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Small toaster ovens are a great option for small apartments, if you are short on counter space or prepare small meals.
They are far more versatile than microwaves and toasters, as they offer baking, broiling, toasting, and many other cooking modes.
After researching various models, we think these are the best toaster ovens on the market.
The Breville BOV650XL is a compact and stylish smart toaster oven with eight cooking functions and simple controls. This small toaster oven can save some space on your countertop while still offering a wide range of features.
It can take on everything from toast to pizza, from muffins to roast chicken.
What We Like
- Smart heat distribution
- Simple Controls
- Easy to read LCD display
- 3 rack positions
What is Not Ideal
- Average toaster function
- No interior light
- Rack does not auto-eject
Features of Breville Compact Smart Oven
The highlight of this smart oven is the Element IQ system. Breville’s toaster ovens with this feature have sensors and can redistribute heat within the chamber to get your meal cooked, baked, or roasted evenly on all sides. The Element IQ also helps you save power on lower settings.
This Breville oven has eight cooking modes, toast, roast, bagel, pizza, bake, cookies, broil, and reheat. The oven also allows you to choose how dark your toast is.
The BOV650XL delivers 1,800 Watts, making it one of the most powerful options in the small toaster oven class. The temperature range is 120-450°F.
The interior has non-stick coating which makes it easy to clean. The crumb tray is removable. The outer dimensions of this oven are 13.5" x 16.7" x 11.5" (WxDxH).
Control Panel
The front panel of this toaster oven is equipped with an easy-to-read LCD screen. It has two color modes — orange and blue. The former is on during the pre-heating, while the latter kicks in when the cooking process is done.
The display on the LCD screen changes based on the setting. For example, when your oven is in toast mode, the display shows the toast darkness level and the number of slices you’re toasting.
By default, it displays the temperature in Fahrenheit, but you can change it to Celsius.
The front control panel also has a Start/Cancel button, a cooking mode dial, a Temp/Time knob, and Defrost and Temperature Conversion buttons.
The Temp/Time knob also allows you to select the toast darkness level and the number of slices you’re toasting.
Breville BOV450XL Mini Smart Oven
The Breville BOV450XL packs a lot of power in a small package. This 1800 watt toaster oven has eight cooking modes.
It can take on anything, from a simple toast to pizzas, cupcakes, and roasted chicken.
If you’re looking to save space on the counter without sacrificing power and versatility, the BOV450XLmight be your next toaster oven.
What We Like
- Powerful and compact
- Smart heat distribution
- Simple controls
- Clear and informative display
What is Not Ideal
- Average performance in toast mode
- No interior light
Features of Breville 450XL
Like the rest of the BOV lineup, the 450XL is equipped with the Element IQ system. This technology lets you prepare meals without needing to worry about the details.
For example, if you’re making English muffins in the bagel mode, the system will ensure the top side receives more heat. But if you’re preparing lasagna using the baking setting, it will be done equally on all sides.
The eight cooking functions are Toast, Bagel, Bake, Roast, Broil, Pizza, Cookies, and Reheat. The temperature range is 120-450°F and is shown in Celsius or Fahrenheit.
The oven of the BOV450XL can accommodate an 11” pizza, four toast slices, and a six-cup muffin tray. Like with any regular oven, you can use silicone trays.
The dimensions of this toaster oven are 17.7" x 12.9" x 10.5" (WxDxH).
The chamber has a non-stick coating, making it easy to clean and maintain. It also has a removable crumb tray at the bottom and three rack positions.
Control Panel
There is a well-organized LCD on the front panel. The information displayed depends on the mode. The display is orange in the preheating phase, and it turns blue once the cooking process is done.
The rest of the control panel is made up of the mode selector with eight settings, toast mode controls, and the bottom buttons.
The toast mode controls include the Temp/Darkness and Time/Slices buttons and Up and Down selector switches.
The bottom section includes Start/Cancel, A Bit More, Defrost, and Temperature Conversion buttons.
Panasonic NB-G110P FlashXpress Toaster Oven
The Panasonic FlashXpress toaster oven uses double infrared heating technology and features 1300 watts of power. The two heating elements are made of quartz and ceramic materials.
This small toaster oven is easy to use and cooks foods quickly and evenly.
This is a good option if you want to buy a small toaster oven used to toast bread, re-heat leftovers or cook frozen foods.
What We Like
- Fast cooking time
- Cooks food evenly
- Straightforward to operate
- Interior light
What is Not Ideal
- Timer only goes up to 25 minutes
- No cancel button – have to press on/off
Features of Panasonic FlashXpress
Although this Panasonic toaster oven is not a stylish appliance, the design is simple, and the unit is straightforward to operate. The settings are controlled with touch buttons instead of the knobs usually found on toaster ovens.
The temperature range is 250°F - 500°F and can be displayed in Celsius or Fahrenheit. Regarding temperature uniformity, reviewers have conflicting opinions on whether food cooks evenly in Panasonic FlashXpress.
The biggest complaint is when food is placed within an inch or two of the door, it is not cooked to the same degree as food in the middle or back of the oven. If you find this the case, the pan can be rotated to get more even heating.
This Panasonic infrared toaster oven comes with a baking and removable crumb tray and a square inner tray. The toast rack cannot be adjusted for height as there is only one position. However, it is removable for cleaning as is the crumb tray.
The rack is attached to the door and automatically slides out when the door is opened. This makes it easy to place pans or dishes on the rack and take them off.
This toaster oven has dimensions of 13" x 12" x 10.2" (WxDxH).
Control Panel
The FlashXpress toaster oven has six cooking modes - toast, frozen waffle, reheat rolls, frozen pizza, quick reheat, and frozen hash brown. One of five shades of browning can be selected in the toast mode by pressing the touch button arrows. The timer cannot be used with the preset modes.
In addition to the six preset options, one of eight temperature levels can be selected to cook your food. The digital timer can be used with these temperature settings. It can be set anywhere from 30 seconds to 25 minutes. A beep lets you know when the time is up.
Once you place the food in the oven, it can be monitored with the interior light. The light goes on when the elements are heating and off when they are not heating.
Note: Don’t be alarmed if the heaters turn off and on during cooking, as this is a way of controlling the temperature.
Black+ Decker 4-Slice Toaster Oven, TO1760SS
The Black and Decker TO1760SS is a small, reasonably priced toaster oven. It has a sturdy build, and its practical design uses modern cooking technology.
With four cooking settings, an adjustable timer, and easy maintenance, it is a great option for those on a tight budget. However, if you think you will only use it to toast bread, you’re better off using a toaster as it is less expensive and won’t take up counter space.
There is enough room for a 9-inch pizza or four slices of bread. However, this toaster oven is not designed to replace your full-size oven.
What We Like
The compact and affordable toaster oven performs well in all four cooking settings. It has even heat distribution.
The controls are easy to turn and easy to clean. What’s also nice is that it has dedicated settings for the toast mode. The baking sheet can double as a drip pan, and the crumb tray is removable. This unit comes with a three-prong plug.
What is Not Ideal
Since the interior height is small, you are limited to what you can cook in this toaster oven.
The rack does not automatically come out when the door is opened. Moreover, the rack position should be lower.
The outside of the oven and the handle gets hot, so you’ll need to be careful about how you position it.
Features Black+ Decker 4-Slice Toaster Oven
The BLACK+DECKER 4-Slice Toaster Oven with Natural Convection is equipped with four cooking settings — bake, toast, broil, and keep warm. These functions cover a range of meals and snacks, including toast bread, pizza, fish sticks, chicken nuggets, fries, grilled cheese sandwiches, cookies, casseroles, and many others.
The food or baking dish should not come within 1.5 inches of the top heating element. If you are making muffins or cupcakes, this should be considered when filling the muffin pan.
The rack is fixed in one position and can’t be moved up or down like in other models.
When using the baking and broil modes, the oven should be preheated at the desired temperature for at least 10 minutes.
Black+Decker advertises this toaster oven as having Natural Convection Technology. The oven’s interior was designed to manage airflow based on the principles of thermodynamics. There is no fan that distributes the airflow, nor is there a convection function.
When in toast mode, the oven evenly distributes the hot air around the chamber to ensure all slices are equally crispy on both sides. The oven can take up to four slices of bread at a time and should be centered on the rack.
There is no need to preheat the oven for toasting. Once you set the shade selector, the oven begins toasting.
Control Panel
The TO1760SS has a simple and convenient control panel. It is located to the right of the oven door and doesn’t have a digital display.
The dial on the top is for temperature adjustment. The measurements are given in both Celsius and Fahrenheit.
The temperature settings are minimum, warm, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, broil, and toast. Select a timer setting or STAY ON for the oven to heat.
The cooking setting dial is located beneath the temperature dial. It has four settings — warm, broil, bake, and toast.
The timer is at the bottom, and the maximum automatic setting is 30 minutes.
If you’re making a dish that takes more time, use the Stay On setting. The oven also has three separate settings for toast.
The chamber with a zinc-coated interior is easy to clean after you’ve finished cooking. The removable crumb tray at the bottom makes maintenance easy.
The external dimensions of the Black+Decker TO1760SS measure 16.5" wide, 11.5" deep and 9" high. The internal dimensions measure 10.5" wide, 9" deep and 3" high. (per email from Black+Decker customer service).
The toaster oven should have a clearance of at least 4 inches on all sides for proper air circulation.
This model has a stainless steel rack and an aluminum baking pan (which does not have a non-stick coating) that fit perfectly inside the chamber. The available color options of this toaster oven include a combination of black and silver and stainless steel.
Hamilton Beach 6-Slice Easy Reach Toaster Oven
The Hamilton Beach 6-Slice Easy Reach Toaster Oven is an inexpensive alternative to the pricier Breville toaster oven we reviewed. This unit has a convection feature and a spacious interior.
It is easy to use as there are only three control knobs. The top roll door takes up no additional space when opened, while giving you full access to the food inside.
This oven doesn’t have an LCD display or smart heat distribution.
What We Like
- Compact design – roll-top door
- Good to reheat or cook small portions
- Easy to operate – three controls
- Has a convection mode
What is Not Ideal
- Heating is sometimes uneven
- Longest timer setting is 30 minutes
Features of the Hamilton Beach Easy Reach
The Easy Reach Toaster Oven has 4 cooking modes. This 1400 watt toaster oven has a temperature range of 150°- 450°F. The temperature is only displayed in Fahrenheit.
The roll top door gives you easy access to the toast or pizza you’re baking, while also saving space. It also reduces the possibility of rubbing up against a hot open door when removing food. The door has a thermo-resistant handle at the bottom.
This toaster oven measures 18.5" x 15" x 9.5". There are two positions for the rack and the crumb tray can be removed for cleaning.
The cooking modes — convection, bake, broil, and toast allow you to prepare small portions of various meats, vegetables and desserts.
Control Panel
The front control panel is a simple one, featuring three knobs. The top knob lets you select the temperature, the middle one allows you to choose the cooking mode, while the bottom knob is the toast timer. By default, the longest interval you can set is 30 minutes. There’s also the Stay On feature, for dishes that require more time.
The grill is included with the oven and can be placed in one of two height positions. The top slot is for the toast and convection modes, while the lower rack position is for the bake and convection modes.
Final Thoughts
If you don't have a lot of counter space, the BOV450XL would be our choice for a small toaster oven.
However, if space is not an issue, the BOV650XL is our choice as the best small toaster oven. It doesn't sound like a big deal, but the 650XL can handle a 12" pizza while the smaller unit can only accommodate an 11" pizza.
Top-rated Small Toaster Oven Comparison
Product | Power | Presets | Capacity | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Breville BOV650XL | 1800W | 8 | 12" pizza 4 bread slices | 1 Year |
Breville BOV450XL | 1800W | 8 | 11" pizza 4 bread slices | 1 Year |
Panasonic Flashxpress | 1300W | 6 | 9" pizza 4 bread slices | 1 Year |
Hamilton Beach | 1400W | 3 | 12" pizza 6 bread slices | 1 Year USA 5 Years CAN |
Black+Decker | 1150W | 4 | 9" pizza 4 bread slices | 2 Years |
| Name | Price | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Breville the Compact Smart Oven, Countertop Electric Toaster Oven BOV650XL | Check Price |  |
| Breville BOV450XL Mini Smart Oven with Element IQ | Check Price | |
| Panasonic FlashXpress Toaster Oven with Double Infrared Heating 1300 Watts | Check Price |  |
| BLACK+DECKER 4-Slice Toaster Oven with Natural Convection, Stainless Steel, TO1760SS | Check Price |  |
| Hamilton Beach Countertop Toaster Oven, Easy Reach With Roll-Top Door, 6-Slice, Convection | Check Price |  |
What to look for when shopping for a small toaster oven
Buying a toaster oven can be a complex task, especially if it is going to be your main cooking and baking appliance. With that in mind, there are many factors to consider.
The main considerations are what you will cook in the toaster oven, the exterior size, interior capacity, settings, features, accessories, price and warranty.
Comparing models is a good way to ensure you are getting the right toaster oven for your kitchen and cooking needs.
What Do You Plan to Cook in the Toaster Oven?
Before you start browsing countertop toaster ovens and comparing settings and accessories, it’s important to decide how you will use the oven. Are you planning on making pizza, baked goods, or slow-cooked dishes?
Depending on the answer, some ovens will suit you better than others. If you want to make toast, maybe cook small batches of leftover dough or cook some healthy snacks without firing up the large oven; any small oven will do. The units that cook complex meals are more expensive.
If you’re looking for perfectly prepared meals, ovens that come without a convection fan will probably disappoint you.
If you want to reheat, defrost, or melt some ingredients, you might be better off with a microwave oven. It heats food much faster, and it’s also more energy-efficient.
Size and Capacity
Depending on the type of dishes you like preparing most and how much countertop space you have, some toaster ovens are better suited for you than others.
First, ask yourself what you would like to cook or bake in your new toaster oven. Is it a 12” pizza, a pair of fish fillets, or a few cookies here and there?
Second, consider how many people you will be feeding. Will you be cooking for one, two, or perhaps a larger family?
If you intend to use the oven every day and prepare a wide range of meals, a bigger model is best. Some toaster ovens can bake 12” or even 13” pizzas and accommodate a 15-lb. turkey. The bigger models tend to cost more than smaller ones, but they will pay off in the long run.
On the other hand, if you need the oven to prepare quick snacks or a few slices of toast from time to time, a smaller oven might be the wiser choice. Compact toaster ovens are more energy-efficient, and can be cleaned quickly.
Temperature Range
The temperature range will depend on the brand, size, power, and design of the toaster oven, and there is a lot of variation.
In all but very few models, you can adjust the temperature range between low, medium, high, and everything in between.
To make sure you can prepare your meals according to the recipe, choose a toaster oven with clear gradations and visual indicators. This makes it easy to determine where to turn the knob to get the temperature necessary for any particular recipe.
Settings
The number of cooking settings may be the most important feature for those planning to use their new toaster oven every day.
Currently available toaster oven models have multiple cooking settings, including the budget class options. The most common ones include toast, baking, and broiling. All models can be used to warm up a meal.
In addition to these four modes, some models might have extra cooking settings, like pizza, roast, or steam. Let’s take a quick look at the most commonly included settings.
Bake: This is the most standard setting. You will find it in every toaster oven, regardless of its price and size. It is designed to mimic the way a “big oven” bakes. The heat mainly comes from the bottom element, though many models can increase and decrease the power of the elements as needed.
Broil: The broil setting only uses the top element to prepare food. You can use it to grill veggies, melt cheese, and give your casserole a nice brown surface.
Toast: The toast setting uses top and bottom elements to heat the food evenly. Aside from toasting bread, it is great for reheating pizza and making waffles and bagels.
Warm: This setting keeps the meal above the temperature range where bacteria may develop (40°-140° Fahrenheit). It is around 160°F on most models.
Pizza: This setting uses both top and bottom elements. The former will melt cheese and other toppings, while the latter will give the crust a nice crisp. Some models have specific time limits for frozen and fresh pizzas.
Roast: Roasting is harsher than baking at a higher temperature. In roast mode, the oven will reach the maximum temperature faster.
Steam: Some models include this advanced mode. It utilizes an onboard water reservoir to let you poach and steam the food. You can also create artisan bread and other bakery-style pastries in this setting.
Cookies: The name of the setting says it all. It is completely tuned to baking cookies, though you can prepare other foods and meals that require similar temperatures and preparation times. This mode generally turns the convection fan on (if there is one).
Bagel: The bagel setting gives your pastry a crusty top and a well-done interior while gentle on the exterior.
Other settings: Some toaster oven models come with air-fry, dehydrate, dual cooking, slow cooking, and many other cooking settings.
Air-fry is there when you want to give your meal a nice brown top and make it extra crisp. Use dehydration to dry fruits and herbs.
Dual cooking lets you combine two settings. For example, you might broil sausages, and then, when the broiling is done, you can leave them on the warm setting for another half an hour.
Features
To make their toaster ovens more appealing to buyers, manufacturers keep trying to outdo each other by offering innovative features. You can expect convection, digital displays, rotisserie spits, and more. Here are some commonly seen features.
Convection: This is a fan that distributes the air around the chamber. Ovens with a fan are also called convection toaster ovens.
Timer: This is an essential feature. It keeps track of the cooking process and will turn the elements off once the time is up.
However, most models have the Stay On feature for meals that take longer to prepare. In Stay On mode, it is up to you to turn the power off.
LCD Screen: A feature found in more mid-range and top-range toaster ovens. It usually displays the temperature and the cooking setting.
In some cases, it can show other key information. It may change colors to signal where you are in the cooking process.
Illuminated interior: Some toaster ovens have inside lights so you can monitor the progress of your meal without the need to open the chamber door.
Heating Elements: Infrared heating elements, for example, come in two types: near and far elements.
Far elements are responsible for giving out the heat necessary to cook the outside of the food. Near heating elements make your toaster oven strong enough to cook food on the inside.
A basic toaster oven may have only two heating elements, one at the top and one at the bottom. More advanced toaster ovens use three heating elements, adding one in the middle.
Models with three heating elements create fewer hot spots and heat the oven faster.
There are toaster oven models with multiple heating elements for each section of the oven. Extra heating elements at the top help you with broiling. More heating elements usually means more cooking modes from which to choose.
Safety Features: When it comes to safety features, almost every toaster oven these days will have a timer. The cooking process will stop once the timer runs out, so your food doesn’t burn.
Regardless of which materials the oven is made of, the outside will get very hot the longer the oven works. Some toaster ovens are equipped with safe-to-touch door handles, but that’s about it.
It’s crucial to use oven mitts whenever working with countertop toaster ovens. Additionally, you should avoid moving any other appliances too close to either side of your oven. But if absolute safety is your top concern, microwave ovens might be the better choice for you.
Accessories
Some toaster ovens come with multiple accessories, while others only have a regular tray. Other models have a baking pan, pizza tray, pizza stone, and a tray.
The larger the oven, the more versatile it is. Big models are usually equipped with more cooking functions, and chances are you could also get a few extra accessories with your toaster oven.
For example, there may be a rack for air frying food. You might also receive a deeper, larger tray for slow-cooking whole birds.
Some brands offer a rotating spit for countertop toaster ovens as an optional accessory.
Let’s look at the most commonly featured accessories included with toaster ovens.
Baking pan: Many models come with a baking pan, even in the budget category. The included pan is perfectly sized to fit inside the chamber. You can use it for baking and broiling your meals.
Broiling rack: This useful accessory keeps the food above the baking pan during broiling. Many models, though not all, have multiple positions for the broiling rack.
Crumb tray: This is a standard feature even in the budget class. A removable crumb tray is located at the bottom of the chamber, and you can pull it out while the door is closed.
All of these accessories make your toaster oven more convenient to use. Of course, you can also buy pans and trays separately.
User Interface, Ease of Use, and Maintenance
Everything depends on your personal preferences when it comes to ease of use. You can find toaster ovens with LCD or basic buttons and text descriptions on the side panel.
LCDs are easier to read, and you’ll find it more convenient to make temperature adjustments. Changing the fan speed is a lot easier too.
On the other hand, an LCD tends to get cloudy over time, even if everything else on your toaster oven remains in top condition. So, although a digital user interface seems intriguing at first, it might cause difficulties.
It’s also worth pointing out that not all LCDs are equally good. Some have great readability, but only when looking at them from the front. It becomes almost impossible to see the readouts once you look at them from an angle. Before you make your purchase, consider these details.
Newer toaster oven models have complex cooking functions and advanced settings, which usually means complicated displays and digital interfaces. This means that eventually, you might start struggling with making quick adjustments.
In terms of maintenance, no matter what type of toaster oven you have, it will be easy to clean. Apart from the removable trays, no other interior components need removing. You can use various commercial cleaning sprays to dispose of grease quickly.
Price
Of course, the more accessories and cooking modes the oven has, the more expensive it will be. However, you can expect to find something suitable in any budget range.
Smaller, less versatile toaster ovens will be easily affordable. But if you’re looking for something that could complement or even replace your traditional oven, it will be more expensive.
If you are undecided and looking at both countertop toaster ovens and microwave ovens, the pricing shouldn’t be a significant consideration. Microwave ovens may be slightly cheaper, but the cooking versatility of these devices more than justifies the extra money spent on a toaster oven.
Brands
There are quite a few brands that you can always trust to make high-quality countertop toaster ovens. Breville, Cuisinart, Hamilton Beach, KitchenAid — these are all reputable brands that offer top-quality manual devices and electronic appliances.
However, Panasonic is quickly becoming a popular brand of toaster ovens. Panasonic has achieved a lot regarding infrared heating technology for countertop ovens. While their products may be slightly pricier, they are surprisingly good in energy efficiency and cooking speed.
Warranty
Before buying a toaster oven:
1. Read the warranty carefully and see how long you’re covered.
2. Find out how the manufacturer handles defects.
3. Make sure you understand the return policy if the oven underperforms or arrives damaged.
Final Thoughts
When deciding which type of countertop toaster oven to buy, most people use pricing and size to settle on a particular model. Others select the newest model available from the brand they prefer.
The size of the countertop oven is an important factor for buyers. Other considerations are the number of preset cooking modes, the heating technology, and the amount of control you have over the temperature settings and air circulation.
Once you’ve found the perfect combination of the previously mentioned features, you can weigh in the other perks according to your budget or personal preference.
If you are looking for accessories to go with your toaster oven, see our article on Toaster Oven Dishes, Pans, and Accessories.
Frequently Asked Questions about Toaster Ovens
What Is a Toaster Oven?
A toaster oven is an oven that combines the functionalities of a traditional toaster and a standard oven. Toaster ovens tend to be much smaller than the classic models, and they are perfect for small kitchens and cramped countertops.
Toaster ovens usually only have a main chamber, where all the cooking takes place. There are no standard burners on the top, though some models might feature the classic upright toast slots.
Controls are usually positioned on the side of the oven. The most important ones are the temperature and cooking mode dials and the timer. Some models might also sport LCDs and additional buttons and switches.
It's important to position your toaster oven on the countertop correctly. Toaster ovens need sufficient clearance from the overhead cabinets and other appliances and items on the counter. Make sure to check the user manual for the exact requirements for your oven.
Convection toaster ovens: Convection toaster ovens are similar to standard toaster ovens. The only significant difference is that the convection models have fans that distribute the heat around the chamber.
Microwaves: While toaster ovens use heating elements, microwaves rely on electromagnetic waves. Essentially, microwaves are there to defrost foods and warm-up meals, but they are not great at preparing toast and other crisp meals. Here is an article comparing a microwave oven to a toaster oven.
What are the different types of toaster ovens?
Toaster ovens can be separated into conventional, convection, infrared, and rotisserie.
Conventional Toaster Ovens: Conventional toaster ovens are among the most affordable countertop ovens on the market. They come in various models and with multiple features depending on the brand, price, size, and other considerations.
This type of oven uses heating elements to heat the air in the oven and the baking pan or tray. Because of this, food gets cooked more evenly and from all sides.
As with any other type of oven, conventional toaster ovens will require some warmup time before you can start preparing your meal.
The main uses of conventional toaster ovens often depend on the size and settings. Small toaster ovens can be used to reheat leftovers, make toast or snacks, and you can also bake small amounts of pastries or doughy delights.
Convection Toaster Ovens: Convection heating technology involves using a fan of fixed or variable speeds to move the air around the oven.
Air circulation eliminates most problems that conventional toaster ovens have — the most important issue being hot spot formation.
Hot spots occur in regular toaster ovens due to the average heat distribution from the heating elements. The fan resolves this problem by moving the hot air around to make all oven areas equally hot.
This makes convection toaster ovens more versatile, more efficient at cooking, and more expensive.
Infrared Toaster Ovens: The infrared toaster oven is the new kid on the block. This type of oven uses a new cooking technology that uses light as a heating source. For the time being, infrared toaster ovens aren’t as available as the previous two categories. You may have trouble finding a model you like.
That being said, they have interesting features and benefits. For one, infrared heating is more energy-efficient than conventional heating elements. Secondly, the oven will warm up more quickly.
Because of the faster heating process, infrared toaster ovens are better for cooking frozen foods. Both traditional and convection toaster ovens are ill-equipped to handle this task.
Rotisserie Ovens: Rotisserie ovens are another class of countertop ovens. These have a particular function — cooking meat. Unlike the other options, these ovens come with a rotating spit which turns the meat slowly and ensures that each side gets equal exposure to heat.
They tend to be quite large in comparison to other countertop ovens, especially if you want to be able to fit a whole chicken. It’s also important to note that not all rotisserie ovens use convection technology or infrared technology. In terms of energy efficiency, they aren’t the best choice.
Is a Toaster Oven Worth the Money?
Here are a few reasons why a toaster oven might be a good investment.
Settings: Some ovens have three or more cooking settings.
For example, you can use the bake setting to make your favorite casserole, chicken breasts, or any other meal you would bake in a standard big oven.
The toast setting lets you prepare delicious muffins, bagels, garlic bread toast, and waffles. The broil setting is great for making mozzarella sticks, chicken nuggets, and egg rolls.
Accessibility: If you find it difficult to bend over or crouch every time you need to check on the pizza or casserole in your standard oven, a toaster oven on the countertop might be a good alternative.
Easier to maintain: Smaller toaster ovens are easier to clean than traditional ovens.
Mobility: Once positioned and integrated with the working surface, a standard oven can’t easily be moved around. A toaster oven fits on a countertop and can be relocated easily.
Efficiency: Toaster ovens tend to be more energy-efficient than the standard variety. Many models also save power when warming food. A convection toaster oven is convenient and energy-efficient if you cook for one person.
Here is a comparison of a toaster oven and a microwave oven to help you decide whether you can replace your microwave with a toaster oven.
Can glass or Pyrex® pans be used in a toaster oven?
Pyrex® Safety and Usage document state Pyrex® glassware are not to be used in a toaster oven or on a stovetop with an open flame or electric burner, under the broiler, or on a barbecue grill.
Can cast iron cookware be used in a toaster oven?
Cast iron cookware can be used in a toaster oven. Some wire racks in toaster ovens are thin and might bend if a large cast iron skillet is placed on them.
Can parchment paper be used in a toaster oven?
According to Reynolds Kitchens, parchment paper is NOT used in a toaster oven.
