8 Best Toaster Ovens: Say Goodbye To Microwave Dinners

Last updated on October 7th, 2022 at 01:41 pm

When a Microwave Won’t Do: The Best Toaster Ovens on the Market

While conventional ovens are lovely, not every meal requires such a robust appliance. Additionally, while the public’s dependency on microwaves is growing, many people are sick of microwave dinners. People who are tired of microwave meals and who don’t want to bother with conventional ovens may seek refuge in a toaster oven.

The small countertop appliance can toast, bake, and broil, making it a versatile machine. Below you will find a list of the best toaster ovens currently available.

Toaster Ovens: The FAQs

1. What Is a Toaster Oven?

A toaster oven is known for its ability to brown and crisp foods in ways that microwaves can’t. This appliance is also capable of performing some necessary broiling and baking functions, and, more importantly, the toaster oven is more energy-efficient than your standard oven.

2. What Can a Toaster Oven Do?

A better question is, “What can’t a toaster oven do?” While commonly thought of as a glorified toaster, this appliance can bake, broil, reheat, and toast.

3. How Does a Toaster Oven Work?

A typical toaster oven depends on a heating coil in the base of the machine, and this heating element is what cooks your food. However, toaster ovens have come a long way, and many can perform convection cooking. These toaster ovens have fans that help to evenly distribute the heat, which cooks your food more consistently.

4. Where Can You Buy a Toaster Oven?

Toaster ovens can be purchased at most retail locations; basically, if a store sells appliances, then you can likely find toaster ovens there. Besides local retailers, you can always look on Amazon and other online marketplaces.

How We Reviewed

In an effort to provide you with the most accurate and reliable information, we compiled data from several sources and studied numerous consumer reviews. We are only presenting products that are both popular and dependable.

The 8 Best Toaster Ovens

1. The Breville Smart Oven Pro

The Breville Smart Oven Pro is an excellent toaster/convection oven. Boasting 10 preset functions and five heating elements, this toaster oven rates highly among consumers. A standard issue is the need to replace the thermal fuse after extensive use, which should be covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.

Pros

• Ten preset cooking options
• Temperature-conversion buttons
• Element IQ technology for automatic
• cooking adjustments

Where To Buy This item can be purchased from sites such as Amazon or from retailers, including Bed Bath & Beyond.

Warranty The Breville Smart Oven Pro comes with a one-year limited manufacturer’s warranty.

2. The Breville Mini Smart Oven

The Breville Mini Smart Oven is around $100 cheaper than the Pro version, but this toaster oven does not sacrifice quality. With most consumers raving about its functionality and consistency, the Mini Smart Oven can make an excellent addition to your kitchen. The only concern of some reviewers was the irregularity of the broiler function.

Pros

• Adjustable rack
• Eight preset functions
• Element IQ for automatic heating and
• cooking times

Where To Buy You can purchase the Breville Mini Smart Oven from local retailers, such as Bed Bath & Beyond, or from online marketplaces, such as Amazon.

Warranty This toaster oven from Breville comes with a one-year limited manufacturer’s warranty.

3. The Cuisinart Exact Heat

The Cuisinart Exact Heat offers ample space — 0.6 cubic feet — with electronic touchpad controls. Most reviewers were impressed with its consistency, which is due to the shade control and heat sensor. The primary concern among reviewers was the minimal interior lighting, which made it hard to tell when their food was done.

Pros

• Large capacity
• Shade control
• Electronic touchpad
• cooking times

Cons

• Minimal interior lighting
• Confusing operation

Where To Buy As with most products nowadays, you can find the Cuisinart Exact Heat at Amazon.com.

Warranty This product comes with a three-year limited warranty.

4. Black+Decker Four-Slice Toaster Oven

As the most affordable option on our list, the Black+Decker Four-Slice Toaster Oven does not disappoint. Praising the overall size and functionality of the oven, most consumers give this product an excellent rating, with the main negative being the inconsistent browning of toast.

Pros

• Convenient size
• Includes a baking pan and broiling rack
• Electronic touchpad

Cons

• Easy to over-brown your toast

Where To Buy The Amazon marketplace is always an excellent option for finding deals on countertop appliances, but local retail chains, including Bed Bath & Beyond, can offer significant value as well.

Warranty A two-year manufacturer’s warranty comes with the Black+Decker Four-Slice Toaster Oven.

5. Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven

• 1800-Watts with 7 functions: air fry, convection bake, convection broil, bake, broil, Warm, toast
• 0. 6 cubic foot non-stick interior with oven light. Dimensions (L x W x H): 15. 50 x 16. 00 x 14. 00 inches
• Capacity: toast 6 slices of bread, air fry 3lbs of chicken wings, bake a 12-inch pizza or roast a 4 pound chicken

If you’re looking for a toaster oven that does more than just toast, bake, and broil, then get the Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven. This oven not only has room for a 12-inch pizza but also includes an air fryer with a three-pound capacity. The one consistent negative was the uneven baking.

Pros

• Air fryer with three-pound capacity
• Extremely quiet operation
• Seven cooking functions

Where To Buy You can purchase the Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven from local retailers, including Bed Bath & Beyond, or from online retailers, such as Amazon.

Warranty This toaster oven comes with a three-year limited manufacturer’s warranty.

6. Hamilton Beach Easy Reach Toaster Oven

Not the same as the Easy Reach Convection Oven, the Hamilton Beach Easy Reach Toaster Oven is a strong contender. The space-saving design includes a rolltop door and a height of only 9.5 inches. Some reviewers did not appreciate that they had to unplug the toaster oven after every use, though this is a general appliance safety rule.

Pros

• Large glass door for easy visibility
• Includes a baking rack and pan
• Heavy-duty metal construction

Cons

• Must unplug after every use

Where To Buy As a popular brand, the Hamilton Beach Easy Reach Toaster Oven is readily available on Amazon and from other online and brick-and-mortar retailers, including Bed Bath & Beyond.

Warranty This toaster oven comes with a one-year manufacturer’s warranty.

7. Oster Large Digital Countertop Convection Toaster Oven

With one of the roomiest designs on this list, the Oster Large Digital Countertop Convection Toaster Oven has enough space for a 13-by-9 baking pan, a 12-inch pizza, nine slices of toast, or an entire chicken. While most consumers fell in love with the large capacity, some found the complexity of the dial functions too confusing.

Pros

• Large capacity that can fit an entire chicken
• Broad temperature range, from 150 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit
• LCD display

Where To Buy You can find this appliance at Amazon, Bed Bath & Beyond, or several other retailers.

Warranty This toaster oven has a one-year limited manufacturer’s warranty.

8. Breville Compact Smart Oven

Featuring the same wattage and Element IQ technology as its more robust siblings, the Breville Compact Smart Oven holds its own. Most reviewers appreciate the preset programs as well as the large digital display. However, some reviewers were put off by the fact that the temperature displayed is different from the actual oven temperature. The temperature variation is a safety feature and is designed to prevent overcooking.

Pros

• Eight preset programs
• LCD screen
• Temperature-conversion button

Cons

• The actual temperature is different from the digital readout

Where To Buy As with most products these days, Amazon sells this Breville, but it can also be found at stores such as Bed Bath & Beyond.

Warranty This toaster oven comes with a one-year limited manufacturer’s warranty.

The Verdict

Any of the above-listed toaster ovens would be an excellent addition to your kitchen; however, depending on your budget and space, you may be inclined to pick one over another. The Breville Smart Oven Pro is a top-of-the-line machine best suited for those with a large budget who plan on using the appliance daily.

If you only intend to use your toaster oven once in a while, then you’re better off picking the Black+Decker, which is both popular and affordable. No matter which toaster oven you choose, you will be happy to forget about those microwave dinners and start cooking something fresh.