Best Overall
Ninja Air Fry Countertop Oven
AMAZON
- Features5/5
- Ease of Use3.5/5
- Performance4/5
- Value4/5
Why You Should Get It: This toaster oven fits more food at one time than any other pick on our list.
Keep in Mind: The heating element is powerful, which can lead to overcooked food.
You get a lot of options with this Ninja toaster oven—it includes air fry, air roast, air broil, dehydrate, and warm in addition to more standard settings. This lends itself to a control panel that’s less intuitive than others, but spending any amount of time with the instruction manual should clear up any confusion.
The capacity is impressive. We fit up to nine cookies or slices of toast inside during testing. This kind of space allows you to easily prepare food for more than one or two people at a time. The dials and controls are very easy to read, especially with the light-up panel.
A powerful heating element is both a pro and con. We found the suggested times were often longer than necessary; toast was ready 45 seconds before the timer was set to go off, while the cheese was fully melted after just 90 seconds. Though the cookies and fries turned out perfectly, the bread didn’t toast evenly, indicating that the oven was hottest in the front and coolest in the back right corner.
You get a slide tray and a pan for baking, as well as an air frying basket, and there’s a light inside the oven that helps you see how your food is coming along. We liked how easy the toaster oven was to clean—simply empty the crumb tray and wipe the inside and outside down with a damp sponge—but be careful, the glass door gets very hot.
Product Details: Dimensions: 7.56 x 19.72 x 14.96 inches | Capacity: 169 cubic inches | Functions: Air-fry, air-roast, air-broil, bake, bagel, toast, dehydrate, and warm
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / RUSSELL KILGORE
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / RUSSELL KILGORE
Best Budget
Black+Decker Toaster Oven
AMAZON
- Features3/5
- Ease of Use4/5
- Performance5/5
- Value5/5
Why You Should Get It: This easy-to-use toaster oven produces incredibly even results whether toasting, baking, or broiling.
Keep in Mind: Because of its petite size, it has small dials and a somewhat cramped interior.
If you’re looking for a no-frills kitchen workhorse that won’t break the bank, this Black + Decker toaster oven exceed our expectations during testing. While it doesn’t come with fancy features you’d find in pricier models, such as an air fryer or the ability to roast or reheat, for the price we found its performance to be surprisingly high quality.
The Black + Decker oven comes with four standard functions: bake, broil, toast, and warm. During testing we found the bread was evenly browned, the cookies were ready on time according to baking directions, and the cheese was perfectly melted. True to its name, we were able to toast four slices of bread, or bake four cookies, at a time.
Due to its size, it’s likely to be most functional for a smaller household with one or two people. The size is a challenge for the exterior as well, as the dials are small and the numbers may be hard to read. The oven’s capacity is actually less than the Breville Compact Smart Oven, our pick for best small (0.46 versus 0.6 cubic feet). The timers can be set for 10, 20, and 30 minutes, which might be frustratingly limiting if you prefer more flexibility, though the simplicity could be a plus for some.
The rack, crumb tray, and combination drip tray and baking pan can be easily removed for cleaning, plus the rack is dishwasher safe. On the back of the oven there’s a 1-inch plastic peg to keep it away from the wall, which we found very helpful. Also note that the top gets very hot while in use.
Product Details: Dimensions: 11.18 x 15.47 x 8.3 inches | Capacity: 0.46 cubic feet | Functions: Bake, broil, toast, and warm
Best Splurge
Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer
AMAZON
- Features5/5
- Ease of Use5/5
- Performance4/5
- Value4/5
Why You Should Get It: With 11 functions and seven included accessories, this toaster oven has more features than just about any other model we tested.
Keep in Mind: The displayed temperature was sometimes inconsistent with the actual temperature.
The Breville Smart Oven has more features and functions—11 total—than almost any other appliance we tested. There’s even a frozen foods button that adds the recommended defrosting time to the timer. We were also impressed by the range of included accessories; it comes with a baking pan, broiling pan, non-stick pizza pan, wire rack, pizza stone, air fryer basket, and crumb tray.
When testing the toast function, we found that it toasted bread evenly but that there were cold spots on the side (the left less so than the right). We were able to fit six cookies in the oven to bake, and they came out very well. The cheese melted on broil evenly with slightly browned edges, and the air frying feature was incredibly effective, crisping a bag of fries on the outside while leaving them soft in the middle.
Though it didn’t seem to impact the end results of the food, we did notice that the temperature often dropped a little once it was set, and the displayed temperature didn’t always match the true temperature. That said, we were impressed with almost everything about the toaster oven, including the large lit display screen and digital timer with a dial on the exterior.
The toaster oven will certainly take up space on the counter, but when it does the job of a regular oven and several other small appliances in one, it'll get you pretty far. Those who want to cut down on the odds and ends in their kitchen, or who don’t have a full-size oven, will find it more than gets the job done.
Product Details: Dimensions: 18.5 x 15.75 x 11 inches | Capacity: 0.8 cubic feet | Functions: Toast, bagel, bake, roast, broil, pizza, cookies, reheat, warm, air-fry, and slow cook.
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / WILL DICKEY
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / WILL DICKEY
Best Air Fryer Toaster Oven
Instant Omni Plus Air Fryer Toaster Oven
AMAZON
- Features5/5
- Ease of Use5/5
- Performance5/5
- Value5/5
Why You Should Get It: There are a few unexpected cooking functions, including dehydrate and rotisserie, that aren’t available on most other toaster ovens we tested.
Keep in Mind: We found a 10-degree fluctuation at the maximum temperature.
One of the most game-changing developments in toaster oven design has been the integration of air fryers, and the Instant Pot Omni Plus is a perfect example of how well it can work. The fries we made in the air fryer basket came out flawlessly crisp. The other functions include roast, dehydrate, reheat, warm, convection, and rotisserie, which wasn’t available on any other toaster oven we tested.
We think the rotisserie feature adds a lot of value, helping to make this toaster oven stand out among those we tried. The included rotisserie spit, setting screws, forks, and cooking pan are also standout additions. We love the clear touchscreen display and how simple it is to use the dials and controls to create your ideal settings.
A hot spot in the front middle of the oven was detected while toasting—the bread toasted evenly overall, but the middle slices were a little dark on the edges. We noticed the same thing using the bake function with the cookies, which also came out a little dark. Using an oven thermometer, we found a 10-degree fluctuation when we set the toaster at the maximum temperature.
While all accessories are dishwasher safe, they do need to be disassembled when possible before cleaning. The manufacturer recommends using a bristle brush to clean the air fryer basket after use and soap and water for the oven rack. When it comes to the cooking pan, the brand suggests parchment paper lining or non-stick cooking spray to make clean-up as easy as possible.
Product Details: Dimensions: 12 x 12 x 13.89 inches | Capacity: 0.64 cubic feet | Functions: Air-fry, broil, bake, roast, dehydrate, reheat, rotisserie, toast, warm, and convection
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / WILL DICKEY
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / WILL DICKEY
Best Small
Breville The Compact Smart Oven
AMAZON
- Features4/5
- Ease of Use5/5
- Performance2/5
- Value4/5
Why You Should Get It: An enameled broiler rack and pan, plus intuitive dials and an easy-to-read timer, make cooking more complex dishes in this model a breeze.
Keep in Mind: The heat map was inconsistent while toasting and baking.
The features included in this Breville toaster oven make it one of the best we’ve tried. The large backlit timer is super easy to read, and there’s a countdown function that shows you exactly how long you have left on a particular function. The dials and buttons are also sleek and intuitive.
We loved the enameled broiler rack and pan that make it possible to cook a sheet pan dinner for two in a compact space. During our testing process, we found that the results were inconsistent, especially in the baking and toasting departments. It shone on the broiling setting, resulting in impeccably melted cheese. We suggest you rotate your food to promote even cooking and use the broiler setting as the finishing touch for good measure.
To clean, the instructions said to use a damp cloth on the exterior and dish soap on the removable parts such as the rack, crumb tray, and enameled roasting pans. There is no indication of whether these pieces are dishwasher safe, so we suggest handwashing to be cautious.
Despite a few performance issues with this toaster oven, we consider this one of the best because of the thoughtful design that makes the most of its size. If you’re short on space or are more of a casual cook, this pick is worth serious consideration.
Product Details: Dimensions: 16.5 x 15.5 x 10.25 inches | Capacity: 0.6 cubic feet | Functions: Toast, bagel, bake, roast, broil, pizza, cookies, and reheat
Best Large
Cuisinart Digital Air Fryer Toaster Oven
AMAZON
- Features5/5
- Ease of Use4/5
- Performance4/5
- Value3/5
Why You Should Get It: The instructions include helpful details, like recipes and a reference guide, and you don’t even have to set a timer.
Keep in Mind: When tested, the toaster oven’s temperature came in at much higher than it should have been.
If you’re not much of a cook, this user-friendly option will quickly build your confidence in the kitchen. The instruction booklet includes tons of recipes and a reference guide with the proper cook times for common ingredients. There’s also a backlit screen controlled by a dial knob that allows you to select your cooking function. Though there is a countdown timer once you select the function, there’s no timer dial.
Accessories include a baking and roasting pan, an air fryer basket (it also works for broiling and dehydrating), and a pull-out crumb tray. We didn’t detect any hot or cold spots during testing, though when we toasted multiple pieces of bread, the ones on the outer edges were slightly less browned.
This toaster oven was almost too effective at baking cookies, burning them on the outside after five minutes at the recommended temperature of 350°F. While it might be due to using pre-cut dough, it’s worth pointing out that, when we took the machine’s temperature, our thermometer showed 480°F though it had been set at 450°F.
The oven rack and crumb tray need to be cleaned by hand, while the pan and basket are dishwasher safe. The instructions also specifically advise you to wipe down the top after cooking greasy foods.
Product Details: Dimensions: 17 x 21.73 x 15.75 inches | Capacity: 0.6 cubic feet | Functions: Air-fry, bake, broil, toast, bagel, pizza, roast, dehydrate, proof, low, dual cook, reheat, and warm
Best Turbo Convection
Calphalon Performance Air Fry Convection Oven
AMAZON
- Features4.8/5
- Ease of Use5/5
- Performance4/5
- Value2.5/5
Why You Should Get It: This toaster oven delivers even results, in part thanks to the impressive turbo convection feature.
Keep in Mind: The air fryer warms the food as needed but doesn’t provide a consistent crisp.
When you’re short on time, the turbo convection setting can be a game changer because it improves circulation in the oven to create more even cooking results more quickly. Even without the turbo convention button engaged on the Calphalon oven, the toast and cookies we prepared came out very evenly.
You may need to keep an eye on your food when toasting, as there was still a minute left on the timer when we pulled out the bread and deemed it ready. The same goes for broiling, which is where the turbo convection button comes in most handy to help circulate the heat.
This model lost some points in the air frying department. When used according to directions, some of the fries came out soggy while the others were too crispy. Though they were warmed all the way through, we didn’t get the telltale golden brown color of a good fry. It’s also worth pointing out that the air fryer setting is a bit noisy.
On the outside, there’s a digital LCD timer that can be preset or manually set with the turn of a dial. The inside has a light, which is a rarity, and it helps you see how your food is coming along—a helpful detail considering we found some of the food was ready before the timer went off. All the pieces are removable and should be hand washed with soap and water.
Product Details: Dimensions: 11.6 x 18.7 x 15.8 inches | Capacity: 0.88 cubic feet | Functions: Air-fry, bake, toast, broil, roast, bagel, dehydrate, pizza, reheat, warm, and defrost