As a trained cook and passionate foodie, I never thought I needed a toaster oven – until I tested one to create this guide. Now, I use it daily for everything from toasting bagels to reheating pizza and air-frying veggies. It's become an essential part of my kitchen, rivalling the best air fryers and traditional toasters to prove just how accessible and versatile these compact ovens can be.
To find the ones worth investing in, our team of home cooks and expert chefs have tested over 20 toaster ovens. We've tried trusted brands like Cuisinart, KitchenAid, and Breville, as well as some lesser-known up-and-coming brands, too. We've seen the good, the bad, and the very best toaster oven that the market has to offer: the Breville Smart Oven with Air Fry.
We've rounded up our notes from the test kitchen below to help you choose the right toaster oven for your kitchen. Whether you're after a space-saving appliance or a feature-packed powerhouse, we'll break down all the pros and cons. You could say we've done the pre-heating for you – now it’s time to get toasting.
The quick list
If you want a toaster oven and you want it quickly, here's a short guide to our top picks. You can read more details further down.
This excels on the basics. It can make up to six slices of perfect toast, bake crispy pizza, gooey cookies and air-fried food, too.
For a beautiful toaster oven with air frying capabilities, look no further. The French fries and fried chicken we made in this KitchenAid were crispy and effortless.
Cute and compact, the Wonder Oven is perfect for city apartments or students. It can toast, steam, bake, roast and grill small portions. It feels a little flimsy in places though.
Although it has a hefty price tag, we think this is worth every penny. Our experts thought it was one of the best performance-wise, especially when charring steaks.
The Fotile can air fry, dehydrate, and bake, but we mainly loved the steam function. It is great for healthier meals and Asian-style food.
This doesn't have 'toast' in the title, but it rivals every model on this list. It can toast, air fry, bake, roast, steam, proof, cook rice or pasta, slow cook, sous vide... and more.
The best toaster ovens 2025
The best toaster oven overall
If you're in the market for an effective toaster oven that excels at all the basics, this is your match. It's not super fancy, but it's fantastic for quick, unfussy toasting, roasting, baking, and air frying. It could replace your old air fryer and toaster in one swoop.
First off, it’s very simple to use. There are dials on the side to choose your function (grill, toast, bagel, bake, roast, pizza, reheat, warm, air fry, and slow cook). You can control the temperature by 5-degree increments and easily switch between convection, super convection, and standard grilling.
It’s hands-down the best machine we tested for toast. The Breville Smart Oven can make up to six slices of toast at once, and do it from frozen. It’s a great option for large, busy families needing lots of slices every morning. It's also very precise; you can select the exact number of slices you’re cooking as well as the darkness of the toast. In our tests, we found that each piece was evenly golden brown and finished in five minutes.
We also tested pizza, which was crispy and delicious (and cooked very quickly, so you need to keep an eye out). Our French fries, roasted vegetables, and bacon had similarly tasty results. The only complaint from our lead tester, Alex, was about handling the ‘magnetic auto-eject rack’. Alex says, 'When it works, this is a really useful feature. Two magnets on the door pull the wire racks out of the oven as you open it, so you don’t have to reach into a hot oven. This was mostly great, but if you’re not careful, the wire rack will get stuck, which is not something you want when handling hot food.' Alex also wasn't keen on handwashing the accessories after use (they're not dishwasher-safe), but we agree that this is often the price you have to pay for high-quality materials.
Read more: Breville The Smart Oven with Air Fry.
The best toaster oven with air fry
The KitchenAid Digital Countertop Oven with Air Fry is a beautiful appliance, with a sleek matte black exterior and glossy steel door. It's intuitive to use thanks to a simple dial on the front of the machine. We found the bright LED display easy to read, and simple to navigate. It's compact enough to fit on a countertop, but it has a fantastic capacity. There's enough space for a 12-inch pizza pan or two full-size chickens.
Every setting delivered good results, but the air frying function was the stand-out. The air frying basket is very deep and cleverly designed so that you won't have to flip food halfway through. It turned out delicious thick-cut fries, perfect tater tots, and fried chicken in our tests, making this our favorite toaster oven with air fry function. Our experts also appreciated the proofing function, which is a welcome addition for keen bakers.
Toasting, however, is this oven's weakest function. The heating element is only on one side, so it tends to cook batches of toast unevenly. We also found it a little tricky to clean. There's no removable crumb tray, so residue spills into the body of the machine. Finally, when operating, the handle remains cool to the touch, but the sides of the oven get very hot.
If those snags sound like deal-breakers, we recommend taking a look at our winner, Breville's The Smart Oven above, which makes toast like an expert and air-fries well, too.
Read more: KitchenAid Digital Countertop Oven with Air Fry review.
Best toaster oven for small kitchens
The Wonder Oven is a refreshing departure from bulky kitchen appliances. We tested the chic, neutral 'Steam' colorway and immediately fell in love with its adorable design.
Our small appliances expert, Camryn, and I put this air fryer to the test to toast bagels, roast veggies, bake cheesy stuffed peppers, and even reheat pizza. We really liked the steam-baking function for creating light and fluffy food. Some toaster ovens offer more precision and extra features, but the Wonder Oven delivers solid, dependable results in a compact appliance.
As I live in a small city apartment, I kept this toaster oven on my counter and reach for it daily, even after testing. It’s a fantastic option for small kitchens and single servings. That said, the air frying function is slower than the best air fryers I’ve used. Cooking root vegetables, like parsnips and carrots for example, is noticeably longer. I’ve held onto my Ninja air fryer for speed, but my old toaster is gone, and my full-size oven is rarely used. For everyday tasks like toasting breakfast, grilling small pasta dishes, and baking cookies for dessert, the Wonder Oven has become my go-to.
There are a few quirks worth mentioning. The oven racks are a bit flimsy and don’t lock in place when pulled out, so you’ll need to be careful with heavier dishes. And when we say small, we mean small – it’s best suited to one or two people. The old-school analog timer is simple to use but tricky for precise cooking; it won't do if you like to cook delicate dishes like fish. However, the window lets you keep an eye on your food – a feature that always scores extra points with us.
Read more: Our Place Wonder Oven review.
The best premium toaster oven
Wolf Gourmet comes with a hefty price tag, so we were wary about whether it provides enough bang for your buck. However, it was one of the very best of the toaster ovens we tested for this guide. Our expert tester, Terri, has declared it 'the very best countertop oven that money can buy.'
The Wolf Gourmet Countertop Oven looks beautiful, with simple dials and buttons that create outstanding cooking results every time. The settings include bake, roast, broil, toast/bagel, and proof. When it comes to toast, it matches the Breville above with bespoke settings for your ideal color and texture. We also made perfect cookies, succulent chicken, and pork chops. There's even a temperature probe and we found that you can top up on timings to add some extra char to your meat without compromising on how juicy it is on the inside
After all that, you might be wondering why this oven isn't at the top of our guide. It's a simple matter of cost. There's no avoiding that the $700 price tag on this toaster oven puts it out of reach for many of us.
If you’re looking for an economically-priced countertop oven, you’ll need to look at the other models on this list. The KitchenAid Digital Toaster Oven, for example, is more reasonably priced and often on sale under $200. That said, if you can swing the Wolf Gourmet, this well-built machine is every bit as luxe as you could imagine. Terri first tested the Wolf toaster oven in 2022 and has been using it ever since without any issues. If the five-year warranty is anything to go by, this toaster oven is built to last.
Read more: Wolf Gourmet Countertop Oven review.
The best toaster oven for steam cooking
The Fotile ChefCubii is technically a toaster oven, but its standout feature is steam cooking. It can bake and air fry too, but the steamed results were a cut above the rest in our tests.
Our team are big fans of steaming, since it preserves nutrients while creating tender textures without the need for excess oil or butter. We made perfectly plump, succulent shrimp and delicate, flavorful fish in the kitchen. As well as fluffy rice, dim sum and tender vegetables. This makes the Fotile ChefCubii an excellent choice for health-conscious home cooks or fans of Asian-style food.
While the air frying function does work well, we found it much slower to preheat than the other options on this list. You'll prefer the KitchenAid if you're looking for quick, crispy finishes. It was the same story for toast, too – if you're looking for a breakfast buddy, this isn't the best option. Go for the Breville instead.
Another drawback is the door design. Made of two layers of tempered glass and one layer of low-E glass, the door seals very tightly, making it difficult to open. Fotile explained that this is due to a damping setup in the hinges that ensures a tight, seamless seal, but our testers found that they had to stabilize the oven with one hand while pulling the door open with the other. A little annoying.
Read more: Fotile ChefCubii Countertop Oven review.
Best multifunctional toaster oven
The Ninja Combi Multicooker doesn’t have the word ‘toaster oven’ in its title, but it technically is one – and a fantastic one at that.
First off, let's talk about the toast itself. The Ninja Combi has a dedicated ‘toast’ function, which allows you to adjust the toasting level to your preference, choosing between light, medium, or dark. Our medium toast took around six minutes, and we found even browning on both sides.
Now the basics are out of the way, there is a lot of exciting functionality to talk about. The Ninja Combi Multicooker can rival the best steamers, slow cookers, air fryers, toaster ovens, and countertop ovens. With its enormous capacity and twelve different cooking functions, including roasting and air frying, it heats up quickly and consistently delivers perfectly crisped foods, from homemade fries to roasted vegetables. It's featured in our buying guides to the best air fryer and best non-toxic air fryer, too – a testament to its performance.
Our expert tester, Laura, even used it to bake cakes and bread. She says, 'If you're looking for a toaster oven that can replace your oven, this is it. Seriously, I have barely touched my oven since I first trialled the Ninja Combi a year ago.'
Like everything in life, the Ninja Combi does have some quirks, but they are minor. We noticed that it gets quite hot underneath, which could be a concern for certain kitchen counter materials. Also, its large – which may not be ideal for those looking for a compact kitchen companion. If space is limited, the small Wonder Oven on this list might be a better fit, although it can't hold a candle to Ninja's versatility.
Read more: Ninja Combi Multicooker review.
The ones that just missed the list
Toaster ovens aren't cheap, but this is one of the most affordable options we tested. It's easy to use and cooks up delicious and consistent results, but the appliance runs a little noisy and gets hot.
If you're looking for safety-first appliances, this is the best. The controls are easy to use and they protect against accidental burns. It's quite bulky though.
We found the Ninja Foodi 8-in-1 Flip Mini Oven a little tricky to clean, but it is a great choice for smaller kitchens and those who want extra cooking space without having to give up an entire counter.
What's next?
Next up, we will be testing the popular Balmuda The Toaster. We heard from some readers that it has a great steam function, so we're keen to see if it stands up to the performance of the Fotile ChefCubii that is currently on our list.
We have tested multiple toaster ovens from Breville, and now we are preparing to create a comparison guide to their toaster ovens. Since there are tonnes of options with similar names, it can get confusing. The headlines are: we still prefer the Breville Smart Oven with Air Fry – it excels at toasting, air frying, baking, grilling and roasting at a fairly good price compared to later models in the Breville range.
We are keen to test the Williams Sonoma exclusive design series of the Breville Smart Oven, too, which features brass handles with white, green, or navy finishes.
How to choose the best toaster oven for you
Roasting a chicken in the Cuisinart Air Fryer & Toaster Oven
For one thing, you should consider the space you have available. While the best toaster ovens are excellent stand-ins for a regular oven, they do require counter space. We included the dimensions to make that consideration a little easier.
Another design element would be dial controls versus buttons, and the inclusion of a digital display. Some may feature a combination of both to operate. Digital displays typically help you identify the exact settings a bit easier, but may drive up the price of your toaster oven, and can make the experience more sophisticated, though you will find yourself with more control.
As for features, we recommend a toaster oven air fryer. That's not just because we're air fryer lovers, but convection technology will mean that your food will cook faster, and you'll end up with more options when it comes to mealtimes. Other functions like steam cooking seem to be growing as an offering in toaster oven designs as well.
How we test the best toaster ovens
Six slices of toasted bread, testing the Breville the Smart Oven Air Fryer Toaster Oven
To test the best toaster ovens on the market, we first focus on exceptional cooking performance. As a team of trained product testers, home cooks, and appliance experts, we assess each model by toasting, baking, broiling, and more. During these tests, we evaluate how evenly the oven browns and crisps, seeking results that are consistent and perfectly cooked. We also make sure to test out any fancy features, to see if they are gimmicky or truly impressive.
Ease of use is essential, so we examine the intuitiveness of the controls, the preheat, the quality of the door design – which is a common issue among many toaster ovens we have tested. We then make notes on the toaster oven’s capacity – important knowledge if you're hoping to cook large portions, 13 inch pizzas, or use multiple racks.
Since cleaning is often a hassle, we evaluate how easy it is to maintain, checking if the racks and trays are removable and dishwasher-safe. We also scrutinize the materials, looking for durable, quality design. After testing, we scour customer reviews to check out the toaster oven’s reliability and overall satisfaction in the long term.
Finally, when investing in a kitchen appliance, price matters, so we weigh up the features, performance, and design to see if the toaster oven offers good value for money. Our goal is to ensure you select a model that not only performs well, but also looks stylish on your countertop for years to come.
Toaster oven FAQs
How does a toaster oven work?
The basic function of a toaster oven is a grill to cook toast and bagels. It's a larger surface with more capacity than a toaster, so you can cook up to more slices at once, or thick-cut artisan breads like homemade sourdough. However, modern toaster ovens have multiple functions. Our tests have found toaster ovens that can bake, dehydrate, air fry, and much else besides, with some able to steam-bake and roast an entire rotisserie chicken.
Is a toaster oven the same as an air fryer?
They're two different appliances. The basic difference is that an air fryer is an appliance that circulates hot air around food to cook it, whereas a toaster oven toasts bread. However, the best toaster ovens have air frying functions, too.
The very best air fryers can cook quicker and crispier than most toaster ovens, so if you're after perfect fries, some toaster ovens might not cut it. However, many air fryers just can't compete with the best toaster ovens for functionality, and the best toaster ovens featured above are more than a match for air fryers, making delicious fries and baked salmon.
Are toaster oven air fryers good?
If you're pushed for space, a toaster oven is a great option that can save you from buying lots of different appliances. There's almost no limit on the appliances that can be replaced with the right toaster oven – you can get a dehydrator, air fryer, steamer, broiler, microwave, and toaster all in one appliance, saving you money and space on your countertop.
Do I need a toaster oven if I have an oven?
It depends on your space and what you're trying to cook. A traditional oven can roast and bake just fine, but a toaster oven offers quicker cooking, as well as multiple specialist functions like toasting, steaming rice, and in one of the above toaster ovens, spinning an entire rotisserie chicken. Lots of buyers do away with ovens in RVs or cabins and easily make do with a good toaster oven, so it depends on your kitchen setup.
What else can you cook in a toaster oven?
The answer may start with toast, but it certainly doesn’t end there. You could toast bagels, grilled cheese or even Italian-style bruschetta topped with tomato, mozzarella, and basil.
For dinner, you can make perfectly crispy French fries, chicken tenders, nuggets, roasted vegetables, and our favorite – tender, evenly-cooked, and golden pork chops. You can also reheat leftovers like lasagna, for a speedy weeknight meal.
If you've got sweet tooth, most toaster ovens can dehydrate fruit, so you can enjoy dried apples, plums, berries, and peaches. We've also tried ready-to-bake cookie dough, with gooey chocolate chips.
Get more toaster oven recipe inspiration here.
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