A toaster oven earns its counter space by doing several jobs a regular toaster can’t: toast, bake, broil, reheat, and on newer models, air-fry. The tradeoff is size and price — buy the wrong one and you’ve got a smaller, slower version of your kitchen oven. Here’s what actually matters when picking one, and where to find our tested picks.
What to Look For
- Capacity: Measured in liters or by what physically fits — a 9×13 sheet pan, a whole chicken, six slices of bread. Match it to your household size, not the biggest number on the box.
- Convection fan: Circulates hot air for faster, more even cooking than a standard toaster oven. Worth paying for if you bake or roast regularly.
- Air-fry function: Increasingly common on newer models — essentially a convection oven with a fry basket. Check whether the basket ships with the unit or costs extra.
- Interior material: Enamel or ceramic interiors wipe clean faster than bare metal, which holds grease and scorches with repeated use.
- Footprint: A large-capacity toaster oven can take up more counter space than a microwave. Measure your counter before you buy, not after.
Convection Toaster Ovens
If a convection fan and faster, more even cooking matter to you, start with our tested comparison of the top convection toaster ovens, covering five models from budget to full-size.
Toaster Oven Guides
- The best way to clean a toaster oven — what actually gets baked-on grease off without scratching the interior.
- How a microwave-toaster oven combo works — whether a combo unit is worth it over two separate appliances.
If all you actually want is air-frying without the toast and bake functions, our air fryer guide covers dedicated air fryers, which are usually cheaper and faster for that one job.
Glenn is the founder of Kitchenware Compare and has spent years researching, testing, and reviewing kitchen appliances, cookware, and gadgets. A lifelong home cook raised in a family that treated every meal as an occasion, Glenn started this site to cut through the noise of conflicting product reviews and give readers honest, practical guidance. When he is not testing the latest air fryer or digging into the specs of a new espresso machine, he can usually be found experimenting with new recipes or hunting for the perfect cast iron skillet at a flea market.