The Best Toaster Ovens

The Best Toaster Ovens

A toaster oven can help you get food on the table quickly. This conveniently-sized appliance fits on your counter top. Toaster ovens can be used for a variety of recipes. They don't heat up your kitchen like a traditional oven, and often cook food more quickly. Some models preheat in just a couple of minutes, reducing the amount of time it needs to be turned on. Toaster ovens are energy efficient, using about half the amount of energy as a standard oven. If you're ready to add a toaster oven to your kitchen, here are some of the best on the market.

Oster Six-Slice Capacity Toaster Oven

One touch controls

Whether you want to toast bread, bake a pan of lasagna, or broil a piece of meat, this toaster oven has the temperature settings you need to get it done.
Best Overall

Find on Amazon

This toaster oven doesn’t just cook toast. It’s super versatile and features seven different cooking settings. The temperature ranges from 150 to 450 °F so that you can set it to the perfect temperature for each recipe. The controls are simple to use, and many feature a one-touch operation. The inside is large enough to hold a 12-inch pizza or six slices of toast at the same time. This toaster oven comes with a baking pan. The removable crumb tray helps make cleanup easy. There’s a 90-minute timer if you want to set something and have it stop automatically. That way, you don’t have to worry about overcooking your food. There’s a light on the inside so you can easily check on your food during the cooking process.

Pros:

  • Easy to use
  • Seven cooking settings
  • Removable crumb tray

Cons:

  • A 9″ x 13″ pan with handles will not fit inside

Breville BOV450XL Mini Smart Oven

Stable heat

The smart element IQ technology in this unit helps keep your heat precise and stable throughout the cooking process.
Best Cooking Function Controls

Find on Amazon

If you want a toaster oven with easy-to-read controls, give this one a try. The backlit LCD makes it easy to see clearly. It shows the temperature and time. The display illuminates orange light while the oven is preheating and cooking. Once the cycle is complete, it changes to blue. You can select between eight different cooking functions, including bake, broil, and reheat. The unique Element IQ technology keeps the quartz elements at a steady temperature. You don’t have to worry about the temperature spiking or dropping while in use. There’s enough room inside to hold four pieces of toast or an 11-inch pizza. To help make cleanup easy, the walls are coated with nonstick material. That way, you can simply wipe them down if anything splatters.

Pros:

  • Easy-to-read controls
  • Displays time left and temperature
  • Eight cooking functions
  • Nonstick walls

Cons:

  • The power cord has a unique design that many people don’t like

Black+Decker Countertop Convection Toaster Oven

Budget-friendly toaster oven

This toaster oven proves you don't have to spend a fortune to receive a quality product.
Best Value

Find on Amazon

If you’re on a budget, this toaster oven is a great option. It features fast convection technology, which speeds up your cooking time. The digital controls are easy to use and let you select a precise temperature. It goes up to 400 °F. There are eight different cooking functions, including toast, bagel, frozen snacks, and bake. This toaster oven has a timer that goes up to 120 minutes. When the timer is up, the oven automatically shuts off. The inside capacity is large and can handle six pieces of toast or a 12-inch pizza. The removable crumb tray is easy to clean. This unit comes with a baking pan and a broiling tray, so you have everything you need to get started.

Pros:

  • Budget-friendly
  • Comes with pan and broil tray
  • Easy to use digital controls

Cons:

  • The words on the controls tend to wear off

Cuisinart TOB-260N1 Chef’s Convection Toaster Oven

Large-capacity toaster oven

If you're cooking for a crowd, this toaster oven has a spacious interior.
Best For Large Portions

Find on Amazon

You can fit a 13-inch pizza or nine slices of bread inside this toaster oven. It’s perfect for cooking larger quantities of food. The digital controls feature a blue backlit display that’s easy to read. There are 15 different cooking functions, including speed convection for when you need food fast. With the dual cook function, you can even set two different temperature settings consecutively, one on the top and one on the bottom. The interior light lets you keep an eye on things so you can pull your food out when it’s just right. This unit comes with several accessories, including two oven racks and a 13-inch pizza stone.

Pros:

  • Large capacity
  • Two racks for simultaneous cooking
  • Comes with a pizza stone and a baking pan

Cons:

  • Its large size means it takes a little longer to preheat than smaller models

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a convection oven?

Many toaster ovens feature convection technology. A convection oven uses fans to circulate the hot air around the food, making it cook more quickly than a conventional oven.

Are toaster ovens safe?

When used properly, toaster ovens are a safe way to cook, toast, or reheat food. However, the sides and back of toaster ovens can get hot. Keep children and pets away from them, and always wear oven mitts when adding or removing food to your toaster oven. Make sure nothing is touching the toaster oven sides. You also need to pay attention to the food in your toaster oven. If you turn it on and forget about it, you can burn the food inside and create a fire hazard. Also, do not use your glass pans inside the toaster oven. The pan will sit too close to the heating elements and could break. As with other kitchen appliances, always read the owner’s manual to check for any safety information related to your specific model.

What can I cook in a toaster oven?

Toaster ovens are not just for making toast. Most models have a variety of cooking functions that you can use to create many different recipes. Here are a few popular foods to prepare in your toaster oven: pizza, casserole, roasted root vegetables, baked potatoes, cookies, and baked chicken. It’s a versatile kitchen appliance for sure.