Tired of your big oven hogging all the kitchen space? Or maybe you just need a quick way to toast, bake, or broil without heating up your entire house. If you’re nodding along, then a compact countertop oven might be your kitchen’s new best friend. These little powerhouses can do so much, but picking the perfect one can feel like a puzzle.
There are so many to choose from, and they all promise amazing things. How do you know which one will actually toast your bread evenly, fit your favorite baking sheet, or not take up your entire counter? It can be confusing to figure out what features really matter and what’s just extra fluff. You want a kitchen helper that makes life easier, not harder.
In this post, we’ll break down what makes a great compact countertop oven. We’ll look at important features, explain what they do, and help you understand which oven fits your cooking style and your kitchen. Get ready to discover how these small ovens can make a big difference in your cooking routine!
Our Top 5 Compact Countertop Oven Recommendations at a Glance
Top 5 Compact Countertop Oven Detailed Reviews
1. BLACK+DECKER Crisp ‘N Bake Air Fry Countertop Convection Toaster Oven
Rating: 9.2/10
Meet the BLACK+DECKER Crisp ‘N Bake Air Fry Countertop Convection Toaster Oven. This kitchen helper is a real game-changer for cooking. It’s a 5-in-1 appliance that can air fry, bake, broil, toast, and keep food warm. It’s made of stylish stainless steel and fits neatly on your counter. This oven makes cooking easier and your meals healthier.
What We Like:
- It cooks your favorite foods with little to no oil using its healthy air frying technology. You get crispy results without the guilt.
- The EvenToast technology ensures your toast is perfectly golden brown every time. No more unevenly toasted bread!
- It’s a 5-in-1 appliance, so you can do so many different things with it. Bake cookies, broil chicken, air fry fries, or just toast bread.
- It’s compact but still has a good amount of space inside. It can fit a 9-inch pizza or up to 4 slices of bread, which is great for families.
- The controls are simple to use. It has a 30-minute timer for precise cooking.
- Cleanup is a breeze. It comes with a removable crumb tray, bake pan, air fry mesh tray, and wire rack.
What Could Be Improved:
- While it’s a medium capacity, it might be too small for very large meals or big families.
- The exterior can get hot during use, so you need to be careful when touching it.
This BLACK+DECKER oven is a fantastic addition to any kitchen. It offers great versatility and healthy cooking options for everyday meals.
2. Elite Gourmet ETO236 Personal Compact 2 Slice Countertop Toaster Oven with 15 Minute Timer & Adjustable Temperature
Rating: 9.5/10
The Elite Gourmet ETO236 Personal Compact 2 Slice Countertop Toaster Oven in sleek black is a fantastic addition to any kitchen, especially if you’re short on counter space. It’s designed to make your life easier, whether you need a quick toast for breakfast or want to warm up leftovers.
What We Like:
- It’s super compact, so it fits easily in small kitchens.
- The 15-minute timer is just right for toasting and warming snacks.
- You can choose any temperature between 200°F and 450°F for toasting, baking, or broiling.
- It has 650 watts of power, which keeps your food at the perfect temperature while it cooks.
- It comes with a non-stick baking pan and a wire rack, making it simple to cook different kinds of food.
What Could Be Improved:
- The 15-minute timer might be a bit short for longer baking tasks.
- While it’s great for small portions, it can’t handle large meals or multiple items at once.
This toaster oven is a practical choice for anyone needing a simple, space-saving appliance. It handles basic cooking needs efficiently.
3. Breville BOV650XL the Compact Smart Oven Countertop Toaster Oven
Rating: 8.6/10
The Breville BOV650XL Compact Smart Oven in brushed stainless steel is a fantastic addition to any kitchen. It’s a versatile countertop appliance that can handle a variety of cooking tasks, making meal prep a breeze. Its sleek design looks great on your counter.
What We Like:
- It has a medium capacity, measuring W17 x D15.5 x H10.25 inches. This is plenty of space for cooking many different kinds of food.
- You can toast up to 4 slices of bread at once.
- It fits a 6-cup muffin tray, perfect for baking!
- It bakes a 12-inch pizza, so you can enjoy homemade pizza nights.
- You can even roast a whole chicken in it.
- The oven offers multiple cooking functions, making it very useful.
- It heats up quickly and cooks food evenly.
- The brushed stainless steel finish is stylish and easy to clean.
What Could Be Improved:
- While it’s called “compact,” it still takes up a decent amount of counter space.
- Some users might find the controls a little complex at first.
- The price point is higher than a basic toaster.
The Breville BOV650XL is an excellent, multi-functional oven for busy kitchens. It simplifies cooking and delivers great results for a wide range of recipes.
4. Breville BOV450XL Mini Smart Countertop Oven and Toaster Oven
Rating: 9.4/10
Meet the Breville BOV450XL Mini Smart Countertop Oven and Toaster Oven in brushed stainless steel. This compact oven is a powerhouse for anyone who loves making pizza, baking cookies, or toasting bread. It’s small but mighty, offering 8 cooking options to help you create a variety of meals.
What We Like:
- Element iQ System: Smart technology uses 5 quartz heating elements to send power where it’s needed most for perfect cooking.
- Fast Preheat: The 1800-watt power heats up quickly, so you can get your meals on the table faster.
- 8 Cooking Functions: It toasts, bakes, broils, roasts, makes pizza, bakes cookies, heats bagels, and reheats food. It’s like having multiple appliances in one.
- Space-Saving Size: It fits easily on your countertop and can toast 4 slices of bread, bake cookies, or even cook an 11-inch pizza.
- Easy to Clean: The inside has a non-stick coating, making cleanup a breeze.
- Simple LCD Display: The screen makes it easy to choose your cooking function and settings.
- Includes Baking Pan: It comes with a 10×10 inch enamel baking pan.
What Could Be Improved:
- Small Capacity: While it’s compact, it might be too small for cooking larger meals or for families.
The Breville Mini Smart Countertop Oven is a fantastic addition to any kitchen, especially if you’re short on space. It offers great versatility and smart features for delicious results.
5. Breville BOV845BSS Smart Oven Pro Countertop Oven
Rating: 8.8/10
The Breville BOV845BSS Smart Oven Pro is a powerful countertop oven that can handle all your cooking needs. Its brushed stainless steel finish looks great in any kitchen. You can cook faster and better with its smart features.
What We Like:
- Element iQ System: This smart system uses five heating elements to send power where it’s needed most. It ensures your food cooks evenly and perfectly every time.
- Convection Power: The convection setting cooks food up to 30% faster. A fan circulates hot air, helping your food cook quicker and more efficiently.
- 10 Cooking Functions: This oven does it all! You can toast, bake, roast, broil, make pizza, cookies, reheat, warm, and even slow cook. It’s like having multiple appliances in one.
- Slow Cook Feature: Tenderize meats and develop deep flavors with the slow cook function. It can cook for up to 10 hours before switching to warm.
- Large Capacity: It’s big enough to fit a 13-inch pizza, a whole chicken, or even a 4.4-quart Dutch oven. It’s perfect for feeding your family.
- Interior Oven Light: An automatic light turns on at the end of cooking so you can easily see your food.
- Easy-to-Use LCD Display: The bright LCD screen makes it simple to choose cooking functions and see when your oven is preheated.
- Included Accessories: It comes with an oven rack, baking pan, broiling rack, and pizza pan.
What Could Be Improved:
- Learning Curve: With so many functions, it might take a little time to learn all the settings.
- Countertop Space: While versatile, it does take up a fair amount of counter space.
The Breville Smart Oven Pro is a fantastic addition to any kitchen, offering versatility and speed for all your cooking projects. It’s a smart choice for home cooks looking for quality and convenience.
Choosing Your Perfect Compact Countertop Oven
Compact countertop ovens are like mini-versions of your big oven. They sit right on your kitchen counter. They can toast bread, bake cookies, and even roast small chickens. Let’s find the best one for you!
Key Features to Look For
- Size and Capacity: How big is it inside? A small oven might fit only one slice of toast. A bigger one could bake a small pizza. Think about what you want to cook.
- Temperature Range: Most ovens go up to 450°F (230°C). Some can go higher for searing. Make sure it gets hot enough for your recipes.
- Cooking Functions: Look for different ways to cook. Toast, bake, broil, and convection are common. Convection uses a fan to cook food faster and more evenly.
- Timer: A timer helps you not burn your food. Some timers beep. Others turn the oven off automatically.
- Ease of Cleaning: Ovens can get messy. Look for non-stick interiors or removable crumb trays. This makes cleaning much easier.
- Accessories: Does it come with a baking pan, a wire rack, or a pizza stone? These extras can be very helpful.
Important Materials
Most countertop ovens have an exterior made of stainless steel or painted metal. Stainless steel looks nice and is easy to clean. The inside is usually made of non-stick coated metal. This helps with cleaning too. The heating elements are typically metal coils. Good quality coils last longer. The glass door is usually tempered glass. This means it’s strong and won’t break easily from heat.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
- Build Quality: A well-built oven feels sturdy. The door should open and close smoothly. Buttons should feel good to press. Cheaply made ovens might feel wobbly. They might break faster.
- Heating Evenness: Does the oven cook food evenly? Some ovens have hot spots. This means one side of your food might burn while the other is still raw. Convection helps with even cooking.
- Durability: How long will the oven last? Ovens made with better materials and strong construction will last longer. Read reviews to see what other people say about how long their ovens lasted.
- Ease of Use: Is it simple to set the temperature and timer? If the controls are confusing, you might not enjoy using it.
User Experience and Use Cases
Compact countertop ovens are great for many things!
- Small Kitchens: They are perfect for apartments or dorm rooms where space is limited.
- Quick Meals: You can heat up leftovers, toast bagels, or bake a small batch of cookies quickly.
- Backup Oven: If your main oven breaks, a countertop oven can save the day.
- Specific Tasks: Some people use them just for toasting bread or making pizzas. They are more energy-efficient than a big oven for small jobs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is the main difference between a toaster oven and a countertop oven?
A: There isn’t much difference. The terms are often used to mean the same thing. Both are small ovens that sit on your counter.
Q: Can a countertop oven replace my big oven?
A: For small families or single people, it might. But for larger meals or baking many things at once, a full-size oven is still better.
Q: How do I clean a countertop oven?
A: Always unplug the oven first. Wipe the inside with a damp cloth. Use a mild soap if needed. Removable crumb trays and non-stick surfaces make cleaning easier.
Q: Are countertop ovens energy efficient?
A: Yes, they use less energy than a full-size oven for smaller cooking tasks. This can save you money on electricity bills.
Q: What size countertop oven should I buy?
A: Consider what you will cook. If you only toast bread, a small one is fine. If you want to bake a small chicken or pizza, look for a larger capacity.
Q: What does “convection” mean on a countertop oven?
A: Convection means the oven has a fan. This fan circulates hot air. It cooks food faster and makes it more evenly browned.
Q: Can I bake a cake in a countertop oven?
A: Yes, many countertop ovens can bake cakes. Make sure the oven is large enough for your cake pan and can reach the correct temperature.
Q: What are the most common cooking functions?
A: The most common functions are toast, bake, and broil. Many also have a keep warm function.
Q: Are stainless steel exteriors better?
A: Stainless steel looks good and is easy to wipe clean. It’s a popular choice for durability and appearance.
Q: Where should I place my countertop oven?
A: Place it on a flat, stable surface away from walls or cabinets that could be damaged by heat. Make sure there is good ventilation around it.
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!