Best bang-for-your buck countertop oven?

So, I've convinced my husband that we should swap our microwave for one of those new toaster ovens that acts like a mini oven, meaning it can broil, roast, etc. I like to roast and broil things and I bake but my oven is really old and takes forever to heat up (and heats up the whole apartment - not great in the summer).

There are so many options now -Cuisinart, Breville, KitchenAid, Oster, Black & Decker - ranging from $50 to $400. I'm overwhelmed.

I'd like to use this contraption as a mini oven - and I'd really like to broil stuff (fish, peppers). I don't want it to be enormous but it also doesn't have to be tiny (I'd really like to be able to cook dinner for four in it). I don't mind paying for something fancy that won't break and gives me lots of options (one of the Brevilles claims to be an air fryer) but I also don't want waste money.

Any advice for me?

puttakka
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5 Comments

weekend A.
weekend A. May 21, 2017
I've got a $99 Oster convection countertop oven and it's awesome. It fits my 7.5 quart Le Creuset French oven with no problem. Only complaint is that there's no light. Heats to 450 in 7 ish minutes.
 
ReisTanzi
ReisTanzi May 19, 2017
I came to suggest the Breville (I have the mini smart electric oven), and I see it has other fans. I use it the same way you plan to, as my oven, in addition to heating up the whole apartment , serves as storage and is only emptied out for cooking when absolutely necessary. The mini fits an 8x8 pan or a 9" pie plate, big enough for a surprising majority of what I make (I'm usually cooking for 2 adults but also usually enough that I'm hoping for leftovers). If you have space for the larger Breville, I bet it would be worthwhile for the flexibility the space would give you.
We had a Black & Decker toaster oven that we also liked a lot - until one of the heating elements starting bending way out shape and eventually made it unusable. Perhaps it was designed more for just toasting than for such heavy use.
In any case it's a great idea. When I do a bigger project or meal, I almost always end up using both ovens, so I would hate to be without a toaster oven!
 
Stephanie G.
Stephanie G. May 19, 2017
I have had the Breville oven for several years. I use it for everything from cookies to popovers to bread to roasting potatoes. It broils nicely too. I really like it...heats to 450 in 5 minutes.
 
caninechef
caninechef May 19, 2017
I don't have one but my sister has also been very happy with a Breville.
 
creamtea
creamtea May 19, 2017
I also love my Breville, which I've had for ~5 years. The new models light when you open the door, which is a nice feature. I have baked cookies, cakes and brownies, roasted potatoes, and used for toast. There is an optional convection feature and you can switch from F to C. It also does not heat up the kitchen like my big oven.
 
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