The best countertop ovens make kitchen life easier. Whether offering quicker ways to cook things or multiple functionalities, these kitchen appliances become indispensable almost as soon as they’ve been set up.
When I’ve used some of the best air fryers to make dinner, for instance—and a few of them make this list—they end up replacing other cooking methods for their convenience. My preferred way of cooking bacon and salmon is by air fryer. And, in the case of oven-style ones like the Cosori 26-Quart Ceramic Air Fryer Oven, my favorite way of toasting bread as well.
While not everything included here is an air fryer, there are some hybrid options, as well as a microwave or two. Everything included here is a fantastic addition to your kitchen. Plus, every countertop oven included here has been thoroughly reviewed by us at Top Ten Reviews (and I’ve included links as well so you can plumb the depths of what makes these appliances worth getting).
Read on for our top picks for best countertop ovens, which we’ve thoroughly tested and reviewed.
James Holland is a freelance contributor that has reviewed countless devices from kitchen appliances and robot vacuums to smart home devices and audio equipment not only to Top Ten Reviews but TechRadar, T3.com, and Homes and Gardens as well. He’s used his hands-on experience and knowledge to even cover a number of kitchen appliances listed in this buying guide.
The quick list
Below, we’ve provided an overview of the important details you need to know about each product immediately so you can buy quickly if you're in a hurry. If something catches your eye, use the links to delve deeper into the analysis provided for each product further down the page.
Best overall
The best countertop oven overall
This air fryer oven from Cosori might be a little spendy, but it has more than enough functions for just about every need and an assortment of accessories. Plus, it’s big enough for a full-sized chicken.
Best budget
The best budget countertop oven
Although its analog controls may seem a little basic, it heats up quickly and has seven different cooking functions, making it still fairly versatile. It’s also the most affordable of the bunch.
Best premium
The best premium countertop oven
This surprisingly compact model from Brava features three different cooking zones with different temperatures, an internal camera, 10 cooking functions, and app support. However, it’s also ridiculously expensive.
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Best large capacity
Best large-capacity countertop oven
The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro is easy to use, has plenty of cooking functions, and uses super convection to heat up very quickly. It is also among the more unique-looking models here, not to mention that it has quite the cooking capacity.
Best microwave combo
The best countertop oven with microwave functionality
Look no further than the Breville Combi Wave Microwave if you want microwave functionality in your countertop oven, letting you ditch that other kitchen appliance to have just a one-stop shop for all your countertop cooking needs.
Best dual compartment
The best dual-compartment countertop oven
Dual compartments, each with its own temperature and time controls, make the Ninja 12-in-1 Smart Double Oven Air Fryer an ideal option for preparing multiple dishes at once. Plenty of cooking functions are also on hand.
Best smart
The best smart countertop oven
This smart oven has a barcode reader. You can use it on subscription meal kits from Tovala to automatically set the time and temperature for the meal scanned. It also has five cooking functions for dishes made from scratch.
The best countertop ovens we recommend in 2024
Why you can trust Top Ten Reviews
Our team has thoroughly reviewed the products featured in our buyer's guides. We strive to provide comprehensive and unbiased rankings based on our hands-on testing and expert research. Our evaluations consider top-rated brands and essential features to assist you in making informed purchasing decisions at the best value.
The best countertop oven overall
When I first unboxed the Cosori 26-quart Ceramic Air Fryer Oven, I was impressed by its size. After all, it’s big enough to cook a full-sized chicken. That large capacity is quite useful, from roasting vegetables to cooking a family-size serving of salmon. This offers much more capacity to cook all sorts of things and multiples of them than the smaller air fryers most of us think of.
Beyond size, this air fryer oven has plenty of other factors going for it. For example, it has 13 different cooking functions, a bunch of different trays for different types of recipes, and even a digital thermometer that reads out on the display. Despite the different functions on offer, it’s still intuitive and easy to use.
While the Cosori 26-Quart Ceramic Air Fryer Oven’s combination of size and multi-functionality – it does a pretty consistent job cooking as well – put it as our top pick overall, it is a little pricier. And for a more expensive model, it does have a strange quirk in that you’ll see steam escaping through the door – something I mistook for smoke for a long time.
It's a little less surprising, but still frustrating, that it’s not the easiest to clean inside, typical of oven-style air fryers. At least all the trays can stand a quick run through the dishwasher.
There may be a few minor issues with this air fryer oven. Still, this model, with its size and multiple cooking functions, is an easy recommendation for families and those wanting to make larger than bachelor-size portions.
Read our full Cosori 26-Quart Ceramic Air Fryer Oven review
There’s a lot to love about the Cosori 26-Quart Ceramic Air Fryer Oven, from its large capacity to all the different functions and accessories that it comes with. However, it’s a bit pricey, seems to smoke in certain situations (where it shouldn’t), and has a fan placement that can create uneven results if you’re not vigilant.
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
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Value | The Cosori 26-Quart Ceramic Air Fryer Oven is on the pricier side, but it’s worth the cost of entry. | ★★★★ |
Design | It has a large capacity, a burner plate, and plenty of cooking functions, not to mention a see-through window to check on your food. | ★★★★1/2 |
Performance | While there’s some concern with smoking as well as slower cooking, this air fryer does a very good job cooking whatever you put in it. | ★★★★1/2 |
The best budget countertop oven
The Cuisinart TOA-60 Air Fryer may not be cheap compared to the lowest priced air fryers on Amazon, but it’s the cheapest on this list and retails at a fairly reasonable price, not to mention that oven-style models are typically pricier than the more modest basket-style air fryers. Plus, with its sub-$200 price tag, it still has a fairly durable build along with a three-year warranty.
This air fryer and convection oven was reviewed by our contributor Joanne Lewsley, who found it easy to use and also appreciated its chic look thanks to its charcoal steel colorway and analog controls. While our reviewer didn’t have any issues with those controls, she did note that many users find the more analog dials to be less accurate.
On the brightside, there are seven different cooking functions – a bit less than many of the alternatives on here, but still plenty for most people. Joanne, regardless of the cooking function she used, found the Cuisinart TOA-60 Air Fryer to produce consistent, well-cooked results. It helps that this model heats up quickly.
The Cuisinart TOA-60 Air Fryer does have a strange quirk in that it produces condensation that escapes out of the sides of the viewing door, leaving some moisture on surrounding countertops. So if you’re considering this model, you might want to give it some extra countertop space even if its physical footprint isn’t particularly large for a countertop oven. Still, the price, multiple cooking functions, and attractive look make this air fryer a solid option for those with limited cash.
Read our full Cuisinart TOA-60 Air Fryer review
"Beautifully designed and easy to use, the Cuisinart TOA60 Air Fryer Mini Oven features multiple cooking settings and overall value for money."
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
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Value | It's affordable without sacrificing build quality or functionality. | ★★★★1/2 |
Design | The attractive, durable build is slightly held back by the fact that the analog controls aren't the most precise. | ★★★★ |
Performance | It heats up quickly and does a good job cooking, though it does seem to leak condensation. | ★★★★ |
The best premium countertop oven
The Brava Glass Oven might be the crème de la crème of countertop ovens. Of course, it also comes with a price to top all others. As multi-featured as this countertop oven is, its price is prohibitive and not for the faint of heart… or those on a budget.
Despite the price, our reviewer, Terri Williams, was impressed by several aspects of this countertop oven. There’s a lot to like here, after all. The wireless temperature sensor is a plus. The fact that there’s an internal camera that lets her see her food cooking is a major plus, especially considering that she found the glass viewing door not all that helpful since the handle somewhat obstructs the view.
She also enjoyed using the five-inch color display, specifically for the recipes with step-by-step instructions. The display also allows access to that internal camera.
Despite not having multiple compartments or drawers, the Brava Glass Oven does implement an interesting feature as it uses six heating lamps layered in three zones that can be used independently, meaning that you can potentially cook up to three dishes at the same time. And our reviewer found it to cook three different items simultaneously well. However, Terri did find that if she didn’t use the right proportions of a given veggie or meat, any preset cooking time resulted in under or overcooked items. A level of precision is required when following Brava’s instructions.
Read our full Brava Glass Oven review
"The Brava Glass Oven provides cooking functionality without taking up too much space. It can make everything and even support a Dutch oven for slow cooking. However, not every meal comes out perfectly, and this is one of the most expensive countertop ovens on the market."
Attribute | Notes | Rating |
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Price & availability | In a price range all its own, but impressive nonetheless | ★★★★ |
Design | Intuitive to use, plus it comes with a wireless sensor. | ★★★★½ |
Performance | Very good with the ability to cook multiple different dishes at once. | ★★★★½ |
The best large capacity countertop oven
On the pricier side, we have the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro, which our contributor Molly Cleary reviewed. While we’ve singled this model out for its large capacity – it has the largest on this list and can fit a whole chicken and, apparently, 13 slices of toast – Molly liked quite a few things about this model.
For instance, it offers 13 different cooking functions, including some that are not always available, like dehydrate and slow cook. They’re easy to navigate through via the large display and polished feeling knobs.
It can also go from 80 to 480 degrees Fahrenheit (27 to 249 degrees C). It does a fantastic job cooking and implements an algorithmic solution called “Element IQ” to intelligently adjust temperature for even results. She particularly liked how quickly it would heat up. After all, its super convection setting can cut cooking time down by 30%, according to Breville.
It’s more than a large-capacity convection oven, which is obviously a boon. However, its large capacity can’t be overstated: It has a cubic-foot interior, big enough to cook a 14-pound bird.
It has the usual shortcomings of an oven-style air fryer, as the interior can be tough to keep spotless, and the price is on the higher end. Still, if you’re looking for a lot of capacity, look no further.
Read our full Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro review
"The Breville Smart Air Fryer Oven costs a considerable amount, but it is packed full of functionality. You could feasibly ditch your oven thanks to this countertop appliance, which has 13 modes, including the ability to air fry, slow cook, dehydrate and reheat."
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
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Value | Hugely expensive, but value for money if you can afford it | ★★★★ |
Design | Sleek stainless steel with so much space, and various cooking levels | ★★★★★ |
Performance | All the functions are great, as well as cooking results | ★★★★★ |
The best countertop oven with microwave functionality
This unique countertop oven found its way into the hands of another one of our contributors, Marah Eakin. While she found it on the bulky side, as it takes up a decent amount of countertop space, it also can save some by making a separate microwave obsolete. That counts for a lot.
Of course, the interior capacity isn’t enough to cook multiple dishes at once, not to mention that there’s only one cooking surface as opposed to the multiple trays that can be used with other models. So, there is still some competition when it comes to multi-functionality when it comes to air fryers. However, having that microwave functionality might be key for some.
Luckily, during her testing, Marah found both the microwave and convection settings to work flawlessly, whether she was microwaveing a bowl of soup or roasting chicken wings. Plus, this countertop oven employs Breville’s “Element IQ” technology, which redirects power to where it’s needed most, resulting in consistently and evenly cooked dishes.
She also found it sturdily made and the auto-off function a welcome safety feature. The large display is also easy to read and use.
All the functionality in this 3-in-1 model comes at quite the price, as this goes for $500. That’s substantial even compared to plenty of the other countertop ovens we’ve looked at, which we call pricey. That said, you’re getting an air fryer, convection oven, and microwave functionality in one, and adding that microwave feature eliminates the need for an extra kitchen appliance.
Read our full Breville Combi Wave Microwave review
"This Breville Combi Wave is a microwave, air fryer, and convection oven all in one. Despite its size, it's a great addition to any kitchen because of its well-designed control panel and reliable magnetron. Its sleek design and multifunctionality make it worth its space."
Attribute | Notes | Rating |
---|---|---|
Price & availability | It's quite expensive, though it does the work of an air fryer, convection oven, and a microwave all in one. | ★★★★ |
Design | Quite multifunctional but on the smaller side. | ★★★★1/2 |
Performance | Effectively performs as a microwave, air fryer, and convection oven, handling a variety of cooking tasks with ease. | ★★★★★ |
The best dual compartment countertop oven
Like most of the countertop ovens on this list, the Ninja 12-in-1 Smart Double Oven Air Fryer has twelve different cooking features, including air-frying, roasting, and the all-important pizza, as well as dehydration.
More impressively, it has dual compartments that sit on top of each other and have their own temperature and time settings. When I tested this air fryer, I was very satisfied with the results—and that’s not just because I ate them.
I found both compartments to cook evenly. Plus, I was able to use an included feature that allows the two compartments to finish cooking at the same time. I basically set the time and temperature in each compartment, press the button, and it will start one first and then the other at a time when they both finish concurrently.
On the negative side, the inside is tough to clean, partially because it’s an oven-style air fryer but also because there’s so much more surface area with the two compartments, not to mention cleaning an extra tray or two. Still, having those two compartments is a time-saver when making dinner.
Considering there are air fryers, albeit much smaller and more limited, available for under $100 / £100, it’s to be expected that you’ll have to pay a price for all these features. Yes, it’s not close to the most expensive model on this list, but it’s still a bit pricey. However, its dual functionality makes the Ninja 12-in-1 Smart Double Oven Air Fryer a keeper.
Read our full Ninja 12-in-1 Smart Double Oven Air Fryer review
The Ninja 12-in-1 Smart Double Oven Air Fryer is unique with its two compartments, which can cook separately or finish together. It is a stellar yet pricey and somewhat hard-to-clean addition to any kitchen.
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
---|---|---|
Value | While the price is not unreasonable, it is high. And, it’s only available in the US. | ★★★1/2 |
Design | The dual-compartments and the way to access and use them is very smartly designed. | ★★★★★ |
Performance | While cleaning can be a chore here, this air fryer does a fantastic job cooking in its various functions. | ★★★★1/2 |
The best smart countertop oven
As Paige Cerulli, the Tovala Smart Oven’s reviewer, noted, this kitchen appliance is ideal for one to two people. Its diminutive size means that, while it won’t take up too much countertop space, it can only cook small portions at a time. Regular trays and pans won’t fit in here, either. Paige notes that cleaning the interior gets frustrating since it gets dirty pretty quickly due to its small size.
But, for some people, the Tovala Smart Oven is worth it. Other models on this list have smart features, but none do quite what this one does. Yes, there’s an app, and this toaster oven-sized appliance connects to WiFi (but only has 2.4GHz networks for some reason). But, more interestingly, it has a barcode reader.
Tovala offers subscription meals that come with a barcode. For the ones used in her review, Paige had to scan the barcode, do whatever minimal meal prep was required, and pop it in. The Tovala Smart Oven automatically picks the temperature and time based on the code. Plus, it can scan the barcodes for other manufacturers and do the same.
The Tovala Smart Oven also works well for meals made from scratch. Choosing from one of the five settings, Paige made pork chops, fries, and even toast. While the number of settings is somewhat limited, you do get the most important ones, like air fry, reheat, and broiler.
Read our full Tovala Smart Oven review
"The Tovala Smart Oven is a compact oven ideal for meal preparation for one to two people. It’s most valuable when used with Tovala subscription meals."
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
---|---|---|
Value | Reasonably priced and sometimes goes on discount when purchasing Tovala's subscription meals. | ★★★★ |
Design | Easy to use including the smart features, but is fairly small. | ★★★★ |
Performance | Though it can only cook small amounts, the results are consistent and even. | ★★★★ |
How to choose the best countertop oven for you
Several factors should guide your decision to ensure your countertop oven meets your cooking needs and lifestyle.
Size and Capacity: Measure your countertop space and the oven size to ensure the oven fits comfortably without crowding your workspace. Look for an oven that can accommodate your typical meal size, whether it's a small pizza or a big casserole. If you cook for a small family or entertain guests often, look for one that fits your oven's internal capacity.
Cooking Functions: Your countertop oven can bake, broil, toast, and air fry. If versatility is important to you, choose a model with multiple functions so you can experiment with different cooking techniques.
Power and Efficiency: Consider the oven's wattage; higher wattage generally means faster cooking and more efficient heating. However, if you plan to use it often, look for ovens with good insulation and energy-saving features.
Controls and Ease of Use: It's important to have user-friendly controls. Digital displays, intuitive knobs, and preset cooking programs can make meal prep a breeze. Additionally, think about whether you prefer manual controls or a touch screen.
Countertop oven FAQs
Are countertop ovens worth it?
The most significant advantage of countertop ovens is their compact size. They fit easily on countertops, so they're great for small kitchens. Countertop ovens can also be stored away when they're not in use, making your kitchen layout more flexible.
Countertop ovens have many cooking functions, including baking, broiling, toasting, and air frying. Because of their multifunctionality, you don't need multiple appliances to make a variety of dishes. If you like experimenting with different cooking techniques, a countertop oven can be a great addition to your kitchen.
Using a countertop oven can save energy, especially for smaller dinners. They require less preheating time and use less energy, making them an eco-friendly option.
With compact size and efficient heating elements, countertop ovens cook food faster than conventional ovens.
The countertop ovens tend to be cheaper than traditional ovens, so they're an affordable option for those on a budget. They can also serve as a secondary cooking appliance, which is great for larger households or entertaining.
How much do countertop ovens cost?
A countertop oven usually costs $50 to $1,300. Budget models, often basic toaster ovens, are typically found at the lower end of this spectrum, so they're great for toasting and reheating. Most mid-range models come with extra features like convection cooking and digital controls. They usually cost between $100 and $500 and are more versatile.
You can find high-end countertop ovens with advanced features, bigger capacities, and better build quality. These ovens often have multiple cooking functions, smart technology, and energy efficiency. Some high-end models can reach baking temperatures and have steam and rotisserie features.
Brand reputation plays a big role in countertop oven prices; well-known brands with a history of quality may get more expensive. The materials used in construction, such as stainless steel vs. plastic, can also affect price. Digital displays, programmable settings, and extra accessories (like baking trays) add to the cost.
How long to countertop ovens last?
When considering a countertop oven, it's important to consider its lifespan. Depending on several factors, countertop ovens can last anywhere from 3 to 10 years.
The brand and quality of the countertop oven play a significant role in its longevity. A high-end model from a reputable brand has better materials and construction, which makes it last longer. With proper care, premium brands can last up to 10 years.
Using your countertop oven frequently can wear it down, especially if you use it for high temperatures frequently. Alternatively, if you use it occasionally for specific tasks, it might last longer.
Cleaning, avoiding overloading, and using the appliance according to the manufacturer's instructions is crucial for extending the life of your countertop oven. If you keep the oven's heating elements clean and ensure it's well-vented, you can make it last longer.
A countertop oven may need replacement if it's experiencing issues like inconsistent heating, strange noises, or visible damage to the cord or exterior.
When is the best time to buy a countertop oven?
There's no better time to buy a countertop oven than during major sales. Many retailers offer big discounts during holidays like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Labor Day. You can find great deals on high-quality models at these sales. After the holidays, many retailers may cut prices on kitchen appliances to clear out inventory, so January is a great time to buy.
A great time to buy is when new models come out. Manufacturers usually release their newest models in the spring or fall. As new ones hit the market, older models are discounted. It's a great time to get a countertop oven at a lower price if you don't care about having the latest features.
How we tested the best countertop ovens for this guide
At Top Ten Reviews, we take our testing seriously. Our goal is to ensure that every countertop oven featured in our buyer's guide has been thoroughly evaluated by our experts.
When it comes to reviewing countertop ovens, we dive into every detail over several weeks. From the initial setup to cooking various meals, we share our genuine, hands-on experiences to help you make an informed purchasing decision.
I’m pleased to say that each countertop oven highlighted in this guide has undergone extensive testing. We will continue to evaluate both popular and new models to keep this guide current and ensure that you always get the best value for your money.
Find out more about how we test.