Convection toaster ovens is a regular toaster oven that comes with an adding benefit of having built-in fans to circulate hot air around and over the food more evenly.Besides the ability to toast bread, they’re also good at baking cookies, reheating leftovers, cooking frozen meals, and roasting chicken.
The best convection toaster ovens can range from $30 to $995, depending on many factors (brand, model, size, etc.). It’s advised that before making an expensive purchase, you should give a second thought to finding a cheaper product that still brings as much satisfaction. In other words, to find a good oven, you’ll need to pay attention not only to the price but also to the value. Ask yourself how much better a premium model is and whether it’s worth the extra cost, to help your buying decision.
Convection Toaster Ovens vs. Traditional Toaster Ovens
It is a built-in fan that makes convection toaster ovens different from their “relative”. Thanks to this addition, they can heat up faster and consume less energy while still meeting the performance standard. They also can release less heat into the air and tend to last much longer, in comparison with even the best toaster ovens.
Of course, with a lot of capabilities, they are more expensive, but you get what you pay for, especially when talking about the products that are well-known for durability, accuracy, and all ’round goodness.
It’s good to note that, full-sized convection toaster ovens are generally heavier and take up more kitchen counter space. Occupying less space, on the other hand, traditional ovens with smaller footprints can be more suitable for couples, small families or those with space constraints. But due to the small size, they can only handle 1-2 portions at a time.
So, the greatest benefits of a convection toaster oven can be summarized in the following manner:
- Heats up quickly
- Cooks food faster and more evenly
- Provides better-tasting foods
- Uses less energy, thus saving you money
- Versatile & Convenient
- Larger capacity
- Durable
- Smart
- Pricier but with higher quality
How to Buy the Best Convection Toaster Oven
What makes convection toaster ovens so much better than other ovens you’ve had? And how can you choose the best one? These seem to be tough questions. Luckily, we think we know the answers.
So, read below to reveal the secret.
1. Stainless Steel Housing
When it comes to cookware, stainless steel has been a popular option for decades. People love it for various reasons (lustrous appearance, and easily matches with any kitchen decor, for instance) and the fact that it’s incredibly durable.
Convection toaster ovens with stainless steel finish, are therefore always covered by a lifetime quality guarantee and never go out of style. It’s also resistant to heat, water and stains, which for me is the biggest selling point.
So, it is standard practice to get a stainless steel oven to enjoy the best performance.
2. Reasonable Capacity
How to determine the reasonable capacity of a convection oven comes down to personal factors that you will have to evaluate for yourself.
While the biggest units can handle a 12- or 13-inch pizza or roast a whole chicken, some smaller ones are just good for simple tasks like making toast, reheating soups or baking snacks and cookies.
A word of caution: models with more shelf space tend to be heavier and quite difficult to cart around. In contrast, small units with less cubic-foot capacity are so compact they can fit easily into a standard kitchen cupboard without overwhelming the space.
Thus, prior to paying for your dream cookware, make sure there’s enough countertop space to place it in, or your kitchen will soon look and feel too tight for comfort.
3. Straightforward Operation
The clearly labeled controls and an easy to read display are must-have components for a straightforward operation. Built-in preset cooking functions for time and energy efficient meals are also worth considering.
Last but not least, don’t forget to find an oven that should be effortless to clean or keep clean, as it’ll help you save a ton of time and hassle.
4. Price
Most fancy convection toaster ovens ($350-$995) come with innovative features that emphasize convenience and effectiveness, such as digital controls, built-in camera, cooking settings and automatic shut-off function.
Beyond some additional features which are totally value for money, they also give you many years of highly reliable operation with minimal maintenance.
To satisfy the needs of everyone and make toaster ovens more accessible to users on a limited budget, there are also plenty of options at a lower-price point but that still perform well all the basic functions: bake, roast, reheat, toast.
Compared to premium models, the most noticeable differences in ovens under $50 are their durability and functionality. Not only that, some will probably carry a less comprehensive warranty or lose out on maintenance service.
Most people who can’t afford to buy a high-priced oven often worry that a cheaper one will be a loser. However, cheaper models from a reliable brand still get rave reviews for their stable performance. So, it’s totally safe to put your confidence in these products.
Reviews of the Best Convection Toaster Ovens in 2021
Now it’s time to shop for the best convection toaster ovens. We have plenty of models to make you a professional cook.
- Breville Bov845bss – Best To Buy 2021
- Black+Decker -Best Large Convection Toaster Oven
- Cuisinart Tob-195 – Best Cuisinart Convection Toaster Oven
- Oster Digital – Best Oster Convection Toaster Oven
- Homelabs 1500w – Best Digital Convection Toaster Oven
Here is our list of the best convection toaster ovens:
1. Breville Bov845bss Smart – Best To Buy 2021
We highly recommend the Breville Smart Oven Pro for those lusting after an item that has high capacity and can provide a wide range of preset settings.
- Less energy consumption
- Intuitive controls
- Durable, versatile
- Easy to clean and use
- Accurate temperature
- A bit expensive
- Casing gets hot
Why You Will Like It
This digital convection oven, which can accommodate 6 slices of bread and pizzas of up to 9-13” inches, is apparently a bit pricier than many other models. So, what makes its a bit heavy on your pocket and why does it deserve your attention?
Let’s find out!
Firstly, it presents a whole variety of cooking functions for various types of foods, including sandwiches, cookies, pizza, and chicken breast. In other words, the machine will allow you to select the precise time, temperature, and cooking method (broil, toast, bake, warm, defrost, slow cook option) for a specific kind of food.
Secondly, it exclusively features the latest technology called the “Element IQ” that helps transfer heat intelligently across 5 quartz elements for precise and stable heat. This means users can preset the power of the five individual heating elements more flexibly, making the heat distribution throughout the oven much more even.
Thirdly, compact yet spacious, it uses 1800 watts of power which enables it to heat up quickly, getting your meals on the table in no time.
Last but not least, besides these brilliant benefits, there are also other features that make huge differences for users, including an interior oven light for clear visibility, a legend display for easy controls and the non-stick cavity coating to simplify the cleaning process.
What Can Be Improved?
With 10 preset options, it may make new users a little confused at first. However, this point does not really seem to be a dealbreaker – you get the hang of it in no time.
Verdict
Honestly, the Breville BOV845BSS Smart Oven is really an ideal medium-size model that does well across all the cooking tasks. We’re very impressed by the ability to customize its cooking functions which is better than most of its competitors. So, if money is no object, this machine is definitely a no-brainer.
2. Black+Decker TO3250XSB -Best Large Convection Toaster Oven
Are you planning on finding a new, larger toaster oven with convection as a replacement for the 10+ years old one that is starting to fail? If yes, here’s your station.
- Easy-to-use control
- Faster and better cooking
- Affordable for the features you get
- Useful accessories
- Poor at broiling
- Short cord
- Gets really hot
Why You Will Like It
Honestly, it’s always hard to replace an appliance you have had for a long time for a new thing. You may worry it can’t exactly live up to the performance of your old oven. But in this case, we believe the BLACK+DECKER will surpass all your expectations for years to come.
In comparison with other regular toaster ovens, the BLACK & DECKER has various improvements, especially in convection function. It deserves a round of applause for making this improved feature available to handle heavier tasks as well as to increase productivity.
Without this, the machine would take much longer to cook and the oven’s top could be prone to catch fire caused by the quartz radiant heating elements.
It‘s not a stretch to say that this is a durable all-purpose kitchen appliance as besides baking, it’s also good at broiling, toasting, reheating and keeping food warm. Fashioned from sturdy stainless steel, its extra wide interior can accommodate up to 8 slices of bread or a full 12” pizza. No more worries that your favorite dish can’t be placed in your oven.
More impressively, this roomy oven with fast convection fits most standard oven pans with handles which may come in handy when wanting to diversify your meal plan.
The BLACK+DECKER also offers professional functionality and versatility through a dedicated toast timer as well as the temperature dial settings that provide expected results for specific recipes.
What do you get? Included with the toasting rack is a crumb tray and a baking/broiling pan which are very easy to insert and remove.
What Can Be Improved?
The most common item customers wish BLACK+DECKER would improve is its old-fashioned analog control.
Some users, however, do prefer these backward-looking knobs over digital displays, as they allow you to quickly turn to the desired temperature and time. It’s probably a matter of preference rather than functionality.
And with these components revealed, if you are now interested in this toaster oven, make sure your countertop is roomy enough for it to steadily stand. Being one of the biggest and heaviest countertop ovens in the industry, clearly, this isn’t a model for those with space constraints.
Verdict
The BLACK+DECKER toaster oven is priced fairly for the quality you get. It toasts, bakes, broils and heats food at a good standard. However, it does get hot when operating. I mean it may become REALLY H.O.T. Hence, always make sure you leave space around the oven for heat to escape.
3. Cuisinart Tob-195 – Best Cuisinart Convection Toaster Oven
The Cuisinart TOB-195 convection toaster oven is a countertop appliance with limitless options and versatility, designed with the objective of being durable, reliable and convenient. Powered by 1500W, the unit itself lets you bake, broil, toast, reheat, and defrost at the touch of a button.
- Larger interior
- Automatic shut-off function
- Useful accessories
- Well made & Durable
- User-friendly
- Outside heats up
- Poorly constructed crumb tray
Why You Will Like It
Built to North American Electrical Standards, this best Cuisinart oven is exceptional in that it has a very useful shade control with heat sensor which takes full responsibility for maintaining precise temperature.
Not surprisingly, the whole construction of the Cuisinart oven, built with high density, durable, sturdy and high quality materials, can make it last for quite a long period of time while requiring almost next-to-never maintenance.
In terms of performance, it has an automatic shut off device designed to prevent your food from overheating. With the 0.6 cubic foot capacity, it can handle the workload of5-6 slices of toast or a 12 inch pizza.
Aside from the stainless steel bar handle which gives a clean and modern feel, it comes with a choice of cooking options to satisfy busy lives and suit every meal.
Other highlights include a two-position oven rack with safety stop features, the user-friendly touchpad controls, a slide-out crumb tray and an easy to clean interior.
What Can Be Improved?
Although the sides and the top of the oven are insulated, they can get hot when operating. They’re literally very hot even when using low temperature settings and can melt plastic bread wrappers sitting nearby. So, after each use, allow it to cool down at least 10 minutes before touching or cleaning, and make sure it’s not cool enough to not burn you.
And from my personal experience, the included crumb tray is very easy to keep emptied and clean, however, it leaves much to be desired. Since it always slides out too far or even slides all the way out whenever there is a heavy dish of food on it. Honestly, it makes me really annoyed.
Verdict
Despite some drawbacks, I can affirm that this is a competitively-priced model tailored especially to enable you to free more space in your kitchen. It handles well with most popular functions and also fully convinces me with its added extras, including 3-year limited warranty. So, don’t let this value slip away when you can gain so many benefits from it.
4. Oster Large Digital – Best Oster Convection Toaster Oven
I will start off by saying that we truly love this large capacity oven due to its versatility. As for the large size, it may be a little bulky in a small kitchen, but do not worry, with the stainless steel finish, Oster is really elegant and would look amazing with any kind of decoration.
- Large capacity
- Even and fast cooking
- Extra function (defrosting)
- Poorly constructed door
- Short cord
- No nonstick interiors
Why You Will Like It
This Oster digital countertop oven is one of the most versatile appliances, functioning across a wide temperature range, handling temperatures from 50°F to 450°F. To give you the best possible cooking experience, it features state-of-the-art electronic controls with 7 cooking settings.
So, in addition to three basic cooking functions, the oven includes the defrosting feature, meaning you can now get rid of the microwave for health reasons and use this unit instead for roasting, baking and heating up leftovers. Luckily, all these tasks are performed fairly well.
With the spacious interior, it can not only fit a 12-inch pizza, but also 6 slices of bread and a 9” x 13”pan, allowing for more cooking options. So much room to cook in, Oster will be a lifesaver for many big families.
What else?
Owners seem unanimous in their opinion of the convection fan operation: they all agree it is much quieter compared to other models (such as the Hamilton Beach).
Most also love the interior light that goes on while the machine is running and the 90-minute timer that automatically shuts it off as it finishes. Moreover, by pressing the provided light button, you can easily check on the food-making process.
What Can Be Improved?
The only consistent complaint is that the cord is too short (2 feet long) to reach the wall outlet from another table, which is quite inconvenient. The door that tends to slam down onto the counter is also another obvious downside.
Verdict
Oster has been so fabulous for those with big holiday meals, when a little extra oven space is needed. With reference to these models we tested above, its price is not too high given the size and features it offers. In certain ways, this item will be the best choice and the best return for your money.
5. Homelabs 1500w – Best Digital Convection Toaster Oven
Let’s get straight to the point: It is an oven for the toast-obsessed. If you are that, buy it. Because of the quality and stability of function combined with the reasonable price, it is the best digital toaster oven in this segment.
- Affordable
- Good at roasting
- Solid construction
- Casing gets hot
Why You Will Like It
This stainless steel kitchen workhorse comes complete with a brushed and matte finish and a selection of 10 different cooking functions that include toasting, baking and broiling.
Measuring 19 x 15.6 x 10.8 inches with 3 rack positions, it’s definitely a space-saving option for people living in dormitories or micro-homes. Additionally, it employs convection heating technology so effectively, giving you a unique way to enjoy your morning toast.
Apart from a transparent door that allows you to check up on the cooking process, this 6-slice oven also gives you total control through the LCD display. For the most part, it can reach its maximum temperature of 450°F in a matter of minutes while its impressive capacity gives you enough room to cook a 12 inch pizza, and 6 slices of toast all at once. This oven is best suited for a small family party.
Here are some other things you can expect from the device: a broiler rack, bakeware pan, rotisserie fork and a removable crumb tray.
What Can Be Improved?
Some claimed that the oven’s exterior is extremely hot when it’s in operation. If you have a low cabinet, this drawback may be a huge problem.
They also pointed out that the machine does not hold temperature as shown on the display. To be more specific, the temperature only goes up in 10 degree increments (370°F, 380°F, 390°F). It seems not to be a deal breaker unless you need to bake something at 375°F, but have to use 380°F.
Verdict
With this oven from HOMELABS’s collection you cannot go wrong when taking into consideration the high functionality, solid construction, and ease of matching with any kitchen decor. It cooks food quite quickly and evenly, making the baking process much less painful. I highly recommend it.
Related post: Air Fryer vs Convection Oven
Top-rated Convection Toaster Oven Comparison Chart
| Product | Capacity | Cooking Functions | Power | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BREVILLE BOV845BSS | 6-slice toaster | 10 | 1800W | 1-year |
| BLACK+DECKER | 8-slice toaster | 4 | 1500W | 2-year |
| CUISINART TOB-195 | 6-slice toaster | 4 | 1500W | 3-year |
| OSTER | 6-slice toaster | 7 | 1300W | 1-year |
| HOMELABS | 6-slice toaster | 10 | 1500W | 1-year |
Conclusion
So, there was everything you might need to know for an informed purchase. Whether you take cooking seriously or just an occasional cook, we hope that our list of the best convection toaster ovens has been helpful. Once again, remember that before making any buying decision, you don’t just look at the price, but plenty of other things like the specifications, durability, and design also need to be aware of.
