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KitchenAid Digital Countertop Oven with Air Fry review: a complete kitchen in one

I've long been an advocate for a good toaster oven, so I was excited to try out the KitchenAid Digital Countertop Oven with Air Fry and see where it could find a place in my kitchen. Would one larger small appliance reduce the clutter of multiple small appliances taking up valuable counter real estate?  Well, the KitchenAid CounterTop Oven stops short of brewing my coffee and whipping up smoothies, but it did knock my toaster (and previous air fryer) off into storage. 

I actually own a KitchenAid oven, now it's going on 15 years old, and I think the cooking performance is on par with its full-size counterpart. They also boast similar stylings, which is a bonus when you want everything to look cohesive.

The design is minimal and subtle, available simply in a black matte with a contrasting stainless steel handle going the length of the oven. The handle remains cool to the touch, but the sides of the oven do get very hot, which is something active households with small kitchen helpers may want to take note of. The bright LED display is easy to read, as well as easy to toggle back and forth between remaining cooking time and minutes. Temperature can be adjusted in increments of 5°F and time by minutes. 

I put it to the test to see if it deserves a place in our guide to the best toaster ovens, and here's how it held up. 

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KitchenAid Digital Countertop Oven with Air Fry: specs

(Image credit: kitchenaid)

Getting started

(Image credit: Future)

The KitchenAid Digital Countertop Oven arrived in a large box. It was secured with styrofoam and wrapped in a protective layer of plastic. The sides were taped shut to keep everything stable. 

Once you lift out the oven, you'll notice the accessory that it comes with a number of accessories including a metal mesh air fryer basket, 9x13-inch baking pan with broiling rack, removable metal drip, and crumb tray, and a removable metal rack. 

The manual instructions were pretty minimal, but they do offer a reference of ideal temperature and cooking time for a variety of foods that you may make in one of the best air fryers. 

KitchenAid suggests a five-inch clearance on either side for proper ventilation. I installed it on the edge of my kitchen island, and reaching the outlet with the cord was a stretch. 

Quick start instructions on the box and oven accessories

(Image credit: Future)

When it's time to start cooking, you'll turn the dial to your desired setting. You'll find settings including Air Fry, Bake, Broil, Reheat, Keep Warm, Toast, Bagel, Dehydrate, and Proof. The addition of a Proofing function is a nice feature for bakers, and something that's not as common of a feature in similar products. 

Depending on the setting,  you'll be prompted to adjust your desired temperature with the black dial next to the digital screen, and press it to toggle back and forth between time. On toast and bagel settings, you'll use the knob to designate the desired toast level (between 1 and 8) and the number of pieces you're making (up to 6). The manual did not clarify which parts of the toaster would heat up if it were one or six slices of bread, so I simply put all 6.  The more pieces of bread, as well as the higher the setting, the longer it takes to toast. 

The start button initiates cooking, there is a convection button to toggle convection cooking and a cancel button. The oven will preheat for most settings, and takes less than five minutes; once the pre-heat temp has been reached, the countdown timer immediately begins. The inside light stays on during the entirety of cooking, allowing you to watch your food crisp, or keep an eye on your recipe. This feature can not be switched off. The machine itself also runs pretty quietly, even on air fry, it's not intrusive. 

In air-fry mode, the 360° Air Fry System means that you don't have to rotate your food halfway through, and all sides will crisp up just the way you want it. The Double Convection Bake design can also cook chicken up to 20% faster than the Dual Convection Bake when compared to the bake setting for a 3 lb. chicken.

While not as large as your oven, this countertop oven is still large capacity with the capacity to fit a 9"x13" sheet cake or one-pan dinner, 12-inch pizza pan, or up to 2 full-size chickens (3. 4 lbs each). 

You'll want to keep track of the cooking, however, as the finishing chime is not very loud, so if you're playing music or in the midst of a conversation while cooking, you could miss it. Of course, others may prefer the unobtrusive sound.

Cooking fries

When it comes to an air fryer, perhaps the most obvious food you'll want to try out are fries. Deep fryer fries are so satisfying, but high in oil and fat, while baking just seems to take forever.

Not with the air fryer. Whipping up some steak fries (pretty much the thickest you could try) were ready within 15 minutes. We placed a single layer of fries at 370°F/ 187°C for 14 minutes, though the thicker fries got crispier at the 17-minute mark. I wish they got a little browner, but I likely would have needed more olive oil.  

Steak fries, before and after

(Image credit: Future)

I've also tried this recipe similarly with frozen tater tots, and less than 10 minutes later I find myself with the perfect crispy on the outside, soft on the inside puff. To be honest, I'm a much bigger fan of tater tots at home. 

Tater tots before and after

(Image credit: Future)

"Fried" Chicken

Another must-try, air fryer fried chicken of course. I made a guilt-free version that called for crushed Ritz crackers. This was one of the first recipes I tried making in the air fryer. After about 10 minutes, the fried chicken was crispy and golden. The frying basket was also large enough to accommodate three pieces of chicken breasts and some thighs, enough to feed my household. 

Chicken, before and after

(Image credit: Future)

However, clean-up was definitely one of the most involved with this recipe as crushed crumbs fell through the mesh, and settled onto the toaster oven window and roof when pulled from the oven. The crushed bits inevitably ended up in little nook and cranny of the machine. 

Air frying roasted vegetables 

Veggies, before and after

(Image credit: Future)

While the toaster oven comes with modes that can both bake and air fry, air frying is a much quicker method. I chose to air fry for about 12 minutes, compared to the 20 to 25 it would typically take me to roast veggies in an oven. The zucchini could likely have been cooked a few minutes longer, but the broccoli and cauliflower were perfectly charred. 

Roasting veggies is considered a good test of evenness. The zucchini could likely have been cooked a few minutes longer, but the broccoli and cauliflower were perfectly charred. This is definitely due to the varying moisture levels of the vegetables. 

Cooking turkey bacon

We cook bacon when testing to see how evenly the air fryer cooks, and to test how strong the fan inside the air fryer is. The internal fan in an air fryer can cause it to move around the air fryer tray when cooking, but that was not the case here.

(Image credit: Future)

The bacon recipe I chose required 10 minutes at 360°F. I actually flipped one halfway through to see if there would be any discernible difference in how the two cooked. There were none. Both pieces came out perfectly crispy, with a little bit of chewiness in the middle. I placed them on a paper towel once completed to gauge if any greasiness remained, and the paper towel remained spotless. 

Baking Cookies

While I definitely leaned into the air fryer function for testing, the option to have traditional oven settings like bake and broil is always a good option.  To gauge how well the toaster oven-baked, I used some ready-to-bake sugar cookie dough.  The recipe called to be made at 350 for 10-15 minutes. 

(Image credit: Future)

At first, after 12 minutes they looked too raw, but I let them sit for another 3 minutes, and after cooling they were that perfect consistency of crisp on the outside, and chewy in the center. The baking prowess was consistent across the entire oven, though it did take typically require the longer time recommendation to be finished. 

Toasting Capabilties

After all, this is a toaster oven. 

I've trialed bagels, frozen waffles, and burger buns as well as your standard sandwich rbead.  The toaster oven can fit up to 6 pieces of bread at a time. While you have settings to choose whether you're toasting one or six pieces of toast, it was hard to gauge where the hot spots were, besides leaving the toast number on six. The drawback to this is that it made the toast time longer. Depending on toast settings, the timer automatically sets for between three and seven minutes, which is longer than a conventional toaster, or at least my own.

Both sides of the finished toast at levels 2,4, 6, 8 

(Image credit: Future)

Common to most toaster oven designs, only one side will actually get those grill lines, making it perfect for a bagel, but less "even" on bread. In the following photos, I toasted whole wheat bread at levels 2,4,6, and 8. Levels two and four toasted pretty evenly on the bottom side closest to the heating element, with unexpected black lines really popping through on the second to lowest settings. The parts not directly over the heating element didn't toast as dark either. Six toasted as expected, while eight was almost overkill in the toaster, which came out smoking. It was also much more charred on the bottom than the top. 

Cleaning

The essential addition of a metal crumb tray and a non-stick interior makes it easier to catch the inevitable droppings from toasts and clean up any sticky bits. 

Whatever drips down from the air fryer basket, was a bit of a different story. However, when air frying, say breaded chicken, the little panko crumbs inevitably made it to the bottom of the oven and led to some extra clean-up. I also found that many recipes I came across recommended spraying the air fryer basket or even the food. However, since the basket is mesh, it's bound to seep through no matter where you spray or drizzle oil, such as on a countertop, or over the sink. Your best bet here is to toss ingredients beforehand if any oil is recommended to add. Adding aluminum foil to the basket would seem to block the idea of the any-angle air fryer.

All the parts are dishwasher safe, but it's no hassle to wash by hand, as well. 

(Image credit: KitchenAid)

Should you buy the KitchenAid Digital Countertop Oven with Air Fry

It almost seems unfair to categorize the KitchenAid Digital Countertop Oven with Air Fry among our roundup of the top toaster ovens, because in full transparency, this Countertop Oven could replace your own oven for feeding small households. Couple in that it multipurpose as a toaster, air fryer, dehydrator, and a proofing setting too, that's a number of appliances you've knocked off your counter. 

The KitchenAid Countertop Oven with Air Fry is an elegant-looking appliance, with ample cooking space, that delivers consistent results. While a standard countertop option is also available, the Air Fry features are the real stand-out here, and the difference is simply $20.

Like any new kitchen appliance, calculating the right amount of time to cook to a recipe can feel like a bit of trial and error. And that was certainly the case as I acclimated to my new countertop appliance -- from figuring out the right placement for toast to getting the right temperature and timing for fries. Patience here, but once you nail it, you may just find yourself abandoning the full-size convection oven. Mine personally hasn't seen much use since I set up the countertop oven.

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About this review, and the reviewer

Jaclyn is the US eCommerce editor across the homes titles at Future, including Homes & Gardens, where she specializes in a variety of topics ranging from vacuums to mattresses. She spends her days tracking the latest buzzworthy releases and testing a variety of products to determine whether they are worth bringing into your home. All reviews are based on real-life experience of using these products at home.

Jaclyn put this KitchenAid to the test for a number of weeks, and made various entrees and sides. KitchenAid graciously provided us with this model for this review, and as we continue to use it, will update our thoughts overtime. 

Jaclyn is H&G's eCommerce editor and oversees all things shopping. She's also a bonafide sleep expert, and previously managed all sleep content on Homes & Gardens and Real Homes– in fact, she has passed our five-step certification process to become a verified customer advisor on mattresses. She regularly scouts out the best of the best for buying guides to help you fill your home with only the best. She joined the team in January 2021. She has previously worked with Apartment Therapy, The Kitchn, The Spruce, The Spruce Eats, and MyDomaine.  When Jaclyn's not working, she loves browsing real estate listings, unwinding with a chilled glass of Rosé, and entertaining her Cavapoo, Reese.  

6 Best Toaster Ovens of 2022

We updated this article in December 2022 to ensure the information reflected current prices, features and more. Our original top-rated picks selected by the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab remain the same.

Toaster ovens take up minimal space, can replace several kitchen appliances like your toaster and air fryer (Check out these combo air fryer toaster ovens!) and shorten cooking times, especially when you use the convection setting. In addition to toasting bread and bagels, they can cook whole chickens and roast vegetables. Since most toaster ovens don’t require preheating, they’re great for the summer months when you don’t want to heat up your entire kitchen with your full-size oven. They're also energy efficient and use as little as half the energy of a conventional oven.

In the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, we've tested about 60 toaster ovens in the past 10 years. We test to see which ones can produce the most even, golden brown toast in the shortest amount of time. We also melt cheese on open-faced sandwiches, bake cakes and air fry chicken wings if there is an air fry setting. Here are our top picks for the best toaster ovens you can buy in 2022 based on testing.

Scroll to the bottom of this article to learn more about how we test toaster ovens in our Lab — plus everything you need to consider when shopping for one.

Posted in Black DeckerTags: Black Decker, Digital Counter Oven, TOD5031CC

Choosing a desktop electric oven for your home or garden

The oven is an essential household appliance in every modern kitchen. With it, you can cook a wide variety of products - vegetables, fish, meat, bread and fragrant pastries. But sometimes the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe kitchen in the apartment does not allow you to purchase a standard oven. This is also relevant for cottages, as well as small houses in which the kitchenette occupies a maximum of 4-5 "squares" and there is simply nowhere to install a standard model. In such cases, a desktop-type mini-stove will come to the aid of the hostess. nine0009

Where can I use the tabletop electric oven?

Light and compact, this countertop oven is the perfect choice for small kitchens. It fits without problems even on the narrowest countertop, and after use it hides in the pantry. A mini-oven will be enough for preparing hot breakfast sandwiches and roasting a turkey for the festive table. The modest dimensions of the working chamber can significantly save energy and at the same time practically do not affect the availability of useful functions. The relatively low price, ease of transportation and the absence of strict requirements for the installation site contribute to the active use of such a device both at home and outside the city. Specifications

It is generally accepted that compact variations of household appliances have reduced functionality, and this is partly true. Mini ovens are a small-sized desktop appliance that can replace a standard oven in every sense. The stove allows you to bake, fry, stew, simmer, and some models also heat up or steam almost any dish. At the same time, the cooking time of the treat will be less than usual, because the small volume of the oven warms up almost instantly. Baking is amazingly fluffy and rosy thanks to convection, and fish and meat steaks are incredibly juicy and appetizing as a result of using the grill. nine0009

Dimensions

Depending on the model, the useful volume of tabletop electric ovens ranges from 8.5 to 40 liters. The most compact models - up to 12.5 liters - are suitable for heating small portions for 1-2 people, while medium and large mini-ovens can well provide full-fledged cooking for a family of 3-4 people. It's simple: the larger the interior of the oven, the more food you can cook in it:

  • 8-12 liters - these ovens have only 1 baking sheet and are suitable for cooking pizza, casserole or pie; nine0022
  • 20-30 liters - larger ovens that are equipped with convection, grill spit, wire racks and two trays;
  • up to 40 liters - relatively large-sized ovens, almost comparable to standard floor-standing ovens in size and equipment.

The standard mini-oven width is 60 cm, but sometimes narrow models of 45 cm and wider ones of 75, 90 and even 120 cm can be found on sale.

Inner chamber

Mini oven door can be hinged like standard ovens and side like microwave ovens. The surface of the working chamber is most often made of stainless steel or heat-resistant enamel. Stainless steel ovens are cheaper, the coating is resistant to temperature changes and mechanical stress, however, all traces of cooking on it will be especially noticeable. Enamel has an attractive appearance and is easy to clean, but its disadvantage is sensitivity to bumps and scratches, so these ovens require more careful care. nine0009

Depending on the manufacturer and model, the interior of the mini oven can be equipped with:

  • light;
  • cold front doors;
  • self-cleaning system - hydrolysis, pyrolysis or easy cleaning enamel;
  • wired or wireless temperature probe.

All devices are also equipped with an analogue or electronic timer. The built-in thermostat is responsible for adjusting the heating temperature of the furnace in the range from 60 to 320 degrees. The timer and thermostat are of particular importance in cases where maximum precision in cooking is required. nine0009

Number of heaters

The vast majority of tabletop ovens are equipped with two heating elements - top and bottom - as well as a convection fan that ensures even distribution of hot air throughout the oven. The heaters can be used individually or combined to achieve optimal cooking results.

The heating power of the oven depends on the dimensions of the inner chamber and the functionality. In different models, this parameter varies from 650 to 2200 watts. As a rule, a 10-liter mini-oven has a power of 700-800 W, a 20-liter appliance is already 1700-1900 W, and a 30-liter roaster - 2000 W or more. The higher the power, the faster the oven will heat the ingredients and cook the dish, however, the energy consumption of such equipment is higher. Most often, buyers prefer ovens with a power of up to 1500 watts.

What's in the box

Depending on the model, the mini oven comes with a grill grate, a baking tray, a pan/grid holder and a removable juice drip tray. Tray guides can be classic lattice or more modern and convenient telescopic. Some models are additionally equipped with a spit for uniform roasting of meat and a temperature probe designed to constantly measure the temperature inside the dish. nine0009

Control and operating modes

The type of oven control is one of the most important criteria that must be taken into account when choosing an appliance. The panel can be mechanical or electronic. The first type involves the selection of operating modes using rotary knobs and is most often found in inexpensive models of desktop ovens. The mechanics are reliable, durable, have an affordable price and endure power surges. More technological devices are equipped with an electronic control panel with touch buttons and a digital display. They have an original, modern look, as well as precise setting of the time and temperature of cooking. Often these ovens are equipped with automatic cooking programs, a large list of additional functions and modes. The most common are:

  • convection - the back wall of such ovens is equipped with a convection fan designed to evenly distribute hot air throughout the cabinet;
  • humid convection - steam cooking;
  • grill - function for roasting meat, fish and vegetables until golden brown;
  • microwaves - used for heating and cooking;
  • quick heat - used to quickly heat up the oven; nine0022
  • Pizza - Intensive baking for a crispy crust.

Cooking in a compact mini oven takes much less time than a standard oven because tabletop ovens heat up almost instantly! Thanks to the presence of convection, baking is simply amazing, and the combination of convection with the top grill makes the meat ruddy and juicy. Your dishes will always turn out beautiful and tasty, regardless of the size of the mini-oven purchased.

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