Countertop ovens are compact cooking appliances designed to offer seamless cooking functions, providing a versatile alternative to traditional ovens. Small but mighty, these compact powerhouses utilize advanced technology to ensure even cooking and energy efficiency and offer a range of cooking options. From baking cakes to roasting meat and toasting bread, countertop ovens offer a wide range of cooking functions that cater to diverse culinary needs.

In this article, we will take you on a journey through the world of countertop ovens, introducing you to the five best countertop ovens available on the market. Each of these ovens has its own unique features, details, pros, and cons, catering to a diverse range of cooking needs.

Benefits of Countertop Ovens

Countertop ovens are compact, versatile appliances that sit on your kitchen counter, bringing a multitude of cooking functions to you. These ovens come in various sizes and shapes, each designed to cater to specific cooking needs. Here are some key features and functions commonly found in countertop ovens:

• Compact design
• Versatility
• Convenience
• Time- and energy-efficient
• Portable
• Time-saving

1. Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro

Available on Amazon

The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro is a fusion of performance and versatility, combining the benefits of an air fryer, convection oven, and smart cooking features all in one. This countertop oven offers 13 different cooking functions, including air frying, baking, broiling, proofing, reheating, slow cooking, toasting, and dehydrating.

Equipped with Super Convection Technology and the Element IQ System, it ensures fast and even cooking. What makes it one of the best countertop ovens is its stylish design and multifunctional capabilities. It also features an LCD display to easily access the built-in smart functionality and all cooking functions. The LCD display also indicates when pre-heating is complete and automatically begins to count down, serving as a reminder and making cooking perfect every time with each use.

Pros of Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro

• Exceptional cooking precision with Element IQ technology
• Fast and even cooking with Super Convection Technology
• Large cooking capacity
• Intuitive LCD display for easy operation
• Multi-functionality
• Spacious interior.
• Precise temperature and time control
• Super convection for rapid cooking
• Smart cooking features and functions like baking, slow cooking, toasting, dehydrating, etc.

Cons of Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro

• Higher price
• May take up space in your kitchen

2. Oster Countertop Toaster Oven

Available on Amazon

The Oster Countertop Toaster Oven is a compact and affordable option for basic cooking needs. This countertop oven offers five different digital functions, including pizza, baking, broiling, toasting, and defrosting. With its unique convection technology, this oven ensures even cooking and precise temperature control for perfect baking and toasting every time.

If space is your top priority, the Oster countertop oven is your culinary best choice. Boasting an impressive interior capacity, this oven can accommodate family-sized roasts, bake pizza, and more. The digital controls eliminate guesswork with bake, broil, toast, pizza, and defrost settings. Equipped with Turbo Convection, it ensures even and fast baking. An Amazon customer wrote:

“You can cook two 12-inch pizzas in this toaster oven at the same time!! Works great. No interior light, though.”

Pros of Oster Countertop Oven

• Large interior capacity for family-sized meals
• Digital controls for precise temperature and eliminating guesswork
• Convection technology for fast and even cooking
• Affordable price
• Sleek design with stainless steel
• Five digital functions for convenience
• 90-minute timer with auto-shutoff feature
• Includes 2 oven racks, a baking pan, and an integrated broiling rack

Cons of Oster Countertop Oven

• Users may want an interior light

3. Cuisinart Air Fryer Countertop Toaster Oven

Available on Amazon

The Cuisinart Air Fryer Countertop Toaster Oven stands out as one of the best countertop ovens to have in any kitchen space. It offers a premium digital display and intuitive programming cooking options to make selecting presets, temperature, time, and cooking functions easier than ever.

This 1800W countertop marvel boasts a spacious interior of 0.6 cu. ft capacity, allowing you to accommodate and roast a chicken or bake a pizza with ease. With its simple-to-use and user-friendly digital controls, this countertop guarantees easy cooking every time. This countertop oven is perfect for toasting, baking, and reheating, offering cooking functions for hassle-free operation. The Cuisinart countertop oven’s three-year warranty is worth noting, as are its accessories, which include an oven rack, baking pan, and fry basket.

An Amazon customer reviewed:

“Cooks well. You usually have to cook at lower temperatures for a shorter time than suggested. Versatile. Easy to use. Attractive on the counter.”

Pros of Cuisinart Air Fryer Countertop Toaster Oven

• Large interior capacity for family-sized meals
• Digital controls with low-temperature setting
• Includes oven light, oven rack, dishwasher-safe baking pan, and AirFry basket
• Easy-clean interior
• Smart cooking features and functions like baking, broiling, proofing, dual cooking, roasting, dehydrating, etc.

Cons of Cuisinart Air Fryer Countertop Toaster Oven

• There is a learning curve
• Users have reported faulty knobs

4. Ninja Foodi 10-in-1 Pro Air Fry Countertop Oven

Available on Amazon

The Ninja Foodi 10-in-1 Pro Air Fry Countertop Oven is a versatile countertop oven that shines when it comes to air-frying and dehydrating. It features a wide temperature range and multiple cooking functions, making it suitable for various recipes. This oven can fit up to 5–12 lb. chicken or 12-inch pizza, making it ideal for larger households. The oven is a multifunctional 10-in-1 countertop marvel, combining air frying, roasting, baking, toasting, and dehydrating in one compact unit.

With its unique True Surround Convection Technology, this oven ensures even cooking, resulting in crispy, juicy, and golden-brown results.

Pros of Ninja Foodi 10-in-1 Pro Air Fry Countertop Oven

• Large capacity for various cooking options and family-sized meals
• 10-in-1 cooking options, including air frying, whole roasting, air roasting, baking, pizza, bagel, toasting, broiling, reheating, broiling, and dehydrating
• Crispier and juicy results with True Surround Convection
• 30% faster cooking time
• Sleek stainless-steel finish
• It comes with a recipe inspiration guide, sheet pans, wire racks, an Air Fry basket, and a crumb tray

Cons of Ninja Foodi 10-in-1 Pro Air Fry Countertop Oven

• Limited smart features
• Can be noisy
• Has a learning curve

5. Hamilton Beach Countertop Toaster Oven

Available on Amazon

The Hamilton Beach Countertop Toaster Oven is a budget-friendly marvel, making it one of the best countertop ovens available on the market. With its spacious interior and versatile cooking options, this countertop oven is an ideal choice for those who seek quality without breaking their wallet. Whether you’re baking, broiling, or toasting, this oven delivers consistent results every time.

Pros of Hamilton Beach Countertop Toaster Oven

• Affordable price
• Spacious interior with adjustable rack positions
• 3-in-1 versatility: toasting, baking, and broiling
• Easy-to-use manual controls
• It comes with bake pans, oven rack, and crumb tray
• It saves time and energy in the kitchen
• It cooks faster and is easy to clean
• 30-minute timer and stay-on-function

Cons of Hamilton Beach Countertop Toaster Oven

• Users may have to increase the temperature when baking or roasting
• The handle or exterior may get hot

Conclusion

In conclusion, the best countertop oven has its own set of detailed features, pros, and cons and caters to a wide range of kitchen and culinary needs. The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro is top of the list with its super convection technology and an array of smart cooking functions, while the Cuisinart Air Fryer Countertop Toaster Oven combines innovation and intuitive programming cooking options. The Oster Countertop Toaster Oven combines compactness and affordability. The Ninja Foodi 10-in-1 Pro Air Fry Countertop Oven, on the other hand, shines when it comes to air frying and dehydrating, and the Hamilton Beach Countertop Toaster Oven is a budget-friendly marvel with simplicity and 3-in-1 versatility. Happy Cooking!

FAQs

Are countertop ovens worth it?

Countertop ovens are compact, versatile appliances that sit on your kitchen counter, bringing a multitude of cooking functions to you. As such, they are worth it, if not more. Countertop ovens can bake, roast, broil, toast, and even air fry, all thanks to their various settings and cooking functions.

What should I look for in a countertop oven?

So, you finally decided to get a countertop oven. Here are some important things to look out for:

• Size and capacity
• Dimensions
• Cooking functions
• Convection technology
• Temperature range and control
• Ease of use
• Ease of cleaning
• Accessories like oven racks, removable crumb trays, sheet pans, and air fry baskets
• Additional features like a digital control panel, automatic shut-off, and timer
• Budget and limited warranty

What are countertop ovens called?

Countertop ovens go by various names, such as toaster ovens, convection ovens, compact ovens, mini ovens, microwave ovens, air fryer toaster ovens, and multifunction or combination ovens.