11 Best Roaster Ovens of 2020

1) Nesco 4816-14 Porcelain 6 Quart Roaster Oven

Summary:

Inventing the roaster oven in 1931, Nesco has been around for a very, very long time. They continue to represent a market of people who just want a kitchen appliance to do its primary job, and do it well. In this case, that means slow roasting chickens, pork and any other melt-off-the-bone meat you can think of. 

The most common response to this model was how well it slow-cooked. It maintains its advertised temperature well and it can be stowed away very easily. There were several remarks about porcelain flavor in their meals, but I'm assuming this is due to them not following the initial burn-off process to get rid of the remaining material residue from the factory.

Concluding:

If you want a reasonably priced, smaller roaster oven that specializes in slow roasting soups, broths, and small birds, this unit may be the one for you. I encourage you to do your own research and see if this unit fits the bill. 

2) Oster 16 Quart Smoke Roaster Oven (CKSTROSMK18)

Summary:

I highly recommend reading the Amazon reviews for this smoker / roaster oven. The first three pages are people writing essays about how much they love this unit. 

The most common customer response was about the proficiency of the smoker function. Little pockets were installed in the side walls of the oven, so you can put your favorite wood chips in. The humid air soaks into the wood and drips back onto your roast. Again, I highly recommend looking at the first couple Amazon review pages. The customers will speak for the Oster Smoker Roaster Oven most accurately.

Some people were unhappy with the struggle to smoke at lower temperatures. I'm a little underwhelmed by this complaint because I'm not sure if anything smokes at 150°F. Take these complaints with a grain of salt. Do your own research and find out for yourself.  

3) Proctor Silex 32191 18 Quart Roaster Oven

Summary:

Proctor Silex continues to design budget products that meet our high standards. They ultimately make cheaper products that deliver high quality results. If you need a roaster oven for basic level cooking and want to save a couple of bucks, I highly recommend this model. 

The most common customer response was how well it cooked. If you're looking to make stews and soups in your roaster oven, I highly recommend this unit. It cooks meat thoroughly as well, but be warned, this unit will not brown the meat. Multiple customers wrote about how this unit does not get hot enough to brown meat. You can always slow roast and broil your meat in the oven afterwards. I'll leave the decision up to you. 

4) Oster Rival 18 Quart RO180
Roaster Oven

Summary:

Very similar in design to the Oster 16 Quart model above, this unit is just a great performer. With over 600 reviews, this unit has maintained a 4.5 / 5 star rating (as of 6/16/20). 

The most common positive customer responses was for the convenience of cooking at holiday parties. While our home ovens serve a great purpose, they can't always handle all of our plans. That's why it's nice to have a secondary oven. 

The most common negative responses were the short electrical cord and the ease to which this unit accidentally turns ON unnoticed. Apparently, it's very easy to turn ON and there is no indicator that notifies you. 

Just a few things to keep in mind. 

5) Nesco 18 Quart MWR18-13 
Roaster Oven

Summary:

I'm always hesitant to put any items on a list that don't have an ample review count, but there were three important variables that sold me:

1) "Hot" Indicator Light: Diminished the chance of unintentional burning.

2) Low Price: A competitively low price with high reviews.

3) UI Approved (Underwriters Laboratory Approved): Ul means this company is doing their part to ensure the unit is safe for consumer use. 

Again, this unit has not had enough time to accumulate substantial reviews to justify the quality. But so far so good; this unit is showing promising feedback. 

6) Oster 18 Quart Roaster Oven
w/ Self Basting Lid

Summary:

One of the biggest selling points for roaster ovens is their ability to keep foods moist by retaining moisture. Well, Oster took it a step further and added a self basting lid. The grooves cause the evaporated moisture to form droplets that drip right back over the dish. A simple yet ingenious design.

The most common customer response was how well the food tasted after cooking. Holiday birds came out nice and juicy for an impressive meal. There were, however, several buyers who said this unit was incapable of browning a bird. Judging by this commonality between all reviewed roaster ovens, I'm inclined to believe these ovens weren't meant to brown. You may need to finish off the bird in the oven for that crisp outer crust. 

7) Oster 18 Quart Roaster Oven
w/ Buffet Server

Summary:

Yes, you are not mistaken. There are a staggering number of Oster roaster ovens on this review (the Rival is technically an Oster). We tried to be unbiased, but doing this any other way would've been dishonest. 

Oster has demonstrated its dominancy in making high quality roaster ovens.

This unit is no exception. The baseline qualities are practically identical to the other 18 quart Oster models above. The main difference:

That awesome buffet tray.

Customers repeatedly raved about the buffet tray. A little skeptical at first (it looked a little flimsy), we dug a little deeper and found this to be unanimous. Verified buyers loved the buffet tray for holiday parties. Being able to roast your food outside your oven is great, being able to keep that food warm in the same instrument...

priceless.

8) Hamilton Beach 22 Quart Roaster Oven w/ Self Basting Lid

Summary:

If you've spent any time sifting through the first page of Amazon reviews, you know that they're usually the most critical. These reviews get their top spot from getting the most "found this helpful" clicks. When the majority of these first page reviews are high reviews, it means the product has truly had a positive affect on customers. 

And that's exactly what the Hamilton Beach 22 quart roaster oven has achieved, a very positive first page of Amazon reviews. It should also be noted that more customers said this roaster oven could genuinely brown a bird, than those who said it couldn't. 

Keep size in mind when purchasing a 22 quart roaster oven. While these things can feed a small village, they can also take up a bunch of room. Also, think about where you're going to clean it. 

9) Oster 22 Quart Roaster Oven 
w/ Self Basting Lid

Summary:

I usually try and keep customer quotes to a minimum in our Pros and Cons list, but I just couldn't help myself. The shear number of exclamation points in these reviews were unheard of. People were ecstatic with how this unit cooked their turkey. Remarks of moist, brown, delicious birds coming out of something other than an oven is pretty spectacular. 

The Oster 22 Quart roaster oven won us over because of the overwhelming consensus that this oven can definitively brown a bird. The first thing that comes to mind when we think "roast," is usually meat with a crisp, browned surface. It's a little odd that half the units we reviewed had common complaints about the ovens inability to brown their food. Thankfully, this Oster model performs and has earned the title "roaster oven."

There was one customer who wrote an extensive review of their experience with this model. While he said it cooked extremely well, the item seemed to be made of cheap material. This isn't surprising if you look at the price tag. Just know this unit has a 1 year warranty and may not last as long as you'd like. Keep in mind that the price tag is so low, replacing it every so often isn't the worst option. I'll let you decide. 

10) EaZy BrandZ EZO-3016B
Oberdome Roaster Oven

Summary:

For all of those who desire a little more versatility with their roaster oven, the EaZy BrandZ Oberdome may be the unit for you. With its flat-plate bottom and heated dome, you can easily bake bread, pizza and cakes on top of your typical birds. Its simple design also allows it to be cleaned, stored and transported easily.

The most common positive remarks were with how fast this oven cooks compared to the traditional house oven. With less space to heat up, cook times can easily be cut in half. 

While it does bake, keep in mind that the heating element is in the lid. Since the heating only comes from the top, this can keep items like pizzas from crisping on the bottom. People also said it took up a lot of space on the counter. Just a few things to keep in mind.

11) Viking 3-Ply Stainless Steel Roaster Oven (no heating element)

Summary:

Yes, a slight deviation from the list, but this no-heat-element roaster oven is a sturdy, versatile, high quality piece of machinery. While many assume this unit to be strictly devoted to the oven, countless reviewers talked about its proficiency with induction and the stove top. So, the question becomes:

Why would I buy this over an electric roaster oven?

1) You need the counter space and an electric roaster oven would take up too much room. 

2) You want something that will last a long time (and include a lifetime warranty).

Electric roaster ovens are fantastic pieces of equipment. Unfortunately, manufacturers began using cheaper materials to save people more money. This came at the expense of the longevity of some of these units. So, if you want to diminish the chance of having to replace your roaster oven in the next few years, I highly recommend the Viking 3-Ply Roaster Oven.

Keep in mind, some people thought this roaster oven was too small for their needs. To give you an idea, people said a 14 Pound bird was about as big as it can hold.