9 Best Convection Ovens
best countertop convection ovens
Ready to buy now? Shop the best:
- Best of the Best: Ninja 12-in-1 Double Oven
- Best Bang for the Buck: Elite Gourmet Double French Door Oven
- Best for Families: Emeril Lagasse 26-Quart Air Fryer Toaster Oven
- Best for Large Households: Chefman Multifunctional Digital Air Fryer
- Feature-Packed: Cuisinart Air Fryer + Convection Toaster Oven
Even if you love to cook, sometimes all you want is to get dinner on the table fast. A convection oven speeds up the cooking process thanks to fan-assisted technology that evenly distributes heat throughout the oven. In a convection oven, food spends less time cooking — and you spend less time waiting for your food to be ready.
Countertop convection ovens are relatively compact, so you don’t need a huge kitchen to enjoy this cooking benefit, Many of these countertop appliances are multifunctional, so they can bake, broil, roast and air fry. This reduces the number of individual appliances you need in your kitchen since this oven takes on several roles. What’s more, the smaller size and faster cooking speed translate to less heat output in your kitchen than that of a full-size oven. This can be a mercy during hot weather.
We researched and analyzed what makes a great countertop convection oven and found that the Ninja Foodi Pro Air Oven checks all the boxes. It’s large enough for you to prepare food for your entire household in one countertop appliance. It has 10 functions and a smart cook system that monitors the internal doneness of food so it doesn’t come out undercooked.
Best countertop convection ovens
Ninja Foodi Pro Air Oven
Measuring around 20 inches wide and 13 inches high, the Ninja Foodi is not the smallest of convection ovens, but it still doesn’t take up much space. Its generous dimensions offer a large capacity, allowing you to cook two full sheet pans of food simultaneously.
The Ninja Foodi is made of stainless steel with digital touchpad controls that are easy to use and wipe clean. It has 10 cooking presets: bake, broil, air fry, air roast, whole roast, dehydrate, reheat, toast, bagel and pizza. These versatile presets allow you to easily prepare a large variety of items for yourself, your family and guests.
Elite Gourmet French Door Convection Oven
With its impressive 45-liter capacity, this affordable oven can toast 18 standard slices of bread at once or roast a whole turkey of up to 20 pounds. The oven measures roughly 21 inches wide and 14 inches high, so it fits on most counters. Its stainless steel exterior makes it a durable choice.
The dial controls offer plenty of control over how you cook. While it doesn’t feature presets, you can choose between convection, rotisserie and convection-rotisserie settings. You can set the temperature of the upper and lower heating elements individually, between 150 and 450 degrees. It also offers a cooking timer.
Breville Smart Oven Pro Toaster Oven
It might be sold as a toaster oven, but the Breville Smart Oven Pro can do much more than a traditional toaster oven. It cooks using convection heat and has 10 presets in total: toast, bagel, bake, roast, broil, pizza, cookies, reheat, warm and slow cook. The Element iQ system uses sensors and an algorithm to give you precise results, so you’re unlikely to overcook or undercook anything.
This Breville oven has a combination of button and dial controls that are easy to use. The stainless steel exterior is durable and looks great. The Smart Oven Pro measures roughly 19 inches wide and 11 inches high, making it more compact than some other choices.
Breville Smart Oven Convection Toaster Oven
At approximately 19 inches wide and 11 inches high, this oven is big enough to be practical but not so large that it takes up too much room in the kitchen. It can fit six slices of toast, a 13-inch pizza or a whole chicken.
It’s easy to switch the convection function on and off, so you can use the oven when you need convection heating and go without it when you don’t. This Breville oven has a stainless steel finish and a combination of dial and button controls. You can choose from nine presets: toast, bagel, bake, roast, broil, pizza, cookies, reheat and warm.
Oster Digital Air Fryer Oven
Thanks to 12 cooking presets, preparing your favorite foods is a breeze with this Oster convection oven. You can choose to broil, bake, air fry, convect, toast, dehydrate, defrost or keep warm. In addition, there are settings for pizza, fries, wings and veggies.
The oven’s RapidCrisp Technology circulates air in a cyclonic manner, and it has an extra-large fan. Both of these features foster crisp, speedy results. At 16.5 inches wide, it takes up less counter space than most, but its 14.5-inch height makes it bulkier than some. The Oster Digital Air Fryer has a stainless steel finish and a combination of touchpad and dial controls.
NutriChef Convection Countertop Toaster Oven
Measuring roughly 16 inches wide and 14 inches high, this dome-style convection oven is a compact one. It’s made from durable heat-proof glass that allows you to observe the cooking process. When your food has finished cooking, you can remove the cooking pot and carry it to the table to serve.
This NutriChef oven doesn’t have presets. Instead, it offers dial controls for temperature and time. Some people prefer this straightforward approach over worrying about which presets to use. You can still use it to bake, broil, air fry and roast, controlling these features with the oven’s temperature settings and time.
Cuisinart Deluxe Convection Toaster Oven
The brushed stainless steel finish of this oven is stylish, practical and durable. Since it’s brushed rather than shiny, fingerprints don’t show up as obviously, so it stays looking clean for longer. You control the oven using buttons and a selector dial, which is quick and simple.
At roughly 19 by 12 inches, it’s a good midsize oven. It doesn’t take up an excessive amount of counter space, but you can toast six slices of bread at once or cook a 12-inch pizza. The Cuisinart oven offers six presets: toast, bagel, bake, broil, keep warm and reheat. This is enough to keep most users happy.
Black and Decker Crisp ‘N Bake Air Fry Countertop Oven
If you’re looking for a versatile convection oven, this one has 10 cooking presets to cover all the bases. Its settings are air fry, no preheat, bake, toast, bagel, pizza, broil, roast, warm and reheat. The no preheat setting is great for times when you’re in a hurry.
Three dial controls let you adjust the function, temperature and cooking time. The stainless steel exterior is sturdy and attractive. At approximately 18 inches wide and 12 inches high, it’s reasonably compact yet has decent capacity. It can fit eight slices of toast or a 12-inch pizza.
KitchenAid Dual Convection Countertop Oven
This sleek countertop convection oven has a durable metal exterior with a matte black finish that sets it apart from other models, most of which have stainless steel finishes. The KitchenAid oven has buttons and dials that you use to control it.
It’s roughly 19 inches wide and 13 inches high. This oven fits a single full sheet pan inside and has sufficient capacity to roast up to two full-size chickens. It has a total of 12 cooking presets: bake, broil, toast, bagel, air fry, dehydrate, meat probe, convection bake, roast, keep warm, reheat and proof. This makes it one of the best options for people looking for a versatile appliance.
What to know before buying a countertop convection oven
Size
How much room do you have for a countertop convection oven in your kitchen? In our research, we found convection ovens as small as 15 inches wide and as large as 22 inches wide. Height matters, too. You can find convection ovens that stand about a foot tall and convection ovens that tower over that at closer to 1.5 feet tall.
The depth of your convection oven greatly impacts which pieces of cookware you can fit inside it. Some convection ovens are only about 6 inches deep. Others are twice that depth.
Durability
If you’re looking for a durable appliance, choose one with a stainless steel outer casing rather than a plastic one. Not only is it more rugged, but most would agree that it also looks better. Large metal handles and sturdy door hinges add to an oven’s durability, so you can be sure it’ll last for many mealtimes to come.
Versatility
Both convection-only and multi-functional models are extremely good at a variety of cooking tasks, but an oven’s heat source dictates its primary strengths.
- Halogen-powered heat is suitable for air frying, grilling and rapid cooking from a light source at the top of the unit.
- Infrared heat performs all the basics, such as baking and broiling, in a smaller space. Because of its direct heat, the food may need to be turned several times during cooking.
- Conductive heat is good for baking, broiling and toasting. It’s also handy if you want to brown the food to render a crust or create crispiness.
Domes
Some convection ovens have glass or plastic domes. However, this isn’t a feature you’ll find in all countertop convection ovens. Of the two options, glass domes are more common, especially when halogen is the primary heat source. Due to their transparent exterior, you can easily see your food while it cooks. This can make it less likely to burn, and you won’t inadvertently release heat by opening the door to check your food’s progress. On the downside, dome ovens are significantly smaller than other styles.
Controls
The choice between knobs, push-buttons and touch settings is a matter of personal taste. Good countertop ovens offer precise times and temperatures regardless of which control setting they feature. Note that convection ovens with knobs or push buttons typically cost less than those with touch settings.
Cooking presets
Convection ovens offer a range of presets for different cooking styles and popular dishes. While presets vary between models, these are among the most common: roast, bake, broil, toast, air fry, reheat, pizza and bagel settings.
FAQ
Q. How much should I spend on a countertop convection oven?
A. For $50 to $150, you’ll find models that are somewhat limited in their functions and have dial-based controls. Nevertheless, these are good options for budget-minded chefs who want a solid product.
If you plan on using your convection oven regularly, it may be worth investing in a higher-end model from a respected manufacturer. If you’re willing to spend $150 to $350, you’ll find convection-only and multifunctional convection ovens with plenty of extra features to simplify the cooking process.
Q. Do I need to adjust the original baking temperature if I’m using a countertop convection oven?
A. Since convection ovens cook faster, home chefs must perform some math. In most cases, temperatures should be reduced by 25 degrees for convection ovens. (Alternatively, you could drop the overall cooking time by 25% to achieve the same result). Some smart countertop convection ovens can make this calculation for you.
Q. Is infrared cooking safe?
A. Infrared cooking is generally considered safe. However, there are a few safety tips to keep in mind. Do not use your infrared oven if the hinge, seal or latch is damaged. Because of its high heat, exercise caution when removing food, and monitor children if they are nearby.