Basic Toaster Ovens

Basic toaster ovens are best at toasting and heating, not cooking

Unlike higher-end models, basic toaster ovens don't have convection heating, so they may not cook as fast or brown as evenly. Basic ovens toast, bake and broil, while a few add a rotisserie. We found more complaints for cooking performance and durability issues in models costing less than $100. However, if a toaster oven isn't something you use daily, there are a few options in this price range. 

The least costly toaster oven earning praise in numerous expert reviews is the Hamilton Beach Toastation 22703H (*Est. $40) . The dual-duty oven aims to combine the functions of a traditional pop-up toaster and toaster oven; there's a single slot in the top of the oven that fits two slices of bread. At 13 inches long and 10 inches deep, it is quite compact compared to other toaster ovens. This model is available in black or red, with either one slot or two slots. All models are covered by a one-year warranty. 

Editors at Real Simple magazine name the Hamilton Beach Toastastion 22703H as the runner-up in the Best Toaster Oven Buy category for being wide enough to fit two slices of bread. Oddly, editors say "it toasts and broils almost as well as top-end models," but it actually doesn't have a broil setting. It also receives praise from foodie website BiteOfTheBest.com, which says it's a useful appliance for reheating items and making sandwiches. Reviewers are quick to note the limitations of this toaster oven -- the interior has a low height clearance and isn't deep enough to accommodate a whole frozen pizza.

We found the most owner reviews for the Hamilton Beach Toastation 22703H at Amazon.com, where it has an average rating of 3.5 stars out of 5 in about 330 owner-written reviews. Older reviews are more negative, citing design flaws with the toaster slots. They say the oven toasts slowly, food gets trapped easily and a good deal of force must be applied to the lever to release the bread while it's toasting. Some owners also say crumbs fall on the heating element in the oven and cause it to smoke. But recent postings are largely positive, leading us to believe some of these problems may have been resolved by Hamilton Beach over the years. There are still some complaints about cumbersome cleaning; users say it's difficult to clean the crumbs from the toaster slot, even when using the crumb tray. Owners also say the interior height clearance makes it impossible to bake a potato. However, it works well for hot dogs, sandwiches, slices of pizza or French fries. Users also complain about the lack of a clock and, more importantly, a timer.

Owner opinions of the Hamilton Beach Toastation 22703H are more favorable at Walmart.com and Cooking.com. At Walmart.com, nearly 240 owners say they love its compact size, and many have been using it for years. A few owners say the baking tray warps when it gets hot. At Cooking.com, more than 30 owners say they love this space-saving oven which toasts and bakes efficiently.

If you want a basic toaster oven that also broils, the Black & Decker TRO480BS Toaster Oven (*Est. $40) is the top-rated toaster oven on Viewpoints.com, earning an average rating of 4.3 stars out of 5 in nearly 220 reviews. The Black & Decker Countertop Toaster Oven TRO480BS accommodates four slices of bread and offers five settings: bake, broil, toast, warm and bagel. Owners say it's roomy, large enough to accommodate a small pizza, and versatile. It's easy to clean with a removable crumb tray and includes a baking pan. It also has knobs for temperature control and a 30-minute timer. Feedback on Amazon.com is mixed, with more than 580 owners contributing to an average rating of 3.5 stars out of 5. The most common complaints focus on the toaster oven's exterior becoming hot to the touch, inaccurate temperature settings and malfunctioning control knobs.

If you like the features offered by the top-rated Breville The Smart Oven BOV800XL but prefer a smaller appliance, Breville also makes a compact version of its Smart Oven called Breville The Compact Smart Oven BOV650XL (*Est. $200) , but it skips the convection feature. The Compact Smart Oven has enough interior space to accommodate four slices of bread or up to a 12-inch pizza. This smaller Breville toaster oven has 1,800 watts of power and all of the same preset programs as the larger convection model, minus a warming setting. More than 170 owners posting to Amazon.com give this model similar feedback to its sister model. Owners say the included nonstick pan is heavy and durable, and slides out easily from inside the unit. They say it's easy to clean and cooks evenly, although some owners say it toasts better than it bakes. At 16.5 inches wide and 10 inches deep, it does still take up considerable counter space despite being more compact than the BOV800XL, prompting some users to say it's too large for smaller dwellings.

Also at the higher end of the price spectrum is the Cuisinart Exact Heat Toaster Oven Broiler TOB-155 (*Est. $140) , with a digital display and touchpad buttons. This toaster oven is almost identical to the highly rated TOB-195, except that it doesn't have a convection fan. Users praise its cooking ability and solid construction. However, complaints at Amazon.com are similar to those for the TOB-195: It gets very hot, and it can burn users when they open the door. It's also expensive for a non-convection toaster oven, but owners say that it performs better than most, with even heating and good toasting, baking and broiling performance.

The TOB-155 toaster oven includes a baking pan and broiling tray and has a three-year warranty that surpasses other brands. It also features a clock, timer and automatic shutoff feature, and it can accommodate a 12-inch pizza. The TOB-155 has a black matte exterior with a brushed stainless front and brushed chrome handle.