Best Toaster Ovens 2024

The Difference Between Traditional Toaster Ovens and Conventional Toasters

A traditional toaster oven has a toast setting, a bake setting, and sometimes other options. The baking setting uses three primary heat sources to cook food:

• Conduction heat: This type transfers from the baking pan to the item on top of it.
• Radiant heat: Heat that emanates directly from the heating elements and metal walls.
• Warm air: The heat naturally circulates inside the oven.

While a convection toaster has these three heat elements, it has a bonus one as well: a built-in fan.

This convection fan forces warm air to:

• Aid in the browning process (particularly helpful for vegetables)
• Circulate throughout the interior of the toaster
• Cook food faster and at an evener temperature
• Increase the temperature of your toaster
• Remove moisture

They also tend to be larger. Some convention toasters are even big enough to fit pizza pans!

Why a Convection Toaster Oven Is Better Than a Traditional Toaster

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We’ve already outlined the differences between a pop-up toaster, a traditional counter toaster, and a convection toaster. Now, let’s compare them side to side.

Convection Toaster vs. Pop-Up Toaster

If you’re short on space, you may not want to clutter your coveted counter space with a convection toaster.

However, if you enjoy cooking, it may be worth it. A convection toaster is better than a pop-up toaster for a plethora of reasons:

• Higher capacity: With a convection toaster oven, you can make four slices of toast at a time. With a pop-up toaster, you can only make two.
• More options: Convection toasters enable you to make more than toast, waffles, and other flatbreads! Sometimes, even bagels have problems fitting into pop-up toasters. You can toast two whole bagels at once with convection toasters, heat chicken nuggets, bake small pies, and so much more.

In short, if you want to use a toaster as a mini-oven, purchase a counter toaster.

You have two options: a traditional counter toaster and a convection counter toaster.

Convection Toaster vs. Traditional Counter Toaster

Convention toasters also have advantages over traditional toasters.

• Better browning: They’re better for broiling and browning vegetables because they remove moisture.
• Consistent cooking: Convection toasters have a more consistent and accurate temperate than traditional toasters. They also cook your food more evenly than conventional toasters.
• Faster heating: Convection toasters warm your food faster than traditional toasters, thanks to their fan.

In summary, a convection toaster is similar to a counter toaster. It looks the same from the outside, but thanks to an interior fan, it cooks your food differently than a traditional toaster.

Toaster Oven Buyer’s Guide

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If you’re starting your toaster search and are still unsure whether you want a pop-up toaster, a traditional counter toaster, or a convection oven toaster, here are a few more elements you should consider.

Cleaning and Maintenance

For most people, cleaning a toaster isn’t at the top of the agenda. It’s typically outside the top 5!

But that doesn’t mean it’s not essential.

Crumbs can build up and burn if you regularly use a pop-up toaster. This can cause a fire hazard at worst and an unpleasant smell at best.

If you have a counter toaster or convection toaster and use it for more than bread items, grease, and food splatters can also build-up, which can also catch fire with high temperatures.

Toasters are relatively easy to clean. Some have a self-cleaning function, while others can be cleaned simply by dumping the crumb tray and whipping the interior and exterior with a stainless steel cleaner.

If you want a toaster to last, clean it and take good care of it.

Ease of Use

No one likes an appliance that’s hard to use. If it’s too tricky, you’ll likely do something wrong and ruin your food!

So, you would like a toaster on par with your technical level.

For some, this means old-fashioned knobs and buttons and perhaps not too many bells and whistles. Others may prefer a newer digital model with more features than they can imagine.

There’s no wrong answer. The best option for you may differ from the best one for your mom.

Could you look at a few models and determine which is most accessible?

Extra Accessories

Most appliances come with a few accessories. Toasters are no different.

While a pop-up toaster is typically accessory-free, counter toasters and convection toasters can come with options like:

• Bake trays
• Broil pans
• Crumb trays
• Pizza stones
• Wire racks

Accessories aren’t usually expensive, so you shouldn’t base your toaster decision on what free accessories come. However, they fall in the “nice to have” category.

Number of Functions

Would you be happy with a toaster that only made toast? And only two slices at a time?

If so, you’re an easy customer and will likely be happy with the first (and cheapest) toaster you find.

However, if you want a toaster like a miniature oven, look at the counter and convection toasters.

Could you list everything you want to complete in your toaster? If heating chicken nuggets, making nachos, and enjoying other small plates of food are on that list, find a toaster with more functions than simply “toast.”

Standard toaster functions include:

• Automatic shutoff
• Cooking options such as toast, bake, broil, reheat, warm, defrost, and convection heating
• Interior light
• Toast shade

Size

We love convection toasters because of how well they cook food, but there is a downside: they’re big.

Counter toasters and convection oven toasters are significantly larger than pop-up toasters. You may need help fitting them next to your blender, coffee maker, slow cooker, and other small kitchen appliances.

So, if counter space is an issue, you may want to invest in a small pop-up toaster and use your oven for baking and cooking items you wouldn’t have used a traditional counter toaster to do.

Warranty

All good appliances have warranties, which vary based on brand and appliance type.

Most toasters have a one-year limited warranty. Others have a three-year limited warranty.

Wattage Output

If you’re trying to reduce the energy and electricity you use, pay attention to the type of toaster you purchase. As you can imagine, a pop-up toaster uses less energy than a traditional counter or convection toaster.

Generally, a toaster uses somewhere between 800 and 1,500 watts of energy. The average toaster uses 1,200, but most pop-up toasters are on the lower end of that number. Most counter toasters and convection toasters are on the higher end.

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When purchasing a new toaster, you can use this buying guide and our top picks to help you choose the best option.

Top 5 Toaster Ovens

1. Cuisinart Chef’s Convection Toaster Oven TOB-260N1: The Best Toaster Oven Overall

The Cuisinart Chef’s Convection Toaster Oven TOB-260N1 has emerged as the top pick in our review. This toaster oven offers a spacious interior that can fit up to nine slices of toast or a 13-inch pizza, making it perfect for larger families or gatherings. It comes with various cooking functions, including toast, bagel, waffle, dual cook, bake, broil, roast, pizza, sandwich, keep warm, leftovers, plus 30 seconds, two convection cooking settings, and defrost. With 1800 watts of power and the “Exact Heat” sensor technology, this toaster oven consistently delivers even heat distribution, resulting in perfectly toasted bread, crispy waffles, and evenly cooked meals.

The Cuisinart Chef’s Convection Toaster Oven TOB-260N1 also stands out for its included accessories. It has two cooking racks, a 9-by-13-inch enamel baking/drip pan, a broiling pan, a crumb tray, and a 13-inch pizza stone. The nonstick interior coating makes cleaning a breeze, and the auto-slide middle rack adds convenience by partially pulling out when you open the door. The intuitive and sleek display, backlit LCD screen, and selector dial make it easy to operate this toaster oven. While it is larger and heavier than other models, its superior performance, versatility, and three-year warranty make it worth the investment.

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2. KitchenAid Countertop Oven with Air Fry: The Best Air Fryer Toaster Oven

If you’re specifically looking for an air fryer toaster oven, the KitchenAid Countertop Oven with Air Fry is the top performer in our review. With its sleek black matte design and simple controls, this toaster oven stands out in style and performance. It features four heating elements, nine cooking settings (proof, dehydrate, toast, air fry, bagel, bake, broil, reheat, and keep warm), and eight toast shades.

We were particularly impressed with the KitchenAid’s air fryer functionality. The included air fryer basket slides in and out of the appliance easily, making it convenient to shake or flip food halfway through the cooking cycle. While it may not have as many cooking functions as the Cuisinart model, it still offers excellent performance and versatility. The KitchenAid Countertop Oven with Air Fry has a baking pan, grill rack, crumb tray, metal rack, and air fry basket. Its smaller size and lighter weight make it an excellent option for those with limited counter space.

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3. Panasonic FlashXpress Toaster Oven: The Best Budget Pick

If you’re on a budget but still want a reliable toaster oven, the Panasonic FlashXpress Toaster Oven is an excellent choice. While it may not have all the bells and whistles of more expensive models, it offers solid performance and value for its price. The Panasonic FlashXpress Toaster Oven features double infrared heating technology, which cooks food faster and more evenly. It has a compact design that fits well in small kitchens or limited counter spaces.

This toaster oven offers a variety of cooking functions, including toast, baking, broiling, and reheating. It has a digital display with easy-to-use controls and various toasting shades. The included 9-inch-square baking tray is a handy accessory for basic cooking needs. While it may lack advanced features like convection or air fry capabilities, the Panasonic FlashXpress Toaster Oven delivers reliable performance at an affordable price.

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4. Breville Smart Oven Compact Convection: The Best Compact Toaster Oven

For those looking for a compact toaster oven that doesn’t compromise on performance, the Breville Smart Oven Compact Convection is the top choice. Despite its smaller size, this toaster oven offers impressive cooking capabilities. It can bake an 8×8-inch pan of brownies, cook a 12-inch pizza, or roast a generous piece of salmon. The Breville Smart Oven Compact Convection features a Fahrenheit-to-Celsius converter, a frozen food button, and an indicator showing the duration of the cooking or toasting cycle.

With its intuitive interface and extensive control options, the Breville Smart Oven Compact Convection gives users more control than many other toaster ovens. It consistently delivers even heat distribution, resulting in perfectly toasted bread, evenly baked cookies, and nicely roasted meats. While it may have only some of the features of larger models, its compact size and versatility make it an excellent choice for smaller kitchens or individuals with limited counter space.

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5. Instant Omni Plus Air Fryer Toaster Oven: The Best Multi-Purpose Toaster Oven

If you’re looking for a toaster oven that can do it all, the Instant Omni Plus Air Fryer Toaster Oven is the top pick. This versatile appliance offers various cooking functions, including convection-powered cooking, air frying, baking, broiling, dehydrating, reheating, roasting, toasting, and warming. Its large capacity can hold an entire chicken and comes with all the necessary accessories for different cooking needs.

The Instant Omni Plus Air Fryer Toaster Oven stands out for its air frying capabilities, producing crispy and evenly cooked results. It also excels at roasting, toasting, and reheating, making it a true multi-purpose appliance. While it may come at a higher price point, its performance and functionality make it a worthwhile investment for those who want a versatile and efficient toaster oven.

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Conclusion

In conclusion, the best toaster ovens for 2023 offer a wide range of features, performance, and value. The Cuisinart Chef’s Convection Toaster Oven TOB-260N1 is the best overall toaster oven, thanks to its spacious interior, even heat distribution, versatile cooking functions, and included accessories. The KitchenAid Countertop Oven with Air Fry is the best choice for those looking for an air fryer toaster oven, offering excellent performance and style. The Panasonic FlashXpress Toaster Oven is a great budget pick, delivering reliable performance at an affordable price. The Breville Smart Oven Compact Convection is the top compact toaster oven, providing impressive cooking capabilities in a smaller size. Lastly, the Instant Omni Plus Air Fryer Toaster Oven is the best multi-purpose oven, offering various cooking functions and versatility.

When choosing a toaster oven, consider your specific cooking needs, available counter space, and budget. Whether toasting bread, baking cookies, or air-frying crispy fries, these top toaster ovens will enhance your culinary experience and make cooking more convenient and enjoyable.