Convection Toaster Ovens

Top-rated toaster ovens use convection heating

With bake, toast, broil and convection settings, today's toaster ovens are giving full-size ovens a run for their money. Unlike standard toasters, these small countertop ovens can do more than toast bread. They can bake cookies, heat up a frozen pizza or even roast a small chicken. Toaster ovens don't toast bread as evenly or quickly as traditional toasters can, however. Top-rated toaster ovens have convection technology, which uses a small fan to circulate hot air throughout the oven. Experts agree that convection is superior to coil heating alone when it comes to even cooking and more even browning.

Versatile cooking options and an easy-to-clean interior are two reasons the Cuisinart TOB-195 Convection Toaster Oven (*Est. $140) receives top reviews. Editors at Food & Wine magazine say this product's four convenient cooking functions (bake, broil, toast and convection) make it "better suited as a second oven than as a toaster." The product also features reheating and defrosting buttons.

Owners posting to Amazon.com and Buzzillions.com are also impressed with the product's power and size, saying they use it to cook everything from cookies to whole chickens. One reviewer at Amazon.com says, "The size is incredibly functional for something with such a small footprint." Another says, "I have used this device to cook a variety of foods and they all come out perfect." We read several reviewer claims of cooking everything from seafood to pizzas. Unlike other toaster ovens, several users say the Cuisinart TOB-195 does a good job of toasting bread evenly, as well. Several users also note how easy the unit's nonstick walls are to clean. However, like other toaster ovens, the Cuisinart's exterior gets very hot. Several reviewers say they burned themselves when opening the oven (as a result of the placement of the handle).

The Cuisinart toaster oven is housed in stainless steel with brushed chrome accents and has electric touchpad controls. It has a 0.6-cubic-foot capacity, which Cuisinart says can easily accommodate a 12-inch pizza or a whole chicken. It has a two-position oven rack, allowing greater flexibility in the placement of food. The oven has a heat sensor that keeps temperatures even and consistent. For safety purposes, the oven also shuts off automatically after four hours, and it has a three-year limited warranty.

Consumers looking to spend less can try the Cuisinart TOB-60 (*Est. $120). This toaster oven is approximately the same size as the TOB-195, but it uses dial controls rather than electric touchpad buttons and does not have heat sensor. The few user reviews we found at Amazon.com are split. Several users are unhappy about hard-to-adjust controls that won't turn past a certain point or get stuck in the process of turning them. One user says, "The printing around the dial is so small it is hard to read even with my glasses on." Still, others say it does a fine job of cooking.

The Krups FBC2 Digital Convection Toaster Oven (*Est. $200) also fares well in professional reviews. Real Simple magazine editors like its "fast-acting" heating elements and sturdy cooking racks. Additionally, this toaster oven features a digital timer and readout, which many owners prefer to a ticker. Most users posting to Amazon.com say they are pleased with the FBC2 toaster oven, but a few say the unit beeps annoyingly when a food's cooking time ends. Other drawbacks: A few owners report that the glass door shattered on broil or bake settings, and other users say the oven randomly turned on when it wasn't being used. A few consumers also say there is a design flaw with the hinge in its door, causing it to remain stuck in the open position.

Shoppers who like the idea of simple one-step cooking functions may be happy with the Krups FBC4 (*Est. $250). It is nearly identical to the step-down FBC2, but it has six preset cooking functions for pastry, bagels, brownies, cookies, thick pizza and thin pizza. This convection toaster oven scores highly in several professional reviews, including Food & Wine magazine and 3Luxe.com, a website that evaluates products using professional reviews. Editors at Food & Wine magazine say that the Krups made "perfect, golden brown toast" and baked cookies the fastest of any models tested. Editors at 3Luxe.com are impressed with the quartz heating elements, which "deliver precise temperature control." The Krups FBC4 costs $50 more than the FBC2 because it includes six temperature presets. The Krups FBC4 receives high average ratings in owner reviews posted to Amazon.com. However, there are a few reports that the coating on its nonstick baking pan flakes off in a few spots, and some owners report that their ovens broke down soon after use.

The Krups FBC4 and the Cuisinart TOB-195 are both are solid choices. However, the Cuisinart TOB-195 is rated higher by owners and is top-ranked in more professional reviews. Many professional reviewers say that the Cuisinart toaster oven's size and performance also make it more suited to function as a second oven than a less substantial toaster oven.

Rotisserie fans may enjoy the Hamilton Beach 31197R Countertop Oven (*Est. $75). This less costly toaster oven receives mostly positive reviews at Amazon.com and Buzzillions.com. Users say it cooks quickly because of its convection fan. Many also like the versatility it offers because of its size. It has two oven racks, allowing users to cook more than one item at a time, and a rotisserie option for cooking chicken and other types of poultry. Danny Dumas at Wired says it is "easily the best unit if you don't have a standard oven." The reason: Its larger size means it's more capable of handling heftier cooking jobs. At nearly 19 inches wide and 15 inches tall, it's capable of cooking two 12-inch pizzas at the same time -- a rare feat for a toaster oven. Still, this toaster oven isn't free of flaws. Some owners at Amazon.com report uneven heating and reliability problems, and a few say the door does not seal properly and its instruction book is vague. However, if you want a large-capacity toaster oven that's capable of roasting a whole chicken, the Hamilton Beach toaster oven is worth a look.