Toaster oven is an umbrella term used to describe not just low level toasting devices but also literally multi function cooking ovens that only a hardcore chef would find necessary.
Therefore, what if, among all the choices out there, you just need a simple appliance for basic tasks like toasting or reheating? Fortunately, there is good selection of those as well.
In this article, we will review some of the best basic toaster ovens out there that are sufficient for most basic culinary needs. The good news is that you don’t need to spend a pretty penny to acquire one of them.
Also Read: Best Small Convection Toaster Ovens
Top 3 Basic Toaster Ovens
4.9/5
[Best Overall]
This toaster oven offers the standard temperature control of 150 t0 450 degrees Fahrenheit and a 30 minute timer.
It is interesting to note that next to the timer, it also has STAY ON feature which you can basically use to keep the freshly cooked food inside warm for a while.
4.8/5
[Best for the Money]
The oven includes preset buttons for defrosting as well as for preparing pizza. It also has controls for toast, bake, broil and reheating functions.
Another important feature you will notice in this is that this is a convection oven.
4.7/5
[Best Wide Body]
This is a fairly standard manual control oven with convection feature, a 60 mins timer and common operating modes including toast, broil and bake.
While still compact in terms of height and depth, it has enough room inside to fit 8 slices of bread, or a 9×13 inch pan.
List of Best Basic Toaster Ovens in 2023
The following are some of the most simple toaster ovens that you from quality and established brand.
- Mueller Toaster Oven – Recommend Basic Option
- Oster TSSTTVMNDG – Basic Digital Oven
- BLACK+DECKER TO3240XSBD – Wide Body
- Cuisinart TOB-60N1 – Hot Broiler Oven
- Hamilton Beach 31107D – Large Capacity Double Rack
1. Mueller Toaster Oven – Recommend Basic Option
If you are looking for an option that is as basic as it can get, then this compact and an affordable oven may appeal to you.
First up we have a toaster oven that is as basics as it gets. It is a highly compact toaster oven that is large enough to fit only 4 slices of bread or a single 9 inch pizza.
Since it so compact, it is excellent for those who have a very limited counterspace in their kitchen.
Therefore, for your daily toasting tasks in the morning or reheating job for dinner and snacks. this is an excellent minimal oven.
It should be noted that this oven has one of the lowest power rating of 1100 Watts. While this WILL save you up on energy bills, it is not necessarily a QUICK OVEN that can heat up in a moment.
Regardless of that, it offers the standard temperature control of 150 t0 450 degrees Fahrenheit and a 30 minute timer.
It is interesting to note that next to the timer, it also has STAY ON feature which you can basically use to keep the freshly cooked food inside warm for a while. Albeit care must be taken when using this feature.
In short, for simple needs at a budget, this is one of the best basic toaster ovens in our opinion.
2. Oster TSSTTVMNDG – Basic Digital Oven
This is a basic toaster oven for those looking for digital controls.
Next up we have our personal favorite. This costs slightly more than the Mueller Toaster Oven above, however, it simply adds so much more to its functionality.
For starters, this is larger in comparison. It can hold 6 slices of bread or a single 12 inch pizza. Since it is wider, it can hold most standard pan sizes.
However, the size is not the most attractive feature here. The most attractive feature here is that it offers DIGITAL CONTROLs at a very affordable price tag.
Digital controls on any toaster oven make it very intuitive to use. If you are comfortable with using a microwave oven with their digital controls, you will appreciate the same on a toaster oven.
The oven includes preset buttons for defrosting as well as for preparing pizza. It also has controls for toast, bake, broil and reheating functions.
Another important feature you will notice in this is that this is a convection oven. Meaning it has a convection fan that blows hot air inside the oven cavity. This not only reduces the reheating or cooking time but also conserves energy.
It has a higher power rating than the previous oven with 1300 Watts. The higher the power rating, the quicker the heating elements turn hot. This in turn means quicker preparation of meals..
All in all, if you came here looking for a digital option, then this is the best basic toaster oven in your opinion.
3. BLACK+DECKER TO3240XSBD – Wide Body
The wide body on this can accommodate 8 slices of bread and most standard pans. While still basic, this can help you with large portions.
Next up we have another manual control model. However, what separates this from the two above is its extra wide body.
The toaster oven, while still compact in terms of height and depth, has enough room inside to fit 8 slices of bread, or a 9×13 inch pan.
This is fairly spacious for those who need a simple option that can fit a decent amount of food but still costs less.
Other than that, this is a fairly standard manual control oven with convection feature, a 60 mins timer and common operating modes including toast, broil and bake.
Furthermore, as far as the wattage rating goes, it follows the most standard range of 1500 watts for an oven of this size. 1500 watts is a good compromise between quick heating and energy efficiency.
In short, if you need a roomier model that can fit large pans or a large number of toasts at a time, then this is the best basic toaster oven in our opinion.
4. Cuisinart TOB-60N1 – Hot Broiler Oven
A simple looking elegant toaster oven that can reach temperatures of 500 degrees Fahrenheit. This is a broiler toaster oven.
This is unlike any other oven listed here. First of all, this is an option from a brand that does not compromise on their durability, quality and looks.
Cuisinart is known to make some of the most high end toaster ovens out there.
With that said, this is a BROILER toaster oven. What does that mean? While all toaster ovens do have the broiling function, not all can reach very high temperatures.
Therefore, unlike the rest of the models here that have a maximum temperature of 450 degree Fahrenheit, this can reach 500 degree Fahrenheit thanks to its very high 1800 Watts of power rating.
Therefore, for those who love to broil meat and chicken or for those who want to roast vegetables, and the like, in mere 5-10 minutes, this is an excellent option to have.
This brings us to our next point. A hot toaster oven like this can do quick work of your cooking. Due to its high power rating, it can prepare your meals faster than an average toaster oven.
Besides that, this is one of the most gorgeous looking toaster oven for its size category. While beauty is subjective, this is one of few in this category that offers full stainless steel look.
As far as capacity goes, it can fit 6 slices of bread or a single 12″ pizza. In other words, it has an interior capacity of 0.6 Cubic ft.
Unfortunately, the only issue here is that it costs slightly more than an average 0.6 cubic ft toaster oven AND it does not have digital controls despite the more expensive price tag.
All in all, if you need quick oven that reach very high temperatures, then this is the best basic toaster oven we can suggest.
Also Read: Best Toaster Ovens with 500 Degrees Fahrenheit Setting
5. Hamilton Beach 31107D – Large Capacity Double Rack
This is an option for larger families. It has two rack and can fit 2 x medium size pizzas.
Finally we have a simple toaster oven for those who came here looking for a model not just to toast bread, but to cook full fledged meals.
This is one of the cheapest large capacity toaster oven out there.
It can fit in dual racks and therefore can handle 12 slices of bread or 2 x 12″ pizza at a time. As such, this oven is decent enough for a large family.
Besides that, one of the most attractive feature of this model is the Rotisserie mechanism. The Rotisserie mechanism holds mounted meat and rotates it over a period of time so that it cooks from all sides very evenly.
Some of you may have come here looking specifically for this function. The meat lovers will certainly find this something to their taste.
The Rotisserie mount can handle upto a 5 lb chicken and with a timer of 2 hours, you can roast a whole chicken comfortably in this.
Of course, this is certainly an overkill for someone only looking to reheat or toast their food. Hence, this is something that a home chef may find handy and not someone who has no interest in cooking complex recipes.
Also, being a large oven, you will need to dedicate a larger kitchen counterspace to fit it.
In the end, if you need a toaster oven fit enough to cook dinners for crowds but one that does not cost much at the same time, then this is the best basic toaster oven for you.
What Comprises a Basic Toaster Oven?
There are few points that you should be aware of when looking in basic toaster oven models.
Low Capacity
Basic toaster ovens are compact and have smaller interior capacity.
For starters, simple toaster ovens are small. They are not just compact in terms of exterior dimension but they also have a small interior chamber.
Most basic toaster ovens have an internal dimension of 0.6 Cubic feet which is large enough to fit either 6 slices of bread or 12 inch pizza. They can also fit in a decent 4 lb chicken if you wish to experiment with your cooking prowess.
However, you should not be surprised to find even smaller toaster ovens that can merely fit 4 slices of bread or a 9 inch pizza. These ovens are perhaps the most basic models and are fit enough for very limited use.
Manual Controls
You will notice that most basic and affordable models have manual controls. This basically entails that they have knob selectors for setting the temperature, timer and the mode of the toaster oven.
Manual ovens are cheaper than their digital counterparts.
There are a few exception though. You can find some rather affordable toaster ovens with digital controls. They may cost slightly more than their manual counterparts.
No Smart Features
You should forget about smart cooking presets, PID controllers, memory or smart sensors as you find on more expensive and robust models like those featured in Breville or Cuisinart selection.
Also Read: Best Breville Toaster Ovens
Final Words
If you have very simple and minimal cooking needs like toasting, reheating or preparing frozen meals, then you can certainly look into the best basic toaster ovens out there.
They are not just compact, they are also quite affordable. However, the definition of “basic” differs from person to person. Some maybe looking for a basic toaster oven for “toasting” others may be looking for a basic toaster oven for cooking a whole chicken.
In this article, we listed all the affordable and simple models catering to different needs.
FAQs:
1. Is there a toaster oven that doesn't get hot on the outside?
The Calphalon Performance Cool Touch oven is a good oven that doesn't get hot outside. This oven is a countertop oven that uses quartz heating but maintains a 75 percent cooler outer surface than standard toaster ovens, allowing you to touch the surface and use the top for storage without burning anything or anyone.
2. How much clearance do you need above a toaster oven?
We recommend leaving at least 6" of space between the oven and any other objects in the vicinity. It would be best also if you use a free-standing island with NO upper cabinets. The top of the oven does become hot if it is left on for an extended period of time, especially when using convection baking.
3. What do I put under my toaster oven to protect the counter?
You can use the non-slip insulated counter mat. It protects the countertop and table from hot dishes and is ideal for use as a heat-resistant liner beneath a toaster oven, griddle, or deep fryer. The stainless steel silvery patterned top is easy to clean. Protects surfaces from damaging heat with an insulated nonskid back.
4. Can you put a toaster on quartz?
To protect your countertop, do not put the toaster on surface directly.
It is strongly recommended that you use trivets or cutting boards beneath countertop appliances such as crock pots, toaster ovens, or electric frying pans and avoid directly placing hot or cold pots and pans on the countertop surface.
5. Can I put a toaster under a cabinet?
For safety, it is advisable NOT to put the toaster under your cabinet.
Toasters are frequently located beneath kitchen cabinets, but the heat generated by the toaster can become trapped, posing a potential fire hazard. Dualit recommends that toasters not be stored beneath cupboards or shelves and placed away from the closet when not in use.