The 5 Best Convection Toaster Ovens to Cook Delicious Dishes in 2023
Most of us live in apartments, and even if we have enough usable space, there are some areas in the modern-day house that has greatly changed compared to how they were years ago.
Modern-day kitchens are becoming smaller, or they use an open space design, and since people don’t cook as much as they use to, certain kitchen appliances are starting to die out.
For example, the traditional stove is slowly but surely being replaced by a neat device called a convection toaster oven, as they are a great alternative for those who want the benefits of a regular full-sized cooking oven but don’t have the space or budget for it.
Because of their rising popularity, we decided to go ahead and create this in-depth article where we will be showcasing what we believe to be the best convection toaster ovens that you can buy today. The products listed in this article were chosen based on their features, user popularity, and price, and were also ranked according to the same criteria.
Sure enough, the best convection toasters that are out there can cost anywhere between $30 to $900. However, while more expensive products are most of the time better than much cheaper ones (there’s clearly a difference between a $30 and a $900 oven), you need to pay attention to see whether an oven’s specs are also worth what you will be paying.
That being said, if one oven costs twice as much as another, but only offers something like 100 extra watts of power, then you’re better off with the cheaper alternative.
Table of Contents
What Is a Convection Toaster Oven?
For those of you that don’t own one yet, a convection toaster oven (a.k.a a fan-assisted oven or a fan oven) is just like a regular toaster oven, and it works by using fans to circulate the hot air in a way that ensures that all the food inside it is heated evenly.
Because of the increased air circulation, food tends to be cooked faster when compared to a regular non-fan oven, since those rely on natural convection to heat up the food. Besides, since they allow the food to be cooked a lot more evenly, they make for ideal tools in industries where food items need to be properly cooked, such as bakeries.
Besides, another great thing about fan-based ovens is that they are usually more cost-efficient in terms of power consumption since they don’t need to heat up the air to achieve the same results as a regular oven. In fact, the temperatures inside of fan ovens can be up to 20 °C (40 °F) lower when compared to their non-fan counterparts.
Convection Toaster Ovens Vs. Traditional Toaster Ovens
When it comes to ovens, the term convection is mostly used to indicate the fact that a model uses fans to circulate the air inside. However, the term itself isn’t used correctly, since both convection ovens and traditional ovens use convective heat transfer (heat transfer caused by the movement of air) in order to cook the food.
The only difference is that traditional ovens use natural convection to do this, while fan ovens use fans and ventilators to forcefully circulate the air inside. Thus, both a fan oven and a traditional oven can be considered convection ovens.
Semantics aside, there are plenty of differences between a convection toaster oven and a traditional toaster oven, and they are all due to the presence of built-in fans.
You see, because the air is forcefully circulated, the inside of the oven heats up much faster, and you don’t even need to reach the same temperatures to achieve the same results as a regular oven, thus making a fan oven much more energy-efficient.
Besides, the forced circulation means that fan ovens emanate less heat on the outside as well, so your kitchen will not turn into a sauna whenever you try to cook or bake something.
On the other hand, fan ovens also tend to be more expensive than their traditional counterparts, but the good news is that this is one of those scenarios where a higher initial investment will pay off in a very short time, since fan ovens are much more durable, and also do a better job at cooking your food.
Which Are the Best Convection Toaster Ovens of 2021?
1. Breville BOV845BSS Convection Oven
Topping off our list of best convection toaster ovens is the Breville BOV845BSS Convection Oven, a high-quality stainless steel kitchen appliance that will not only help you cook better and faster, but will also look good while doing it.
This convection oven can reduce the cooking time of any food by as much as 30% when compared to a traditional electric oven with the same power out (1800 Watts), and because you have 10 different cooking functions to choose from, there are very few types of food that this oven cannot handle.
These 10 cooking functions include: Toast, Bagel, Bake, Roast, Broil, Pizza, Cookies, Reheat, Warm and Slow cook, and you can easily switch between them and see how everything is going thanks to the oven’s LCD display where you can also see the temperature and cooking time.
That’s right, this convection oven also comes with a slow cooking function that will allow you to take your time (up to 10 hours) and create tender and juicy meals that will be not only healthy but also enjoyable and delicious.
The Breville convection oven uses a proprietary Element iQ System that cleverly directs and distributes the hot air inside of the oven evenly around your food items.
It does this by using 5 independent quartz elements and smart algorithms, allowing you to create the ideal cooking environment so that you can make the perfect meal.
As far as cooking capacity goes, you won’t just be making the perfect food, you will also be making a lot of it as well. The inside measures 18.5 x 15.7 x 11.1 inches, being more than enough 6 slices of regular bread, a 13-inch pizza, an entire rotisserie chicken, or a tray holding 9 muffins.
Not only that, but if you have a knack for perfection and love checking in on how the cooking is going, but don’t want to open the oven door every half hour, you can just turn on the interior lights so that you can see everything sizzling to perfection.
Besides, these lights will turn on automatically and stay turned on once a cooking cycle is done, so that you can see how great your food looks.
As for additional controls, this convection oven comes with an auto shut-off feature, so even if you do opt for slow cooking, you don’t need to be worried about overcooking anything in case you’re not there to manually shut it down.
Learn more about why this is the top-ranking product of our article by visiting the Breville BOV845BSS Convection Oven’s Amazon pageand reading up the user reviews.
Specs:
- Power: 1800 Watts
- Color: Brushed stainless steel
- Material: Stainless steel
- Control panel: Digital
- Size: 18.5 x 14.5 x 11 inches
- Weight: 22.8 pounds
Pros:
- Digital controls and LCD screen
- More energy efficient
- Slow cooking feature
- Element iQ System
- 10 cooking presets
Cons:
- Removing food can be hard without touching the inside of the oven. Use an oven mitt
2. Oster Digital Convection Oven
The next item on our list is the Oster Digital Convection Oven, and while it may not have as many features or as much power output as our first entry, it can still do more than enough to make it on our list.
It used high-performance convection technology and has a very wide temperature range of 150 to 450 degrees F, so it doesn’t matter what you are trying to bake, roast, or broil, you will be able to do it given enough time.
Speaking of time, the manufacturers of this oven know how important it is for your food to be done as fast as possible without sacrificing quality.
That’s why they included 7 different cooking settings, including Convection Bake, Broil, Toast, Pizza, Warm, and more, and they can be accessed via a digital control panel, so programming and cooking with this oven will be a piece of cake.
The interior is very spacious and can accommodate a wide variety of food items and dishes. For example, if you want to cook something in a pan that’s 2 inches high, 10.5 inches wide, and 12.5 inches long, you can go right ahead, since it will fit without a problem, and if you want to cook multiple dishes, you can do it easily thanks toits two rack positions.
This oven also comes with an interior light so that you can always see how the cooking is going without opening the oven per se and ruining any of the hot air circulations, and if you happen to not be around when the food is done, you don’t have to worry about burning it thanks to the 90-minute timer that automatically shuts off the oven.
If you do decide on going with this convection oven, you’ll be glad to know that the package includes a durable baking pan, as well as a removable crumb tray for easier cleanup jobs.
To learn more about this product and see exactly what other users think about it, go to the Oster Digital Convection Oven’s Amazon page right now.
Specs:
- Power: 1300 Watts
- Color: Black
- Material: Stainless steel
- Control panel: Digital
- Size: 16.3 x 19.7 x 11.3 inches
- Weight: 20.3 pounds
Pros:
- 7 different cooking settings
- Auto shut-off function
- Spacious interior
- Interior light
- Affordable
Cons:
- The interior is non-stick.
3. BLACK+DECKER TO1760SS Toaster Oven
If you like products with a more traditional look, convection ovens included, then you might like the BLACK+DECKER TO1760SS Toaster Oven.
It’s made of a complete stainless steel casing that makes it very durable and very nice-looking, and the temperature control panel is analog instead of digital, giving it a very old-fashion look.
Speaking of the control panel, it provides you with 4 cooking functions: Convection Bake, Broil, Toast, and Keep Warm, and you can easily switch between them by turning the function dial.
As for the other controls, you can set the time, temperature, and even input your timer if you use the oven to make toast, with a display showing you how dark the toast will be.
You can even use the timer’s stay-on function for longer baking tasks, although it’s not recommended that you attempt any slow cooking while using this oven.
If you lack a lot of kitchen space, you’ll be glad to hear that this convection oven is very compact, measuring just 11.63 x 16.86 x 9.07 inches, and it’s also very light, weighing in just 8.43 pounds.
One thing you may notice about this oven is that it only has a wattage of 1150W, but thanks to the natural convection technology, the interior of the oven is designed to efficiently circulate the hot air inside for fast and even results, thus compensating for the lack of innate power.
Last but not least, the manufacturers will ship this oven together with an extra rack and a baking pan, so you don’t have to worry about buying them yourself.
If this compact convection oven seems like the perfect product for your small kitchen, then go to the BLACK+DECKER TO1760SS Toaster Oven’s Amazon page, and hit the Add to Cart button.
Specs:
- Power: 1150 Watts
- Color: Stainless steel
- Material: Stainless steel
- Control panel: Analog
- Size: 11.63 x 16.86 x 9.07 inches
- Weight: 8.43 pounds
Pros:
- Comes with an extra tray and baking pan
- Natural convection technology
- Compact and lightweight
- 4 cooking functions
- Stainless steel build
Cons:
- May leave a smell of burning plastic the first few times you use it
4. Cuisinart Airfryer Convection Toaster Oven
This next entry is called the Cuisinart Airfryer Convection Toaster Oven, and it has an even more retro design than our previous entries. Not only does it have an analog control panel, but the dials and buttons are placed in the upper part of the oven instead of on the side, thus looking more like a full-sized oven than a microwave.
It’s the only convection oven on our list to have a built-in air fryer, allowing you to create healthier alternatives to the fried foods you’d normally make using cooking oil.
It has a power of 1800W and features 7 different cooking settings that you can choose from, including the Air Fryer: Convection Bake, Convection Broil, Bake, Broil, Warm, Toast.
Besides the cooking settings, the control panel is where you can gain access to the oven’s adjustable thermostat, its 60-minute timer, the auto shut-off feature, or the toast shade selector.
The inside of the oven measures 0.6 cubic feet, and it’s more than enough if you want to cook or reheat things like 6 slices of bread, or if you want to air fry 3 pounds of chicken wings, bake a 12-inch pizza, or roast a whole 4-pound chicken.
Besides, regardless of what cooking setting you choose, or what food you decide to prepare, you don’t have to worry about cleaning up afterward since the entire inside of the oven is lined with a non-stick material, and you can see everything that’s happening inside while you’re cooking thanks to the oven lights.
The package includes the convection oven, as well an oven rack, a baking pan, and an air fryer rack, and these can all be yours if you visit the Cuisinart Airfryer Convection Toaster Oven’s Amazon page right away.
Specs:
- Power: 1800 Watts
- Color: Black Stainless Steel, Copper, Navy, Silver, or White
- Material: Stainless Steel
- Control panel: Analog
- Size: 15.5 x 16 x 14 inches
- Weight: 21 pounds
Pros:
- Built-in air fryer
- Plenty of inside space
- 7 different cooking functions
- Great for frying foods without oil
- The inside is lined with non-stick material
Cons:
- Lacks a reheat or a defrost setting
5. Toshiba AC25CEW-BS Toaster Oven
The last entry on our list is a convection oven from tech giant Toshiba, it’s called the Toshiba AC25CEW-BS Toaster Oven, and it’s the only convection oven on our list to have a dedicated rotisserie function built into it.
By using the convection and rotisserie function, you can finally enjoy perfectly made roast chicken. For starters, the convection keeps the flavor and juices inside, cooking it evenly to a tender and moist consistency. The rotisserie function then spins the chicken inside the oven to ensure even browning and crusting.
The entire body of the oven is made using high-quality stainless steel, and it features a control panel that is analog, featuring control knobs and dials that are easy to turn, and an LCD display so that you can precisely fine-tune the cooking functions to just the right values.
Speaking of cooking functions, this oven has 10 of them, and they include Toast, Bake, Broil, Pizza, Cookies, Defrost, Reheat, Rotisserie, Keep warm, and Convection.
Based on the cooking function, the inside of the oven can reach temperatures that range between 150 °F – 450 °F, and thanks to the powerful convection fans, your food will be done evenly in no time, and it will taste delicious.
The large interior (18.98 x 15.59 x 10.78 inches) can easily fit in 6 slices of bread, a 12-inch pizza, most standard casseroles, cookie trays, or even something as big as a 4-pound chicken.
Of course, the inside is not only spacious, but it is also cleverly designed, since it comes with dual-position racks, and the walls are lined with a non-stick interior.
One neat feature we loved about this oven was the fact that we didn’t have to worry about accidentally burning ourselves when the food was done, and we tried removing it from inside since the oven has a Cool Touch handle.
This toaster oven features a removable crumb tray and a non-stick interior surface. After the oven has cooled off, simply remove the crumb tray and wash in warm, soapy water. The interior can be cleaned with a damp cloth.
Specs:
- Color: Stainless steel
- Material: Stainless steel
- Control panel: Analog
- Size: 18.98 x 15.59 x 10.78 inches
- Weight: 22.70 pounds
Pros:
- 10 different cooking functions
- Has a rotisserie function
- Powerful 1800W oven
- Cool Touch handle
- Easy to clean
Cons:
- It may give off a strange smell the first time you use it
Why a Convection Toaster Oven Can Be Good for You
Faster Cooking Time
Because convection toaster ovens use hot air, which is forcefully circulated, food gets cooked a lot quicker when compared to regular ovens, and since you don’t need to reach the same temperatures to get the same results as a regular oven, you also save a lot on your electric bill.
In fact, a study conducted by the U.S Department of Energy found that convection units use 30% less energy when compared to traditional ovens.
Even Cooking
Because the hot air inside a convection oven is circulated continuously, the heat is distributed evenly around all the food that’s inside. This means that you don’t have to worry about food that’s burned on the button and raw on the top or baked treats that are crusty on the outside and undercooked on the inside.
Besides, this even distribution of heat means that convection ovens at better for cooking foods with a more delicate texture (e.g., souffles).
Healthier Cooking
Many food items actually become very toxic when they burn, and it’s recommended that you remove any charred areas on baked goods before you proceed to eat them. However, thanks to a convection oven’s even distribution of air and heat, food will no longer get burned, thus resulting in much safer meals.
Besides, an even distribution of air and heat means that you won’t end up with crusty dried-out foods, since they will still retain their texture and juiciness, and therefore their tastiness as well.
Cooking Versatility
Since the only difference between a convection oven and a regular oven is how the air circulates inside of it, anything that you can do with a regular oven can be done with a convection oven as well, only faster and better.
So, if you’re interested in baking, grilling, roasting, or broiling your food, then a convection oven is just what you need. Besides, Convection ovens come with all kinds of accessories, allowing for an expanded array of food options.
Besides, even if you’re not interested in cooking at all and just want to heat or reheat your food, a convection oven will do just fine. The circulating hot air will make sure that whatever food inside will be evenly heated, and not warm on the outside, and frozen on the inside like you may see in regular ovens.
Convection Toaster Oven Buying Guide
As you read about each of the products we listed above, you may have noticed how we focused on certain criteria.
Well, truth be told, there are some key things that you must look for when buying a new convection toaster oven, and since we’ve already talked about how they can be pretty expensive, we think that it’s better to pay attention than to pay a few extra hundred dollars for a convection oven that you may not even like.
Stainless Steel Build
Stainless steel has been a very popular choice for many manufacturers when it comes to designing cookware, and for good reason.
For starters, stainless steel is very durable, it can easily handle moisture, heat, stains, and other similar hazards that result from exposure to food, it looks nice and lustrous, and the metallic sheen makes it easy to match with any kitchen design.
When it comes to convection toaster ovens, a stainless steel finish is indeed something to be desired, since you’ll probably be looking for an oven that will last you for a good couple of years, and won’t go out of style either.
Besides, a stainless steel build can help you avoid warping or damaging the interior walls, as this can lead to malfunctioning of the unit and can reduce its overall lifespan.
Oven Capacity
One major drawback of traditional toaster ovens is that while they are very small and can easily fit inside a kitchen with limited space, they lack the inside capacity that allows them to cook large amounts of food, with some of the smaller models being able to handle only 1 or 2 portions at a time.
When it comes to convection toaster ovens, they do tend to be larger in size, but just how large you want them to be is down to personal preferences.
For example, most standard convection ovens can easily handle a medium-to-large pizza, and they can easily hold a rotisserie chicken, and their interior design allows them to easily hold several trays that you can use to bake several pies or hold a cookie tray.
However, keep in mind that convection toaster ovens are heavier than traditional ovens, so if you’re going to buy a very large one, don’t expect it to be too easy to carry around.
Another thing to keep in mind when it comes to buying a new convection oven is just how much counter space you have to spare. You see, the smaller convection oven models can be so compact they can even fit inside your kitchen cupboard, so it’s no longer a matter of whether you can afford it, but rather if you have where to keep it.
How Easy to Use It Is
This criterion is pretty straightforward, as it dictates how easy the convection oven is to control, and how long it will take for you to get used to it.
Because of the extra features that a convection oven has as opposed to a regular oven, its control panel is usually a bit more complex, since you’ll have at least an extra dial or button that will regulate the fan speed.
Thus, getting a convection oven with plenty of preset cooking functions can save you a lot of time and headaches from having to figure out yourself what temperatures would be appropriate.
Once you’re done programming the oven and cooking your food, the last area where a convection oven needs to be as simple as possible is simplicity. Thus, look for models that look as if or are described as being easy to clean, since this too can be a big time saver.
Extra Features
While these features are not a must, they do make your life easier and can help you cook better and faster:
Multiple Cooking Racks
A lot of convection toaster ovens have multiple racks that allow you to cook several food items simultaneously, although most standard convection ovens come with no more than 2.
If you are looking for a multi-rack oven anyway, we recommend that you look for one where the top rack can also be used as a rotisserie
Auto Shut Off
Everyone that ever tried cooking something in the oven has most likely burned a meal or two, so you probably know just how beneficial an auto shut-off function can be.
This setting can be a lifesaver (or food saver) for those of you that have a busy schedule and have other things to do while the food is being cooked. Not only that, but an auto shut-off feature can help prevent fire hazards, and it’s also great if you have kids since it can keep them out of harm’s way.
Removable Crumb Tray
If you ever had to clean up an oven, then you most likely have a deep hatred towards burned grease stains and crumbs.
Well, while there isn’t much that can be done about the grease, other than coating the oven walls with a non-sticking material, you can solve your crumb issue by having a convection oven with a removable crumb tray.
This tray can be easily removed from the bottom part of your oven, emptier in the trash without even having to wipe it with a piece of cloth, and then put back in once you’re done.
Price
It’s understandable if you’re interested in a product’s price, especially when we’re talking about something that can easily go for several hundreds of dollars.
Thankfully enough, just like all other products, there are premium options and more affordable options, so anyone’s budget can handle a convection oven.
Premium convection ovens can easily go upwards of $1000, but they do come with certain features that make the investment worthwhile. For example, many of the more expensive models have digital controls, built-in cameras, plenty of cooking presets, timers, automatic shut-off features, and more.
Besides, these expensive models are also more durable, and they usually come with extended warranties just so you can feel safer with your investment.
On the other hand, there are also budget-friendly alternatives. The great part about these models is that they can sometimes be a better investment compared to their premium counterparts, especially when you look at a performance/price ratio.
Even cheaper models can perform well, and are well-suited for some of the most basic tasks, such as baking, roasting, reheating, defrosting, or toasting.
In fact, the only noticeable difference between the budget-friendly and the luxury models is in terms of durability, since cheaper models will usually come with shorter warranties, and you’ll end up paying more in maintenance fees.
Pros and Cons of Convection Toaster Ovens
To sum it up, here are the pros and the cons of convection ovens:
Pros:
- Your food will be juicier and tastier
- More cooking options and presets
- Can cook a wide variety of dishes
- Your food will be cooked evenly
- It’s more energy-efficient
- Larger cooking capacity
- Heats up very fast
- More durable
- Cooks faster
Cons:
- Heavier
- They cost more
Best Convection Toaster Ovens: Conclusion
Our guide has reached its end, and we hope that we managed to teach you everything you wanted to know about convection ovens, what they are, what do they do, and why they should easily replace the traditional oven that you have in your kitchen.
In the end, it doesn’t matter if you’re a professional cook or just someone that likes to make mac & cheese once a week, the fact of the matter is that a convection oven will be an upgrade.
As for the convection ovens that we showcased, we tried choosing models that would suit a wide variety of tastes and budgets, and that’s why we included both premium and budget-friendly models.
However, before you make any important financial decision, take a moment to look around your kitchen to see whether you have enough space for a convection oven, and whether your cooking habits warrant the acquisition of a more premium model, or if you’d do just fine with a $30 model.
All in all, try to find a balance between what an oven can do, and how much it costs so that you can get the best return on investment as fast as possible.
We hope that this guide was helpful for you and that we may have guided you on the path of faster, healthier, and overall better eating!