Best countertop oven 2023: Our top picks for compact cooking

Getting one of the best countertop ovens is likely to be a rather useful purchase for experiencing the power of a full oven in a small form factor.

Much like with any of the best countertop dishwashers with a water tank, a countertop oven will be especially handy if you're someone who may not have the space for a full size oven but you still want the power of one.

Oftentimes countertop ovens can actually be more efficient with their cooking times than regular ovens, as well as offering more functions too. You'll want to keep an eye out for the amount and different types of cooking functions on offer, as some ovens may offer more or less than others.

In addition, you'll want to look out for the capacity of a countertop oven and pick one that'll suit how much you need to cook. Some may be good for cooking a large chicken inside, while others may allow you to cook not only a chicken, but a tray of vegetables too.

We've taken a look at what's available on the market today that aligns with what we think makes an outstanding countertop, and selected a number of options based on everything from specs to reviews.

So, let’s get to it – here are some recommendations for the best countertop oven out there today.

Best Countertop Oven

Best All-Round Countertop Oven - Oster Toaster Oven

best countertop oven all-rounder
expand image
Credit: Oster
Brand: Oster | Power Rating: 1500 watts | Dimensions: 13 x 21.5 x 19 inches | Weight: 26 pounds

The Oster Toaster Oven looks to be a brilliant all-round choice for those wanting a countertop oven that's also rather powerful.

It can cook up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit in terms of temperature, and has enough space inside to accommodate the likes of a full size chicken or a pair of 16 inch pizzas, giving enough space to cook a family meal inside and more.

Read More: How To Clean An Oven Quickly

In addition, the Oster Toaster Oven features oodles of functions with options for baking, toasting and broiling, as well as a dedicated pizza setting and one for defrosting, too.

This is also quite an energy efficient countertop oven, with Oster saying it uses 50% less energy than a standard wall oven, for instance, and will turn off if left unattended after 90 minutes thanks to a handy timer.

Best Smart Countertop Oven - Breville Smart Oven

best countertop oven smart
expand image
Credit: Breville
Brand: Breville | Power Rating: 1800 watts | Dimensions: 19 x 13.9 x 14.1 inches | Weight: 22.5 pounds

If it's the convenience of a smart oven you're after, the Breville Smart Oven should e a brilliant option.

It's 'smart' in the sense that this candidate features Breville's clever 'Element IQ' heating system that offers more consistent power delivery, so food is cooked to practical perfection every time.

Alongside this, the Breville Smart Oven also has eight other cooking functions, including a slow cooker-style option, as well to Toast, Bagel, Bake,Roast, and Broil. There are also specific ones for pizzas, and intriguingly, cookies.

You'll also find a total of 1800W of power, making this quite a powerful option. as well as enough room inside for 6 slices of bread, a 13 inch pizza and a 6 cup muffin tray, according to Breville.

Best Rotisserie Countertop Oven - June Oven

best countertop oven rotisserie
expand image
Credit: June
Brand: June | Power Rating: 1800 watts | Dimensions: 12.75 x 19.6 x 19 inches | Weight: 39 pounds

If it's the powers of rotisserie cooking you're after, the June Oven offers that, and so much more in what is quite a premium package.

It doesn't have a traditional rotating spit inside, but mimics the effect by turning elements on and off as the chicken cooks, to offer up what should be an immensely well-rounded flavour.

Besides this, the June Oven also features oodles of other settings from air frying and toasting to acting as a pizza oven, and even proving dough, if you need to, meaning it'll be replacing nearly your entire kitchen in one appliance.

If you want to, this oven also features a compatible smartphone app that can allow you to view a feed of what's cooking inside via an internal camera.

Best Countertop Oven For Beginners - Ninja DT201

best countertop oven for beginners
expand image
Credit: Ninja
Brand: Ninja | Power Rating: 1800 watts | Dimensions: 17.09 x 20.22 x 13.34 inches | Weight: 33.6 pounds

The Ninja DT201 should be a brilliant option for a countertop oven if you're getting into them, and you want a convenient user experience.

With it, you'll be getting upwards of ten functions,. ranging from more standard choices such as toasting and baking to options for broiling, dehydrating and for bagels, too.

The Ninja DT201 also features quite a large internal capacity that Ninja says will be good to fit both a 5lb chicken and an entire tray of veg inside, or two 12 inch pizzas, if you need to, making it a good option for all-in-one cooking.

This should also be quite the efficient choice too, with quoted cooking times up to 30% less than that of a standard oven providing quick and easy cooking.

Best Budget Countertop Oven - Panasonic Toaster Oven FlashXpress

best countertop oven budget
expand image
Credit: Panasonic
Brand: Panasonic | Power Rating: 1300 watts | Dimensions: 13 x 10.25 x 12 inches | Weight: 7.5 pounds

For those on a budget, the Panasonic Toaster Oven FlashXpress looks to be a marvellous countertop oven.

With it, there's a total of six preset functions for specific types of food, including waffles and hash browns, as well as dedicated functions for reheating and defrosting, for instance, giving you plenty of control.

In addition, the Panasonic Toaster Oven FlashXpress also features extra control over the browning level of any bread you put in, providing the convenience of a standard toaster with the wider functionality of an oven.

Panasonic also says this countertop oven can cook food up to 40% quicker than more standard ovens, which means you won't be waiting around as long for your meal to be ready.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a countertop oven worth it?

If you're someone who has quite a small space and you still want the functionality of a powerful oven, then a countertop oven will definitely be worth it.

Moreover, given they feature loads of different presets, if you want an all in one solution for an appliance that'll be able to replace a toaster as well as, in some cases, a rotisserie and a slow cooker, then countertop ovens can provide all the desired functionality and more in a small package.

Can a countertop oven replace a regular oven?

This depends on the space you've got to hand, and more integrally, what you want to do with your oven. Given they go on a countertop, you won't get the additional space afforded by a regular oven, or the versatility of a double oven, either.

With that being said, if you want a convenient way of cooking food items with loads of different preset functions, then countertop ovens are the way to go, especially if you live in a more compact space and you may not have the space for a proper oven.

What's the difference between a toaster oven and a countertop oven?

In short, one is a type of oven designated by function, the other is a type of oven designated by placement. You can have a countertop oven that's also a toaster oven, for reference.

With countertop ovens, there is a difference between convection ovens and toaster ovens, for instance. The main difference with these appliances is the way in which they distribute heat.

Convection ovens, as the name suggests, feature a convection fan that evenly distributes hot air, according to the scientific principle of convection, or the act of warmer air rising and colder air falling in a cycle.

By comparison, toaster ovens radiate heat from the top and bottom walls to therefore toast an item, in a similar way to regular ovens.