Home & Kitchen
The Best Toaster Ovens (and Air-Fryer Hybrids) We'd Actually Buy
A modern toaster oven is really two appliances in one - a toaster and a small convection (often air-fry) oven - so the ones worth buying have to nail both. We leaned on independent testing that ran hundreds of pieces of toast, pounds of fries and whole chickens, then cut the field to four. Three earn a spot on the counter; one is a genuine dis-buy we'd only recommend if price is the only thing that matters.
Our verdict
Best overall: the Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro (BOV900BSS)
The Breville wins on pure performance - the most even toast, the best air fry and roast results, and enough functions to clear other gadgets off the counter - so if you cook often and have the space, it's worth the splurge. Want most of that capability for far less? The Ninja DT201 is the smart-value runner-up, with big capacity and even toasting; just don't buy it for frozen fries. The Cuisinart TOA-70 is a fine mid-price pick if the grill plate and three-year warranty appeal. Skip the Hamilton Beach Easy Reach unless budget trumps everything - its hot spots mean you'll be babysitting and rotating food to get an even result.
The do-everything flagship that genuinely replaces several gadgets - if you can stomach the price.
- Top-tier, even toast plus excellent roasting and air-fry results in independent testing
- 13 functions (proof, dehydrate, slow cook, air fry) that really can retire other appliances
- Premium price and a large counter footprint
- Only a one-year warranty, which is short for the money
Best for: Cooks who want one machine to replace the oven, air fryer and dehydrator - and will use it daily.
Huge capacity and powerful convection for a lot less than the Breville.
- Evenly toasts up to nine slices; strong two-level convection needs no tray rotating
- Extra-large interior fits a whole chicken, two 12-inch pizzas or a big roast
- Reviewers found it underwhelming specifically with frozen fries
- Bulky and tall; digital-only controls with a slight learning curve
Best for: Families who batch-cook and want big capacity without paying flagship money.
A capable mid-price hybrid with a bonus grill plate - and a couple of trade-offs.
- Powerful 1800W with a genuinely useful reversible grill/griddle plate
- Three-year warranty and a quieter fan than the older TOA-60
- Quartz elements toast a touch less evenly than the outgoing TOA-60
- Analog dials limit precise temperature and time control
Best for: Solo cooks and couples who want air fry plus a grill in one compact, reasonably priced unit.
Cheap and roomy, but the uneven cooking makes it hard to recommend.
- Inexpensive, with a surprisingly accurate thermostat for the price
- Roll-top door and space for a 12-inch pizza or six slices of toast
- Uneven browning with distinct front-to-back hot spots across every test
- No air-fry function; you'll have to rotate food to cook it evenly
Best for: Bare-bones reheating on a tight budget where even toast isn't a priority.
| Criteria | the Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro (BOV900BSS) | Foodi 10-in-1 XL Pro Air Fry Oven (DT201) | Air Fryer Toaster Oven with Grill (TOA-70) | Easy Reach Toaster Oven with Roll-Top Door (31123) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toast evenness | Excellent | Very good (9 slices) | Good | Uneven, hot spots |
| Air fry | Excellent | Good (weak on frozen fries) | Very good | None |
| Capacity | Large (14-lb turkey) | Extra-large, 2 levels | Medium (3-4 people) | Medium (6 slices) |
| Controls | Digital, 13 presets | Digital, 10 functions | Analog dials | Analog dials |
| Build & warranty | Premium, 1-yr | Solid, 1-yr | Good, 3-yr | Basic, 1-yr |
| Price tier | $$$$ · ~$400 | $$ · ~$280 | $$ · ~$180 | $ · ~$60 |
How we picked
We judged these on even cooking across the rack, air-fry crisping, capacity for real meals, control precision, and how well each replaces tasks you’d otherwise heat the big oven for. Function counts, 10-in-1, 13 functions, are the loudest marketing and the least meaningful; a preset is only useful if the underlying element layout and convection deliver even results. We synthesize independent testing and owner reports rather than running our own lab, and we weigh consistency and durability alongside headline features. Footprint and controls mattered too, since a powerful oven you resent on the counter goes unused. Our pick is the Breville the Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro (BOV900BSS); the Ninja Foodi 10-in-1 XL Pro (DT201) is the runner-up.
Breville the Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro (BOV900BSS) — Buy
What it is: a large, feature-dense countertop convection oven meant to stand in for a full-size oven across baking, roasting, and air frying. Named features: the Element iQ system, which drives five independent quartz elements and PID temperature control to move heat where it’s needed and reduce cold spots; dual-fan super convection that the maker says cuts cooking time by up to 30 percent; and 13 functions including air fry and dehydrate. It fits nine slices of toast or a small turkey. Liked more: reviewers consistently praise even browning across the tray, so batches of vegetables or baked goods finish uniformly without rotating. Liked less: it is bulky, claims significant counter space, and its depth of settings takes time to learn. Right buyer: serious home cooks who want one oven to handle most cooking and have the counter room. Wrong buyer: small kitchens or anyone wanting quick, simple operation.
Ninja Foodi 10-in-1 XL Pro Air Fry Oven (DT201) — Buy
What it is: an extra-large countertop oven built around batch cooking, with a digital control panel integrated into the door handle. Named features: True Surround Convection that the maker says cooks on two racks at once without rotating, 10 functions spanning air fry, roast, bake, broil, toast, and dehydrate, and an 1800-watt element set that fits a 5-pound chicken and a sheet pan of vegetables. Liked more: the two-level capacity is genuinely useful for families, and testers found it air-fried fresh foods like wings, Brussels sprouts, and homemade fries well. Liked less: independent testing found it weak with frozen fries, and its toasting is less refined than dedicated toasters; the wide body eats counter space. Right buyer: households that batch-cook and want capacity plus air frying at a friendlier outlay than premium ovens. Wrong buyer: anyone tight on counter space or fixated on perfect toast.
Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven with Grill (TOA-70) — It depends
What it is: an 8-in-1 air-fryer toaster oven that adds a genuine grilling function, sized for smaller households. Named features: six quartz heating elements with a top-mounted convection fan on an 1800-watt system, a two-sided grill plate with a flat griddle on one face and raised grill lines on the other, and a four-dial mechanical control layout. Liked more: owners praise crisp, even air-frying and the added versatility of grilling and griddling, and the physical dials sidestep the touch panels and screens that can fail over time. Liked less: capacity suits three to four servings rather than big batches, and mechanical dials trade some temperature precision for durability. Right buyer: smaller households wanting air frying plus grill and griddle options with simple, rugged controls. Wrong buyer: larger families needing two-rack capacity or cooks who prefer precise digital settings.
Hamilton Beach Easy Reach Toaster Oven with Roll-Top Door (31123) — Skip
What it is: a basic countertop toaster oven whose signature is a door that rolls up and out of the way instead of dropping down. Named features: the roll-top door that clears the counter and stays cleaner than a flip-down door, an interior that fits a 5-pound chicken or 12-inch pizza, and four functions, convection, bake, broil, and toast, across two rack positions with a 150-to-450°F range. Liked more: the roll-up door is a practical touch in tight kitchens, and owners find it easy to load and simple to operate for toast and reheating. Liked less: it lacks air frying, tops out at 450°F with only a 30-minute timer, and there are owner reports of the glass door shattering during normal use, a real durability concern. Right buyer: budget shoppers who only need toasting, reheating, and light baking in a small space. Wrong buyer: anyone who wants air frying, precise controls, or long-run durability confidence.
Breville BOV900BSS vs Ninja DT201: which should you buy?
Both are large, capable ovens, but they optimize for different things. The Breville prioritizes cooking precision: its Element iQ system and dual-fan convection produce the more even, uniform results, which matters for baking and roasting where hot spots ruin a batch. The Ninja prioritizes capacity and value, with true two-rack cooking that suits feeding a family and a lower typical outlay. If you bake and roast often and want the most consistent browning, the Breville justifies its footprint. If you mostly air-fry and batch-cook for a household and want more food per cycle for less, the Ninja is the pragmatic choice. Counter space is similar for both, so decide on precision versus capacity, and on whether even baking or sheer volume rules your kitchen.
How to choose
Ignore the function count and look at the heating design. Even cooking comes from element placement and convection, not from how many presets appear on the dial, so favor ovens known for uniform browning across the tray over ones boasting the longest feature list. Match capacity to your household: a two-rack oven earns its counter space if you batch-cook, but wastes it if you mostly reheat for one or two. Decide whether you truly need air frying; most modern ovens include it, but crisping quality varies, and frozen foods expose weaker units. Weigh controls honestly: digital panels offer precision and presets, while mechanical dials are simpler and tend to outlast touch sensors. Measure your counter and check the height under cabinets, since these ovens are deep and tall. Finally, read durability signals in owner reports; heating elements, door glass, and control panels are common failure points, and treat a rock-bottom cost against a thin feature set as a hint about longevity.
The bottom line
The Breville the Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro (BOV900BSS) is the one to buy if you want a countertop oven that genuinely replaces your full-size one: even cooking from its Element iQ elements and fast, crisp results from super convection. The Ninja Foodi 10-in-1 XL Pro (DT201) is the better value for batch cooking, with real two-rack capacity. The Cuisinart TOA-70 suits smaller households that want grilling and simple dials. Skip the Hamilton Beach Easy Reach (31123) unless you need only basic toasting and reheating and its durability reports don’t deter you.
Frequently asked questions
Do more cooking functions mean a better toaster oven?
No. Function counts like 10-in-1 or 13 functions are marketing; even results depend on element layout and convection, not preset quantity. The Breville BOV900BSS cooks evenly because of its five-element Element iQ system, not because of its function list.
Which is better for a family, the Breville or the Ninja?
For sheer capacity, the Ninja DT201; its true surround convection cooks two full racks at once and fits a sheet pan. The Breville BOV900BSS holds plenty too but wins on even browning. Choose Ninja for volume and value, Breville for baking precision.
Do I really need air frying in a toaster oven?
Only if you'll use it. Most modern ovens include it, but crisping quality varies; the Ninja and Cuisinart handle fresh foods well, while frozen items expose weaker units. The basic Hamilton Beach 31123 skips air frying entirely, limiting it to toasting and light baking.
Are mechanical dials or digital controls better?
It depends on priorities. Digital panels, like the Breville's and Ninja's, offer precise temperatures and presets. Mechanical dials, like the Cuisinart TOA-70's, are simpler and tend to outlast touch sensors that can fail over years. For precision baking, choose digital; for durability, dials.
