Top 5 Toaster Ovens: Your Essential Buying Guide

Does your kitchen counter feel a little too crowded? Maybe your big oven takes forever to heat up just for a few slices of toast or a single frozen pizza. You need a kitchen helper that saves space and energy, but finding the perfect one feels like a puzzle!

Toaster ovens are fantastic, but the sheer number of features—from convection settings to air frying capabilities—can make choosing one overwhelming. You worry about buying a model that breaks quickly or doesn’t toast evenly. We get it; nobody wants buyer’s remorse over a countertop appliance.

This guide cuts through the confusion. We will break down the essential features, compare the best types available today, and show you exactly what to look for based on your needs. By the end, you will know precisely which toaster oven deserves a spot in your home.

Let’s dive in and find the countertop champion that perfectly fits your cooking style!

Top Toaster Oven Recommendations

Bestseller No. 1

BLACK+DECKER Crisp 'N Bake Air Fry Countertop Convection Toaster Oven, Medium Capacity, 4-Slice, 5-in-1, Fits 9” Pizza, 30-Min Timer, Bake, Broil, Air Fry, Toast, Keep Warm, Stainless Steel

5-IN–1 MULTIFUNCTIONAL COOKING- Enjoy versatile cooking with Air Fry, Bake, Broil, Toast, and Keep Warm settings. Perfect for preparing a wide variety of meals from crispy fries to perfectly baked pizzas and golden toast.
HEALTHY AIR FRYING TECHNOLOGY – Cook crispy, delicious meals with little to no oil using advanced air frying technology. Enjoy healthier alternatives to your favorite fried foods without compromising taste or texture.
EVENTOAST TECHNOLOGY FOR PERFECT TOAST – Achieve evenly toasted bread, bagels, and more with BLACK+DECKER’s EvenToast technology, ensuring consistent results every time with no hot spots.
COMPACT YET SPACIOUS INTERIOR – Fits up to a 9-inch pizza or 4 slices of bread, making it ideal for quick family meals, snacks, or small batch cooking while saving valuable counter space.
USER-FRIENDLY CONTROLS 7 ACCESSORIES – Features a 30-minute timer for precision cooking, plus a removable crumb tray, bake pan, air fry mesh tray, and wire rack for easy cleanup and versatile cooking options.

Bestseller No. 2

BLACK+DECKER TO1313SBD Toaster Oven, 15.47 Inch, Silver

ACCOMMODATES 9-INCH PIZZA OR 4 SLICES OF BREAD – Designed to maximize utility within a compact footprint, the curved interior fits a 9-inch pizza or 4 slices of bread. Place items evenly for best results when toasting, baking, or reheating.
FOUR VERSATILE COOKING FUNCTIONS – Select from baking, broiling, toasting, or keeping food warm. Natural convection airflow circulates heat throughout the oven—preheat for 10 minutes to ensure consistent cooking and crisp results.
PRECISION 30-MINUTE TIMER WITH STAY-ON OPTION – The 30-minute timer includes clearly marked toast settings and a stay-on function. Oven will not operate unless timer is set or stay-on is selected, ensuring controlled and safe operation.
CONVENIENT REMOVABLE CRUMB TRAY – The slide-out crumb tray allows for quick, hygienic cleanup. To prevent spills and overheating, keep food and bakeware at least 1½ inches from the top heating elements and fully contained within the tray.
COMPACT AND CONTEMPORARY DESIGN – Measuring 14.5" x 10.8" x 8.8", this sleek stainless steel toaster oven complements any kitchen. Outer surfaces become hot during use—always use oven mitts and allow space for proper ventilation.

SaleBestseller No. 3

Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven with Grill, 1800W 8-1 Air Fryer Oven with Bake, Convection Bake, Grill, Broil and Warm Options, Large Capacity, 60-Minute Timer, TOA-70NAS, Stainless Steel

VERSATILE COOKING FUNCTIONS: This premium 1800-watt Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven is equipped with an air fry setting plus toast, convection bake, bake, convection broil, broil, grill, and warming feature
SPACIOUS CAPACITY: The Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven is large enough to toast 6 slices of bread, air fry 3 lbs. of chicken wings, bake a 12” pizza, or roast a 4-lb. chicken.
SUPERIOR OPERATION: Equipped with an adjustable temperature dial, 60-minute timer/auto-shutoff, and a toast shade selector, this air fryer toaster oven features a wide temperature range (Warm-450°F) to ensure your meals are cooked to your perfection
FAST AND CRISPY FOOD: AirAdvantage technology with top fan/heater assembly provides optimized hot air flow for fast and crispy results, locking in flavor and giving food the crispy texture you love
WHAT’S INCLUDED: The Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven includes an oven rack, baking pan/drip tray, air fry basket, ceramic non-stick reversible grill/griddle, and stainless steel easy-clean interior to make cleanup simple.

SaleBestseller No. 4

Ninja Flip Toaster Oven&Air Fryer, 8-in-1 Functionality, Flip Up&Away Capability for Storage Space, LargeCapacity, Air Fry Basket, SheetPan, Wire Rack&Removable Crumb Tray, Stainless,1800 watts, SP151

RECLAIM YOUR COUNTER SPACE: Takes up 50% less space when you flip it up and away to store against your backsplash.
OVENCRISP TECHNOLOGY: Infrared heating and rapid circulating air combine for edge-to-edge even cooking.
8-in-1 FUNCTIONALITY: Air fry, Roast, Broil, Bake, Pizza, Toast, Bagel, Dehydrate.
LARGE CAPACITY, SMALL FOOTPRINT: Air fry & roast up to 4 lbs of ingredients, bake a 12” pizza, toast up to 6 slices of bread, fits 6 chicken breasts.
QUICK FAMILY MEALS: Family-sized meals that feed up to 4 people in as little as 20 minutes.

Bestseller No. 5

BLACK+DECKER 4-Slice Toaster Oven with Natural Convection, Stainless Steel, TO1760SS (TO1760SST-1)

4-in-1 VERSATILITY FOR EVERYDAY COOKING – Toast, bake, broil, and keep food warm with one compact countertop appliance. Perfect for quick meals, snacks, and small-batch cooking without heating up your full-size oven.
EVENTOAST TECHNOLOGY FOR CONSISTENT RESULTS – Specially designed interior ensures even heat distribution and better toasting performance—ideal for up to 4 slices of bread or a 9” pizza.
30-MINUTE TIMER WITH STAY-ON FUNCTION – Built-in precision timer with stay-on setting allows for longer baking tasks. Ready indicator light and audible signal make meal prep simple and hassle-free.
SPACE-SAVING, SLEEK STAINLESS STEEL DESIGN – Modern stainless steel finish complements any kitchen decor while saving counter space. Durable build and clear glass door let you monitor food easily.
EASY CLEANUP WITH REMOVABLE CRUMB TRAY – Includes a slide-out crumb tray, bake pan, and broil rack for mess-free use and quick cleaning after every meal.

Bestseller No. 6

Breville BOV450XL Mini Smart Countertop Oven and Toaster Oven, Small, Brushed Stainless Steel

The Breville Mini Smart Countertop Oven and Toaster Oven with Element iQ System is for cooks interested in making pizza, delicious cookies and golden toast in their countertop oven; It's a mini oven, but this space-saving tool offers 8 cooking functions
ELEMENT iQ SYSTEM: Using 5 independent quartz elements, smart algorithms steer small oven's power where and when it's needed, creating a tailored cooking environment for precise results; Fast 1800 Watt preheat gets meals on the kitchen table faster
8 COOKING FUNCTIONS: Versatile mini smart oven has 8 cooking functions to bring new meal options to your home and kitchen; Access Toast, Bagel, Bake, Broil, Pizza, Roast, Cookies, and Reheat; It's a toaster oven, pizza oven and more, all in one appliance
SMALL CAPACITY: 11 x 10 x 4 inch interior capacity fits 4 toast slices, bagels, cookies, tuna melts, 6 cup muffin tray, and 11 inch pizzas; 3 rack positions, pull out crumb tray and auto shut off; Combo countertop oven and toaster fits into small kitchens
LCD DISPLAY: LCD display allows for easy access to all of mini oven's built in smart functionality; Choose from 8 cooking functions to access a space-efficient roaster oven, broiler and more

Bestseller No. 7

Elite Gourmet ETO236 Personal Compact 2 Slice Countertop Toaster Oven with 15 Minute Timer & Adjustable Temperature, Bake, Broil, & Toast, Black

COMPACT & SPACE SAVING: Versatile compact design fits nicely in small spaces when counter space is limited.
ADJUSTABLE TIMER: The 15 min timer is perfect for toasting and warming up food for a quick and easy snack or breakfast.
ADJUSTABLE TEMPERATURE CONTROLS: Adjust your oven controls between 200F-450F degrees for toasting, warming or baking.
650 WATTS OF POWER: Built-in temperature thermostat maintains even cooking heat to keep food warm, bake or toast.
ACCESSORIES INCLUDED - Includes a non-stick back pan and wire rack that easily slides in and out of the rack position to suit a variety of foods.

SaleBestseller No. 8

Hamilton Beach 6 Slice Countertop Toaster Oven With Easy Reach Roll-Top Door, Bake, Broil & Toast Functions, Auto Shutoff, Silver (31127D)

EASY ACCESS TO FOOD AND COUNTERTOP: Easily access food in the toaster oven broiler and on your countertop with the Easy Reach roll-top door.
FITS A 9" x 11" BAKE PAN, 6 SLICES OF TOAST OR A 12" PIZZA: This Hamilton Beach toaster oven has a spacious interior with plenty of room for cooking everything from snacks to side dishes.
EASY TO KEEP CLEAN WHILE COOKING: The roll-top door stays up and out of the way of messy spills and drips when opened. The door and slide-out crumb tray are both removable for cleaning.
COOK YOUR WAY WITH 3 COOKING FUNCTIONS: This toaster oven bakes, broils and toasts. It has 2 rack positions,1400 watts of power, and a temperature range of 150 to 450º F. It's great for everyday cooking tasks.
SIMPLE MANUAL CONTROLS: This toaster oven has manual controls that are easy to use. Great for anyone who wants a toaster oven that gets the job done without being complicated. Includes 30 minute timer with Stay On function, ready bell and auto shutoff.

The Ultimate Toaster Oven Buying Guide

A toaster oven is a kitchen superstar. It toasts bread, bakes small meals, and reheats leftovers. Choosing the right one can save you time and oven space. This guide helps you find your perfect match.

Key Features to Look For

These features make your toaster oven useful and easy to use.

1. Size and Capacity

Counter Space: Measure your kitchen counter first. Small ovens fit easily. Large ones take up more room but can cook more food.
Interior Space: Think about what you cook most. Can it fit a 12-inch pizza? Can it hold four or six slices of bread? Bigger is better for families.

2. Cooking Functions

Good toaster ovens offer many settings. Look for:

Toast: This is the basic job. Check for even toasting across all slots.
Bake/Broil: These let you cook small casseroles or melt cheese on sandwiches.
Convection: A fan circulates hot air. This cooks food faster and more evenly. It is a great feature to have.
Warm: This keeps food at a safe, warm temperature without overcooking it.

3. Controls and Interface

How you set the temperature matters.

Dials vs. Digital: Dials are simple and durable. Digital displays offer precise temperature settings and timers.
Pre-set Buttons: Some models have buttons for “Bagel” or “Frozen Waffles.” These simplify cooking.

Important Materials and Build Quality

The materials used affect how long your oven lasts and how well it cooks.

Exterior and Interior

Housing: Stainless steel looks modern and is easy to clean. Plastic housing is cheaper but might look worn quickly.
Interior Walls: Non-stick interiors wipe clean easily. Metal interiors last longer but need more scrubbing if spills happen.

Heating Elements

These are the parts that get hot. Quartz or metal elements are common. Quartz heats up faster, which is convenient for quick toasting.

Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality

Quality Boosters

Temperature Accuracy: A good oven maintains the temperature you set. Poor quality ovens often run too hot or too cold.
Insulation: Better insulation keeps the outside of the oven cooler when it is running. This is safer, especially around children.
Accessories: Include a sturdy baking pan and a wire rack. These should fit well and be easy to remove.

Quality Reducers

Flimsy Doors: If the door feels loose or wobbly, the hinges might break soon.
Short Cords: A short power cord limits where you can place the oven safely.
Loud Timers: A very loud or annoying “ding” can quickly become frustrating.

User Experience and Use Cases

Think about your daily cooking habits.

Daily Toasting: If you only toast bread, a simple, fast model works best. Convection is not necessary here.
Small Batch Baking: If you bake cookies or roast vegetables for one or two people, look for strong temperature control and good rack positions.
Reheating: Toaster ovens reheat food better than microwaves. They keep crispy things crispy. Look for a good “Reheat” setting.

10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Is a toaster oven better than a regular oven?

A: A toaster oven heats up much faster than a big oven. It also uses less energy for small jobs.

Q: How do I clean the inside of my toaster oven?

A: Always unplug the oven first. Remove the crumb tray and wash it separately. Wipe the inside walls with a damp cloth and mild soap after it cools completely.

Q: What does the convection setting do?

A: The convection setting uses a fan to move hot air around. This cooks food more evenly and often a little faster.

Q: Can I put aluminum foil inside my toaster oven?

A: You can use foil on the baking tray to catch drips, but never let it touch the heating elements. This can cause a fire.

Q: How much counter space do I need?

A: You need space around the unit for air to escape. Leave at least four inches of space on the sides and back.

Q: Are toaster ovens safe to use near other appliances?

A: Yes, but keep them away from plastic items or anything that can melt. The outside gets hot!

Q: What is the difference between a toaster oven and a countertop oven?

A: These terms are often used for the same appliance. Countertop oven usually refers to larger, more feature-rich models.

Q: How long should a good toaster oven last?

A: With regular cleaning and careful use, a quality toaster oven should last between five and ten years.

Q: Should I buy one with a digital or analog timer?

A: Digital timers offer more exact cooking times. Analog dials are simpler but might be less precise.

Q: What is the crumb tray for?

A: The crumb tray sits at the bottom to catch fallen crumbs. You must empty this tray often so crumbs do not burn.