Best Toaster Oven For Your Kitchen
Toaster ovens make a great option for those who don’t have the room or the budget for a dedicated oven. Beyond space or cost savings, though, there is a lot more this simple household appliance can do.
Coming in many sizes and power possibilities, it’s no wonder that a toaster oven has become a key staple in the modern kitchen. Quickly cooking anything from toast and bagels to frozen pizzas and full meals, owners can avoid the hassle of preheating and start cooking their favorite foods almost immediately.
This article highlights our choices for the top five toaster ovens, which run the gamut in terms of price, style, and possibilities. We’ll break down each and go over what you need to know to pick the best toaster oven for your kitchen.
- Element IQ cooking technology
- Great accessories for pizzas and broiling
- 3 rack positions
- 1 year warranty
- Small size and lightweight design
- Simple timer and temperature knobs
- Accessories included
- 1-year warranty
- Combination of infrared and convection technology
- FlashXpress technology
- Internal light lets you keep an eye on what’s cooking
- 1 year parts and labor warranty
- High-speed convection can be adjusted for baking and broiling
- Dedicated reheat and defrost functionality increases usability
- Included accessories can bake or broil most foods
- Includes a 3 year warranty
- Multilevel cooking
- Clear digital controls
- Defrost setting
- 1-year warranty
The Breville Smart Oven BOV800XL comes right out of the gate with the best of convection ovens married with the toasting capability of the standard toaster oven. It uses an Element IQ system to offset the natural weakness of a convection oven when cooking toast.
Having the option to turn the convection fans on or off, sometimes even automatically, means you can make sure that whatever you cook is using the best setting possible. We also appreciate the fair size of this oven, which manages to offer lots of internal space without claiming valuable counter space in your kitchen.
At over 20 pounds, this unit is best served as a permanent fixture of your kitchen rather than a portable option, but considering the 9 presets, 3 accessories, and auto-eject rack, this product more than earns a permanent space in your kitchen. We highly recommend the Breville Smart Oven BOV800XL for overall functionality and seriously smart cooking. And should the cost seem a bit daunting, the Breville Smart Oven BOV650XL is a more affordable alternative with many of the same features.
Pros
- Adjustable convection technology
- Great size
- Sturdy handle
- Accessories included
- Auto-eject rack
- Lots of effective presets
Cons
- Heavy
- Somewhat expensive
A stark contrast to the Breville Smart Oven BOV800XL, the Dash Compact DCTO100GBRD04 is tailor-made for those who only need a toaster oven for short, simple occasions. This model is our smallest toaster oven by footprint, thereby making it easy to store when not in use.
Baking seems to be the major focus from the manufacturer, as this appliance comes with a dedicated baking pan and uses knobs to quickly turn the unit on.
Simple or not, the low wattage of this product can be a bit of a problem. Lower wattage means less heating capability, so allowing this unit to preheat is a good idea. While more space would also have been preferable, the price is certainly right for this bold and bright unit. We recommend the Dash Compact DCTO100GBRD04 for budget-seekers and cookie bakers.
Pros
- Affordable
- Lightweight
- Accessories included
- Color customizable
- Great for baking
- Intuitive controls
Cons
- Low wattage
- Small internal capacity
- Cooking can be uneven
The Panasonic FlashXpress NB-G110P is the only toaster oven on our list to feature infrared cooking technology. Thanks to a combination of convection and infrared technologies, this model can preheat in under a second. The FlashXpress feature specifically relies on infrared technology which uses radiation to cook food and get the food started while the convection fans warm up.
The result is an oven that can hold its own against even the most expensive ovens on our list without breaking its two-figure price tag. To get to this level, however, a few sacrifices seem to have been made. Minimal LED displays, large, strange push-button controls, and a lower wattage all seem to stem from the main feature.
Still, infrared cooking, while somewhat inconsistent, is preferred by many for speed. For speed and price, you cannot ask for much better than the Panasonic FlashXpress NB-G110P.
Pros
- Affordable
- Infrared technology
- Cooks fast
- Internal light
- Great convection built-in
Cons
- Can cook unevenly
- Low wattage
- Strange controls
- Weak LED display
The Cuisinart Air Fryer TOA-60 is a toaster oven capable of also being used as an air dryer that comes in a unique industrial design that looks like a shrunken down version of a conventional oven. This design allows for a dedicated internal light, but the real star of the show here is the air frying capability.
Owners can use the air fry basket for cooking fries, chicken, and other household favorites without worrying about fats and oils. Likewise, the high wattage combined with a smaller capacity makes preheating practically nonexistent with this model. While the size specifically leaves something to be desired, this product aims for specialization rather than general use. Because of that, we specifically recommend the Cuisinart Air Fryer TOA-60 for lovers of fried and dried foods.
Pros
- Great air frying functionality
- Accessories included
- Simple knob controls
- Quick heating
- Powerful convection
Cons
- Somewhat small internal capacity
- Low clearance for tall items
The Oster TSSTTVDGXL-SHP aims for a no-frills, ultra-wide toaster oven. It may not have a name that rolls off of the tongue, but when it comes to operation, the product could not be simpler. Taking clear inspiration from the classic microwave design, setting temperature and running the toaster is simple, and you can even turn the turbo convection setting on and off as needed.
Multi-level cooking means that two pizzas can go in at the same time without fear of spotty cooking, and this toaster oven has the largest capacity out of any on our list. With little discernible drawbacks aside from wattage and lack of accessories, we find it easy to recommend the Oster TSSTTVDGXL-SHP for anyone that needs to get a lot cooked and doesn’t want to cook in batches.
Pros
- Great capacity
- Simple controls
- Clean design
- Adjustable convection
- Easy-clean interior
Cons
- Lower wattage than expected
- Bulky
- Heavy
- No included accessories
Comparison Chart
FEATURES | Breville Smart Oven BOV800XL | Dash Compact DCTO100GBRD04 | Panasonic FlashXpress NB-G110P | Cuisinart Air Fryer TOA-60 | Oster TSSTTVDGXL-SHP |
Category | Convection | Toaster | Infrared | Convection | Convection |
Capacity | 0.8 cu. ft | 0.4 cu. ft | 0.6 cu. ft | 0.6 cu. ft | 1.3 cu. ft |
Wattage | 1800W | 1100W | 1300W | 1800W | 1525W |
Pizza Pan | ✓ | X | X | X | X |
Crumb Tray | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | X | X |
Defrost Setting | X | X | ✓ | X | ✓ |
Weight | 22 lbs | 8.4 lbs | 11.25 lbs | 21 lbs | 26 lbs |
Dimensions | 18.5 X 15.75 X 11 | 11.8 X 10.7 X 8.7 | 12 X 13 X 10.2 | 15.5 X 16 X 14 | 24 X 21.5 X 16.7 |
Buyer’s Guide:
Toaster Oven
These five toaster ovens each cook a great meal with the right ingredients and settings, but not each toaster oven deserves to take a place in your home. While many owners simply want a miniature oven, we recommend considering the sum total of all possibilities before settling on the right option for you. That’s why we recommend considering the following:
Final Thoughts
Most of these ovens can tackle standard residential use for a toaster oven, such as bagel and pizza cooking. For those seeking a bit more nuance in their toaster oven options, we feel that the best option in our list is the Breville Smart Oven BOV800XL, which blows the competition out of the water when it comes to design, functionality, and dependability.
The larger interior and great accessories make this toaster oven ready to tackle just about anything you can fit within it and is our favorite overall pick.
For budget-seekers, the Dash Compact unit is certainly one that could serve you well. Plus, with the additional color options, it shouldn’t be an issue getting your purchase to match with your home’s interior design. If size is what you need, the Oster unit has more than enough room to space. It’s perfect for multiple pizzas, turkeys on Thanksgiving, and full hams for Christmastime.
And finally, if speed is your primary focus, then the Panasonic FlashXpress successfully leverages convection and infrared technology to make preheating a thing of the past.
No matter which toaster oven you choose, we hope that you realize just how valuable a strong toaster oven can be in complementing your current kitchen appliances. With features ranging from defrosting to instant cooking, we know that the right toaster oven will more than cover its cost over the years with some seriously great dishes.