Kitchen toaster ovens are small-scale conventional ovens that are efficient for cooking foods and toasting pieces of bread. These countertop ovens take up minimal space, shorten cooking times and replace several kitchen appliances. Contemporary toaster ovens come with many options, so before picking one, you should determine your needs.
Primarily used for heating up, browning or toasting various foods, standard kitchen toaster ovens are useful for their quick-cooking convenience. Like popcorn poppers and other small appliances, toaster ovens are easy to use. Some conventional toaster ovens allow users to select how dark their toast should be, while a wide and transparent glass door makes it easier to check on the food. A rotisserie countertop oven has a rotating spit for ensuring the meat is evenly prepared, with some large enough to fit an entire chicken.
Convection kitchen toaster ovens have built-in fans that circulate hot air evenly, resulting in faster cooking speeds. An infrared heating element in a toaster heats up instantly, eliminating the need for defrosting before baking, roasting, boiling or grilling, and it minimizes cooking food in oil. An air fryer oven utilizes high heat and super convection airflow to ensure crispy, air-fried dishes and faster food dehydration.
The toaster’s capacity and size affect how much counter space you have to work with, and determine the foods you can prepare. Some four-slice capacity kitchen toaster ovens have a spacious design that lets you fit a pizza that is up to nine inches in size. Compact toaster ovens and other specialty appliances take up less countertop space, leaving you with a broader food preparation area.
Most kitchen toaster ovens come with the basic toast, bake and broil functions that let you prepare food without heating the entire kitchen. Advanced electric toasters include a bagel setting for crisping the top and insides of a bagel while warming it for a crusty exterior. A reheat function utilizes a medium-low temperature to reheat leftover food before placing it in a thermo pot for on-the-go convenience. Slow cooking mimics a crockpot by cooking for a long time at a low temperature, while the roast setting takes a stronger approach to reach and maintain the set temperature.
Many modern kitchen toaster ovens have an LCD screen which displays the function selection and temperature settings with buttons and knobs for ease of use right out of the box. Timers and alerts let you know when food is ready, while an included crumb tray covers the bottom to keep the toaster clean. A non-stick interior coating allows for easy tidying, while auto-eject racks advance forward when you open the door. Multiple rack positions in a convection countertop oven make moving dishes farther from or closer to the elements easy, and some toasters have cutting boards for cooling your cooked food.