Choosing the Best Toaster or Toaster Oven
For many homes, a toaster is an essential kitchen appliance. Whether you’re looking for a traditional, no-frills two-slot toaster or a spacious six-slot convection toaster oven with rotisserie, we’ll help you find the toaster or toaster oven that’s right for your kitchen.
Should You Buy a Toaster or Toaster Oven?
Choosing between a toaster and a toaster oven all boils down to how you plan to use each appliance. A toaster is a quick way to evenly brown different types of bread, while a versatile toaster oven toasts and cooks even more food. For those on a budget, a toaster is an affordable appliance and its more compact than a toaster oven. While a toaster oven is larger than a toaster, it also offers more flexibility and variety in toasting and cooking.
Which to choose? Read on for information on each appliance, then make your decision.
Things to Consider When Buying a Toaster or Toaster Oven
Since a toaster will likely have a place of prominence on your countertop, you’ll want one that complements your kitchen décor — whether it’s classic, contemporary or retro. While the standard control type is manual, some toasters and toaster ovens are equipped with digital controls for ease of use.
Types of Toasters
Toasters are available in four major styles: pop-up toasters, toaster ovens, convection toaster ovens and air fryer toaster ovens. From ease of use to a wide array of cooking options, each one has its benefits.
- Pop-up toasters are a staple appliance in many kitchens. They’re designed to toast bread quickly by using heating elements. You drop your bread of choice into the slot, push down on the lever and when the toast is done, it pops up.
- Toaster ovens are lightweight countertop appliances that function like a toaster and an oven, although they’re much smaller than a conventional oven. They feature heat elements located above and below the cooking surface. Toaster ovens have such features as temperature controls and timers.
- Convection toaster ovens work much like regular toaster ovens except they contain a fan that circulates hot air around the inside of the toaster oven. Many convection toaster ovens come with preset cooking functions, and they’re often better for full-scale cooking, such as preparing pizza or roasts and even slow-cooking. They cook food faster and more evenly than toaster ovens.
- Air fryer toaster ovens, much like convection ovens, use a fan to push hot air through the oven. But air fryers typically have a stronger heating element that's able to simulate a deep-fry effect with less oil. Air fryers generally cook more quickly than convection ovens, creating a crispier texture and offering greater versatility for the home cook.
What Can You Make with a Toaster?
Because of its size and configuration, you’re limited to what you can cook in a toaster. Toasting bread is the most common way to use a toaster. Bagels, frozen waffles, English muffins and some pastries are also perfect for a toaster. Fatty food, food that contains oil or grease and cheese are foods that you shouldn’t put in a toaster as they can damage the heating elements.
What Can You Make with a Toaster Oven?
Think of a toaster oven like a small oven. Its versatility means it can do more than a toaster. Not only can you toast food in a toaster oven, you can also broil, bake and defrost. Toaster ovens are ideal for cooking small amounts of food, reheating and browning. Fatty or greasy foods shouldn’t be used in a toaster oven as they can splatter and get on the heating coils and potentially cause a fire. Also, don’t use a toaster oven to boil liquids.
Before putting any glass baking dishes in a toaster oven, check with the manufacturer’s instruction manual on its use in your toaster oven model as glass can shatter.
Toaster and Toaster Oven Features
The first things you might think about before purchasing a toaster or toaster oven are the toaster design and size, and your budget. Other things to take into consideration when searching for a toaster or toaster oven are counter space, which appliance best suits your needs and the quality of the appliance. Toasters come in a variety of colors, which is especially helpful when you’re looking to coordinate with other items in your kitchen.
Below are more toaster features and considerations.
- Size: When it comes to toasters and toaster ovens, dimensions are important. A wide toaster oven in a kitchen with limited counterspace makes the area feel crowded. Some toasters can take up more than one square foot of counterspace, and toaster ovens are even larger. Be sure your toaster appliance is in proportion with the rest of your counters and kitchen.
- Adjustable Browning Control: Whether you prefer your bread lightly toasted or dark, an adjustable browning function helps you achieve the perfect toast color. Some toasters have up to nine browning-option settings.
- Automatic Shut-Off: This feature automatically turns off a toaster once the toast pops up or when the timer beeps on a toaster oven.
- Cool-Touch Housing: To avoid burns on arms, wrists and hands, look for toasters and toaster ovens with cool-touch housing.
- Countdown Timer: When you want to know how much toasting time is left, this is your go-to feature.
- Defrost: If you’re short on time and want to toast bread straight from the freezer, look for a toaster with a defrost feature.
- Dual Controls: Some four-slice toasters have dual controls that allow you to toast in slots independently from the others.
- Number of Slots: Traditional toasters have two slots that are perfect for single people or a couple. Four-slot and six-slot toasters are a good choice for large families.
- One-Sided Toasting: If you’re a bagel lover, some toasters have a one-sided toasting setting that only toasts on the cut side of the bagel or English muffin, etc., leaving the other side soft.
- Slide-Out Crumb Tray: Toast and crumbs go hand in hand. The more you make toast, the more crumbs there will be. A crumb tray is a convenient accessory, making cleanup as easy as sliding out the tray and emptying it.
- Slot Size: Toasters are available in a range of slot sizes. Some slots are thin, and they work well for standard slices of bread. Bagels, Texas toast and other wider pieces of bread benefit from extra-wide slots. Other toasters have long, deep slots to accommodate taller homemade bread or artisan bread.
- Timer: A timer allows you to control how long, in minutes, the toast stays in the slot before popping up. Some models have a digital display timer, making it easy to keep track of your toast’s progress.
Toaster Housing Materials
Toasters and toaster ovens are available in a variety of housing materials, including stainless steel, metal and aluminum. Some toasters and toaster ovens also have plastic housing. A sturdy and durable exterior housing, like stainless steel, will help extend the life of the toaster.
Some toaster exteriors get hot after a single toasting cycle. Use care to avoid burns.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some frequently asked questions customers have about toasters and toaster ovens.
Is a Toaster Better Than a Toaster Oven?
The better product depends on your needs. A toaster toasts bread and toaster pastries faster than a toaster oven can. It also toasts more evenly and has the option to toast on one or both sides of the bread. A toaster oven can do more than just toast. It also roasts chicken, melts cheese on sandwiches, cooks pizza, bakes quick bread and more. For speed, a toaster is better. For a larger variety of foods you can cook, a toaster oven wins.
How Much Does a Toaster Cost?
You'll find toasters to suit any budget, with basic kitchen counter toasters available under $20. Even elaborate models with more features and controls often cost less than you might expect, considering their versatility.
How Big Is a Toaster?
Toasters can come in a range of sizes, though most will fit on your kitchen countertop. Basic toasters aren't much bigger than the two slices of toast they're designed to cook, while advanced models may be available in larger sizes to accommodate cooking heartier meals.
What Is the Best Material for a Toaster?
Stainless steel is the preferred material for toasters, as it offers long-lasting performance and toughness. You can find toasters in stainless steel that's been encased in chrome or plastic for aesthetic appeal.
What Is a Bagel Setting on a Toaster?
Because bagels are thicker and denser than toast, they'll take longer to cook, so a separate setting allows you to set your toaster to brown your bagel properly.
Can a Toaster Oven Work as a Toaster?
A toaster oven is capable of working like a toaster, however, it will toast food much slower than a toaster. If efficiency is what you want, get a toaster. If you want to do more than simply toast bread on both sides, choose a toaster oven.