The Best Countertop Ovens Of 2023
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Household technology has transformed our lives — and we are not just talking about home entertainment systems such as smart TVs. Our kitchens are becoming increasingly more streamlined, with compact gadgets replacing their older and more clunky counterparts. Countertop ovens are a prime example. Far more space-efficient than traditional ovens, they are extremely portable and ideal for small kitchens.
Highly versatile, countertop ovens can feature a huge range of settings, often combining the functions of multiple appliances such as toasters and air fryers. In fact, most countertop ovens come with pre-set cooking functions — such as toast, roast, bake, and air fry — to take the guesswork out of cooking. They also tend to be more affordable and energy-efficient than conventional ovens, making them not just cheaper to run but also eco-friendly.
Ready to find out more about these multifaceted kitchen appliances? Here's our list of the best countertop ovens of 2023 to set you on the right path.
How we selected the products
While most modern countertop ovens can replace conventional ovens in terms of functionality, they're by no means all created equal. And this is where it pays to do your homework. After all, there is little use in getting a compact countertop oven for a family of five or expecting a budget appliance to steam your fish and veggies.
To help you select a countertop oven that is right for your kitchen, we have looked at a variety of criteria. Firstly, we considered size since a countertop oven needs to be large enough to cook whatever it is you want to cook but compact enough to fit in your kitchen. We then looked at each unit's pre-set cooking functions, as well as temperature and time controls. We also examined each countertop oven's display and ease of use. Last but not least, we took into account the price because there's nothing better than getting value for your buck.
Best overall countertop oven
Made from brushed stainless steel, the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro is not just functional but also a great statement piece. The large 28-liter countertop oven has enough room for four trays, a 14-pound turkey, or nine slices of bread. It also features an LCD screen and an interior light that turns on automatically once your food is ready. Alternatively, you can switch it on at any time during the cooking process.
The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro features 13 cooking functions including dehydrate, air fry, slow cook, and roast. The super convection setting ensures fast and even heat distribution, reducing cooking time by up to 30%. The oven's six quartz heating elements and smart algorithms direct power exactly to where it's needed while the unit's digital PID temperature control prevents any cold spots.
While pricier than some other countertop ovens, the Breville Smart Oven has been called "the highest performing, most fully-featured model we've tested" by the Tech Gear Lab, garnering a score of 89 out of 100. One satisfied Amazon reviewer has praised the appliance, saying, "Quiet, beautiful, and makes dinners so good it makes you wish it has been developed 30 years ago. ... It's saved me money – using less electricity than my big oven. It's saved me time, heating up faster. It's made my dinners amazing, and so tasty I am blown away."
At the time of this writing, you can purchase the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro from Amazon starting at $349.99.
Best budget countertop oven
Designed with four settings — toast, bake, broil, and keep warm — the BLACK+DECKER 4-Slice Toaster Oven makes a great addition to any kitchen. And the fact that's around $50 makes the deal even sweeter. The oven is also relatively compact with room for four slices of bread or a 9-inch pizza, which means that it won't take up a lot of space on your countertop.
Featuring natural convection technology, the BLACK+DECKER 4-Slice Toaster Oven is designed to distribute airflow for optimal cooking results. Plus, it comes with a 30-minute timer with a stay-on setting for more elaborate recipes that take longer to prepare.
While the BLACK+DECKER 4-Slice Toaster Oven doesn't come with the bells and whistles of more expensive models, it's a great budget option for those after basic cooking functions. One Amazon reviewer, who likes the oven's simplicity, sums the appliance up perfectly, saying, "We are low tech seniors on a budget. This is easy to use and easy on the wallet. If you have a $50,000 kitchen, not for you. But for people like us, it's perfect."
As of May 2023, the BLACK+DECKER 4-Slice Toaster Oven is available from Amazon starting at $45.72.
Best large countertop oven
Perfect for spacious kitchens and big families, the LUBY Large Toaster Countertop Oven has a 55-liter capacity, making it large enough for 18 slices of toast, 14-inch pizzas, and 20-pound turkeys. Unlike most other countertop ovens, the unit features a French door design that lets you check your food without letting too much heat out.
Despite its large dimensions, the LUBY Large Toaster Countertop Oven features four tubes that heat up rapidly so you can start toasting, baking, or roasting pretty much instantaneously. Plus, the separate temperature controls for the unit's lower and upper racks let you prepare two dishes at the same time. There's also a 60-minute timer with a bell and an automatic shut-off function.
The LUBY Large Toaster Countertop Oven has been met with a positive response, garnering 8.2 out of 10 points on Best Views Reviews. One Amazon reviewer has praised the oven, saying, "This toaster oven is HUGE! I can cook an entire cookie sheet of food for my family at once. ... It heats up quickly and so far has cooked everything evenly. It looks nice too. ... I love that when the timer goes off, the toaster oven does too so my kids can't accidentally leave the oven on after they are done making their personal pizzas for lunch."
Purchase the LUBY Large Toaster Countertop Oven from Amazon starting at $149.99.
Best countertop oven for a splurge
At almost $1,300, the Brava Countertop Oven Starter Set comes with a hefty price tag. However, it does have a lot of power. The unit takes moments to preheat and cooks between two and four times faster than traditional convection ovens. Plus, its LED-backlit touchscreen offers 10 cooking options including air fry, toast, roast, bake, and dehydrate (via Amazon).
What really makes the Brava Countertop Oven Starter Set stand out from the pack are the 7,000 cooking programs that can be downloaded to the unit — more recipes are added each week. The recipes can also be accessed on your smartphone via a Brava mobile app, which also lets you monitor the progress of your cooking. While there's little doubt that the Brava Countertop Oven is a powerful appliance that utilizes the latest technology, it does require a dedicated circuit breaker and 1800W of power.
So what's the verdict? According to Reviewed, the Brava Countertop Oven Starter Set doesn't do anything that can't be done with other appliances such as a toaster, air fryer, and a conventional oven. It does, however, give you the opportunity to replace all of them with one nifty unit and use the latest technology while you do so.
Purchase the Brava Countertop Oven Starter Set from Amazon starting at $1,295.
Best countertop oven for small kitchens
Compact and simple to use, the Panasonic Toaster Oven FlashXpress won't take a lot of room in your kitchen. Just large enough to accommodate four slices of toast, the oven is perfect for singles and small families. In terms of design, the unit has been described as anything from retro and charming to dated — in this case, the beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder (via CNET). The Panasonic FlashXpress is available in silver, black, and white to suit any kitchen decor (via Amazon).
The Panasonic Toaster Oven FlashXpress comes with infrared heating elements at the front and back of the unit to ensure even heat distribution. According to the Tech Gear Lab, the elements heat up pretty much instantaneously, eliminating any need for preheating. Something to keep in mind is that while great for making toast and frozen meals, the "rocket fuel-injected heating elements" may be too powerful for baking.
The unit's front panel features preset cooking options including toast, waffles, roll, pizza, and hash brown. There're also defrost and reheat options and an automatic shut-off function to prevent accidental overcooking. The unit also has easy-to-use manual temperature and time controls. In addition, there's an internal light that lets you check up on your masterpiece while it's in the making.
At the time of this writing, you can urchase the Panasonic Toaster Oven FlashXpress from Amazon starting at $149.99.
Best countertop oven for pizza
Billed as "the first domestic countertop oven to hit 750°F and cook an authentic wood-fired style pizza in 2 minutes," the Breville Smart Oven Pizzaiolo isn't cheap. Nevertheless, the steep price tag might not stand in the way for pizza enthusiasts and those who, well, make a lot of pizza. Designed to replicate the types of heat emitted by a brick oven to bake pan, thin and crispy, New York, and frozen pizza, the Pizzaiolo even creates heat for base charring and "leopard-spotted crust."
So does the Breville Smart Oven Pizzaiolo make brick-oven, restaurant-quality pizza? According to reviews, it comes pretty close. Sasha Marx from Serious Eats was blown away by the pizza-maker, saying, "It's a very intuitive-to-use piece of equipment, and it produces pretty spectacular Neapolitan pizza in a home-kitchen environment." The team from Teach Gear Lab agrees, "Cost aside; we are the first to admit that this electric, indoor alternative produces amazing pizzas."
Perhaps Mike Prospero from Tom's Guide sums things up best, acknowledging that a serious love of pizza is required in order to justify spending over a thousand bucks on the top-notch home pizza oven.
Purchase the Breville Smart Oven Pizzaiolo from Amazon starting at $999.95.
Best countertop oven for ease of use
Equipped with two knobs and an LCD screen, the DeLonghi Livenza Digital Convection Oven comes with nine preset cooking options including roast, bake, broil, reheat, and keep warm. Choosing your cooking style is as simple as changing the knob settings. There's also the possibility of adjusting cooking time and temperature with the buttons located below the LCD screen. And once you're done cooking, all you need to do is wipe down the unit's non-stick, scratch-resistant interior with a damp cloth.
Made from stainless steel, the 14-liter DeLonghi Livenza is on a smaller side. This said, it's large enough to accommodate a pizza or an entire chicken. The unit works via convection, or by circulating hot air, to ensure that meals are both evenly cooked and prepared faster than in a conventional oven. Plus, it features double glass doors to keep heat in and an internal light so you can keep an eye on your food throughout the cooking process.
Purchase the DeLonghi Livenza Digital Convection Oven from Amazon starting at $179.93.
The best countertop oven with a temperature probe
Designed to cook food at between 50°F and 500°F, the NUWAVE BRAVO XL 30-Quart Convection Oven comes with a patented digital temperature probe to ensure that you don't under or overcook your dishes. More specifically, the probe measures the internal temperature of the food and shuts off the oven once your meal reaches a pre-set temperature (via Amazon).
Made from brushed stainless steel, the NUWAVE BRAVO XL features five quartz heating elements — three at the top and two at the bottom — with independent heat control for fast and even cooking. The large 1-foot cubic capacity oven also comes with three fan speeds and12 cooking modes including broil, air fry, dehydrate, and slow roast. Plus, the oven features an easy-to-read LCD screen and comes with multiple accessories including a crumb tray, baking pan, air fryer basket, and two cooking racks, making it a great option for the price (via Very Best Reviews).
At the time of this writing, you can purchase the NUWAVE BRAVO XL 30-Quart Convection Oven from Amazon starting at $149.99.