When choosing between a toaster and a toaster oven, it’s not just about size or cost; it’s about finding an appliance that fits your lifestyle and cooking needs, whether you’re looking for something to toast your morning bagel in seconds or an all-in-one countertop solution for baking, broiling, and reheating.
The best toasters are loved for their simplicity and speed, while the best toaster ovens stand out for their versatility. They can act as a compact alternative to a full-sized oven or even an alternative to an air fryer. That doesn’t mean toaster ovens are always the better choice, though, or that toasters don’t come with their range of benefits.
This guide compares the two's features and performance to help you decide which is best for your kitchen. It includes expert insights from Marcus Lux, Head of Gastroback, UK Export & Business Development.
Toaster vs toaster oven: Price & value
When deciding between a toaster and a toaster oven, consider how you plan to use it and how much space you have. Both appliances serve slightly different purposes and, as a result, suit slightly different budgets.
Toasters are generally more affordable, ranging from $20 to $200 for most models. Toaster ovens start around $60 but can cost as much as $400 for high-end versions.
A toaster is your best bet if you mostly want to toast bread or bagels. They’re compact, easy to use, and perfect for quick breakfasts or snacks. You can find reliable, budget-friendly toasters like the Elite Gourmet ECT-1027 for just $15.99. For a few extra features, such as extra-wide slots or adjustable settings, the GE 2 Slice Stainless Steel Toaster is a solid choice at $49.
If you want premium features and design that are as important as functionality, models like the Smeg 2-Slice Toaster, also available in a 4-slice design, come with retro looks and precise controls. However, they both cost upwards of $200.
By comparison, toaster ovens are like mini ovens. While they can toast bread just like a toaster, they let you bake, broil, reheat, and even air fry, depending on the model.
A simple toaster oven like the Hamilton Beach 6-Slice Countertop Toaster Oven costs around $90 and lets you toast, bake, and broil. It’s a great choice for small meals or snacks. For more features, like convection cooking, the Cuisinart TOA-70 Toaster Oven at $229.95 is a popular pick.
If you want something with even more bells and whistles, the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro at $399.95 offers air frying, slow cooking, dehydrating, and even lets you proof dough. It’s like having a second oven on your countertop, albeit with a price to match.
Toaster vs toaster oven: Features & functions
Toasters and toaster ovens might seem similar at first glance, but they’re designed for different tasks and have various features that make them useful in different ways.
Toasters are all about simplicity and speed. They heat wires inside their slots, evenly toasting both sides of your bread. This makes them great for quick breakfasts or snacks. Modern toasters include adjustable browning levels, a bagel setting that toasts the cut side while warming the other, and a defrost option for frozen bread. Some even include a reheat function to warm up your toast without burning it, like the Cuisinart CPT-180 Classic Toaster.
Look for toasters with extra-wide slots if you like bagels, thick artisanal bread, or frozen waffles. High-lift levers are another handy feature, making it easier to grab smaller slices without burning your fingers.
Toaster ovens instead use larger heating elements and sometimes a convection fan to circulate air for even cooking. This helps cook food faster and more evenly, especially when baking or roasting. "Often called mini or tabletop ovens, toaster ovens are a great versatile product," explains Lux, "as they usually offer other functions too like rotisserie spits for chicken and kebabs as well as the opportunity for baking, roasting, grilling and defrosting using different temperature settings and types of heat." A good example is the Ninja Prestige Smart XL 10-in-1 Air Fry Digital Countertop Convection Toaster Oven, which does all the above and can dehydrate fruit.
Toaster ovens with digital displays and pre-set cooking modes make it easy to switch between toasting bread, baking a pizza, or air-frying snacks.
Other features to look for include nonstick interiors, removable crumb trays, and adjustable racks to fit different types of food. Some, like the Hamilton Beach Countertop Oven with Rotisserie, include rotisserie functions, letting you roast a whole chicken on your countertop.
Marcus Lux is Head of UK, Export & Business Development at premium household electricals manufacturer Gastroback. With over 30 years’ experience selling quality products around the world, Gastroback’s aspiration is to set trends focused around design, high quality materials, professional performance and safety.
Toaster vs toaster oven: Performance
Regarding performance, toasters are designed largely for one job, so your chosen model must excel.
A good toaster will deliver consistent browning across the entire surface of the bread. A great toaster lets you fine-tune the toasting level to suit your taste. For example, the Breville A Bit More Toaster includes features like a countdown timer and Lift & Look, which lets you check your toast mid-cycle without interrupting the process.
"Most models have frozen bread settings and wide slots for the variety of bread nowadays, and you can also get slimline or front-loading models that can work with the available countertop space," adds Lux.
On the other hand, the variety offered by toaster ovens means that the toasting function is often less precise, but the wider range of features makes up for it. That's not to say they can't toast bread well, but the larger cooking space and varied heat distribution mean the results are sometimes less uniform. However, for tasks like reheating leftovers or melting cheese on a sandwich, toaster ovens outperform toasters thanks to their adjustable rack positions and the ability to brown or crisp food evenly.
Toaster ovens also excel at multitasking. You can set them to toast bread while prepping other ingredients for breakfast or bake a small batch of cookies while keeping an eye on other dishes. Acting as a second oven, they also increase the number of items you can cook at any one time, which can make cooking a roast dinner or making separate side dishes much easier.
Toaster vs toaster oven: which is best?
Toasters are quick, compact, and ideal for toasting bread and bagels. They’re affordable (starting around $30) and deliver consistent results. "You don’t even need to set a timer or keep an eye on it, as the toast will pop up when it’s done," says Lux. If all you need is toast, a toaster is simple, reliable, and easy to use.
Toaster ovens are more versatile. They can toast, bake, broil, reheat, and even air fry, acting as a mini oven. While they take up more space and cost more (starting at $70), they’re great for cooking small meals or handling various tasks in one appliance.
For simplicity, go with a toaster. For flexibility, choose a toaster oven.
Toaster vs toaster oven: what the experts say
People with small kitchens or little countertop space tend to automatically assume they should buy a toaster, given how small and simple it is to use.
However, Lux suggests that if you only have room for one countertop appliance, buying a toaster oven might make more sense, and you should spend slightly more money to get everything you need in a single appliance.
"If you are short on countertop space and would value the extra functions toaster ovens offer, it might well be time to clear out the old toaster and opt for an oven," says Lux.
Toaster vs toaster oven: FAQs
Do toaster ovens take longer than toasters?
Yes, toaster ovens take longer than traditional toasters to toast bread. This is because toaster ovens heat a larger space and need more time to reach the desired temperature.
A toaster might finish a slice of bread in 1-3 minutes, while a toaster oven can take 4-6 minutes to complete the same task. However, toaster ovens offer more control over browning levels and more versatility for other tasks.
Do toaster ovens use more energy than toasters?
A standard toaster typically uses around 800-1500 watts of power per toasting cycle (although more advanced models use more), while a toaster oven might use an average of 1200-1800 watts.
However, toaster ovens are more energy-efficient than full-sized ovens, especially for small tasks, so it depends on how much you think you'll use it.
What should you not cook in a toaster oven?
Avoid cooking greasy or oily foods, like heavily fried items, as the grease can splatter and cause smoke.
Plastic containers should also be avoided, as they can melt or ignite under high heat.
Foods that need precise temperature control, such as soufflés, might not cook evenly in a toaster oven due to its smaller size and more intense heat distribution, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't.
