There are a lot of toaster ovens on the market, that’s why we wanted to help you choose which one is best suited for your home. It’s important to have one of these at home, especially if you live in a small apartment and find it difficult to use your big oven.
The most common types of toaster ovens are the conventional oven and the convection oven. Conventional ones are a little more affordable, but they take up quite a lot of space. That’s why people like to use convection ones for smaller kitchens or apartments where space is an issue.
When deciding which one is best for you, you must look at your kitchen and think about which type will suit all your needs best.
Quick Overview Of Best Under Counter Toaster Ovens
Best Overall: Ninja Digital Air Fry Countertop Oven
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Best In Budget: BLACK+DECKER 4-Slice Convection Oven
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Best In Value: Ninja Breville Compact Smart Toaster Oven
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Best Infrared Heating: Panasonic Toaster Oven
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Best Large Capacity: Calphalon Performance Cool Touch Toaster
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Best 5 Under Counter Toaster Ovens In 2023
Contents
Best Overall: Ninja Digital Air Fry Countertop Oven
This oven has dimensions of 7.56″D x 19.72″W x 14.96″H and a weight of 18.56 pounds. It has a capacity of 169 cubic inches, making it ideal for families.
It uses digital crisp control technology to perfectly cook your food. This innovative technology allows you to set the cooking temperature and time, so your food comes out perfectly cooked every time.
This 8-in-1 oven can air fry, air roast, air broil, bake, bagel, toast, dehydrate, and keep warm, and it cooks up to 60% faster than a traditional oven.
It provides a 45% larger usable pan cooking area and takes up 50% less space.
The removable drip tray makes cleanup a breeze.
Pros
- Provides Precision Controlled Temperature
- Includes 45% Large Capacity
- 8-in-1 Functionality
Cons
- A Bit Difficult To Clean
Best In Budget: BLACK+DECKER 4-Slice Convection Oven
It has 11.18″D x 15.47″W x 8.3″H dimensions and 5 pounds weight, making it easy to store and transport.
It uses even toast technology to ensure that your toast comes out evenly browned. The oven is designed for toasting up to 4 slices of bread at a time.
The timer and temperature control knob allows you to customize the cooking time and temperature to suit your needs.
It includes four functions – bake, broil, toast, and keep warm – and a 30-minute timer setting.
Also, it comes with a removable crumb tray that makes cleanup quick and easy.
Pros
- Includes Four Function
- Comes With 30-Minute Timer
- Toast 4 Slice Bread At A Time
- Budget-Friendly
Cons
- Design Should Be Improved
Best In Value: Ninja Breville Compact Smart Toaster Oven
At just 10.2″D x 16.7″W x 15.6″H, it’s small enough to fit on most kitchen counters and at 14.52 pounds, it’s light enough to be easily moved from one spot to another.
It comes with a 1-year limited product warranty and features an advanced element IQ™ heating system that delivers even and consistent results.
With eight different cooking functions, including toast, bagel, bake, broil, pizza, roast, cookies, and reheat.
With four independent quartz elements and a 0.6 cubic feet capacity, it can evenly toast, and bake a variety of foods.
It also features user-friendly controls with an LCD display and features a nonstick coating for easy cleanup.
Pros
- Includes Element IQ Heating System
- Comes With 8 Cooking Functions
- Provides Nonstick Cavity Coating
- Features LCD Display
Cons
- Doesn't Heat Properly
Best Infrared Heating: Panasonic Toaster Oven
This oven has dimensions of 14.5″ D x 13.5″W x 13.75″H and weighs 7.5 pounds. This makes it a medium-sized toaster oven that will take up a moderate amount of counter space.
It includes two infrared oven heating elements and six preset cooking functions, making it ideal for preparing quick meals.
It also features a digital display and a user-friendly control panel, making it easy to adjust settings and monitor the cooking process.
The auto shut-off feature turns the oven off when the timer expires, so you don’t have to worry about overcooking your food.
The manual temperature control allows you to set the oven to the exact temperature you need, and the timer ensures that your food is cooked for the perfect amount of time.
Pros
- Features Auto Shut Off Function
- Provide 6-in-1 Touch Controls
- Uses Manual Temperature Control
- Easy To Port
Cons
- Not Long-Lasting
Best Large Capacity: Calphalon Performance Cool Touch Toaster Oven
It has dimensions of 16.8″ D x 19.2″W x 12.1″H and a weight of 31.8 pounds. The cool touch exterior ensures that the oven stays 75% cool.
It uses quartz heat technology to cook food quickly and evenly. Additionally, the turbo convection feature circulates hot air around food to speed up the cooking process.
It includes 12 preset cooking functions such as baking, broiling, toasting, and many more. The touchscreen buttons are easy to use, and the high-contrast LCD screen makes it easy to see what you’re doing.
The premium glass door design provides a modern look, and the built-in interior light makes it easy to check on your food as it cooks.
It features a crumb tray and a nonstick interior that slides out for easy cleaning.
Pros
- Includes 12 Preset Cooking Functions
- Features A Glass Door
- Provide Cool Touch Interior And Built-in Interior Light
- Large Capacity
Cons
- Stop Working After Some Time
Factors To Consider Before Buying Under Counter Toaster Ovens
Features
Features are very important in toaster ovens, especially if you’re looking for the best one for your kitchen. There are several different features of a toaster oven and you must consider all of them before buying any toaster oven.
Some features that are a must-have:
Programmable Timer: Some toaster ovens have programmable timers, which are extremely useful when you want something done in a certain amount of time. This is quite important because it allows you to be able to make your toast at the exact time that you want.
Slide-Out Crumb Tray: The slide-out crumb tray is attached with a lever that allows you to remove it easily, so you won’t have any issues cleaning it after every use. This feature is important because it helps keep your appliance clean and will ensure that whatever food particles get inside will easily come out.
Safety Features: Some toaster ovens have safety features built into them. This is important because it will ensure that you can use your toaster oven safely.
Nonstick:
A nonstick surface is a necessity when buying a toaster oven. In addition, it makes cleaning the inside of the toaster much easier if you know exactly how to clean a toaster oven.
On the other hand, it could also ensure that any food left over comes out easily, saving you a lot of time cleaning up.
Gadget Holder: This feature doesn’t affect anything but it is quite useful for some people. If you’re someone who likes cooking gadgets, then this feature should be one that you look for in a toaster oven.
Capacity: The capacity of a toaster oven is one of the most important features that you must look at. If you’re someone who likes to cook a lot of food, then it’s better to get a bigger one with more capacity so you can cook for the whole family or friends when they come over. A good rule of thumb is that the capacity should be about 25% more than the number of people in your household, so if there are 3 people in your household, then it would be better to get one with a capacity of at least 4-5 slices.
Warming Rack: The warming rack is quite an important feature because it allows you to warm up certain types of food. You can keep food warm during dinner or even use it to heat your side dishes and make dinner easier. Some toaster ovens have warming racks that are stored in between 2 racks inside the oven after use.
Mountable
Mountable toaster ovens are very useful because they allow you to cook items that require a lot of space. This means that they make things like pizza, bread, and even large chicken breasts much easier. It also allows you to put your oven wherever you want.
The mounting is important because it saves you the trouble of holding onto the oven and carrying it around. You can mount it anywhere easily and you can even take it with you if you have a camping trip coming up.
Low Height
If you have a small kitchen, you need to look for toaster ovens that are low in height. This is because they take up less space and will allow you to do many other tasks as well.
The height of your toaster oven should be close to the eye level of someone sitting at the table, so they can easily see what’s inside. It’s also important because if your toaster oven has a high height, then your chances of burning yourself by accident are quite high.
Cool Touch Exterior
This is another important feature to look for in your toaster oven. This is because it allows you to easily remove the crumbs and dirt that collect on the exterior of your appliance.
This ensures that it will be easy for you to clean every time you use it after cooking something inside of it. Some ovens have exteriors that heat up during/after use, these types of appliances create a major health hazard while cooking.
Budget
Your budget must be a consideration as well. The budget you have can also help you to decide which toaster oven is best for you. If you’re someone who lives on a tight budget, then it’s better to buy a low-priced appliance with the best features.
This is because some of these models don’t have many features built-in and can be pretty cheap with decent features. There are many features of toaster ovens and some of them can be quite expensive. You should get one that will suit your needs, while at the same time being within your budget.
Ease Of Cleaning
Another important feature of toaster ovens is the ease of cleaning. Some have removable crumb trays, while others don’t. Removable trays make it easy for you to clean up after cooking something inside your toaster oven, especially if you have a bigger family who would like to use it as well.
We can all agree that it’s quite annoying to clean out your toaster oven every time you cook something inside of it, so you should always look for the best under-the-counter purchasing guide available.
Ease Of Use And Maintenance
The toaster oven you buy must be the easiest to use and also doesn’t break quickly. This is because if it breaks down within a few months of purchase, then you have wasted your money and time. An easy-to-use appliance will also be easier for you to maintain as well. If it’s not that hard to clean, then you can save some time while cleaning up after cooking something inside it.
Most products in today’s marketplace can be quite complicated to operate, even for people who are familiar with the technology. The easier-to-use models are usually better because they allow anyone of any age or skill level to operate them with ease.
Energy Consumption
Another important feature when buying a toaster oven is its energy consumption. The appliance that you buy should be energy efficient and should prevent your electricity bill from skyrocketing.
If you’re someone who lives off the grid, then it’s better to get an appliance that doesn’t consume a lot of energy, so you can have a more sustainable lifestyle. These types of models usually use about 75% less electricity than normal toaster ovens and are also friendly to the environment.
Why Aren't There More Mountable Toaster Ovens?
Mountable toaster ovens allow you to cook things that require a lot of space, which usually come in large sizes. Most toaster ovens are not mountable as they are too small for a lot of people. There was a time when most home appliances were removable, including blenders, but now everything is being sold in its fully assembled form.
Of course, there are exceptions to this rule, and I have seen some easily removable and very elaborate versions. Toaster ovens with removable trays are much more common than the smaller models that you can buy on the market today.
If you love making pizzas, then a mountable pizza oven is a must as they are usually quite big anyways. As more and more people are becoming health conscious, you’ll be able to see smaller and smaller toaster ovens in the market shortly.
Different brands and different companies have been coming up with smaller toaster ovens to reheat pizza. Even if there was a bigger demand for these mountable toaster ovens, it would be quite difficult to make them because of their size. Since they are so big, they will never fit into regular spaces like what we see in restaurants and cafes.
FAQs
Can A Toaster Oven Go Under The Counter?
Yes. A toaster oven can be mounted directly underneath the kitchen counter with the use of some kitchen shelving brackets. This will save a lot of storage space and allow you to easily access your toaster oven during cooking.
Can I Put The Air Fryer Toaster Oven Under The Cabinet?
Yes, a toaster oven can be underneath the cabinet. Tools that help install your toaster oven are available to you in most hardware stores.
How Can I Hide My Toaster Oven In My Kitchen?
Toaster ovens can be mounted under the cabinet and still use the full height of your kitchen’s counters. To do this, you will need some shelving brackets to attach your toaster under the counter.
Can I Use Tin Foil In A Toaster Oven?
Yes, as long as it is not too thick. You should use a thin layer of tin foil and make sure you don’t cover the heating elements.
Is There A Toaster Oven That Doesn’t Get Hot Outside?
Yes, some toaster ovens don’t get hot on the outside. These ovens have very thick interiors and are usually made from very sturdy materials. The heating elements of these ovens can get very hot so you should always be careful.
Conclusion
If you’re someone who likes to cook a lot of food, then it’s better to get a bigger toaster oven with a higher capacity so you can cook for the whole family or friends when they come over.
A good rule of thumb is that the capacity should be about 25% more than the number of people in your household, so if there are 3 people in your household, then it would be better to get one with a capacity of at least 4-5 slices.
The Breville BOV800XL is an all-in-one option that will make cooking much easier and more convenient. It is made out of high-quality materials which means that it will last you for years to come.