12 Best Countertop Convection Ovens of 2021 (Updated)

1) NinjaFoodi Convection Oven w/ Air Fry

This is the most recent addition to our favorite countertop convection ovens. It gained quite a high rating and review count in a matter of a year, so it deserves our attention. 

Here are some important qualities that will help decide if this model is for you:

1) While the internal height is pretty small, the depth of this toaster oven is pretty remarkable. So, if you plan on cooking flatter items like fries, cookies, pizzas and frozen foods, I can't recommend this ninja model enough. 

2) This unit has the ability to be stored vertically so it doesn't take up too much space in the kitchen. Keep in mind, even vertically this oven still takes up a fair amount of space. It's just nice to have the option.

3) There were countless reviews on the proficiency of the air fry setting. Air friers are notoriously small and can be limiting with bigger families. The ninja has a huge space to spread all your favorite air fried foods without overly stacking.

Shark Ninja also confirmed in the Amazon comments that you can use a pizza stone up to 13", even though it's probably unnecessary. 

Some precautions:

Again, the height is pretty small. If you plan on baking birds, casseroles, etc, think about going with a taller model.

5 / 5 Stars

2) Cuisinart XL French Door Countertop Convection Oven

Looking for a secondary oven?

A lot of people buy countertop ovens for the purpose of toasting and reheating. If this is all you plan to do, I recommend looking for a more simple, cheaper toaster oven. 

However...

If you're looking for something that can handle some of your medium sized baking tasks, I highly recommend the Oster XL countertop convection oven.

It's large internal dimensions, turbo convection setting, and unique french doors make it truly one of a kind. It also uses a fraction of the electricity of a primary wall oven, while lessening the heat in the kitchen on those hot summer days. 

The most common negative response to this unit was the spring loaded french doors. While the french doors offer a sleek look, the spring will force the doors shut if not open all the way. 

So if you're trying to take something out and you accidentally halfway open the doors, the doors will slam. This can increase the chance of burning yourself if the doors shut on your hand. 

All in all, a spectacular XL convection oven.

5 / 5 Stars

3) Breville BOV450XL Mini Smart Oven

Yes I know, NOT a convection oven which is a little misleading because the title of this article is "the Best Countertop Convection ovens," but hear me out.

To date, I haven't discovered a truly mini countertop convection oven. There are only mini toaster ovens.

To my knowledge, there can only be two reasons for this:

1) When the oven is small enough, the fan becomes unnecessary because the inside area of the oven is so small, recirculating hot air has less of an impact

or

2) Companies haven't found a logical market for them. 

Based off the incredible quantity and quality of its reviews, the lack of a convection setting has not effected its ability to cook food to the desired taste. So, I am assuming the first reason has more of a bearing on the circumstances. 

The most common positive responses are how little space it takes up, and yet how much power it still maintains.

As you can see, even though the Breville mini is far smaller than its XL Breville 800 series counterpart, it still maintains an 1800 watt rating. The speed at which this mini toaster oven heats up is nothing short of remarkable.

This also means that the top and bottom of the toaster oven can get extremely hot.

Make sure not to place anything above or below the toaster oven that will burn. Breville explicitly tells buyers NOT to put this oven under anything (including cabinets), so make sure you have the right space for the appliance if this is the route you're taking. 

The machine tends to give out around the 2-year mark by thermostat fuse malfunction. Again, invest in the extended warranty if this is the direction you are heading.

5 / 5 Stars

4) Hamilton Beach Countertop Toaster Oven (31123D)

Not everyone is in a position to spend a fortune on a convection oven. The vast majority of the equipment we own is cheap yet versatile, and for most of our things, that's exactly how we like it. 

It takes a healthy amount of research, but eventually you will find that the lower priced model gets the job done just fine.

Whatever the reason, quality still exists in cheaper forms.

The trick is finding something that is simple, gets the job done, and has had ample time on the market to accumulate reliable reviews. The Hamilton Beach Countertop Convection Oven has done just that.   

The first, and by far the most common response people have is the awesome roll up door. The roll up door opens like your typical outdoor gas grill.

Although it takes up more vertical space, the internal space it creates when opened is unparalleled in the industry. It's ridiculous how many positive reviews were posted about this door. 

Hats off to the engineers. I have no idea why this hasn't become the universal door for all countertop ovens. 

Just like every convection oven we've reviewed, there are always a handful of customers unhappy with how hot the machine gets.

Although we put it on the cons list to reflect how customers feel, the complaint is usually an unreasonable one. To assume that something reaching up to 500°F isn't going to expel a significant amount of heat is ridiculous. Insulation helps but it can only do so much while still trying to conserve space. That doesn't mean it shouldn't be a variable to consider, just take those comments with a grain of salt.    

There is one more very infrequent complaint we must relay to you.

 There are roughly 4 separate reviews of the glass shattering at some point during or after cooking. This is highly unlikely but something I feel you should know. The 4 out of 400 reviews means 1% of the people who bought this product AND chose to post a review it, experienced glass breaking. 

Power to the bargain shoppers 🙂

4 / 5 Stars

5) Calphalon Quartz Heat Countertop Convection Oven

Yes, at some point in our lives consolidation becomes a MUST in the kitchen. Dehydrators tend to find themselves shoved in the back of the cupboard with the old vacuum sealer and crockpot, and we end up clawing through our kitchen skeletons to grab it when we finally need it.

Whether dehydrating food is a weekly, monthly or yearly occasion, having the option is a game changer. Dehydrating meats, veggies and fruits not only significantly extends their shelf life but also creates a delicious, sweet snack.

If you're in the market for a countertop oven and dehydrating foods is something you're interested in, I would highly recommend the Calphalon Quartz heating countertop oven. 

The most frequent positive customer remarks involve how quickly this oven preheats. Quartz heating elements are a very effective way of transferring heat. To learn more about quartz heating elements and how they work, you can check out Tansun's awesome article Quartz Heating - How it works.

People also frequently commented on how much they liked the internal light and how well it illuminates foods to evaluate doneness. 

There were some heavy complaints on one aspect of this convection oven that are pretty understandable.

In order to effectively start the cook, you have to preheat the convection oven (usually 5-10 minutes) and then input the time to cook afterwards or the oven will eventually shut off. In other words, you have to set your temperature or cook type, wait until it preheats, and then input the cook time or else the oven will turn off. 

This is especially annoying for people who tend to get sidetracked while they're cooking. But if you are a person who is heavily involved in their cooking, waiting for the oven to preheat before timing offers more of a controlled cook.

4,5 / 5 Stars

6) Breville BOV900BSS Convection and Air Fry Smart Oven Air

Air fryers are no doubt the kitchen appliance of the decade (right up there with the Sous Vide), and for good reason. Air friers create fried food without the unhealthy consequences of an oil frier. They also entail very little cleanup, whereas oil friers are a hot, sticky mess.

Although air friers will never be able to replace the awesome taste of oil fried foods, they make for a healthier way to crisp up meals and make texture and flavor more appealing. 

Unfortunately, air friers are usually sold as these giant space pod looking machines that take up a ridiculous amount of kitchen space. Thankfully, Breville has implemented an air frier into their countertop convection oven series that not only outperforms all the competition, but includes some upgrades to make up for some complaints of prior models.  

Before I go on, if you are a dedicated "air frier" and plan on air frying food everyday, it might be worth your time to invest in one of the huge space pod air fryers. But if your wish is to simply add the option of an air frier to your already existing cooking methods, the Breville Air Fry Countertop convection oven has thoroughly proven itself to be a true kitchen workhorse.  

To make up for some common issues in prior oven models, Breville has made some upgrades worth mentioning. The thermostat fuse and convection fan were notorious for malfunctioning (likely due to heat damage). 

To fix this problem, Breville placed an internal electronics fan inside the oven to help keep the control unit cool and functional. They also bumped up their previous warranty period from 1 year to 2 years which should make you feel more comfortable about the price of the oven (I would still buy the extended warranty just to play it safe).

This oven also comes with new dehydrator and proofing settings to further consolidate your kitchen gadgets. The really surprising aspect of this model is how many features it has, and yet how well they all perform. As we all know, the tendency for companies to keep adding new upgrades to their current models usually results in worse and worse quality equipment.

Why?

Because as more tech is added, more opportunities for failures arise. Breville has somehow managed to add more presets to their countertop ovens without sacrificing quality; a truly commendable feat. 

As much as I admire this model, there are some setbacks to be aware of.

Again, a very few amount of customers complained of shattered glass. Either the competition is buying Brevilles ovens, smashing the glass door, and posting pictures on Amazon complaining of shattered glass

OR...

this is a true problem with a random selection of countertop convection ovens and something you should be cautious of. Also, another common complaint was the fan loudness when on the super convection setting. Usually not a deal breaker for most, but if you like a quiet kitchen, this might pose a problem. 

If you want your convection oven to have as many options as possible without sacrificing quality, the Breville convection and smart fry oven should be your first point of interest.    

4.5 / 5 Stars

7) Nostalgia Retro Style Countertop Convection Oven

Having the new, futuristic stainless steel models isn't for everyone. If you're someone who fancies the old classic 30's and 40's style refrigerators, you'll love this countertop oven.

The most common positive responses to the Nostalgia convection were its sleek, classy look and its quick heating convection function. 

But like any educated buy, it's still a roll of the dice. Some people were really upset about their units coming in defective. Dents, missing feet, labels placed upside down were just a few of the unhappy customer remarks. 

Our advice...

If you love the classic look and will be using this oven strictly for baking, a lot of customers were really happy with this convection oven. To be safe, I recommend getting the extended warranty. This will ensure you're taken care of in the rare case of a defective unit.   

4 / 5 Stars

8) Wolf Gourmet WGCO100S Countertop Convection Oven

Lets be clear, if you are in the market for a simple toaster oven that can take on the arduous task of toasting your morning bagel, this is not the oven for you. 

This is a legitimate substitute for your convection wall oven and should be treated as so. Provided with the backbone settings of a traditional oven, this Wolf model bakes, broils, roasts, warms, and toasts. No air fry, no dehydrate, no steam settings. This countertop convection oven was designed to fulfill one primary purpose; cook as quickly, thoroughly, and evenly as possible. 

We loved it so much, we created a review dedicated to the Wolf Gourmet Countertop Oven. 

There are really 2 questions you have to ask yourself in order to determine whether this model is for you: 

1) Can you manage the price?

2) Will you make good use of it?

The $700 price tag is no doubt a steep investment. It honestly doubles the price of the more expensive countertop ovens on the market. But if you are an avid home-cooker or simply want the most superior meat broiling, baking, and warming, this is undoubtedly the best option on the market. Here's what you get with the Wolf countertop oven.

Supplied with 1800 watts of energy directed to 5 separate heating elements, this countertop oven can transfer massive amounts of heat. One of the most common customer responses is how well this oven does its primary job...cooking.

It's also equipped with an integrated temperature probe to indicate when your dish has hit its internal temp. Set your desired internal temp, place the probe in the food, and wait for the beep. A simple to use powerhouse of an oven that does much of the work for you. 

It brings me great joy to finally find a company that has unanimously positive reviews with their customer service. I think this is literally the only countertop oven company that has only received positive remarks about their customer service.

Wolf is a very dedicated company, and one of the things you are paying for with the lofty price is the awesome service they provide. A 5-year limited warranty and the comfort of knowing you'll be taken care of, just might be enough to justify the price. You be the judge.     

5 / 5 Stars

9) Cosori 12-in-1 Air Fryer Convection Oven

Rotisseries Chickens are one of the most convenient take-home meals to buy from the grocery store. Unfortunately, the grocery store is limited on their seasoning options (usually BBQ or garlic). 

The cool thing about cooking rotisserie chickens at home is the customization factor. Seasoning and cooking rotisserie chickens to taste is one of the easiest ways to make a cheap, simple, home-cooked meal that will blow your mind.

As an avid home cook, my favorite meals are ones that are simple and yet surprisingly delicious. Home-made rotisserie chickens are just that. 

If rotisserie is a main function you're interested in, we've created a review completely devoted to rotisserie toaster ovens. 

Rest assured, rotisserie isn't the only thing this oven is applauded for. There have been numerous customer responses talking about the proficiency of the air fry and dehydrator settings.

It's almost commonplace for quality to go down the tube when equipment takes on too many settings. Cosori is the exception to this rule. Definitely check out the reviews for yourself, but this model is our #1 pick for many reasons. 

There didn't seem to be any common complaints. Some customers expectations weren't reached and very rarely, a defective unit was delivered. The customer service always seemed to take care of the issue. Since the unit only has a 1 year warranty, I suggest going with the warranty extension plan.     

5 / 5 Stars

10) BLACK+DECKER TO3240XSBD 8-Slice Extra Wide Convection Countertop Toaster Oven

We found that this Black & Decker convection countertop toaster & oven is a master in versatility. It can bake like a conventional oven, yet is wide enough to take most full-size pans. 

With a fan for circulating the air, dishes will come out evenly browned. The top element takes care of toasting and broiling, with a separate control to adjust browning. We love that it will evenly toast eight slices of bread in just a few minutes.

A removable crumb tray in the base of the oven makes for easy cleaning, and the two shelves also slide out to accommodate larger dishes and make cleaning easier.

The smaller size of the oven means it gets up to operating temperature quicker than a conventional oven, and goes right up to 450°F. However, it’s worth mentioning that a few reviews say the oven can struggle to maintain these higher temperatures. It’s best to keep an eye on the oven during the early days until you get used to it.

Overall, we picked up just how good this Black & Decker oven is at maintaining enough food for growing families. It’s adaptable enough to quickly cook a snack or reheat something, or take on the task of cooking a full-size family meal.

4.5 / 5 Stars