A toaster oven is your perfect kitchen accomplice. Whether you want to heat your pizza, make some crispy fries or toast, they can do it all. However, they can be pretty hefty on your pockets.
By now, you must have found out that it's very challenging to find an efficient and high-quality toaster oven under a budget.
Your search has come to an end; after intense research, testing, and consulting with chefs and professionals, we bring you our list of the best toaster oven under $100.
That's not all; we've also included a buying guide to make your shopping easier. Let’s dive right in…
The 7 Best Toaster Oven Under $100 Reviews
1. Our Best Pick: Oster Digital 6-Slice Toaster Oven
Key Features:
Things We Like
Things We Dislike
Why You’ll Love It:
The Oster Digital toaster oven comes with some really cool features with an affordable price tag. This oven is very sturdy and measuring just 16.3 x 19.7 x 11.3 inches. So, it’s really compact, and you won't have any trouble finding a place for it on your kitchen countertop.
The digital controls make operation a breeze, and it comes with 7 cooking presets for your convenience. However, you can also adjust the timer and temperature according to your recipe.
The Oster Digital cooks very well, and the food came out crispy and evenly cooked. We were particularly impressed by its baking and broiling functions.
Despite the compact size, it comes with a large interior. It's able to fit a 12-inch pizza and up to 6 slices of bread which is enough for a small family. The interior light is yet another convenience feature of this unit which you can use to monitor your foods cooking progress. This feature is very rare even in more expensive units.
The bottom tray is easily removable from the front, so cleaning won’t be an issue. In all, it's easily the best inexpensive toaster oven that we’ve come across.
Related: How to Bake Cake In A Toaster Oven?
Potential Issues:
However, nothing is perfect, and the Oster Digital also has its limitations. Firstly, the electrical cord is short, so you'll have to place it nearer to the power source.
Additionally, the timer is automatically set at 30 minutes, but this isn't a major issue as it barely takes a minute to adjust it.
Who is it for?
The Oster Digital toaster oven is best for those who want to get an easy to use and digital toaster oven within a budget. The compact design also makes it a preferred choice of many people who don't have enough free space in their kitchen. With a great design, user friendly control panel, and fantastic performance, it's a complete steal for the price.
2. Best Large Capacity: Oster Extra Large Convection Toaster Oven
Key Features:
Things We Like
Things We Dislike
Why You’ll Love It:
If you’re looking for the best budget toaster oven with a large capacity, the Oster Large Convection Toaster Oven will easily fits the bill. It has a massive interior with a curved back design which is really great for baking a 16-inch pizza or roasting a full chicken. This large capacity oven is capable of cooking most meals for 2-3 individuals.
Moreover, it supports multi-level cooking increasing the food capacity even more. If you use your toaster oven for family gatherings and events, the Oster Extra Large Oven will make a fantastic choice.
It has a digital display and comes with 7 digital preset settings. However, the turbo convection mode is what sets it apart from the competitors. This setting eliminates the hotspots and ensure faster and even cooking. As a result you get a juicier and crispier meats every single time.
There're two rack positions and you can cook frozen waffles, and cookies perfectly with this unit.
This Oster toaster oven comes with an impressive 90-minute timer which is significantly higher than other toaster ovens in the market which has only 30-60 minutes . After 90 minutes the oven will automatically shuts off, so you don't have to worry about the food overcooking.
When it comes to re-heating foods, the Oster Extra Large Oven is quicker than the Oster Digital.
Potential Issues:
The exterior gets extremely hot when cooking, as it runs about 25 degrees higher than the temperature you set. Therefore, you should be very careful when opening the door.
Another downside is that, it doesn't come with an interior light, but it isn't a major con at this price point.
Who is it for?
With an affordable price tag, great features, and large interiors, the Oster Extra Large Oven is perfect if you’re looking for an inexpensive toaster oven to accomplish your most cooking needs . It's also one of our highly recommended countertop oven for baking. However, make sure that you have ample counterspace in your kitchen before buying.
3. Best Compact: COMFEE Toaster Oven Countertop CFO-BC10
Key Features:
Things We Like
Things We Dislike
Why You’ll Love It:
The COMFEE Toaster Oven has a relatively small footprint that takes minimum counter space. Measuring just 14.8 x 11.1 x 8 inches, it's a super-compact toaster oven and is a fantastic choice if you're looking for the best small toaster oven for apartment kitchen, office or dorms.
With a stainless-steel construction, this toaster oven is sturdy and will last a long time. It features dial controls and comes with 3 setting that includes bake, broil, and toast.
The interior of this toaster oven measures 10.6 x 9.1 x 6.7 inches, and you can bake up to 4 slices of bread effortlessly. Despite the lower price tag, this oven features 2 heating elements which can be used for cooking certain food items evenly and thoroughly. It performs exceptionally well when it comes to cook frozen foods and baking toast.
The CFO-BC10 comes with a 30-minute timer and supports a stay-on feature if you want to bake for a longer time. The crumb tray is also detachable making cleaning a non-issue.
Potential Issues:
The COMFEE Toaster Oven doesn't come with convection baking mode which might turn off some customers. However, at this price point you should not expect that premium feature.
Additionally, the dial controls might be inconvenient for some users, but this is purely subjective as some find dials easier to use.
Who is it for?
If you want a compact toaster oven for a small countertop, the COMFEE Toaster Oven should be at the top of your list. With a compact design and dual heating elements, you’ll be hard-pressed to find another toaster like it.
4. Best Option For Convection Cooking And Air Frying: BLACK+DECKER TO3250XSB
Key Features:
Things We Like
Things We Dislike
Why You’ll Love It
The BLACK+DECKER TO3250XSB is the best convection toaster oven under $100. It has a very modern look with sleek design. It will certainly looks great on your kitchen countertop.
Featuring an extra wide interior that fits most 9”x13” baking pan with handle, this convection oven has dual heating elements for a quick heat up and efficient cooking. It can easily fit a 12-inch pizza and up to 8 slices of bread.
The temperature setting is pretty accurate, and it provides expected result for most recipes. It comes with basic dial controls which has four functions (bake, broil, toast, and keep warm) in addition to convection cooking. However, there’s no preheating mode in this unit which is a minor inconvenience.
It bakes cookies and cakes really well. You can also reheat lasagna in a very short time. The adjustable toast shade setting is a big plus of this oven and the toasts came out perfectly heated and crispy.
This unit supports 3 rack positions that provides more cooking flexibility than most toaster ovens under $100. This allows you to get perfect browning of your food from both sides.
In addition to its outstanding performance and versatility, this oven is also very easy to use and maintain. It’s very compact to get fit in a small kitchen cabinet. On top of that, the removable crumb tray makes cleaning easy breezy.
Potential Issues:
The control knobs have a design flaw. They’re smooth and pretty hard to operate them. You will need to grab them tightly with a piece of soft plastic and rubber. So, it’s not a good fit for seniors or people with arthritis problem. Another little drawback is the short power cord. So you'll have to place it nearer to the power source.
Who is it for?
With an affordable price tag, large interiors, and convection heating support, the COMFEE Toaster Oven Countertop CFO-BC10 is the top choice for convection cooking lovers.
5. Best Option For Rotisserie: Hamilton Beach 31190C
Key Features:
Things We Like
Things We Dislike
Why You’ll Love It:
This Hamilton Beach 31190C does not offer all the bells-and-whistles that you would expect from a toaster oven. However, it comes with some amazing features that usually don't come with others unit twice it's price.
The first thing which is really impressive is that, it offers 3 rack positions offering you even more capacity to cook taller food items. This feature also allows you to set the baking pan at 3 different levels to get perfect browning of your recipe. Not too many toaster ovens in this range offer that flexibility, so it's a major upside.
The digital controls make operation easy, and it also features 6 settings that include convection, toast, bake, broil, pizza, and rotisserie. The timer has a maximum duration of 2 hours, making it perfect if you want to make rotisserie chicken. The timer also supports auto-shutoff, so you don't have to worry about overheating.
Additionally, this convection toaster oven has a decent cooking space that can cook a 12-inch pizza or toast up to 6 slices of bread. It also performs exceptionally well at roistering chicken and making French fries.
This toaster oven comes with an LCD display, and through it, you can view the cooking settings, time remaining, and temperature.
Potential Issues:
The Hamilton Beach 31190C doesn't come with a dedicated toast setting. Therefore, you'll have to manually set the temperature for toasting. However, it takes just 10 minutes (at 450 degrees) to make perfect toast. Additionally, the numeric for the dials are a little hard to read, but it isn’t a deal-breaker.
Who is it for?
With a large interior, excellent heating capabilities, and a 2-hour timer, the Hamilton Beach 31190C is perfect, if you’re looking for a budget toaster oven for rotisserie.
6. Best Value Toaster Oven: Toshiba AC25CEW-BS Toaster Oven
Key Features:
Things We Like
Things We Dislike
Why You’ll Love It
For such an affordable price tag, the AC25CEW-BS Toaster Oven from Toshiba is one of the most versatile toaster ovens we've come across. It looks very stunning and is very well-built.
This oven features manual knobs which are easy to maneuver. You can effortlessly adjust the temperature and timer with those dials. It comes with 10 cooking functions (including a rotisserie function and convection mode), and supports 2 rack positions allowing you to cook even more food.
With 1500 watts power, this toaster oven performs very well, and cooks food quickly and evenly. You'll be able to bake a 12-inch pizza, up to 6 slices of bread, and a 4 pound chicken with this appliance. It also works very well to reheat leftovers like-pizza.
Its large and bright LCD display shows the time remaining, temperature, and the cooking setting currently being used. For safety, this oven automatically shuts off to prevent overcooking. This feature is missing on most toaster oven in this range.
Equipped with a non-stick interior and removable crumb tray, cleaning this toaster oven takes just a couple of minutes.
Potential Issues:
On the downside, the Toshiba AC25CEW-BS Toaster Oven only comes with a single rack. It also missing an oven light. Additionally, the front panel labeling is a little challenging to read but certainly not a deal-breaker.
Who is it for?
If you want the best budget toaster oven with a lot of versatility, the Toshiba AC25CEW-BS Toaster Oven is a must-have. With convection settings, and 10 cooking functions, this oven is very well-equipped for cooking various meals efficiently and quickly.
7. Best Toaster Oven Under $50: BLACK+DECKER 4-Slice Toaster Oven TO1760SS
Key Features:
Things We Like
Things We Dislike
Why You’ll Love It:
The BLACK+DECKER 4-Slice Toaster Oven is the most affordable unit on our list. It's perfect for any size of your kitchen counter.
Measuring just 11.63 x 16.86 x 9.07 inches, this toaster oven is compact and well-built. It has a dial control system, and we didn't have any issues using it.
This toaster oven comes with 4 cooking functions; keep warm, toast, broil, and convection bake. There is also a 30-minute timer, but if you want to use it for longer, there's also a stay-on feature.
Despite the compact size, the BLACK+DECKER 4-Slice Toaster Oven has a respectable interior. You'll be able to fit in a 9-inch pizza and up to 4 slices of bread on it. It does a brilliant job at making toasts evenly.
This toaster oven has a pull-out crumb tray which is easy to open and clean. But, it does not open automatically. You'll need to open the ovens door first to access it.
Potential Issues:
Unfortunately, the BLACK+DECKER 4-Slice Toaster Oven is tougher to clean compared to the rest of the products mentioned on our list.
The labeling around the dials is also a little hard to read, but it wasn't a massive problem for us.
Who is it for?
If you’re looking for the best value toaster oven under $50, the BLACK+DECKER 4-Slice Toaster Oven should be your top choice. With a sturdy built and impressive performance, it performs better than most toaster ovens priced much higher.
Best Budget Toaster Oven Under $100: Buyer’s Guide
Toaster ovens come with various features and functions, and it can be challenging to figure out which ones are more important. Don't worry; we are here for you.
Through our years of experience testing and reviewing home appliances and after consultation with professional chefs and experts, we know which features are more essential.
In our review, we focused more on these features, and you should too when you purchase your unit.
Size and Capacity
The first thing you need to do is get the right size. Toaster ovens come in various sizes, and if you get the wrong one, it can be frustrating.
If you don't have enough countertop space in your kitchen, you wouldn't want to purchase a large capacity toaster oven. On the other hand, if your toaster oven is too small, you’ll struggle to prepare various dishes.
You need to strike the right balance. Measure the available counter space and choose the right toaster oven for your kitchen.
Additionally, more than the product dimension, the interior size is important. Make sure that it’s large enough to accommodate the meals that you’ll be using it to prepare.
Number of Rack position:
Before selecting a toaster oven make sure that it offers a good range of rack position. This is really important, because multiple rack positions allow you cook different food items simultaneously.
Multiple rack position is also crucial if you want to prepare different recipes with perfect browning. The upper rack position is perfect for broiling foods like- hamburger or casseroles. You can also bake cookies in this position.
On the other hand, the lower rack position is used to cook something that requires intense temperatures like- large roasts or pizzas. This rack position is usually close to the bottom heating element that generates most heat.
Easy To Access Control Panel:
Image source:breville.com
Toaster ovens either come with digital controls or knob/dial control. Which one is easier to access? This ultimately boils down to your preference.
With digital controls, you only have to press the buttons to execute the functions, whereas, with knobs or dial controls, you'll have to turn it to a particular direction to activate the function.
Some people find digital annoying, whereas some find it cumbersome to use dial/knob controls. Choose the style that's more comfortable for you.
Additionally, an LCD display is also desirable and if you're getting a toaster oven with one, ensure that it's bright and the labels and writings are easily legible.
Precise Temperature For Reheating:
The temperature range and setting are another essential considerations. The higher the range, the more you'll be able to do with your toaster oven.
Expensive units feature adjustable temperature controls that'll allow you to do anything from toasting bread to convection cooking.
Toaster ovens are routinely used for reheating, and there's a high probability that you'll be reheating almost every day. Keeping this in mind, ensure that your toaster oven can reach the desired temperature as quickly as possible so that you don't have to keep on waiting for your food.
Features And Functionality:
Most toaster ovens come with basic functions, but these days, many models support a long list of functions such as broiling, rotisserie, keep warm, and defrosting. This will come down to your needs and requirements.
The more the features, the higher the price. There's no need to purchase a toaster oven with tons of features that you'll hardly ever be using.
Make a list of the functions that you need and purchase a model that features those. Some high-end models even come with a convection feature that makes your food faster and crispier by evenly circulating hot air inside the oven.
If you're interested in air frying food, you should get one with an air frying feature.
Cleaning And Maintenance:
When it comes to maintenance, toaster ovens are generally a non-issue. However, one area you need to focus on is the ease of cleaning.
Since you'll most likely be using your toaster oven daily, food residue can accumulate, making it difficult and annoying to clean.
To prevent this problem, make sure that your unit comes with a non-stick interior and a removable crumb tray. Some higher-end models even come with dishwasher-safe parts; you should consider it if you want a no-frills cleaning session.
Useful Cooking Accessories
Generally, toaster ovens come with a baking pan, oven rack, and crumb tray. If you want to purchase extra pans and racks, most brands sell them separately online.
However, some models come with extra racks and pans, such as pizza and broiling pans. If you want to make the most out of your toaster oven and not spend extra bucks on accessories, make sure that it comes with all the necessary accessories that you really need.
Additionally, make sure that the quality is top-notch as well. Many manufacturers ship their products with sub-par quality accessories.
Durability:
This is also one of the essential features. If you don't want to waste your hard-earned money purchasing toaster ovens, again and again, ensure that your product is well-built and long-lasting.
For this, you need to make sure that it's constructed with high quality and durable materials. Stainless steel construction is highly recommended if you want to make sure that your toaster oven passes the test of time.
Select A Trusted Brand:
By now, you must have known that the market is oversaturated with toaster oven brands. Truth be told, most of them are mediocre.
If you don't want to compromise on quality, ensure that your toaster oven comes from an established and reputed brand.
You can do your research online and read customer testimonials about the brand. Oster, Hamilton beach, Black + Decker are some sought-after brands, and they've been serving first-class toaster ovens in the market.
You can watch the following video from America's Test Kitchen about selecting a toaster oven:
Frequently Asked Questions About Toaster Oven:
What’s The Difference Between A Toaster Oven And A Microwave?
Toaster ovens and microwaves differ in the way they operate. Toaster ovens warm the inside air by utilizing heating elements. As a result, the food gets hot by the outside first and then the heat transfers inside.
On the other hand, a microwave oven heats both inside and outside of the food simultaneously. As a result, the food gets cooked faster than a toaster oven.
Generally, microwaves are used for defrosting and reheating, but a toaster oven can accomplish various tasks such as toasting, browning, broiling, reheating, and more.
Do You Need To Preheat A Toaster Oven?
Well, it's not mandatory to preheat your toaster oven for all types of food. Basically you need to preheat your toaster oven when cooking raw foods like- roasting chicken or cooking meat.
Preheating allows your toaster oven to reach the desired temperature to properly cook your food within a short time.
Depending on the model and size, pre-heating can take anywhere from 5-15 minutes.
Can I Use A Toaster Oven To Bake?
Yes, you can certainly use your toaster oven for baking. Whether it's veggies, pastries, or a small piece of meat, a toaster oven is capable of baking everything.
In fact, many toaster ovens come with a dedicated 'bake' function to bake cakes and cookies. Some toaster ovens are even capable of convection baking.
Are Toaster Ovens Safe?
Generally, toaster ovens are safe. However, if food crumbs are stuck at the oven’s bottom for a long time and the oven gets very hot, it could start a fire. However, these cases are very rare.
For added safety, ensure that your toaster oven comes with proper ventilation system.
Can You Put A Toaster Oven Under A Cabinet?
Generally, you shouldn’t put a toaster oven under a cabinet as there won't be proper insulation.
However, some toaster ovens feature mounting plates that allow you to place them under a cabinet while ensuring adequate ventilation.
Best Affordable Toaster Oven: Our Verdict
We've come to the end of our list of the best toaster ovens under $100.
All the products mentioned above are well-built, comes with tons of features, performs well, and offer complete value for money. They are all impressive, and it all comes down to your requirements.
However, if we had to pick the ultimate winner, it would be the Oster Digital, thanks to its aesthetics, large interior, fantastic functions, and impressive performance.
If you're under a budget, the BLACK+DECKER 4-Slice Toaster Oven is a complete steal and performs much better than units twice its price.
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