Best Countertop Convection Broiler Toaster Ovens
Black & Decker, Cuisinart, Delonghi, Oster, Krups, Euro Pro etc
May 2, 2009
Countertop toaster ovens aren't just for bachelors and for students in dorm rooms. When cooking small amounts of food they save time and electricity when compared with firing up a full sized range oven. The kitchen heats up less too.
Toaster ovens range from 2 slice (slices of bread) to 6 slice machines that are large enough for 12 inch pizzas. Popular brands include Black & Decker, Cuisinart, Delonghi, Oster, Krups and Euro Pro.
Toaster Oven Temperature Control
For more control over the cooking, a toaster oven should ideally have (in decreasing order of priority)
- Variable temperature control (thermostat control). A temperature range of 150 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit is typical.
- Selectable heating elements. Broil (only top heating element on), bake (only bottom heating element on) or toast (both heating elements on).
- Adjustable tray height. Lowering the tray increases the heat to the bottom of the food and reduces the heat to the top.
Hot spots cause uneven cooking.
- Having more than one heating bar at the top (and bottom) reduces hot spots.
- An internal convection fan that circulates the air results in more even temperature distribution and faster cooking. Some models allow the fan to be manually switched on and off. Others automatically switch the fan on or off depending on the cooking mode chosen.
Toaster Oven Timers and Controls
Toaster ovens used to be entirely mechanical but new models use digital clocks and electronic temperature controls, like microwave ovens.
Advantages of electronic controls
- Timer is quiet. Some people complain about loud, ticking mechanical timers.
- Control panel is easy to wipe clean.
- Some have preset programs for different types of food.
Disadvantages
- Cooking temperature might need to be set every time the oven is switched on, unlike a mechanical thermostat that will remember the last setting.
- Thermostat is normally set in fixed steps (maybe 25 to 50 degrees), unlike a continuously variable stepless mechanical thermostat.
- Timer can be slower to set compared with turning a mechanical timer (need to press buttons like setting a digital alarm clock).
- Can be difficult for the very young or old to use.
- Loud beeping when buttons are pressed can be annoying.
- Some come with a clock, which needs to be set after power outages and for daylight saving time.
Once started, the time on some timers (especially electronic timers) cannot be increased or decreased. To stop the oven ahead of schedule, the mains supply needs to be switched off. Some mechanical timers have a minimum setting of 5 or 10 minutes, which will burn some foods.
While some of the above issues may seem minor, they can become irritating if the toaster oven is used every day.
Toaster Oven Features
Other features to look out for are
- A removable crumb tray for easy cleaning. Some are difficult to remove.
- Automatic slide out rack. The door is mechanically linked to the rack. Opening the door causes the rack to slide out for easy access.
- Stay-open door. Some spring-loaded doors will not stay open and need to be held open. This can be inconvenient.
- Interior light, to make it easy to check the condition of the food.
The Best Toaster Oven
Toaster ovens have more than enough power. The difficulty is having enough control to thoroughly cook the food without burning it. For less sophisticated ovens, aluminum foil can help control the cooking process.
Which toaster oven is best will depend on individual requirements. A simple model with only a timer and no temperature controls is easy to use. It can cook thin pieces of food without burning the outside or leaving the inside undercooked.
A premium toaster oven is more versatile but is normally bigger, more expensive and may be too much trouble for a few slices of breakfast toast.
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