If you've got a small kitchen, expensive and large wall ovens can be a total bummer. You should go for countertop ovens; they are versatile units and will take up minimal space in your kitchen.
If you're looking for the best countertop oven for baking and cooking, you've come to the right place. After intense research, testing, and consulting with professional chefs, we present to you our expert list of the top rated 7 countertop ovens for baking.
We've also included a buying guide to make it easier for you to pick the right one.
Our Top Picks:
Are Countertop Ovens Good For Baking?
Yes, a countertop oven is good for baking. Countertop ovens are incredibly versatile and practical units. You can roast, toast, broil, and even bake as long as you stick to the oven's interior capacity.
In fact, due to their compact size, they can bake faster and more evenly than conventional ovens. However, keep in mind that this also heavily depends on the model. Not every countertop oven is suitable for baking. Below, we'll review some reliable countertop ovens for baking.
The Best Countertop Oven For Baking And Cooking Review
1. Breville BOV900BSS The Smart Oven Pro (Our Best Choice)
(Best Countertop Electric Oven For Baking)
Why It's Great: The Breville BOV900BSS is the most reliable countertop oven for baking that we've tried before. Sporting a sleek and sturdy look, this oven is a stunner that easily blends with your kitchen décor.
This countertop oven comes with 13 cooking functions including air frying, keep warm, proof, and slow cooking. However, its highlight is the dual-speed convection cooking; the super convection amazed us by its speed at air-frying, and making rotisserie chicken. This fastest cooking oven is able to reach at 480F within just 25 minutes that's quiet impressive.
The interior measures 21.5 x 17.1 x 12.7 inch which is large enough to roast a 14-pound turkey or toast 8 slices of bread without any issues. We used it to bake a pancake, and it came out perfect in 30 minutes which is a lot faster than most similarly priced models in the market.
The dial controls are easy to use, and the labels are also clearly written. The door handle is a welcome addition as it makes it easier to open the door. The glass door makes it easier to monitor the food, and it also has interior light for low light conditions.
Keep in mind: On the downside, it does use up a lot of power, as we noticed our lights started to dim when this oven was operating.
Our Verdict: If your counter has enough room and you're a serious baker, seek out this versatile, and smart oven from Breville. The design, speed, and performance of this model make it well worth your investment.
(Best Countertop Steam Oven)
Why It's Great: This countertop 34 Qt combi-oven has 10 Modes with a 24 item Preset Menu and 10 DIY Recipe Slots. It’s family size (hold an 18 lb. turkey) unit, but there is a smaller model. The timer allows you to set for 5 minutes to 3 hours. It comes with utensils, a drip tray, cleaning sponge and insulated gloves. It even includes a child lock.
You can use steam, hi-temp steam, grill, convection oven, combi (steam+grill+convection), fermentation, and sterilization plus preheat and defrost. The cooling exhaust system protects you and your cupboards.
Users found this easy to clean and use with great versatility. Precise temperature control and a nice large water tank lasts the whole cook.
All kinds of bread come out just like a bakery: it’s a smaller version of their oven. Pie crust is golden and amazing and pastry can rise higher before it crisps, making Baklava almost professional.
This countertop combi steam oven is an extremely versatile tool, worth the money, and saves some space on your counter. Best of all you can make $7 loaves of bread for a dollar or two and yours will be better
(Best For Convection Baking)
Why It's Great: The TOB-260N1 Convection Toaster Oven from Cuisinart is the best countertop convection oven for baking that we’ve come across. Although, it's cheaper than the Breville Smart oven but it delivers almost same performance just like the Breville.
This toaster oven comes with 15 cooking options, which is more than the Breville BOV900BSS. As like previous model, it also supports speed convection mode for fast and even baking. This setting also reduces the preheating time, and the cooking time by almost 30%.
However, the best things about this unit is the dual cook mode. In plain English, it means you can set two different cooking functions at two different temperature settings consecutively.
The interiors measure 0.95 cubic feet, and it can accommodate a standard 9 x 13 baking pan without handle. This oven bakes quickly and does a brilliant job at baking cakes & cookies.
This countertop convection oven also comes with 2 heavy duty racks, a broiling pan and a nice quality Pizza Stone. The stone retains the heat for a long time to maintain a consistent temperature during your baking. This ensure proper rising of your dough. Plus, it also helps you achieve a better crust of your pizza.
The non-stick interior also ensures a hassle-free cleaning process, and all you need is a few wipes with a sponge and some detergent to get it squeaky clean.
Keep in mind: The back of this oven can get really hot, especially when you're using the convection setting. You must be very careful when using this mode. Secondly, the oven takes up a huge counter space, therefore, make sure that you've enough space in your kitchen.
Our Verdict: We highly recommend this unit to anyone who is looking for a quick yet versatile countertop oven under budget. The large oven cavity also makes it a good choice for cooking large dishes for 2-4 people. This is also one of the best countertop toaster oven for baking frozen pizza.
4. BLACK+DECKER TO3240XSBD (Most Affordable)
(Best Portable Oven For Baking)
Why It's Great: For those under a budget, you can’t get a sweeter deal than the BLACK+DECKER TO3240XSBD. At just 15.75 x 24.45 x 13.7 inches, it's relatively compact than the previous models. Therefore, it's a great choice if you're looking for a small countertop oven for baking in your apartment kitchen.
It features 3 easy-to-use dial controls, including a dedicated toast timer which can be set from 250 to 450°F for up to 60 minutes. Even better, if you want to bake for longer hours, there's also a stay-on feature. The door handle is sturdy and makes operation easier.
Despite the low profile design, the interior is enough roomy and can accommodate standard 9x13 baking pans with handle. On top of that, its extra wide interior easily fits most cookie sheets. It bakes cookies, zucchini bread, and brownies really well. You can use the convection setting to speed up the baking process.
Keep in mind: One of the major issues with this oven is that the temperature can be off at times, and you might need to use a thermometer.
Our Verdict: If you're looking for a basic countertop oven that bakes fast and evenly, the TO3240XSBD is worthy of consideration.
(Large countertop oven for baking)
Why It's Great: If size matters, the Oster Extra Large Digital Countertop Oven has plenty to offer. If you're not a fan of dial controls, you'll be happy with this unit as it comes with easy-to-use push buttons with a nice LCD. It also has dedicated presets for defrosting, toasting, broiling, pizza, and baking.
The door handle is sturdy and remain cool while operating. The timer can be set up to 90 minutes which is longer than the BLACK+DECKER TO3240XSBD model. Additionally, there's also an auto shut off feature with a timer bell to prevent burns which is a major upside of this model.
The interior is quiet large, and it supports 2 rack positions to cook large dishes like- chicken roast or baking chocolate chip cookies. This oven does an impressive job at baking, and the turbo convection setting certainly speeds things up. The large view glass door also makes it easy to monitor the food inside.
This digital countertop oven heats up faster and cools down slower than regular ovens. Therefore, it uses significantly less energy compared to similar models. On top of that, the digital setting provide right power in right time to speed up the cooking process.
Keep in mind: On the downside, it has no interior light, and the handle tends to get hot while operating.
Our Verdict: If you're looking for an extra wide capacity countertop oven for cooking large cuts of meals this one will be a good fit. This oven is also a great pick for baking bread without burning on top or bottom.
(Best French Door countertop oven for baking)
Elite Gourmet is a brand known for high-quality home appliances, and the ETO-4510M is a solid countertop oven for baking. The dial controls are user-friendly, and the labels are easy to read and understand.
One of the stand out features of this countertop oven is the French door design-you can open one or both the doors simultaneously. This is really useful for performing multiple cooking task at a time. In addition to that, it requires less counter space in your kitchen because, the doors open to each side instead of dropping down in front of the oven.
This oven supports 4 rack position to offer you more cooking flexibility and cooking space. If you're an avid eater of air frying foods, having multiple rack positioning is certainly a great advantage. The wider temperature range is another great thing about this unit. You can easily select the required temperature from 150° F to 480° F which is more than the Oster Extra Large Oven.
We also liked the dedicated temperature dial as it makes it a lot easier to control the temperature. However,
Keep in mind: The timer is limited to 60 minutes, and it doesn't come with a stay-on feature.
Our Verdict: If you're looking for the best countertop oven for baking cakes and cookies, the Elite Gourmet ETO-4510M is a top contender. This French door oven is also a great choice for those people looking for a countertop oven with style and elegance.
(Best commercial countertop oven for baking)
Rounding up our list is the impressive Wisco-620 Commercial Convection Countertop Oven. It sports a sturdy stainless-steel construction, and at 18 x 19 x 14.25 inches, it’s a relatively compact countertop oven.
It comes with dial controls along with a dedicated temperature adjuster. We were pleased to see that it came with a door handle which is more convenient than a push-button opener. The glass door is also sturdy, and we were impressed that it didn't heat up while operating.
The Wisco-620 Commercial Convection Oven has plenty of interior space and comes with three high-quality baking trays. We used it to bake cookies, and it did a great job; they came out perfectly baked.
This oven heats up faster than many commercial ovens for baking and is the easiest to clean on our list. The racks can be removed along with the glass door; a few wipes with a sponge and detergent will get the job done. However, this oven doesn’t come with any pre-programmed functions.
Best Countertop Convection Oven Buying Guide
We've included a buying guide to make it easier for you to pick the right oven for your needs. We focused on these features during our review, and you should too when you purchase your unit.
Interior Capacity And Size:
The first thing you need to do is ensure that the oven's cavity can accommodate the food you'll be cooking. If you regularly bake a lot of food for you and your family, you should go for the biggest size possible. For casual baking, a 0.9 cubic feet interior will do just fine. You should also make sure that your baking trays will fit the oven. Otherwise, ensure that the oven comes with custom trays.
Number Of Rack Position:
For baking large batches of food, multiple rack support is a must-have feature. This feature is handy if you regularly bake bread, cakes, cookies etc. for family and friends. Most countertop ovens support 2 rack positions, but some can support up to 4. However, this comes down to your requirements, and you'll have to pay a little extra if you want multiple rack positions.
Convection Cooking:
If your oven supports convection cooking, it'll evenly circulate the heat inside the oven, ensuring quick and even heating of your food. This feature is essential for roasting and baking. Especially if you're going to bake cookies, pastries, or pies and don't want to compromise on the food quality, make sure that your oven comes with this feature.
Additionally, a convection oven is more energy efficient than a conventional oven as it tends to cook food faster, preventing you from wasting energy.
Timer With Auto Shut Off Feature:
Timer decides how long your oven will operate before shutting off. Baking generally takes anywhere between 30-45 minutes, so make sure your oven supports that. Additionally, it's highly recommended that you get an oven with an auto shut-off feature to prevent burns and hazards. We also recommend you get an oven with a stay-on timer so that you can cook for longer durations if necessary.
Settings And Control Panel:
For convenience and a seamless baking experience, ensure that your oven comes with all the settings that you'll need. We highly recommend you get an oven with a dedicated baking function. If you plan on using your oven for more than just baking, ensure that it comes with other cooking options as well.
The control panel is another important consideration. Whether its push buttons or dial knobs, ensure that you have all the controls you'll need to bake the food precisely. Dedicated temperature control should be at the top of the list.
Oven Light:
Last but not least is the oven light. It's a very basic feature, but many ovens lack interior light. With an interior light, you'll be able to monitor the baking process even in poorly lit areas. Additionally, ensure that the control panels light up when touched so that you can control the cooking process even in dimly lit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q1: Is preheating required for baking?
Yes, preheating is certainly required for baking. If you put your bake in a cold oven, it could come out unevenly baked. As such, it’s highly recommended that you preheat your oven to ensure properly baked food.
Q2: Can a countertop oven replace a regular oven?
Yes, a countertop oven can certainly replace a regular oven. In fact, they come with more features and offer more versatility. However, they are often smaller than regular ovens.
Q3: What is the difference between a countertop oven and a toaster oven?
The main difference between a countertop and a toaster oven is that, toaster ovens are much smaller. Additionally, toaster ovens are also significantly more affordable than countertop ovens. In general, countertop ovens also possess more features.
Q4: Can you bake a cake in a countertop oven?
Yes, you can certainly bake cakes in a countertop oven. However, not every countertop oven is capable of proper baking. For best results, choose one with a dedicated baking function and convection cooking capabilities.
Final Verdict:
With the best countertop oven for baking, you can bake quickly and efficiently. The ovens mentioned on this list are all excellent for baking, and you won't be disappointed with any of them. It's hard to choose a winner, but if we had to, it would be the Breville BOV900BSS The Smart Oven Pro.
If you’re on a budget, you can go for the BLACK+DECKER TO3240XSBD as it's a complete value for money and performs better than most ovens, almost twice its price.
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