any, even the most complex dishes yourself. The oven takes care of almost all the responsibilities - you just have to buy food, keep the proportions, put everything on a baking sheet and press the right button.

Thanks to the extended functionality of the ovens, even the most complex culinary techniques, such as sous-vide cooking in a vacuum at low temperatures, can be implemented at home. Of course, this option is not available in every oven, but only in fairly expensive models. And we devoted this article to a very popular and affordable convection function.

Convection mode in the oven - what is it, how and why is it used? Despite the wide distribution of the function, buyers of household appliances ask this question quite often. Can an ordinary built-in fan really affect the quality of cooking and the taste of a dish?

If you are wondering why convection oven is needed and how it is used, read this article. It will help you decide whether to buy a convection oven or to do without this innovation.

The advantages of convection technology

Many housewives are still perplexed: why do we need convection in the oven, in which everything is perfectly baked anyway? If you are one of them, then remember how many times during cooking you had to turn the baking sheet so that the baking was even. And how much trouble is cooking on several levels? In order not to serve food raw, baking sheets need to be constantly rearranged. At the same time, if the sheet is at the lower level, the dish may burn from the bottom without being baked inside.

Previously, in order to prevent such troubles, housewives had to resort to various tricks. For example, put a container of water in the oven chamber or lay bricks. Thanks to the convection mode, this is no longer necessary. Uniform baking of dishes on several levels is one of the main advantages of the function.

The best convection ovens are equipped with extras such as a second fan, annular heater or a built-in steam generator. We will talk more about the design of convection ovens below, but for now we will focus on the advantages of the mode. An important plus is the versatility of using the convector. The fan allows you not only to cook, but also to quickly defrost food without losing moisture. And berries, mushrooms, fruits and greens in a convection oven will dry out much faster than outdoors.

The convection performance would be incomplete without mentioning one more advantage of this mode - energy saving. Thanks to the even distribution of hot air, the required temperature is reached much faster and the cooking time is reduced. As a result, the power consumption of the device is also reduced.

As for the disadvantages of convection, there are few of them. More precisely, only one - the convection model will cost a little more than the usual one. But the price difference is negligible. Now convectors are installed not only in expensive, but also in budget models. On the control panel of the oven, convection mode is indicated by a fan icon.

How are convection ovens designed?

To understand how convection works in an oven, it is necessary to understand the design features of the appliance. There are few differences between the convection model and the usual one. The oven is equipped with an additional element - a built-in fan, which is located on the rear wall of the chamber.

The principle of convection is to mix the layers of air, which ensures a uniform temperature throughout the chamber. Of course, the convector itself cannot be used (the exception is the defrosting mode), so it turns on simultaneously with the heating elements: the upper and lower heating elements, grill or ring heater. In budget models, 2-3 combinations are provided, in premium-class devices, their number can reach up to 10.

The convection mode is now used in electric and gas ovens. But the principle of implementing the technology is slightly different.

Electric ovens with convection

The electric oven with convection has long ceased to be a technical novelty. On the contrary, it is now difficult to find a model on sale that is not equipped with a built-in fan. Owners of electric ovens can fully appreciate the benefits of the technology, as manufacturers offer a huge variety of operating modes using a convector. Most often, the function is combined with traditional heating (upper and lower heating elements) to avoid overcooking food and speed up cooking. The combination of convection and grill eliminates the need for a spit - the meat is browned evenly on all sides.

Manufacturers often use special modes. For example, Turbo - the convector, grill and upper heating element work simultaneously. This mode is recommended for simultaneous cooking of several dishes.

Having mastered the principle of convection, manufacturers began to improve the technology. For example, to equip electric ovens with not one, but two fans, which make it possible to cook simultaneously at 4-5 levels. You can bake different dishes - their smells do not mix.

3D convection - the principle of operation of this hyped technology is also quite simple. Around the fan is an annular heating element.

Moist convection achieves excellent cooking results. When this mode is turned on, the air is saturated with steam, which avoids the drying of dishes. In addition, they can be steamed without adding oil. The technology is used in electric ovens of Electrolux, Hansa, Miele, Smeg and other brands.

Gas ovens with convection

To the question: “Is convection necessary in an electric oven?” the answer is unambiguously positive. What about gas models? A gas oven with convection is still quite a rarity and an expensive pleasure. This is explained by the complexity of the technology implementation.

Positioning the fan on the back of the chamber is only half the battle. It is also necessary to take care that the air flow coming from the convector does not blow out the burner flame, because in this case there is a danger of gas leakage. It is necessary to equip the equipment not only with a gas control system, but also with electric ignition, which works automatically when the flame goes out. Therefore, an increase in the price of convection gas ovens is inevitable. Perhaps the price will go down as the supply increases.

But it is precisely in a gas oven that the convection function is very necessary. The burner, which is the main heating element, is located at the bottom, so the bottom of the pan heats up the most. The convector could provide a uniform temperature throughout the entire volume of the chamber.

Gas models have another plus - smooth adjustment of the heating intensity (in electric ovens, the adjustment is mainly stepwise). With a convector, excellent cooking results could be achieved.

It is not possible to install a convection electric oven in every apartment - the wiring must withstand the high power of the device. Gas models with a convector could be a great alternative.

How to use the convection oven?

It's time to talk about how to cook with convection and for which dishes you can use this mode. The convector, together with other heating elements, can be used for roasting meat, fish, vegetables, making pies, casseroles, confectionery. Due to the constant circulation of hot air, the top layer of products quickly sets, and all the juice remains inside. The convection improves the rise of the dough, so the baked goods are fluffier and softer.

If you don't know how to cook in a convection oven, we hasten to please you - it's very simple. Moreover, in modern models, the desired mode is selected by pressing a single button. Detailed recommendations can be found in the instructions for the technique, so here we will only give general advice.

If you just need to dry the product, for example, to make croutons, meringue or meringue, choose a low temperature setting (up to 150 degrees) using the top heating element.

The combination of convector and lower heating element is suitable for baking pies with jam, marmalade and other fruit fillings. For baking and roasts, combine the convection function with the top and bottom heating elements. The temperature must be set in the range from 160 to 220 degrees.

Meat and poultry are best cooked at high temperatures (over 220 degrees) to keep them juicy. For this purpose, a combination of a convector and a grill is used.

Now you know how to use convection for cooking. With regard to defrosting food, which also uses air circulation, the heating is not switched on in this case. Meat, fish and other ingredients defrost as quickly as in a microwave oven, and there will be no unpleasant smell in the kitchen.

Use the convection oven for dry fruits, mushrooms or herbs. To speed up the process, it is enough to set a low temperature (up to 80 degrees). Depending on the type of food, drying will take 4-6 hours.

Which dishes to use?

Do I need special convection cookware for cooking with the built-in fan? Unlike microwave ovens, convection ovens do not place special demands on kitchen utensils. That is, using the mode, you can cook in the most ordinary dishes.

Something that comes with the oven. Most often, these are two types of baking sheets. One of them is deep, used for baking. A standard depth baking sheet is good for baking. Some manufacturers supply ovens with non-stick cookware.

For grilling, a special grate is most commonly used. As we have already said, the convection mode allows you to do without the use of a skewer - the heating will be uniform from all sides. To prevent fat from getting on the walls of the chamber, it is recommended to place a baking sheet under the grate.

Other types of cookware are also used for cooking in the convection oven, in particular baking dishes. They can be made from a variety of materials: enameled and stainless steel, heat-resistant glass, ceramics. Silicone molds have become very popular.

Some dishes require special dishes. It is better to bake a goose or a duck in a roaster - an oval-shaped container equipped with a lid. Previously, ducklings were exclusively cast iron, but now you can find models made of glass and ceramics. To prepare julienne, you need a cocotte maker - a small cup with a handle. Fans of foie gras and pates will need a terrine - a rectangular container made of ceramic or cast iron.

What is forced convection?

In fact, every oven has convection, even if it does not have a built-in fan. We all studied physics at school and we know that heated air rises, and when it cools, it falls again. Such convection is called natural. Please note that the baking trays that the ovens are equipped with have holes on the sides. They are made specifically for air circulation.

But the natural movement of air layers is a rather slow process. The presence of a convector can speed it up several times. Forced convection is the constant circulation of air under the influence of a built-in fan. Thanks to it, the efficiency of the oven is significantly increased.

How to choose a convection oven?

Choosing the right convection oven is easy - almost every manufacturer can offer a wide range of models. At the same time, attention should be paid not only to the presence of a convector and its design, but also to other characteristics, so as not to overpay for unnecessary bells and whistles.

All convection ovens are built into the kitchen unit. You will have to choose the installation method - dependent or independent. The first type of appliances cannot be installed and operated separately from the hob - they have a common control panel. Independent models are more expensive, but you can put the oven in any place convenient for you.

The second important selection criterion is management. Convection ovens can be equipped with mechanical rotary switches or touch panels. There are also combinations of these types of control: temperature and mode are selected using regulators, and an electronic programmer is responsible for additional functionality. All entered settings and the progress of work are shown on the display.

Each additional function increases the cost of the oven. Therefore, before buying a model with two dozen cooking modes and hundreds of automatic programs, think - will you use all this? The safety features are really useful: child lock, tangential cooling, safety shutdown, gas control.

Pay attention to the equipment of the inner chamber, especially the guides for the trays. They can be stamped (the most budget option), chrome-plated or telescopic. The last option is expensive, but the most convenient.

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