Best Overall
Oster Countertop Toaster Oven
- 6 slice convection toaster oven
- It has convection technology
- 7 cooking option with digital controls
Best Value
Breville Smart Oven
- Integrated automatic oven light
- It has element iQ system
- 10 different cooking functions
Best Budget
BLACK+DECKER Toaster Oven
- Comes with four cooking functions
- Precise cooking timer
- Natural Convection Technology
A convection oven is a cooking appliance that has fans for circulating air around your food for creating an environment that is evenly heated.
You can use your convection oven to conveniently heat any leftover slice of pizza. Since a countertop convection oven is typically compact, it heats up relatively quickly.
You can use your convection oven to toast as well as broil various food items. Given the variety of functions that it performs, you can use your oven for cooking anything which makes it a worthwhile addition to your kitchen space.
When you use a countertop convection oven, you are not only assured of juicy and crunchy food but also retain its moisture content.
On average, food in a convection oven is prepared 25% faster than it is in a conventional oven. The taste as well as the quality of the food stand undisputed.
The decision to purchase a countertop convection oven is a difficult one. Each unit comes in a variety of sizes and shapes.
You can choose the right fit for yourself depending on whether you will use it for domestic or commercial purposes.
When you plan on purchasing a countertop convection oven, opting for a bigger oven is never the best option. You should focus on the features offered by your convection oven instead of its size.
When you opt for an oven that provides you with several cooking options, you can save money when you wish to prepare several dishes during a family gathering.
In the article that follows, I will try to discuss the features that you should look for in the best countertop convection oven for yourself.
Quick Overview Of Best Countertop Convection Oven
Best Overall: Oster Countertop Toaster Oven
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Best Budget: BLACK+DECKER Toaster Oven
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Best Value: Breville Smart Oven
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Best Versatile: Brava Countertop Oven
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Best Convection Technology: Wolf Gourmet Elite Digital Oven
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Best Touch: Calphalon Air Fryer Oven
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Best Design: Panasonic Toaster Oven
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Best For long family: Ninja DT201 Digital Toaster Oven
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Best Digital Control: NUWAVE BRAVO Convection Oven
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Best Function: KitchenAid Dual Convection Oven
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The Best Countertop Convection Oven In 2023
Contents
Best Overall: Oster Countertop Toaster Oven
This unit can accommodate up to six slices of bread, and its convection cooking feature ensures that your food will be cooked evenly and quickly. Additionally, the toaster oven has a two-inch height, 10.5-inch width, and 12.5-inch length, making it a compact and space-saving option for your kitchen.
The 20.3-pound weight is also manageable, making it easy to move from one spot to another as needed. The oven comes with seven different functions, including bake, broiling, toasting, and warming, so you can cook just about anything you want. It features convection technology for even cooking and a wide temperature range of 150 to 450 degrees F. It comes with a durable baking pan that is perfect for roasting, baking, or broiling. The pan has a non-stick surface for easy cleanup.
Pros
- Heat Distribute Evenly
- Provide a Wide Temperature Range
- Includes Digital Control With 7 Settings
Cons
- Not Durable And Sturdy
Best Budget: BLACK+DECKER Toaster Oven
With four cooking functions – convection bake, broil, toast, and keep warm – this appliance can handle a variety of dishes with ease. Its dimensions of 11.63″D x 16.9″W x 9.07″H make it the perfect size for countertop use, and at only 7.26 pounds it can easily be moved to suit your needs.
This versatile appliance easily fits a 9″ pizza or up to four slices of bread at once, and with its 30-minute timer and stay-on function, it can handle baking tasks that go beyond just reheating. The included rack and bake pan allow you to cook multiple dishes at once. The interior with an innovative hot air circulation system delivers fast and even results every time.
Pros
- Includes Natural Convection Technology
- Provide a 30-minute Timer Function
- Rack and Pan Available
- Versatile With Four Cooking Functions
Cons
- Designed Needs Improvement
Best Value: Breville Smart Oven
Its 1 cubic foot capacity is perfect for cooking large meals, while its dimensions – 14.5″ D x 18.5″W x 11″H – make it compact enough to fit on any kitchen counter. Despite its impressive capabilities, it only weighs 22.8 pounds and has a sleek design that adds a touch of style to any kitchen.
With 10 preset cooking functions and an adjustable temperature range can handle any cooking task. With element iQ system is here to save you time, and energy. This appliance utilizes five independent quartz elements to cook your food quickly and evenly. Also, with a fast 1800-watt preheat, it gets the job done even faster than traditional ovens.
Its ample interior can hold six slices of bread, a 13-inch pizza, and even a 9-cup muffin tray. Plus, the integrated oven light turns on automatically when you open the door, and the auto shut-off feature adds an extra layer of safety. With its versatile abilities and user-friendly features, it is the perfect addition to any kitchen. Plus, with its 1-year limited warranty, you can be confident in your purchase for years to come.
Pros
- Gives 10 Preset Settings
- Holds 6 Slices Of Bread Easily
- Works With Element IQ System
- LCD Display
Cons
- Quality Is Poor
Best Versatile: Brava Countertop Oven
With dimensions of 17.3 x 16.4 x 11.3 inches and a weight of 54.9 pounds, it is large enough to accommodate three ingredients, yet small enough to fit on most countertops. Additionally, the Brava Countertop Oven offers 10 versatile cooking options, allowing you to bake, broil, sear, steam, and more.
One of the most notable features of the Brava is its LED-backlit touchscreen, which makes it easy to navigate the oven’s various functions. It also boasts a rapid preheat time, so you can begin cooking your food more quickly and thanks to its convection technology, it can cook food up to 2-4 times faster than a traditional oven.
Pros
- Offers 10 Versatile Cooking Functions
- Include LED-backlit Touchscreen
- Works 4 Times Faster Than Others
Cons
- Expensive Than Others
Best Convection Technology: Wolf Gourmet Elite Digital Oven
With dimensions of 16.7×22.4×12.5 inches and a weight of 6.38 pounds, it is compact enough to fit on most countertops, yet large enough to accommodate a variety of dishes. This oven also has a built-in meat probe that ensures the meat is cooked to perfection, while the advanced convection technology circulates heated air throughout the oven for even roasting and baking. The result is perfectly cooked food every time, with no hot spots.
With seven unique cooking modes, it offers perfect control and results. The two easy-glide racks can be repositioned easily, making it easy to cook multiple dishes at once. The Halogen light adds visibility to the oven’s interior so you can see your food as it cooks. Also, it has 5 heating elements that deliver accurate temperatures for even cooking.
Pros
- Includes Built-in Meat Probe
- Offers 7 Unique Cooking Options
- Provide Easy Glide Racks
Cons
- Takes Time To Heat
Best Touch: Calphalon Air Fryer Oven
It features 15.8″D x 18.7″W x 11.6″H dimensions and 32.1 pounds weight. Its quartz heat technology with turbo convection delivers 40% more even heat and preheats faster, making it the perfect choice for those who want the best in terms of quality and performance.
It features a unique cool touch exterior that helps to keep the outside of the oven up to 75% cooler. This makes it safe and easy to touch, even while the oven is in use. It also provides 12 preset cooking functions. These include favorites like roast, bake, and broil. With just a few touches of the screen buttons, you can have your food cooking perfectly. The high-contrast LCD screen makes it easy to see what you’re doing, even in low light.
Pros
- Features 12 Preset Cooking Modes
- Includes LCD Screen Wight Touchscreen Buttons
- Provides Cool Touch Exterior
Cons
- Poor Customer Service
Best Design: Panasonic Toaster Oven
The toaster oven has dimensions of 14.5 x 13.5 x 13.75 inches and a weight of 7.5 pounds, making it compact enough and easy to port. It is a versatile and convenient appliance that offers six preset cooking functions and two infrared oven heating elements for maximum efficiency.
This toaster oven has both manual temperature control and a timer, so you can get your toast just the way you like it. The FlashXpress toaster Oven also has a stay-cool door handle, so you don’t have to worry about burning yourself. It comes with an automatic shut-off feature for safety.
Pros
- Includes 6 Auto Cook Functions
- Provides Auto Shut-off Feature
- Stay Cool Door Handle Available
Cons
- Not Long-Lasting
Best For long family: Ninja DT201 Digital Toaster Oven
The unit’s large interior can accommodate a 12″ pizza or 6 slices of bread, and its 17.09 x 20.22 x 13.34-inch dimensions make it a perfect fit for countertops or small spaces. With its 33.6-pound weight, the Ninja DT201 is also easy to move from one location to another. The 2-level even cooking feature ensures that food is cooked evenly, without the need for rotating, while the display settings freeze to prevent any accidental changes.
The versatile 10-in-1 cooking modes include bake, broil, warm, toast, bagel, pizza, roast, sear/air fry, air crisp, and dehydrate, so you can easily find the right setting for whatever you’re preparing. With a 90-second oven preheat time and up to 30% faster cooking, it can help you get meals on the table quickly and efficiently. Plus, it can accommodate two sheet pans at once, making it easy to cook multiple dishes at once.
Pros
- Offers 90-second Preheat Timer
- Features 2-level even Cooking
- Digital Display Handle Available
Cons
- Doesn’t Work Evenly
Best Digital Control: NUWAVE BRAVO Convection Oven
It has a sleek design and 20.2 x 11 x 16.5 inches dimensions, making it compact enough to fit on most countertops. It also only weighs 9.9 pounds, so it can be easily moved from one location to another. It has adjustable temperatures from 50°F to 500°F, so you can cook whatever you want. It also features a temperature probe that allows you to cook your food to perfection every time.
Comes with 4 rack positions and multi-purpose racks and is programmed with 12 preset cooking functions. This oven offers linear T and executes the set temp accurately, making it perfect for those who like to prepare their food with precision. Additionally, the ability to customize the top and bottom heaters and convection fans independently allows users to create unique cooking experiences that are tailored to their specific needs.
Pros
- Provide 12 Preset Cooking Functions
- Offers Dual Heat Zones
- Features Adjustable Temperature Range
Cons
- Doesn’t Toast Well
Best Function: KitchenAid Dual Convection Oven
The oven has a generous interior, with dimensions of 16.4 x 18.5 x 13 inches, making it large enough to accommodate even the largest meals. It is very lightweight, at just 3.08 pounds, making it easy to transport from one place to another. The controls are also very user-friendly.
The no-flip air fry basket helps make air frying easy, and the built-in temperature probe ensures that your food is cooked evenly. With a 25% capacity increase, you can cook more food at once, making this oven ideal for large families or entertaining guests.
This oven preheats fast to 350 degrees, in less than 4 minutes, so you can get your meal on the table quickly. It also features 12 essential cooking functions for everyday cooking.
Pros
- It Preheats In Less Than 4 Minutes
- Includes 12 Cooking Functions
- Easy To Port
- Large Capacity Available
Cons
- Thermostat Doesn’t Work
Things to Consider Before Buying a Countertop Convection Oven
Before you decide to buy a countertop convection oven, you should consider a myriad of factors. While it is not possible to list every factor here, the main factors have been listed below-
Heating Options
A convection oven offers two heating options: conventional and convection. For the majority, a choice between the two comes down to budget constraints.
A convection oven is chosen for its even cooking and efficiency. Consequently, they tend to cost more than any conventional oven.
If you cook frequently, you should invest in a model which is slightly on the expensive side to later cut down operating costs as well as the cooking time.
In either situation, choosing the best heating option for yourself requires some degree of research as well.
Dehydrator
You can use this option to dry snacks, meat, and other camping food items. Dehydrating foods in the oven could help in enhancing their storage life and also help in preserving them.
The dehydration function is pre-available in most convection ovens, one has to take care of it when making the buying decision.
Proofing
Proofing is the best option for people who prepare homemade bread. It helps your dough to rise easily. Proofing in a convection oven ensures turning off the fan so that the dough remains moist until it rises.
Air Fry
You can use this option to make your meal crunchy and crispy via the circulation of heat through the chamber.
It will also make your food healthier because it is fried without any oil.
Steam
If an oven has this option, it will use steam as the primary fuel source instead of hot air. Therefore, you can enjoy flavorful food rich in aromas.
Keep Warm
This option performs the function of keeping your food warm without cooking it until it is time for dinner.
Presets
This includes certain pre-integrated cooking modes which you can use to cook your food.
Qualities To Look In Countertop Convection Oven
The qualities to look for in your oven are subjective. You can look for advanced settings which might be on the expensive edge or even opt for cooking modes that offer an easy cooking experience.
The automatic features you would want to consider include a baking rack, fry basket, and baking pan. Thus, the following features should be taken into consideration-
Price Range
The price range of the best countertop convection ovens is subject to variation. There are some models which have the potential to completely replace your conventional oven.
The higher-priced options offer functions and conveniences which are identical to their lower-priced models.
However, they come with several additional features such as different cooking modes and larger capacities.
Although the additional features seem lucrative in the beginning, not all of them are a worthwhile investment given you won’t be requiring them much.
Evaluate the quantity of food that you are going to be making so that you don’t end up spending extra on racks and other advanced features.
Ease Of Cleaning
How you plan on using your convection oven is always a priority question to answer.
You have the option to choose from a few models equipped with cooking modes and timers which make it convenient for you to prepare meals even if it is the elders or the children who are using the appliance.
Such features are convenient because anyone with little to no idea about cooking can easily follow along with the recipe. Your appliance must have a simple design so that it is easy to clean.
Energy Efficiency
Cooking food in an oven is an expensive deal especially if you plan on preparing meals for your family.
Convection ovens are a more energy-efficient option than conventional ovens primarily because they use heat from a heated air source.
A convection oven relies on a fan for circulating warm air throughout the utensil. This in turn traps the energy and creates a more even cooking area.
There are different power levels that range from 600 Watts to 1500 Watts.
It is a feasible option to opt for a countertop convection oven that allows you to cook at both high and low flame settings in contrast to single-wattage settings.
The wattage of any convection oven is an important factor to take into consideration when you wish to evaluate the efficiency and are unable to invest in an expensive model.
Note that even though convection ovens are known to be more efficient than conventional ones, there might be some models which still waste a large proportion of energy.
How Big Should I Go?
The size of the convection oven will depend upon how you are going to use it.
If your priority is to cook for a large group or family, you should opt for a high-capacity model which has at least 6 rack positions available.
On the other hand, if you are a small family or a couple, you can opt for a model with 4 to 5 racks.
Make sure you evaluate the total volume inside your oven and also evaluate how much you can cook at once so that you can make the most out of your oven.
How Much Clearance Do I Need?
For a countertop convection oven, you need at least 10 centimeters of clearance from the sides, about 15 cm of clearance from the rear, and 15 to 40 centimeters of clearance from the top.
You should opt for a convection oven with a non-stick interior to avoid any chances of food sticking or utensils getting stuck inside the oven.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which Brand Has The Best Convection Oven?
What Are The Disadvantages Of A Convection Oven?
There are a few demerits of using a convection oven. You can’t use a convection oven for baking pastries, cakes, and loaves of bread.
If you prepare multiple dishes in the oven at once, it will increase the cooking time. The upfront cost of a convection oven is higher than a conventional oven.
Do Countertop Convection Ovens Need A Vent?
When Should You Not Use A Convection Oven?
You shouldn’t use a convection oven when you are preparing quick loaves of bread, cakes, souffles, or custards.
Conclusion
Therefore, it is evident that you need to take several factors into consideration before you purchase the right countertop convection oven for yourself.
Owning a convection oven is probably the best investment that you can make.
If you are someone with compact kitchen space, you should definitely own a device as versatile as a convection oven which occupies little space.
In fact, you can easily move your oven from one place to another as well.
When you are preparing food in your convection oven, you are assured of a delicious meal.
The consistent temperature assured by a convection oven makes it a lucrative purchase.
It is relatively easy to clean the countertop convection oven using a sponge or a damp cloth. Make sure you remove the crumbs from the crumb tray and clean them properly.
To sum up, investing in a countertop convection oven is a feasible choice for many reasons ranging from the ease of cleaning it offers to the versatility of the appliance.