Toaster Ovens: Reviews

Updated October 2011

With setting for convection bake and broil, capacities that can fit a 12-inch pizza and features like rotisseries, today’s toaster ovens function more like small second ovens. Top end models can cost upwards of $200 and while cheaper models do exist, they don’t always perform well. We compared professional reviews with user feedback to pick our best reviewed toaster ovens.

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Luxury convection toaster oven

Breville The Smart Oven BOV800XL

*Est. $250 Compare Prices

If you use a toaster oven for more than just toasting, the top-of-the-line Breville The Smart Oven earns rave reviews from experts and owners for its even heating and user-friendly features. It has a sensor to ensure a… expandconsistent internal temperature, nine preset cooking programs, an auto-eject rack, backlit digital display and 13-inch pizza pan. Even though some lower-priced models deliver the same cooking performance, user reviews for this model are through the roof, with many saying the feature-packed, attractive oven is worth its price. Another bonus: A memory feature recalls your personal preferences based on your last setting for each cycle. The Smart Oven has a stainless-steel exterior and is backed by a one-year warranty. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: Editors at ConsumerReports.org test the Breville The Smart Oven BOV800XL among 23 toaster ovens and provide a chart ranking each by overall score.

Cook's Illustrated Magazine: Ten toaster ovens are put to the test by editors of Cook's Illustrated magazine in this recent review.

ElderGadget: ElderGadget.com reviews products for features that make them easy for seniors to use.

Bestcovery.com: At Bestcovery.com, five toaster ovens are recommended based on features and ease of use.

Amazon.com: The Breville The Smart Oven BOV800XL is the top-rated toaster oven in owner reviews at Amazon.com; it earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and has close to 650 reviews.

Macys.com: Macys.com sells higher-end toaster ovens, including the Breville The Smart Oven BOV800XL. It averages 4.8 stars out of 5 from about 30 owners, who agree it heats faster and cooks as well as a conventional oven.

Breville.com: Approximately 120 consumers have written reviews for the Breville The Smart Oven BOV800XL at the manufacturer's website, giving it an overall rating of 4.5 stars.

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Buy from Amazon for $242.98
MetroKitche- n.com for $249.95	eBay for $237.12	Zappos.com for $249.99

Best-value convection toaster oven

Cuisinart TOB-195 Convection Toaster Oven

*Est. $180 Compare Prices

The Cuisinart Exact Heat Convection Toaster Oven Broiler excels at everything you expect a toaster oven to do: toast, broil and bake. It also has bagel, reheat and defrost settings. Reviewers say its convection fan is… expandquiet and does an excellent job of evenly browning and baking food. The Cuisinart's spacious interior can accommodate up to six slices of toast or a whole chicken. Many users appreciate its automatic safety shutoff function, but warn the handle can get too hot and that the crumb tray inconveniently slides out from the back rather than the front. The warranty period of three years surpasses those of other manufacturers. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: Editors at ConsumerReports.org rate the Cuisinart TOB-195 Convection Toaster Oven and 22 other toaster ovens.

Cook's Illustrated Magazine: Editors of Cook's Illustrated magazine evaluate ten toaster ovens on toasting ability (both a single slice and a full batch), cooking ability and ease of use and cleaning.

ElderGadget: ElderGadget.com reviews products for features that make them easy for seniors to use.

Amazon.com: Close to 400 users at Amazon.com give the Cuisinart TOB-195 Convection Toaster Oven a high average rating of 4.5 stars (out of 5). Owners praise its versatile cooking functions and performance.

Viewpoints.com: About 50 owners contribute to an average rating of 4.59 stars out of 5.

Food & Wine Magazine: Editors at Food & Wine magazine give the Cuisinart TOB-195 Convection Toaster Oven honorable mention in their test of nine countertop appliances.

Bestcovery.com: Bestcovery.com says that the Cuisinart TOB-195 Convection Toaster Oven is "the best toaster oven for your money" and that it does an excellent job of cooking.

3Luxe.com: Editors at 3Luxe.com pick the top three products in various categories, including toaster ovens.

ToasterOvensGuide.com: According to editors at ToasterOvensGuide.com, the Cuisinart TOB-195 Convection Toaster Oven is a "mini-oven in performance" and can handle heavy-duty cooking jobs.

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Buy from Amazon for $169.31
eBay for $159.95	BuyDig.com for $159.95	cutleryandm- ore.com for $166.95

Budget convection toaster oven

Hamilton Beach Set & Forget 31230

*Est. $95 Compare Prices

If you don't want to spend more than $100 but still want a toaster oven with convection heating, the Hamilton Beach Set & Forget 31230 fares very well in professional reviews. In addition to baking and broiling, it can… expandaccommodate up to a 7-pound chicken or a 12-inch pizza, and it includes a meat probe to ensure precise cooking temperatures. It's newer to the market than our other best reviewed picks, so there aren't as many user reviews to analyze but most owners appreciate its large capacity, even cooking and multiple functions. It is covered by a one-year warranty. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: The Hamilton Beach Set & Forget 31230 is one of nearly two dozen toaster ovens evaluated in ConsumerReports.org's most recent roundup.

Cook's Illustrated Magazine: Ten toaster ovens, including the Hamilton Beach Set & Forget 31230, are put through thorough testing by editors of Cook's Illustrated magazine.

Amazon.com: About 15 owners offer feedback on the Hamilton Beach Set & Forget 31230, which maintains an average rating of 4 stars out of 5.

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Buy from Amazon for $89.99
eBay for $79.41	eBay for $106.58

Toaster/toaster oven combo

Hamilton Beach Toastation 22703H

*Est. $40 Compare Prices

The Hamilton Beach Toastation Toaster & Oven is a dual-duty appliance that functions as both a toaster and toaster oven. It features a slot in the top for toasting two slices of bread, just like a traditional toaster, and… expandan oven on the bottom that's wide enough to fit a 9-inch pizza. Experts say it makes excellent toast, but doesn't broil, so it's limited to reheating and crisping frozen foods like pizza and french fries that fit in the oven's narrow height clearance. Owners agree this toaster oven is a great value, but wish it had a timer. This model is red, but it's also available in black with either one slot (22708) or two slots (24708). It is backed by a one-year warranty. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Real Simple: The Hamilton Beach Toastation 22703H is the runner-up best buy in this short review that picks six winning toaster ovens in three categories.

BiteOfTheBest.com: BiteOfTheBest.com is a foodie website that reviews the Hamilton Beach Toastation 22703H. Bonnie Tandy Leblang, the website's founder, and her two sons praise the versatility of this toaster oven and say it is the "best toaster on the market, period."

Amazon.com: The Hamilton Beach Toastation 22708H has accumulated more than 330 reviews at Amazon.com.

Walmart.com: About 240 owners give the black version of the Hamilton Beach Toastation 22703H an average rating of 4 stars out of 5.

Cooking.com: The black model of the Hamilton Beach Toastation 22703H receives an overall rating of 4.1 stars out of 5 at Cooking.com in more than 30 ratings.

Target.com: The Hamilton Beach Toastation 22708H receives a middling score of 3 stars out of 5 in nearly 60 reviews, but toaster oven reviews tend toward the negative at Target.com.

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