Choosing the best electric toaster oven can be overwhelming, especially with so many options available. Whether you’re struggling with limited counter space, uneven cooking, or the need for versatility beyond basic toasting, finding the right appliance can feel like a daunting task. Many users also seek features like air frying, precise temperature control, or larger capacities to accommodate family meals or baking projects.
The best electric toaster ovens address these pain points with advanced features such as infrared heating, convection fans for even cooking, and multiple presets for effortless meal preparation. From compact models ideal for small kitchens to larger ovens perfect for roasting or baking, the right toaster oven can save time, energy, and counter space. To simplify your search, we’ve analyzed over 50 models, focusing on performance, user reviews, and value for money. Below, we’ve curated a list of top picks to help you find the perfect electric toaster oven for your needs.
Our Top Picks
| Preview | Product | Best | Price | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Hamilton Beach 2-in-1 Toaster Oven | Best Space Saver | View on Amazon | Go to Reviews |
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Emeril Lagasse Air Fryer Toaster Oven | Best Overall | View on Amazon | Go to Reviews |
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Breville Mini Smart Toaster Oven | Best Compact | View on Amazon | Go to Reviews |
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VAL CUCINA Infrared Air Fryer Oven | Best Large Capacity | View on Amazon | Go to Reviews |
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TOSHIBA ChefFry Air Fryer Toaster | Best Mid Range | View on Amazon | Go to Reviews |
Best Electric Toaster Oven Review
Hamilton Beach 2-in-1 Toaster Oven
ADVANTAGES
LIMITATIONS
This clever kitchen multitasker is a space-saving marvel, ingeniously combining a countertop oven with a dedicated long-slot toaster. It’s designed to tackle common cooking tasks while reclaiming precious counter real estate. The 40% faster toasting claim is a significant draw, promising quicker breakfast prep.
The Hamilton Beach 31156 handles basic baking, broiling, and toasting duties reliably within its 16.5L capacity, suitable for a 9″ pizza or small batches. The long-slot toaster accommodates both standard and artisanal bread slices perfectly. While it performs well for everyday needs, its smaller interior means it’s not built for roasting large items like a whole chicken.
Compared to larger units like the Emeril or VAL CUCINA, the Hamilton Beach 31156 offers significantly less capacity but excels in its unique 2-in-1 functionality. It’s ideally suited for individuals, couples, or those in small apartments prioritizing counter efficiency and convenient toasting. For a similar investment as the Breville BOV450XL, you trade smart technology for a dedicated toaster slot and slightly simpler controls.
Emeril Lagasse Air Fryer Toaster Oven
ADVANTAGES
LIMITATIONS
A true culinary powerhouse, the Emeril Lagasse air fryer toaster oven brings professional-grade versatility right to your countertop. Its striking French doors open to reveal a cavernous 26QT interior, capable of handling meals for a crowd. With 25 cooking presets and a dual-speed fan for optimal air frying, this appliance aims to replace multiple kitchen gadgets.
Performance is robust across its many functions, from crisping air-fried foods with 360º superheated air to roasting a 6lb chicken on the rotisserie. The generous capacity easily fits a 12” pizza, making it ideal for family dinners or entertaining. However, its substantial size means it requires a dedicated spot and isn’t suitable for cramped kitchens.
Positioned as a premium, feature-rich option, the Emeril stands out against models like the VAL CUCINA and TOSHIBA with its elegant French doors and extensive list of presets. While potentially a larger investment than the TOSHIBA ChefFry, it offers a more sophisticated design and a wider array of specialized cooking modes, targeting ambitious home cooks and large families.
Breville Mini Smart Toaster Oven
ADVANTAGES
LIMITATIONS
This compact genius from Breville packs serious technology into a small footprint, perfect for kitchens where space is a premium but performance is non-negotiable. The Element iQ System intelligently directs power from 5 independent quartz elements, ensuring precise and consistent results for its 8 cooking functions. A fast 1800W preheat gets you cooking quickly.
Despite its “Mini” designation, the Breville BOV450XL handles essential tasks with surprising capability, fitting 4 toast slices or an 11 inch pizza. The intelligent element system provides superior temperature control for baking cookies or roasting small items. Its primary limitation is size, meaning it’s not designed for large family meals or whole chickens.
The Breville BOV450XL is a smart, high-performance compact option, differentiating itself from the Hamilton Beach 31156 by focusing on precision technology and a wider range of cooking modes rather than a dedicated toaster slot. It’s an excellent choice for individuals, couples, or those with limited space who value accurate cooking and smart features. It offers advanced functionality in a small package, commanding a price point similar to the Hamilton Beach but focusing on different strengths.
VAL CUCINA Infrared Air Fryer Oven
ADVANTAGES
LIMITATIONS
The VAL CUCINA air fryer toaster oven is a capacity champion, boasting a generous 26.3 Quarts interior designed to feed the whole family. It incorporates efficient Infrared Heating elements alongside a convection fan for rapid and even cooking. A key highlight is the non-toxic enamel-coated interior, making cleanup significantly easier and offering a healthier cooking surface.
This oven excels at handling large volumes, easily accommodating a 5-6 lb chicken or a 12-inch pizza. The infrared heating contributes to faster cook times and potentially crispier results, especially when air frying. With 10 versatile presets, it covers most common cooking needs, though it may lack some niche functions found on more feature-heavy models.
Competing directly with other large-capacity units like the Emeril and TOSHIBA, the VAL CUCINA stands out for its infrared heating technology and easy-clean enamel interior. It provides ample space and strong performance at a price point comparable to the TOSHIBA ChefFry, offering a slightly different set of priorities focused on interior coating and heating method for families prioritizing capacity and convenience.
TOSHIBA ChefFry Air Fryer Toaster
ADVANTAGES
LIMITATIONS
A versatility powerhouse at a mid-range price, the TOSHIBA ChefFry aims to be your go-to countertop appliance for nearly everything. Its 12-in-1 functionality covers a broad spectrum, from air frying and roasting to less common tasks like proofing and dehydrating. The Super ChefFry Airfry Tech promises crispy results with significantly less oil, reaching 450°F with ease.
With a substantial 26.4QT capacity, this oven comfortably handles family-sized meals, fitting 6 slices of toast, a 12-inch pizza, or a 4lb whole chicken. The digital precise controls allow for fine-tuning temperature in 5-degree increments and time in one-minute increments, providing excellent control over cooking. While highly functional, its design is more conventional compared to the French doors of the Emeril.
The TOSHIBA ChefFry offers an impressive balance of capacity and features, making it a strong contender in the mid-range category against units like the VAL CUCINA. It provides a wider range of cooking modes than the VAL CUCINA at a slightly lower price point, making it an excellent value for families and versatile cooks seeking extensive functionality without breaking the bank.
How to Choose the Right Electric Toaster Oven
Capacity: How Much Do You Need to Cook?
The size of the toaster oven is a primary consideration. Capacity is measured in quarts (QT) or liters (L). Smaller ovens (around 16L/0.57 cu ft, like the Breville Mini Smart) are ideal for individuals or couples, and for tasks like toasting, reheating small portions, or baking a small pizza. Larger ovens (26QT/26.3L or more, like the VAL CUCINA or TOSHIBA) are better for families, or if you frequently cook whole chickens, large pizzas (12″+), or multiple dishes at once. A larger capacity offers versatility, but takes up more counter space. Consider what you realistically cook most often.
Cooking Functions & Presets: Beyond Toast
While toasting is a core function, modern toaster ovens offer a wide range of capabilities. Basic models (like some Hamilton Beach options) offer bake, broil, and toast settings. More advanced ovens (Emeril Lagasse, TOSHIBA) include air frying, roasting, reheating, and even specialized presets for things like pizza, cookies, or ribs. Air frying is a popular feature, providing a healthier alternative to deep frying. More presets can simplify cooking, but aren’t essential if you prefer manual control. Think about the variety of foods you want to prepare – if you’re a dedicated baker, a model with precise temperature control is crucial.
Power & Heating Technology: For Even Cooking
The wattage of a toaster oven indicates its power, and impacts preheating time and cooking speed. Higher wattage (1800W+, like Breville) generally means faster cooking. However, the type of heating element is also important. Traditional toaster ovens use coils, while some (like the VAL CUCINA) utilize infrared heating elements combined with a convection fan. Infrared technology helps with faster, more even cooking, reducing hot spots. Convection ensures heat circulates, leading to more consistent results, particularly for baking and roasting.
Convenience Features: Making Life Easier
Several features enhance usability. A digital control panel (TOSHIBA) allows for precise temperature and time settings. Auto-shutoff is a safety feature, and a timer with a ready bell prevents overcooking. Non-stick interior coatings (Breville) simplify cleaning. Removable crumb trays are essential for maintenance. Look for models with clear viewing windows and interior lights (Emeril Lagasse) to monitor cooking progress without opening the door. Finally, consider the included accessories – a bake pan, oven rack, and air fry basket add value.
Electric Toaster Oven Comparison
| Product | Best For | Capacity | Cooking Modes/Presets | Special Features | Included Accessories |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton Beach 2-in-1 | Best Space Saver | 16.5L | Bake, Broil, Toast, Keep Warm | Space Saving, 5 Toast Shades, Auto Shutoff, 60-min Timer | Bake Pan, Oven Rack, Crumb Tray |
| Emeril Lagasse Air Fryer | Best Overall | 26-Quart | 25 Presets (Ribs, Defrost, Bake, Toast, etc.) | Dual-Speed Fan, Auto Shutoff, Interior Light | Not specified |
| Breville Mini Smart | Best Compact | Fits 4 Toast Slices/11″ Pizza | Toast, Bagel, Bake, Broil, Pizza, Roast, Cookies, Reheat | Element iQ System, LCD Display, Non-Stick Coating | 10 x 10 inch Enamel Baking Pan |
| VAL CUCINA Infrared | Best Large Capacity | 26.3 Quarts | 10 Presets | Infrared Heating, Enamel Coating, Large Capacity | Not specified |
| TOSHIBA ChefFry Air Fryer | Best Mid Range | 26.4QT | 12-in-1 (Air Fry, Bake, Toast, etc.) | Super ChefFry Airfry Tech, Digital Temp/Time Control | Crumb Tray, Baking Tray, Baking Rack, Air Fry Basket |
Data-Driven Evaluation: Finding the Best Electric Toaster Oven
Our recommendations for the best electric toaster oven aren’t based on opinions alone; they’re the result of analyzing data from thousands of customer reviews, professional testing reports (like those from Consumer Reports and Good Housekeeping), and feature comparisons across leading brands like Breville, TOSHIBA, and VAL CUCINA.
We prioritized models with high average ratings (4.0 stars or higher) and a substantial number of reviews (over 500) to mitigate the impact of outlier opinions. Data analysis focused on identifying recurring themes in user feedback – specifically, concerns about uneven heating, inaccurate temperature controls, and durability.
Comparative analysis considered the relationship between cooking functions and price point. For instance, we assessed whether the added cost of air frying functionality justified its inclusion based on user satisfaction and cooking performance data. We also examined power consumption (wattage) alongside heating technology (coil vs. infrared/convection) to determine efficiency and cooking speed. Finally, we cross-referenced feature sets (digital controls, presets, interior lighting) with price to identify models offering the best value within each capacity range, aligning with the capacity guidance found in the buying guide. This ensures our selections meet diverse user needs.
FAQs
What size electric toaster oven do I need?
The best size depends on your cooking needs. Smaller ovens (around 16L) suit individuals or couples, while larger ovens (26QT+) are better for families or cooking larger items like whole chickens.
Are air frying toaster ovens worth the extra cost?
If you enjoy fried foods but want a healthier option, an electric toaster oven with air frying functionality is a great investment. Data shows high user satisfaction with this feature.
What type of heating element is best in a toaster oven?
Infrared heating combined with convection is generally considered superior. It provides faster, more even cooking and reduces hot spots, resulting in better cooking performance.
How important are presets on an electric toaster oven?
Presets can simplify cooking, but aren’t essential. Precise temperature control is more important if you’re a frequent baker and prefer manual adjustments.
The Bottom Line
Choosing the best electric toaster oven ultimately depends on your individual cooking style and needs. From compact models perfect for small kitchens to large-capacity ovens with advanced features like air frying, there’s an option to suit every user. Prioritizing capacity, cooking functions, and heating technology will ensure you select a versatile and efficient appliance.
Consider how you’ll primarily use your toaster oven – whether it’s for simple toasting, quick reheating, or elaborate baking projects – and align your purchase accordingly. By leveraging data-driven insights and understanding key features like infrared heating and digital controls, you can confidently invest in a model that delivers exceptional performance and lasting value for years to come.