The Ultimate Toaster Ovens: Mastering Meals from Roast Chicken to Perfect Toast

The advancements in toaster oven technology have reached new heights, making them incredibly efficient. Contemporary toaster ovens heat quickly and maintain consistent temperatures effortlessly. They're well-suited for individuals living alone or couples occupying compact apartments, though certain models can accommodate larger households as well—think of being able to cook tater tots easily. With the incorporation of smart features into these appliances, budget-friendly options come equipped with numerous preset functions that simplify meal preparation significantly. Feeling nervous about roasting a whole chicken for your partner? Craving a single-serving homemade pizza cooked just right within 15 minutes? Or perhaps you want a toasted bagel done to perfection? These devices offer dedicated buttons—or rather an array—for each task imaginable.

Let me confess something. Despite being a professional food writer with a passion for cooking—which I engage in frequently—I haven’t switched on my "actual" oven even once over the past year. This oven now serves primarily as storage space for items like muffin trays and cake molds. However, recently, I acquired a top-of-the-line toaster oven (specifically, the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro — even though, as you'll notice below, I've tried numerous alternatives — this particular oven performs superiorly. The issue with conventional ovens is that they're not consistently reliable; they might take ages to reach the desired temperature and frequently struggle to maintain it precisely. These appliances tend to be fussy, unpredictable, and above all, overly big. To provide some background, I reside solo, yet I can easily tally up the instances when I've cooked an entire turkey without using my hands, which admittedly haven't occurred much.

However, this does not mean that I avoid roasting or baking altogether. Just this week, I have slow-cooked pork in chili verde, prepared blueberry muffins from scratch, toasted numerous slices of bread, broiled mackerel, roasted various types of vegetables, and baked either Bagel Bites or chocolate chip cookies. every single night. And I accomplished it using my toaster oven. Previously seen as an indispensable tool for bachelors or a standard fixture in college dorms, the toaster oven has evolved into a versatile appliance that handles tasks ranging from warming up leftovers like pizza slices to achieving perfect melted mozzarella. It also excels at transforming frozen hash browns into something delightfully crisp with minimal effort. These ovens can perform functions such as air frying, steaming, roasting, and baking. Isn’t it amazing what this little marvel can do?

We're currently experiencing a heyday for toaster ovens. They've become so prevalent that selecting the ideal model has turned into quite a challenge. Over the last couple of months, I rigorously tested five top-rated and highly praised "best" toaster ovens. Each one left an impression on me—albeit through distinct features. In crafting this comprehensive guide to contemporary toaster ovens, I aimed to simplify your decision-making process, dear readers, ensuring that everyone finds their perfect match based on price range, kitchen style, and specific culinary needs.

Read on!

Let's now introduce our toaster ovens.

The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro: A powerhouse appliance for enthusiastic cooks.

If you're someone who wants the duck breast skin to turn crispy exactly when the gratin is done cooking, then Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro This device goes beyond being merely a toaster oven; it acts like a versatile countertop assistant. Its Element IQ technology allows the heating elements to adapt intelligently, ensuring consistent cooking regardless of what you're preparing—be it cookies, roasted chicken, or dried fruits. While the air frying feature works well, although perhaps not as effectively as standalone models, the unit boasts ample space capable of accommodating items such as a 13-inch pizza or a 9" x 13" baking dish.

While some features stand out more than others, the Breville’s convection mode is now my preferred choice for achieving perfectly crisp chicken skin. However, I discovered that the smart cooking sensors controlled via the app were not very useful and ended up deleting the application shortly after unpacking the oven.

Certainly, such capability accompanies an equally matched impact (not to mention cost). The Breville is quite large—adequate countertop space will be necessary for it. Although highly adaptable, it could seem excessive if your needs are as simple as merely toasting bread or warming up leftovers. However, should you desire a toaster oven capable of effortlessly managing anything from cold slices of pizza to preparing a compact Thanksgiving feast, this model stands out as the most well-rounded choice.

Pros:

• A big capacity
• Innovative features make precise cooking effortless.
• Can handle everything from toasting to roasting, broiling, air-frying, and so much more...

Cons

• She's quite dominant, taking up much of the counter space.
• The cost reflects the quality, yet this oven doesn’t come at a low price.
• The app integration shows promise, yet I found it somewhat lacking in practicality.

The compact Ninja Flip Toaster Oven & Air Fryer: A versatile all-in-one appliance

For individuals with small kitchens, dorm rooms, or studio apartments, the Ninja Flip It stands out as an innovative solution due to its capability to fold upwards and be stored vertically, thus occupying significantly less countertop space when not needed. Even with its compact design, this appliance offers a range of functionalities including air frying, baking, and broiling, which makes it a reliable multi-functional choice for those constrained by limited kitchen real estate.

The drawback? It has a fairly compact size. Yes, it excels at baking dishes such as an endive-shallot-goat cheese tart (see image below), yet some recipes may require adjustments based on their complexity or volume. Unlike our top choices, this model isn't particularly tall; although it performs well with items like pizzas and pork chops, fitting something larger—such as a Cornish game hen—is challenging, not to mention accommodating a crown roast would be nearly impossible. On the plus side, the Ninja heats up quickly—the Bagel Bites emerged scorchingly hot, while the Brussels sprouts were delightfully crisp—but when compared to pricier options like the Breville oven, it falls short in terms of precise temperature control.

Pros:

• This is among the most budget-friendly multi-function ovens available.
• Heats up quickly and generates ample warmth for making pizzas and air frying.
• The "flip" refers to how it occupies minimal space in your kitchen.

Cons

• Short in stature but ideal for one or two individuals
• Is devoid of any intelligent features
• The user interface works well but isn't as easy to use compared to similar products.

Our Place Large Wonder Oven: A chic focal point

Let’s face it: many toaster ovens appear, at their most stylish, as purely functional. Our Place Wonder Oven , conversely, appears as though you would readily keep it displayed on your countertop in a Silver Lake showcase kitchen. It comes in Our Place With its characteristic earthly color scheme and two size options—standard and large—it’s evident that this product caters to individuals who value both style and practicality equally.

Apart from its appearance, this appliance offers a broad array of features including baking, broiling, and air frying capabilities. It performs adequately overall but does not particularly stand out in any specific function when contrasted with more niche alternatives.

The oven gets hot fast and stays that way, but doesn’t have intuitive options for preheating or more advanced temperature controls, so my fellow testers and I found it prone to slight overcooking. All that fast, powerful heat did serve the air-frying function, which was the best of the bunch.

Additionally, the Wonder Oven stands out among ovens with its steaming feature, which is also available in the Balmuda; however, I discovered that it performs less impressively compared to the Balmuda in this aspect. The company positions this functionality primarily as a means of warming up leftover food rather than for baking purposes.

This isn’t the most economical option on our list, so you’ll be paying extra for both the design and the performance. However, if aesthetics are just as important to you as functionality, then this is an excellent choice.

Pros:

• This oven boasts a sophisticated design, offered in multiple appealing hues that enhance kitchen aesthetics.
• The sizable Wonder Oven boasts the greatest capacity among all the ovens we tested, along with the Breville.
• Great for leftovers
• Flexible baking, grilling, and air frying capabilities
• The steaming function distinguishes it from other multi-function ovens.

Cons

• Pricey for its performance
• Is missing the preheating feature and other intelligent functionalities.
• The distinctive style of Our Place doesn't appeal to everybody.

Panasonic FlashXpress Toaster Oven: The Overachieving Wonder

Panasonic FlashXpress, I believe I am head over heels for you. The blend of vintage charm with futuristic design appeals to me greatly; it’s easy to imagine you sitting proudly atop the counter in a sleek, neon-lit Tokyo studio apartment. Plus, you come in an appealing set of colors—white being my favorite.
There's something endearing about your little idiosyncrasies too, such as how some of your pre-set buttons cater specifically to items like hash browns and chicken legs. This quirky feature adds character without detracting from functionality.
Your performance is spot-on—you achieve evenly toasted slices within just under three minutes, complete with flawless golden-brown coloring on each side. It’s clear your creators knew what they were doing when designing this appliance because cooking frozen pizzas was not only quicker but also better executed compared to following conventional methods outlined on packaging instructions.
Moreover, considering your compact dimensions—they match those of standard-sized toasters—it makes sense placing you conveniently along one edge of my kitchen workspace where you won’t hog unnecessary real estate. Lastly, let us talk value! For all these impressive capabilities packed into one unit, asking around $170 seems incredibly fair. In truth, had prices been higher, I wouldn’t have hesitated paying extra.

If you prefer simplicity without sacrificing performance and desire an excellent, space-saving toaster oven that performs impressively beyond expectations, consider the Panasonic FlashXpress. Thanks to its infrared heating components, this mini-oven warms up remarkably quickly, eliminating the necessity of preheating and ensuring uniformly toasted food every time. Its diminutive design makes it ideal for smaller spaces, plus it offers unexpected aesthetic appeal considering its affordable price point.

Pros:

• Hits far above its weight considering the cost.
• Makes perfect crispy toast
• Gets hot super fast
• Intelligent features cook everything from hash browns to frozen pizza flawlessly.
• This oven is quite stylish!

Cons

• The FlashXpress is compact — nothing like handling whole roasted chickens.
• The oven truly excels at tasks like toasting and reheating but does not serve as a complete substitute for a conventional oven.
• The vintage futuristic Japanese design may not complement all styles of kitchen decoration.

The Balmuda Toaster: Experience the perfect toast

Should you consider toast as something far beyond merely being a base for spreads like peanut butter, then "The Toaster" from Balmuda could become an essential part of your kitchen collection. This stylish appliance hailing from Japan incorporates a steaming feature designed to maintain a crunchy crust externally whilst keeping the interior wonderfully tender—a technique ideal for crafting Japanese-style toast, known for its chunky slices with crisp outsides yet fluffy insides. Additionally, this innovative device excels at refreshing pre-baked items such as pastries and cakes (yes, even those delicate croissants!) back to their freshly-baked glory.

The drawback? It comes with a high price tag relative to its functionality. Unlike a multi-use toaster oven, this appliance specializes primarily as a top-loaded toaster, though it excels brilliantly at that task. For those seeking versatility such as baking or air frying capabilities, consider alternative options. However, if your priority is consistently flawless toast, then this choice stands out as the epitome of indulgence.

This toaster possesses an indescribably appealing quality that makes me enjoy its presence. Unlike the obnoxious beeping of typical Western toaster ovens, this one emits gentle chirping and clicking sounds along with satisfying thumps. Its design exudes a welcoming sense of elegance—similar perhaps to stepping into a high-end railway carriage rather than attending a formal event. While I struggle to put my feelings into exact words, whenever I see it, I imagine the Balmuda dressed in a miniature uniform, providing courteous service accompanied by a warm grin.

Pros:

• Makes perfect toast
• Can indeed restore a croissant to textual perfection through reheating (it’s like magic!).
• It appears to be a nightmarish illusion.

Cons

• This is a single-purpose device — it only makes toast.
• People who are obsessed with crunchy toast might not like the soft-centered result it produces.
• It's costly considering it's only a toaster.

Lastly, let’s talk about toast...

One place where several of these so-called toaster ovens fell short was in the making of toast. Despite its many advantages, even the Breville with precision temperature control and the intelligence of a golden retriever turned out just passable toast: uneven, dry, and routinely underdone.

Balmuda’s “The Toaster” It stands out. This specially designed, highly sought-after Japanese steam toaster consistently produces perfect toast, which it ought to do.

Another standout for making toast is the Panasonic Flash X-press. Initially, I was skeptical because I've had disappointing experiences with pricier and more advanced ovens. However, this toaster performs exceptionally well, much like how Turner creates stunning sunset paintings.

This is where things become complicated. The toast produced by Balmuda and Panasonic couldn’t be more distinct. You probably know about the ongoing battle among toast enthusiasts. In the UK, toast connoisseurs demand evenly crisped toast throughout — crunchy from surface to center. This type of toast, ideal for soaking up eggs with a soft yolk, is favored across the Commonwealth. The Panasonic FlashXpress delivers precisely this kind of classic UK-style toast.

The rival camp when it comes to toasted bread – and where Balmuda excels – hails from Japan and has become established as the Toast enjoyed throughout Asia and the U.S. exhibits a striking juxtaposition: a crunchy exterior with a perfectly caramelized crust surrounding a tender, pliable, and heated core. Achieving this level of meticulous toasting demands an appliance such as the Balmuda’s steam oven.

What about the storied Mitsubishi ST1-T bread oven Sure, why not? However, I won’t even entertain the idea of using any toaster that’s limited to making just one perfectly uniform piece of toast per session and could end up costing as much as $600 once you factor in both the toaster itself and whatever power adapter is needed to use it with American electrical outlets. So, Mitsubishi, if you happen upon these words, maybe offer me an opportunity to try out your model and perhaps alter my perspective.

And there you have it! The perfect toaster for each situation. Amidst a world increasingly filled with doubt and fear, I trust you can find comfort in knowing this truth: If you're looking at countertop ovens today, then now is truly an exceptional era to live in.