The Best Oven For Baking Cakes And Cookies 2021

We spoke about different heating methods. We spoke about how different oven types distribute and generate heat in a variety of ways. Now, we are going to take a look at what can power these ovens. More importantly, how this affects your ability to bake delicious cakes!

Gas ovens:

Gas ovens are a long standing choice many households turn to, even today. Invented during the 1820s. the gas ovens became a must for home cooking. They are still relevant and very reliable today. It’s just that the advances in modern technology is making them obsolete. 

They are usually powered by a combustible gas source. This can be anything from propane to liquefied petroleum. Before these combustible gases were used, these types often relied on natural resources, such as wood or coal.

In addition to this, gas ovens tend to release moisture during baking. This makes it hard to use this particular oven type for anything that needs to be roasted or browned.

Electric ovens:

Next up are the successor to the gas oven. The first electric oven appeared on the market in the 1920s. They instantly started competing with their gas counterparts. 

Today, the majority of the ovens on the market are electric. They are praised for their persistent, even baking capabilities. Electric ovens often have multiple baking functions for ease of use. This is something gas ovens either don’t have, or have very limited options. For anything that needs to be baked at a consistent temperature, baked evenly, this oven type is a great choice.

Microwave ovens:

Microwave ovens can be used to bake cakes. But the first thing you need to know is that, a microwave oven won’t have the same cooking power, or capacity your conventional oven does. 

Microwaves were primarily designed to help you defrost or heat up already prepared foods. Sure, the heat circulates around it, dehydrating anything being baked and thermally processing it. In this sense, it can be used to bake goods. 

The point is that a microwave oven will never be able to fully replace either of the two types, just because of the way it was designed. Still, there are plenty of quick and easy recipes online. They can teach you how to bake anything, from potato chips to cookies and mug cakes.

Buying a good oven for baking cakes is not a complicated task. However, you need to consider few essential things when selecting a good oven for baking. Here, we put together those critical factors:

Oven size and capacity:

Obviously, you will need to consider the oven size and capacity. Think about which baked goods you make the most. Are these small, medium-sized or large cakes? Are they layered? How wide are they?

You won’t be able to bake a three-layer cake in one go in a microwave. Larger sized ovens will usually have a bigger baking capacity. Bigger is more spacious! It might be a good idea to measure all of your baking pans. Use that information to cross reference with the oven’s interior size. This will give you a good idea of how the oven will fit into your cooking repertoire.

One more thing to keep in mind is the actual size of the oven. Do you have enough room for a full-size, commercial grade oven? How big is your kitchen? Can it accommodate a large-sized oven? Can the doors be fully opened with no obstructions? These are just a few things to consider.

Timer & Temperature control:

These are features that can greatly help you ease your cooking. Certain ovens will let you control temperatures of the individual heating elements. Some will have preset cooking or baking functions to help bake certain goods perfectly and consistently each time. These settings are really good if you are, for example, a commercial baker. 

If you need to create a large quantity of baked goods, automating parts of the baking process lets you focus more on your other tasks. These features are also incredibly useful and practical for residential use. This is not to say that only commercial bakers will get the most benefits from it. If you want to automate baking or take some guesswork out of the way – these are the features to look out for.

Useful Baking modes:

A very big part of the ovens are the baking modes and functions. These are all still improving over time, but there is no denying that there are some very useful modes to keep an eye out for. It might seem like a secondary function, or a convenience at most, but it really helps to understand the baking modes that come with your oven. 

Usually, they’ll be best described in the user manual that comes with the products. Keep in mind that different products have different modes. Some settings are extremely self-explanatory and intuitive. Others might require getting used to. Timed baking and cooking presets are definitely a game-changer worth looking into.

Some ovens come with grilling, roasting and steaming functions in addition to baking. These features are really useful if you would like to make delicious pasta or roast chicken. However, oven with these extra cooking functions tend to be pricier than oven with very limited feature. So, there's no point to purchase a highly priced unit with features that you don't need.

Brands & Your Budget:

Just like with everything else – even the best oven for baking cakes has a range. There is a huge variety of different ovens to choose from. These are tailored to accommodate different baking styles. Also, there are different price ranges, to accommodate different budgets. Before you set out to look for the perfect oven, consider a few things.

How much can you put aside for a new oven? Some of them are really cheap and you can get them for under a $100. The high end scale can easily set you back by $600 and up. Of course, today, the price and quality ratios may not be proportionate. The most expensive thing out there isn’t necessarily the best.

You’d also need to pay attention to the brands. Do your research. How long has the brand been around? Is it awarded or recognized for making quality ovens? What’s the variety of products they offer? 

All of this information is basically available to the public. It takes a quick Google search to reach it. We carefully chose the best of the best, curating this list to save you some time. However, you are always encouraged to do your own research and fact-check before you buy.

If you want to make cakes and cookies perfectly and evenly you should consider the following best options. They were tested and reviewed carefully.

1. Panasonic FlashXpress Compact Toaster Oven: Best Choice

The Panasonic FlashXpress is one of the best electric ovens for baking you can find. It makes use of the Double Infrared Heating technology. Quartz and ceramic heating elements are evenly spread across, to ensure everything gets cooked evenly. With no preheating required, you can start baking as soon as you turn it on

The temperature range it can cover goes from 250°- 500°F. This makes it a good choice for baking, toasting, broiling or roasting. It can also be used to reheat or defrost food. You can set the temperature manually, or choose one of the 6 preset auto-cook menus designed for certain food types. If you are the ‘set and forget’ type of baker, there is a digital timer built-in. This allows you to set an automated baking time, up to 25 minutes.

In terms of build and design, the Panasonic FlashXpress is made out of stainless steel. It is generally light, weighing only 7.5 pounds. The top-to bottom door mechanism makes operating the oven simple and fast. It has a very simple and compact design, so it can be moved around with great ease. You can keep an eye on your food as it is baking, thanks to the interior light and the see-through glass.

Why we love it:

• Efficient heating, thanks to the Double Infrared Heating technology.

• Reheat and defrosting functions are a nice addition

• Digital timer that allows timed baking

• Precision temperature selection that can heat up to 500°F

• Very compact and lightweight

• Made out of durable, sturdy materials

Take Note:

• It isn’t too spacious. It could fit a 9-inch pizza at most.

• The timer can’t be set to bake for more than 25 minutes

2. Breville BOV450XL Mini Smart Oven: Best Portable Oven For Baking Cakes

The Breville BOV450XL Mini Smart Oven is considered the best portable oven for baking cakes. Don’t be fooled by the name. This ‘Mini’ toaster oven can easily fit a cake or even a chicken! So, let’s take a look to see what makes it a must-have.

The first distinguishing feature are the 4 quartz 1800-watt heating elements. Quartz itself is very sensitive to heat. But what makes this oven even more powerful is the Smart Element IQ feature. This oven transfers heat across the elements efficiently. This, in turn, provides stable and precise temperatures to work with.

A function dial offers up to 8 different preset cooking options. Whether you’re making pizza, bagels, toast, or cookies – the preset options will have you covered.  It's also one of the best toaster ovens for baking  right now in the market.

The LCD display is clear and easy to read. The cooking stages are color-coded on the display. The display light turns orange during preheating and cooking and blue once the cycle is finished. There is also a timer, to help you time preheating or cooking.

Weighing 13 pounds, this toaster oven is built with stainless steel. It has a steel powder coated housing with a non-stick interior cavity coating. Cleaning it is a quick and easy process.

Why we love it:

• Quartz heating elements to ensure precise temperatures

• Smart Element IQ distributes heat evenly

• Spacious interior that can fit up to 4 decent slices of toast, an 11-inch pizza, or a chicken

• Aesthetically pleasing, elegant design

• 8 different cooking presets to accommodate different types of food

Take Note:

• Doesn’t have a fan for convection cooking

• The timer alarm is very loud and there is no way to decrease the volume

3. Oster French Convection Countertop and Toaster Oven

For those of you who’d like a bit of ‘oomph’ to your ovens – this is a good pick! The Oster French Convection Countertop Toaster Oven combines the power of convection cooking with the capacity of a toaster oven. The result is a very versatile appliance that should make anything from baking to broiling feel like a breeze.

With built-in preset cooking templates, different cooking styles become available at a touch of a button. The temperature and timing digital controls allow timed cooking. It can cook automatically for up to 90 minutes before shutting down. Dual racks in the enclosure provides increased cooking capacity. 

This oven can fit about 12 slices of toast, 2 16-inch pizzas or a chicken. The power and interior capacity of this oven make it perfect for those who need a convection cooking oven. Usually, appliances in this range might lack the convection cooking feature.

Why we love it:

• Spacious, dual rack interior, which provides superior cooking capacity

• Easy preset digital controls to set cooking type at a touch

• Supports convection cooking

• Has a timer for timed cooking (90-minutes)

Take Note:

• The control panel buttons can be a bit unresponsive at times

• You can’t use baking paper with it

• Most full-size baking pans won’t fit inside

4. Cuisinart TOB-260N1 Chef's Convection Toaster Oven

The Cusinart Chef’s Confection Toaster Oven is a perfect blend between a microwave and an oven! With the compact size of one and the cooking power of the other, it is a must have! Let’s take a look at what makes this one so good. 

The heating power of 1,800 watts lets you cook with confidence. The digital panel offers more flexibility than ever. Boasting 15 different cooking settings, it lets you set the perfect temperatures and times for just about any food type.

Beyond that, it offers two special convection cooking modes. The first one is Dual Cooking, which lets you cook your food with 2 separate temperatures. The heater on top and on the bottom can be assigned different temperatures. This is good for browning food on top just right, while not burning the bottom. The Speed Convection option gets this oven fired up instantly, with no need for preheating.

This oven’s non-stick coated interior can house one 13-inch pizza, or two 9" x 13" cooking pans. With removable dual cooking racks, you can make room for up to 9 slices of toast, a whole 5-pound chicken and even 4 pounds of ribs!

Why we love it:

• Very spacious, letting you cook a variety of meals

• 15 programmable cooking settings

• A special Speed Convection cooking mode – say goodbye to preheating!

• Dual Cooking mode to allow you full control of the temperatures

• Non-stick interior, easy to clean

Take Note:

• Because of the big interior cooking might take a bit longer

• The labels on the buttons are known to wipe off over time

5. BLACK+DECKER Countertop Convection Toaster Oven

Anyone looking for a versatile toaster oven should definitely check this one out! The Black+Decker Convection Toaster Oven has you covered! With 8 different cooking modes and a spacious interior, you can cook quickly and easily! 

There are even some goodies involved. A crumb tray and a broiling pan. The dual position rack lets you position items right above the broiler. Alternatively, you can choose to remove it, to make more room.

Capacity-wise, the interior of the oven is slightly curved. It can fit a 12-inch pizza, or 6 slices of toast. If you remove the rack, you can easily fit a whole chicken or a casserole in there. There are a high and a low rack position. These let you manipulate the positioning

Weighing only 15.8 pounds makes it easy to relocate when needed. It is made out of stainless steel and the design is very sleek and modern. This type of oven is perfect for those who want a compact appliance with a lot of cooking power.

Why we love it:

• 8 Cooking Functions

• Slightly curved interior to provide more space

• Bake a 12-inch pizza, 6 slices of toast, or a whole chicken

• Dual Rack design to let you have as much space as she needs

• Crumb Tray and Broiler Pan included

• Built to last with stainless steel

• Very lightweight

Take Note

• There is no countdown on the toaster cycle

• The labels on buttons are a bit hard to read

6. Oster Extra Large Digital Countertop Convection Oven

If you are looking for the power of a conventional oven but half the size – look no further! Not many countertop ovens can actually measure up to the power of an actual, full-size oven. 

The 200-450°F temperature range allows you to cook quickly and evenly. The temperature isn’t the only thing that makes this particular oven stand out. The extra-large interior makes this one superior to many other appliances in this range. You can very rarely find a countertop oven that offers both the power and the spaciousness of a conventional one.

The cooking options aren’t as broad as what you may be used to. Despite the size and cooking power, this oven offers only 6 different cooking modes. These are just presets that you can use to cook certain, commonly prepared food types. If the preset style doesn’t fit what you are cooking – you can control the temperature and time settings. 

As long as its within the 450°F, you can time your baking to 90-minutes and have it cook automatically. To get a clearer picture of the interior size, here’s what could fit inside. You could fit 2 frozen pizzas, a family-sized chicken, or even 18 slices of bread!

• The cooking temperature range of a conventional oven

• Timed baking is supported

• The interior is spacious enough to resemble a standard oven

• Automatic cooking that supports up to 90-minutes of bake time

Take Note:

• Only 6 cooking modes might feel lacking

• No internal lights

7. Waring Commercial WCO500X Convection Oven: Best Commercial Oven For Baking Cakes

This entry is a bit of a standout. This is a commercial-grade convection oven. One glance at the design tells you that it’s built for a commercial kitchen. There’s nothing stopping you from getting it for residential uses. The sturdy, brushed stainless steel design lets this beast handle any cooking environment. There are 4 cooking options you can choose from. These are broil, convection bake, bake and roast.

This heavy-duty convection oven has double-pane, tempered glass. This lets you have a clear overview of what’s cooking inside. The double pane keeps retains the heat, to allow quicker cooking. Weight-wise, this item is no lightweight. 

Coming in at 52.6 pounds, it hasn’t been designed to be moved around with ease. You can expect to fit 9x13 cooking pans inside. You could easily cook a 14 pound turkey in this bad boy!

Overall, this would be best suited for someone who cooks large quantities of food on a regular basis. But for infrequent, residential uses, it might not be a good choice.

Why we love it:

• Huge cooking capacity

• 4 strong, reliable cooking options

• Heavy duty, sturdy design to withhold harsh cooking environments

• Double-pane, tempered glass to allow great visibility

Take Note:

• It’s on the expensive side of the range

• Is quite heavy

Q1: Is it better to bake a cake in a regular oven or convection oven?

Q2: What type of oven do professional bakers use?

Hopefully, this article has provided enough clarity and information to help you make a decision. We’ve gone through our curated list of best choices, went in-depth over different oven types and what they are best suited for. We’ve done some comparisons between the types. We can narrow down this list by picking the Cuisinart TOB-260N1 Chef's Convection Toaster Oven as the best overall choice.

This is simply because it does well on all fronts. It has the space to accommodate bigger cooking needs. It has the biggest number of helpful baking functions. It isn’t outrageously expensive, but brings a lot to the table. 

Our second pick would go to BLACK+DECKER Countertop Convection Toaster Oven. This is because it offers great value. It is on the cheaper side, but it comes from a reputable, trusted brand. Both are worth every penny and we wholeheartedly recommend them.