Imagine waking up to perfectly toasted bread, a warm bagel, or even a mini pizza without heating up your whole kitchen. A toaster oven can do all that and more! But when you’re looking for one that won’t break the bank, the choices can feel overwhelming. It’s tough to know which features are important and which models are actually worth your hard-earned money.
You want a reliable kitchen helper that can handle your everyday cooking needs, but you also don’t want to spend a fortune. The good news is, you don’t have to! This post is here to help you navigate the world of affordable toaster ovens. We’ll look at what makes a good toaster oven under $100 and highlight some of the best options available.
By the time you finish reading, you’ll feel confident in choosing a toaster oven that fits your budget and your kitchen. Get ready to discover a fantastic appliance that can make your meal prep easier and tastier without emptying your wallet!
Our Top 5 Toaster Oven Under $100 Recommendations at a Glance
Top 5 Toaster Oven Under $100 Detailed Reviews
1. BLACK+DECKER 4-Slice Convection Oven
Rating: 9.3/10
Meet the BLACK+DECKER 4-Slice Convection Oven, Stainless Steel, Curved Interior Fits a 9 inch Pizza, TO1313SBD. This kitchen helper is designed to make your cooking tasks easier and faster. It’s compact enough for any countertop but still offers enough space for your favorite meals.
What We Like:
- It cooks up to 4 slices of bread at once.
- You can bake, broil, toast, or keep food warm with its four handy functions.
- The curved interior is a clever design that lets you fit a 9-inch pizza inside.
- The 30-minute timer makes sure your food cooks perfectly, and it even has a stay-on option.
- Cleaning up is a breeze thanks to the removable crumb tray.
- Its stainless steel finish looks sleek and modern on your counter.
What Could Be Improved:
- While it fits a 9-inch pizza, larger pizzas won’t fit.
- The exterior can get hot during use, so be careful when touching it.
This toaster oven is a great addition to any kitchen, especially for small families or individuals. It offers a lot of cooking options in a small package.
2. Elite Gourmet ETO490 9L/4 Slice Countertop Toaster Oven with 30-Minute Timer
Rating: 8.9/10
The Elite Gourmet ETO490 is a compact and versatile countertop toaster oven that’s ideal for small kitchens or anyone who needs a handy extra oven. It can bake, broil, and toast, making it great for a variety of meals and snacks. With its 9-liter capacity, it can even fit up to 4 slices of toast or a small pizza. This oven is designed to make cooking easy and efficient for busy households.
What We Like:
- Its compact size fits easily on any countertop and saves space.
- The 30-minute timer helps you get your cooking just right.
- You can adjust the temperature anywhere from 200°F to 450°F for different recipes.
- It has 800 watts of power, which means it heats up quickly and cooks food evenly.
- It comes with a baking pan and wire rack, and they are easy to clean.
- The two rack positions let you cook different kinds of food.
What Could Be Improved:
- The 9-liter capacity might be too small for larger meals or families.
- Toast might not be perfectly even on all slices for some users.
Overall, the Elite Gourmet ETO490 is a user-friendly and efficient toaster oven that offers great value for its price. It’s a solid choice for anyone looking for a simple and effective countertop cooking solution.
3. Hamilton Beach Sure-Crisp Air Fryer Toaster Oven Combo
Rating: 9.2/10
The Hamilton Beach Sure-Crisp Air Fryer Toaster Oven Combo (31403) is a versatile kitchen appliance that can do it all. It makes your favorite foods crispy and delicious using little to no oil. This oven also toasts, bakes, and broils, giving you many cooking options.
What We Like:
- Powerful air circulation cooks food evenly and makes it super crispy without much oil.
- It’s a 4-in-1 combo: air fryer, toaster, baker, and broiler.
- It’s big enough for 4 slices of toast or a 9-inch pizza.
- Comes with all the accessories you need: air-fry basket, bake pan, and broil rack.
- Precise temperature control from 200°F to 450°F ensures even cooking.
- It has a handy auto shutoff feature for safety.
What Could Be Improved:
- The exterior can get hot during use, so be careful.
- Cleaning the air-fry basket can be a bit tricky.
This Hamilton Beach oven is a fantastic addition to any kitchen. It’s perfect for quick meals and snacks, making cooking easier and tastier.
4. BLACK+DECKER 4-Slice Toaster Oven
Rating: 9.0/10
Looking for a kitchen helper that does it all without taking up too much space? The BLACK+DECKER 4-Slice Toaster Oven, TO1745SSG-1A, is a fantastic option. It’s designed to handle your everyday cooking needs, from toasting bread to baking small treats and broiling your favorite dishes. This compact appliance is a real game-changer for busy kitchens, offering convenience and versatility.
What We Like:
- It’s a 4-in-1 appliance. You can toast, bake, broil, and keep food warm with it.
- The EvenToast Technology makes sure your food cooks evenly. It’s great for up to 4 slices of bread or a 9” pizza.
- It has a 30-minute timer. It also has a stay-on function for longer cooking.
- The stainless steel design looks good. It saves counter space too.
- Cleaning is easy. The crumb tray slides out for quick messes.
What Could Be Improved:
- Some users found the temperature to be a little inconsistent for baking.
- It might be a bit small for cooking larger items or family-sized meals.
This toaster oven is a solid choice for anyone wanting a versatile and easy-to-use appliance. It makes cooking a breeze and cleanup even easier.
5. BLACK+DECKER 8-Slice Extra Wide Convection Toaster Oven
Rating: 8.7/10
The BLACK+DECKER 8-Slice Extra Wide Convection Toaster Oven is a versatile kitchen helper. It’s designed to fit right on your countertop and looks great with its stainless steel finish. This oven can handle all sorts of cooking tasks, from toasting your morning bread to baking a whole pizza. It’s a great addition to any kitchen, especially if you want a smaller appliance that can do a lot.
What We Like:
- It uses convection technology, which means your food cooks faster and more evenly.
- The oven is extra wide, so it fits most 9″x13″ oven pans and even a 12″ pizza.
- You can bake, toast, broil, and keep food warm with this one appliance.
- It comes with a baking/broiling pan and a toasting rack, making it ready to use right away.
- The dedicated toast timer helps you get perfectly browned toast every time.
- It has three rack positions for more cooking options.
What Could Be Improved:
- The oven’s temperature might be a little lower than what you set it to, so you might need to adjust your cooking times.
This BLACK+DECKER toaster oven offers a lot of cooking power in a compact size. It’s a practical choice for busy kitchens that need a reliable and multi-functional appliance.
Finding the Best Toaster Oven Under $100: Your Kitchen’s New Best Friend
Are you looking for a handy kitchen helper that can do more than just toast bread? A toaster oven can bake, broil, and reheat your favorite foods without heating up your whole kitchen. And the best part? You can find a great one without spending a lot of money. This guide will help you pick the perfect toaster oven for under $100.
Key Features to Look For
When you shop for a toaster oven, a few things are super important.
- Capacity: How much food do you need to cook? Look at the oven’s size. Some are small, perfect for one or two people. Others are bigger and can fit a whole chicken or a 12-inch pizza. Think about what you usually cook.
- Functions: What do you want your toaster oven to do? Most offer toasting, of course. But many also have bake, broil, and warm settings. Some fancy ones even have convection cooking, which uses a fan to cook food faster and more evenly.
- Temperature Control: You need to be able to set the right temperature for your food. Look for ovens with clear temperature dials or digital controls. A good range is usually from 150°F to 450°F.
- Timer: A timer is a lifesaver! It tells you when your food is ready. Many toaster ovens have a timer that automatically shuts off the oven when the time is up. This helps prevent burning.
- Accessories: What comes with the oven? Most include a baking pan and a crumb tray. Some might also come with a broiling rack or a pizza pan.
Important Materials
The materials used in your toaster oven affect how well it works and how long it lasts.
- Exterior: Most toaster ovens have a stainless steel or painted metal exterior. Stainless steel looks sleek and is easy to clean. Painted metal can be colorful and fun, but it might scratch more easily.
- Interior: The inside of the oven is usually made of metal. Non-stick coatings can make cleaning easier.
- Door: The oven door usually has a glass window so you can see your food cooking. Tempered glass is strong and safe.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
Some things make a toaster oven great, while others can make it less ideal.
- Even Heating: A good toaster oven heats food evenly. This means your toast is golden brown all over, and your cookies bake without burnt edges. Ovens with good heating elements and convection fans usually do this well.
- Ease of Cleaning: Nobody likes scrubbing burnt-on food. Look for ovens with crumb trays that slide out easily. Non-stick interiors also make a big difference.
- Durability: A well-built toaster oven will last for years. Check reviews to see what other people say about how long their ovens have lasted. Sturdy knobs and hinges are good signs.
- Simple Controls: If the controls are hard to understand or use, it makes cooking frustrating. Clear labels and easy-to-turn knobs are best.
User Experience and Use Cases
How will you use your toaster oven? This is the most important question!
- Small Kitchens: If you have limited counter space, a compact toaster oven is perfect. It’s great for single people or couples.
- Quick Meals: Need to reheat leftovers or make a quick snack? A toaster oven heats up much faster than a full-sized oven. You can toast bagels, warm up pizza, or bake a small batch of cookies.
- Healthy Cooking: Use it to roast vegetables or bake chicken breasts. You can control the ingredients and avoid unhealthy frying.
- Alternative to the Big Oven: On hot days, you don’t want to heat up your whole kitchen with a big oven. A toaster oven is a great alternative for small meals.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What are the main Key Features to look for in a toaster oven under $100?
A: You should look for good capacity, useful functions like bake and broil, easy-to-use temperature controls, a timer, and helpful accessories like a baking pan and crumb tray.
Q: How big should my toaster oven be?
A: The size depends on what you cook. Small ovens are good for one or two people. Bigger ones can fit more food, like a pizza or a small chicken.
Q: What does “convection cooking” mean?
A: Convection cooking uses a fan to move hot air around inside the oven. This helps food cook faster and more evenly.
Q: What materials are usually used for toaster ovens?
A: The outside is often stainless steel or painted metal. The inside is metal, and some have non-stick coatings. The door has a glass window.
Q: How can I tell if a toaster oven will heat evenly?
A: Look for ovens with good heating elements and convection fans. Reading reviews from other users can also tell you if an oven heats evenly.
Q: Is it hard to clean a toaster oven?
A: It’s easier to clean ovens with slide-out crumb trays and non-stick interiors. Check product descriptions for these features.
Q: What are some common uses for a toaster oven?
A: You can toast bread, bake small items like cookies, broil food, reheat leftovers, and cook quick meals. They are also good for small kitchens.
Q: Can I bake a whole pizza in a toaster oven under $100?
A: Many toaster ovens under $100 can fit a 9-inch or 10-inch pizza. Some larger models might fit a 12-inch pizza, so check the dimensions.
Q: Do toaster ovens under $100 have a timer?
A: Yes, most toaster ovens, even those under $100, come with a timer. Many have an auto-shutoff feature when the timer runs out.
Q: Are toaster ovens energy-efficient?
A: Yes, toaster ovens are generally more energy-efficient than full-sized ovens because they heat up faster and use less energy to maintain their temperature.
In conclusion, every product has unique features and benefits. We hope this review helps you decide if it meets your needs. An informed choice ensures the best experience.
If you have any questions or feedback, please share them in the comments. Your input helps everyone. Thank you for reading.
Hi, I’m Larry Fish, the mind behind MyGrinderGuide.com.. With a passion for all things kitchen appliances, I created this blog to share my hands-on experience and expert knowledge. Whether it’s helping you choose the right tools for your culinary adventures or offering tips to make your kitchen more efficient, I’m here to guide you. My goal is to make your time in the kitchen not only easier but also enjoyable! Welcome to my world of kitchen mastery!