Budget Toaster Ovens

Basic toaster ovens lack convection

Basic toaster ovens cost less but don't have convection cooking, which means they aren't natively as adept at browning foods evenly or crisping foods quite as well. But if you mainly plan on reheating leftovers and making batching of chicken nuggets for the kids, basic toaster ovens are less costly.

The Cuisinart TOB-30BC (*Est. $100) is roughly the same size as the top-rated Cuisinart TOB-175BC toaster oven, but it lacks a convection fan. Like its fancier siblings, the Cuisinart TOB-30BC has a broil function and a three-year warranty. Unfortunately, that's where the similarities end. Owners say that the Cuisinart TOB-30BC's performance can't compete with that of the TOB-175BC convection toaster oven. Although the TOB-30BC is not included in any professional reviews, owners posting to Amazon.com award it just average ratings. Some owners say that the Cuisinart TOB-30BC toaster oven works well and feels solid, but others complain of burned food, malfunctioning thermostats and total failure after just months.

With their wide footprints, most toaster ovens take up a lot of countertop real estate. Sanyo has attempted to overcome this problem with its vertically oriented Space Saving Toasty Oven SK-7S (*Est. $50), which has a 10-inch by 10-inch footprint. Although it isn't included in professional tests, the Toasty receives 4.5 stars (out of five) in about 50 write-ups at Amazon.com -- a higher rating than almost any other budget toaster oven. Owners say that the compact Sanyo toaster oven does a good job with bread, frozen waffles and single-serving frozen pizzas. Its timer is limited to 15 minutes, and it lacks a broil function, so the Toasty can't roast chicken or broil a steak. The Toasty also lacks a temperature setting, but you can set the control to light, medium or dark. You can't fit more than two slices of sandwich bread in the Toasty at one time (on the top and bottom racks). Although it has a removable crumb tray, the deeper reaches of the Toasty can trap crumbs, making it somewhat difficult to clean. Owners note that the Toasty requires some babysitting, as food cooks faster on the top rack than on the bottom. The Toasty comes in silver as the SK-7S or white as the SK-7W (*Est. $60).

Several professional reviews complained of lack of quality in budget toaster ovens costing $40 and under. Complaints include very hot exterior surfaces, uneven temperature control and poor toasting ability. Consumer reviews have borne out these findings, with many consumers reporting that their budget-priced toaster ovens can't manage the basic functions of toasting, baking and reheating, or that they break down within a few months to a year of use. Durability of parts such as hinges and doors is also mentioned frequently.

Based on professional and consumer reviews, the Proctor-Silex 31115 (*Est. $30) is a good bet in this price class. Real Simple magazine praises its retro styling and "surprising facility with frozen foods." It earns a middle-of-the-road ranking in another expert review. It has some features such as auto shutoff and a "broil" setting that some expensive toasters lack. It also boasts a two-year warranty (one year is the industry standard). Owners posting to Amazon.com give it just 3.5 stars out of five, which is average, but better than most toaster ovens in its price range. Even better, complaints of defects are relatively few compared to positive reviews. The complaints we read center on the ticking sound of the 15-minute timer, which annoys some owners.