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The 7 Smallest Toaster Ovens In 2022

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The 7 Smallest Toaster Ovens For Small Spaces & Tiny Kitchens

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Updated: Jan. 14, 2022

Originally Published: June 17, 2018

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Whether you’re seconds away from delicious avocado toast, or about to ingest heavenly pizza bagels, there’s something seriously satisfying about the moment when your toaster dings signaling your food is ready. But if you’re stuck with a tiny kitchen or strapped for space, even the smallest toaster ovens may seem too big for you. And I firmly believe no one should be deprived of pizza bagels.

That’s why I’ve done the research and am happy to report there are a lot of tiny toaster ovens that can cook food well without taking up room in your space. The best mini toaster ovens are usually around 1 cubic feet, weigh under 15 pounds, and feature plenty of settings so that you can cook your food exactly to your liking, including pre-sets for common meals, wide heat ranges, and flat trays for even toasting.

The best small toaster oven I found in my search, the Panasonic flash Xpress, fits this bill (it’s 0.921 cubic feet in size, and weighs just over 7 pounds), and even has a double infrared heating system that reviewers confirm can cook your food up to 40% faster than traditional convection toaster ovens.

But, whether you’re looking for an affordable oven or one with pop-up functionality, you’ll probably find it on this list. Here are the best and smallest toaster ovens money can buy.

1

The Best Small Toaster Oven: Panasonic NB-G110P Flash Xpress Toaster Oven

Panasonic NB-G110P Flash Xpress Toaster Oven

Amazon

The dimensions: 13 by 12 by 10.25 inches (length by width by height)

Why it’s great: Not only is Panasonic’s toaster one of the smallest ovens on this roundup, it’s also a powerful addition to your kitchen that uses infrared technology to eliminate the need for it to preheat, thus cooking your food 40 percent faster than traditional convection ovens.

The specs: It’s 0.921 cubic feet in size with 1300 watts of power, and comes with pre-set features including a button for toast, pizza, and frozen foods. If you’d rather customize how you cook, you can easily set the toaster to temperatures ranging from 250 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit for up to 25 minutes.

What Consumer Reports says: When Consumer Reports tested this oven to see how effectively it cooks food, they gave it “excellent” marks on its toast time, how well it cooks multiple slices of toast, and how easy it is to use.

What fans say: “I’ve had it about 5 months and it is the second most used appliance in our home after our microwave (which is the kids’ favorite appliance.). I am thrilled. One other thing? It’s a slightly different shape than a traditional toaster over — square-shaped instead of long and boxy. The shape seems more logical for some reason, fits much better on our counter, and the toast seems easier to get to. ”

2

The Budget Small Toaster Oven: BLACK+DECKER 4-Slice Toaster Oven

BLACK+DECKER 4-Slice Toaster Oven

Amazon

The dimensions: 15.47 by 11.18 by 8.3 inches (length by width by height)

Why it’s great: The price. For just $44, this affordable toaster oven is a fantastic budget buy that delivers results akin to top-of-the-line toasters.

The specs: This toaster is 1.003 cubic feet in size, 1200 watts in power, and can heat four slices of toast up to 450 degrees for 30 minutes. It lacks a digital screen like other ovens on this list, but has easy-to-turn knobs that allow you to customize your toast level. It also has four heating settings: baking, broiling, toasting, and keeping food warm.

The tradeoff: Some reviewers say the exterior of the oven can heat up on all sides, so it requires a little caution when using it to make sure you don’t come into contact with its sides when it’s on.

What fans say: “This toaster is super easy to use and has all the features I need. It heats up really fast and gets the job done. Love the crumb tray that can be removed for cleaning. Looks great and works great, what more can I ask for?”

3

The Absolute Smallest & Cheapest: Dash Mini Toaster Oven

Dash Mini Toaster Oven

Amazon

The dimensions: 7.7 by 6.3 by 7.2 inches (length by width by height)

Why it’s great: If you’re after the absolute smallest toaster oven you can find, this one is definitely it. It weighs less than 4 pounds, and is just 0.20 cubic feet. It’s also super affordable at just $25.

The specs: This tiny toaster oven is 0.20 cubic feet in size, and comes with just one heating setting. You can set the time up to 15 minutes, and there is a removable tray inside that can fit a single piece of toast (standard sized, from the grocery store).

The trade off: A lot of reviewers complain about this toaster oven’s single heating function. You won’t get any extra settings on this toaster oven, and the only thing you’ll have control over is the time you cook it for. This can present challenges when trying to cook anything serious, and the small size of this also limits what you can actually fit in the toaster oven, as well. It also has the least power of any toaster on this list at just 550 watts.

What fans say: “I really like this brave little toaster! It heats up very fast, with toast ready in about 2.5 minutes, and I truly appreciate the small footprint on my limited countertop. The footprint is roughly 8” across by 6.5 inches deep. It takes up quite a bit less space than a traditional two-slice toaster and does a faster, better job than the toasters I’ve had previously.”

4

Worth The Splurge: BALMUDA The Toaster

BALMUDA The Toaster

Amazon

The dimensions: 14. 1 by 12.6 by 8.2 inches (length by width by height)

Why it’s great: This toaster is a steam toaster oven, so it uses heat technology to toast the exterior of your bread while keeping the interior moist and flavorful.

The specs: At just 0.84 cubic feet, this is one of the smallest toaster ovens on this list. Its chic, matte black design would look great on any countertop, and it has five different settings: artisan bread mode; sandwich bread mode; pizza mode; pastry mode; and oven mode, which goes from 350 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. It also has a built-in timer for up to 15 minutes of cooking. This toaster also uses steam heat technology to brown toast on the outside without drying out the inside of your bread.

The trade off: The price. This is the most expensive toaster oven on this list by a long shot, and for those shopping with a budget in mind, this may not be the right pick for you.

What fans say: “Holy moly! best toast I have ever made. I did a comparison taste test with the Balmuda toaster vs my cheapie $60 toaster oven. you can really taste the difference in the toast with the texture and the moistness of the inside of the toast.”

5

The Best Toaster Oven & Air Fryer: Oster Compact Countertop Oven With Air Fryer

Oster Compact Countertop Oven With Air Fryer

Amazon

The dimensions: 16.65 by 9.8 by 9.8 inches (length by width by height)

Why it’s great: This toaster oven and air fryer combo isn’t the smallest on this list, but it pulls double duty. This appliance works as a toaster oven and an air fryer and has a bunch of settings that make it a great choice for just $80.

The specs: This toaster oven can fit a 9-inch slice of pizza, four slices of toast, and even has three rack positions so you can adjust your placement. It also has a bunch of features you won’t find on a standard toaster, including a broil function, and an air fryer setting, as well as oven temperatures from 250 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. And for toast purists, there’s also a toast setting so you don’t have to mess around with the temperature choices. For more intensive cooking, the time can be set to up to 60 minutes. It’s just 0.92 cubic feet in size.

The tradeoff: Some reviewers are a little iffy on the air fryer function, and report that while it works, it isn’t as good as just buying a small air fryer. That said, for the price, this toaster oven still offers a ton of settings and time choices that you’re unlikely to find on a toaster oven under $100.

What fans say: “I am loving this… It fits in a small space and adds more to cooking than just a toaster oven… So glad I bought it and would recommend it highly.”

6

A Toaster Oven & Breakfast Station: Elite Gourmet Americana Breakfast Center Station

Elite Gourmet Americana Breakfast Center Station

Amazon

The dimensions: 18.7 by 7.6 by 9.1 inches (length by width by height)

Why it’s great: It’s super functional. This toaster oven and breakfast station has a built-in griddle, a mini coffee maker that can make 4 cups of coffee.

The specs: This breakfast station clocks in at 0.74 cubic feet in size, and has a built-in coffee maker, and a griddle on the top of the design, in addition to a two-slice, 500-watt toaster. The toaster has one heat setting, so keep this in mind if you want more flexibility. But it also has a 15-minute timer that allows you to set the time you want your food to cook.

The tradeoff: This isn’t as small as others on this list and, for some, the built-in coffee station and griddle are more than you’ll need.

What fans say: “This is the perfect size mini kitchen for me when I travel. I love being able to make my own food when I travel and this allows me to make a wide variety of food. I would absolutely buy this again!”

7

Honorable Mention: Hamilton Beach Toastation 2-Slice Toaster Oven

Hamilton Beach 2-in-1 Countertop Oven and Long Slot Toaster

Amazon

The dimensions: 20. 25 x 12.75 x 14.63 inches

Why it’s great: This two-in-one toaster oven is both a countertop and a pop-up toaster in one. For those who want the flexibility of having a toaster and a toaster oven, this is a great choice.

The specs: While this might not be the smallest toaster around, it can serve multiple functions, making it a good choice for smaller kitchen areas. It has a space-saving design and can help those who prefer bagels and artisan breads due to the wider slots on top. It also has a 60-minute timer with auto shutoff, in case you’re worried about leaving it on after breakfast. It also includes accessories like a rack, a removable crumb tray, and a bake pan.

The tradeoff: Other models on the list are a bit more compact.

What fans say: “We LOVE this oven and toaster combo. We’ve had toaster ovens for years, and I didn’t realize how badly those all in one units really made dry, unevenly toasted bread. The bread is perfectly toasted every time! We are getting used to the oven as it cooks very efficiently and does quickly heat to a true oven temperature better than other units we’ve owned. It is a smaller unit than other ovens, so it won’t be able to cook more than one Thanksgiving side dish when the holidays roll around, but we appreciate that it is excellent at what it was designed to do: toast and be an alternative to cooking up some french fries or heating a small casserole when we don’t want to turn on the big oven.”

This article was originally published on June 17, 2018

Best Small Toaster Ovens in 2023 – Tested and Reviewed

Small toaster ovens are in the smallest size category in this line of products. As such, they can save the most energy, cooking time, and kitchen space while delivering the same functionality and quality as full-sized ovens or wall ovens.

And with many benefits, there are bound to be some drawbacks even considering the best toaster ovens. Thus, it’s crucial to find a good balance of value between price and quality amongst a plethora of models on the market.

When Should You Buy A Small Toaster Oven?

After testing toaster ovens of different specifications, we recommend the small units if you’re only cooking for one or two people. Functionality-wise, small toaster ovens are just as capable in baking, roasting, reheating, and of course, toasting as their bigger relatives.

Moreover, larger units don’t automatically reduce the power output when cooking less food, so it’s a waste of energy using them to cook small meals. Also, a smaller capacity usually requires a shorter preheat time.

Practicality-wise, small toaster ovens are suitable if you have limited kitchen space. They are also easier to move around, considering if you live in a small dorm, apartment, or rental house. Finally, they tend to cost less than their larger counterparts.

Things to Keep in Mind when Buying a Small Toaster Oven

The price of a small toaster oven can range from $40 to $200 with some premium models reaching $400. Due to their size, small toaster ovens tend to have fewer additional features of design and usability.

It’s all the more important that you, as consumers, get the best value for your money. Currently, we chose the Breville BOV450XL as the best-to-buy small toaster oven.

Performance

The interior of the Breville BOV450XL

Although many believe a convection system isn’t compulsory, our test results showed a higher performance score in convection toaster ovens. Some factors that don’t necessarily dictate this score are the number as well as the type of heating element. The number of cooking functions also doesn’t matter as much as how precise and stable the oven’s internal temperature is when cooking.

Design

The dimensions of small-sized toaster ovens are usually around 14″x11″x8″ (LxWxH). Their cooking chamber volume ranges from 10 to 15 liters and commonly houses two heating elements.

The casing of the Hamilton Beach 31344DA

The power rating for toaster ovens of all sizes ranges from 800 W to 2200 W. A higher power output and more heating elements can attribute to an increase in the cooking performance of a toaster oven.

Our picks for the best convection toaster ovens should have a good stainless steel exterior to provide sufficient heat insulation as well as water and stain resistance. . Additional accessories like a rotisserie kit, an air fryer basket, a pizza stone, multiple racks, and extra baking pans can get an oven some bonus points.

Note: Manufacturers have yet to standardize the measurements for these products so consider this our rough guideline.

Usability

The slide-out crumb tray of the Comfee CFO-BB101

The small toaster ovens we selected also had to be easy to clean from the inside out, including the accessories. They also needed to have a reliable control panel that is responsive and easy to use. A trusted brand that provides good after-sale service is also something worth looking for.

How We Pick the Best Small Toaster Ovens

Our hands-on experience combined with knowledge from different experts allowed us to be thorough when designing our test. We also consulted user reviews to find out which features matter to most consumers and applied them to our scoring table.

Thus, rest assured that only the candidates with the highest score in every aspect can become our pick for the all-around best small toaster oven. According to our results so far, the Breville BOV450XL has an ideal balance of performance, design, and usability — our scoring criteria.

Review of the Best Small Toaster Ovens in 2023

Now, we’ve talked about the things to look for when buying. Let’s cut to the chase and get to the all-important reason why we are here today: the list of the best small toaster ovens for 2023.

Best Overall

Breville BOV450XL Mini Toaster Oven at Breville

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Best Value

Mueller MT-175 Small Countertop Toaster Oven at Amazon

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Best Energy-Saving

Panasonic NB-G110P FlashXpress Digital at Amazon

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1.

Best Overall: Breville BOV450XL Mini Toaster Oven

Our Rating:

(6.5/10)

View On BrevilleView On Amazon

Things We Like

• Unique feature buttons
• Non-stick interior
• High-contrast digital display
• Sturdy construction
• Cool-touch door handle
• Easy-to-clean stainless steel exterior
• Convenient slide-out crumb tray

Things We Don’t Like

• No interior lighting
• No convection fan
• Inconsistent heating elements

The brushed stainless steel Breville BOV450XL is our pick for the best-to-buy small toaster oven. Though imperfect, it produced the best results in our performance tests among our small toaster ovens. It also has the highest build quality of material to assembly on top of some unique features at a reasonable price.

Best Cooking Performances

The Breville BOV450XL had a high score making toast which should be the primary use of a toaster oven. Thanks to its high wattage, this oven has the fastest cooking time for toast among the toaster ovens we’ve tested thus far.

At toast level 4, the Breville produced 4 pieces with mottled light golden to golden-brown color which looked quite appetizing. The color was not evenly distributed due to the oven’s lack of a convection system, though.

The first batch of toast was nicely crispy outside while still soft and moist inside. Our head chef, Tuyet Pham, determined they would go well with pretty much anything including an omelet, eggs benedict, and particularly sandwiches.

Even though the oven automatically adjusted the timer to 2 minutes 36 seconds, the color of the second batch was a bit darker. Also, the second batch was crispier than the first which made it more suitable for soup.

It also had some of the highest scores in roasting a whole chicken and baking fries among our tested small toaster ovens. Nonetheless, if you’re making these two dishes, we suggest reducing the amounts of food as we mentioned above.

The oven showed a weakness in baking pizza though it was still acceptable. We hypothesized that there were some heating inconsistencies in the elements due to the oven’s mart heating algorithms.

Highest Build Quality

The exterior of the Breville BOV450XL is made from durable stainless steel. It’s equipped with a slide-out crumb tray and tray-level indicators on the glass door. The baking pan has an enamel coating for easy cleaning but is a bit smaller than the oven rack.

The oven’s cooking chamber has a non-toxic non-stick coating and is larger than most small toaster ovens. Its four quartz heating elements are sufficiently powered with 1800 Watts of power. We did think that this unit could be completed with a convection system though.

Unique Features

In addition to the standard cooking functions, the Breville BOV450XL includes some nice presets for cookies, pizza, and reheating. The digital display along with the function dial made it simple to readjust the cooking setting during operation.

Regarding the oven’s unique features, we thought the Temperature Conversion button was helpful, particularly for international consumers. Unfortunately, the FROZEN FOODS and A BIT MORE buttons didn’t prove to be very useful.

Cleaning-wise, it was very easy inside and outside the oven as well as its accessories.

Read our full Breville BOV450XL Mini Smart Toaster Oven Review.

Price at time of publish: $154.13

Key Specs

Dimensions L15.74 x W14.17 x H8.86 inches

Weight 10 lbs (4.54 kg)

Control Type LCD display + 1 control dial + 8 buttons

Temperature 120°F – 450°F

Timer 1 minute – 2 hours

Cooking Functions 8

Interior Dimensions L11.49 x W11 x H6.69 inches

Capacity 13.86 liters

Heating Elements 4 quartz

Convection Fan No

Lighting No

2.

Best Value: Mueller MT-175 Small Countertop Toaster Oven

Our Rating:

(6.1/10)

View On Amazon

Things We Like

• Lightweight and small size
• Easy-to-clean stainless steel exterior
• Cool-touch door handle
• Simple control knobs
• Stay-on feature
• Quartz heating elements have safeguards
• Energy-saving

Things We Don’t Like

• No convection fan
• No internal lighting
• No safety mechanism for the door

The grey stainless steel Mueller MT-175 Small Countertop Toaster Oven became our choice for the best value small toaster oven thanks to its highest performance score in combination with its inexpensive price. The oven is our go-to candidate for serving one person or two people while saving space on your kitchen counter.

Highest Overall Performance Score

The Mueller has the highest overall performance score among our tested toaster ovens thanks to its ability to make toast and pizza.

After 4 minutes of toasting, the four pieces of toast had pretty good surface color. However, the colors varied from light golden to golden brown on both the top and the bottom.

Luckily, the varied colors partially meant varied textures which were all good. The golden brown areas had a more crispy outside while the light golden areas had a softer inside. Our head chef Tuyet Pham determined that it would go great with omelets, eggs benedict, and sandwiches but not so much with soup.

Under the identical toasting time, the second batch became brown with an increased evenness from the first batch. While the color was a bit darker than ideal, the extra crispiness made the second batch more suitable for soups.

The oven took 9 minutes to bake a 9-inch thick-crust meat pizza which wasn’t fast compared to other units. The crust had a golden color all the way through and the inside was still moist. If only the crust was a bit more crispy, it would’ve gotten a higher score.

The toppings were also caramelized quite evenly from the meat and veggies to the cheese. The cheese was nicely melted but the areas closer to the back of the cooking chamber were more caramelized compared to the rest. With both the crust and the toppings being good, our chef had no reason to give the pizza a low score for taste.

Inexpensive Price

The Mueller is small, lightweight, and easy to operate with its analog control knobs. In addition, it can save energy with its 1100 W of power and two quartz heating elements. However, this can lead to a lower performance in foods that require a stable and high temperature like baking frozen fries.

The oven has a detachable crumb tray which is useful for cleaning, especially for a unit this size. Other than that, similar to many other units of the same size, it doesn’t have many features of design and usability.

Read our full Mueller 4 Slice Toaster Oven In-depth Review.

Price at time of publish: $64. 55

Key Specs

Dimensions L14.96 x W11.61 x H8.86 inches

Weight 9 lbs (4.1 kg)

Control Type 3 control knobs

Temperature 150°F – 450°F

Timer 1 minute – 30 minutes + stay-on

Cooking Functions 4

Interior Dimensions L10.62 x W9.84 x H7.48 inches

Capacity 12.81 liters

Heating Elements 2 quartz

Convection Fan No

Lighting No

3. Best Energy-Saving: Panasonic NB-G110P FlashXpress Digital

Our Rating:

(6/10)

View On Amazon

Things We Like

• Energy-efficient quartz and ceramic heating elements
• High-contrast digital display
• Internal lighting available
• Sturdy construction
• Easy-to-clean stainless steel exterior
• Cool-touch door handle
• Convenient slide-out crumb tray

Things We Don’t Like

• No safety mechanism for the door
• Having only one tray level
• Not particularly budget-friendly

The Panasonic NB-G110P had very powerful heating elements so it could reduce the cooking time. Moreover, it has some of the highest scores in our Pizza, Chicken, and Fries test among our tested small toaster ovens.

However, the oven had a shortcoming of uneven heat distribution which we think could be improved by reducing the portion size compared to our test amount. The lack of space for heat circulation was one of the main reasons preventing the Panasonic a higher score in our Whole Roasted Chicken test.

The powerful heating elements of the Panasonic allowed it to bake a 9-inch thick-crust meat pizza in only 3 minutes. This was one of our fastest recorded cooking times.

However, such a short cooking time was only enough to cook the crust while not giving it any color at all. The silver lining in this was that the crust wasn’t dry.

The toppings would have been quite appetizing if not for the burnt onions, bell peppers, and meat tips. Luckily, the high heat meant that the cheese was melty. Unfortunately, the burnt parts affected the taste quite badly with their bitterness.

The Panasonic NB-G110P has a high build quality which justifies its price. The oven has unique design features including an auto-pull rack and preset cooking functions. Unfortunately, while the auto-pull rack was a convenient feature, it effectively reduced the available cooking space.

Moreover, the cooking presets didn’t actually add much to the oven’s ease of use. Overall, besides an interior light, the oven lacked the premium features often seen in units of this price range.

Read our full Panasonic Flashxpress Digital Small Toaster Oven In-detph Review.

Price at time of publish: $153.64

Key Specs

Dimensions L12.6 x W11.81 x h20.24 inches

Weight 6.94 lbs (3.15 kg)

Control Type LCD + 14 buttons

Temperature 250°F – 500°F

Timer 1 minute – 25 minutes

Cooking Functions 6

Interior Dimensions L11. 2 x W9.84 x H9.05 inches

Capacity 16.08 liters

Heating Elements 2 quartz

Convection Fan No

Lighting Yes

Other Small Toaster Ovens Up For the Competition

1. Hamilton Beach 31401 — A basic, lightweight, and small-sized toaster oven. With 1200 Watts of power and two quartz heating elements, it saves energy but left a lot to be desired in cooking foods for our performance tests. At least, it’s easy to use and clean.

2. COMFEE CFO-BB101 — A budget toaster oven to save your countertop space. It also minimizes energy consumption with a power rating of 1000 W and two quartz heating elements. These specifications greatly hindered its performance score, though.

How We Test Small Toaster Ovens

Even though our testing procedures were the same on toaster ovens of all sizes, there were a few differences that caught our attention.

Our Performance Tests

One test day’s worth of toast

For all of our performance tests, we had to keep the quantity and cooking temperature uniform to figure out and evaluate the cooking time. We found that small toaster ovens were better suited to cooking 1-2 portions at a time and not more than that.

Throughout our tests, even at the same power rating, most small-sized models didn’t perform as well as medium-sized models in cooking similar quantities of food. This was especially true for our Whole Roasted Chicken test even though most of the ovens were able to comfortably fit our recipe of a 3 lb chicken.

However, if you want to replicate the dishes but with better results, you can reduce the serving of fries to 6 oz and roast the chicken not as a whole but in pieces. Unfortunately, 4 pieces of toast or a 9-inch pizza are already the bare minimum.

Our Design and Usability Tests

Everything inside the box of the Breville BOV450XL

We noticed that small toaster ovens typically have less room for features of design and usability.

For example, we have a number of small toaster ovens with basic control dials or a removable crumb tray as an accessory as opposed to the slide-out variety. More often than not, their casing is not as well-insulated and their cavity doesn’t have a coating.

However, that didn’t affect how we scored the products — what features an oven had, plus our experiences with how well they worked and how useful they were.

Why Trust Us?

What separates us from other product reviewing platforms is that our basis revolves around hands-on experimentation as a team. Our testing criteria prioritize user experience with all kinds of toaster ovens. Based on the authentic appraisal and helpful information from our reviews, you can confidently decide how good a toaster oven is for you.

With the culinary expertise of our head chef, we developed our performance tests through the most commonly cooked foods in a toaster oven. Simultaneously, the Research, Testing, and Review (RTR) team scored the features of design and usability through our interactions with the toaster ovens during use.

In our How We Tested Toaster Ovens article, you can follow our tests step by step and see how we were able to finalize the scores which you see in our reviews. Seeing is believing, so our entire testing process is illustrated with original videos and photographs. Our tests are to be performed the same way on every toaster oven which means you can reliably replicate them as well.

After being tested, the toaster ovens are employed in the kitchen of Healthy Recipes 101 for intensive and extensive use. This is how we maintain a constant flow of feedback on the quality and performance of the toaster ovens as well as the do’s and don’ts when using them.

Our Expertise

Alan Nguyen is a reviewer for Healthy Kitchen 101. On top of making homecooked meals as a hobby, he has prior experience working in both restaurant and military kitchens. Behind the kitchen counter was where he learned to utilize an array of equipment for cooking delicate portions as well as cooking in bulk.

Along with the Research, Testing, and Review (RTR) Lab of Healthy Kitchen 101, he began the quest to find the best small toaster ovens by sifting through hundreds before narrowing down to 7 distinctive models.

The team then purchased the machines and put them through a series of comparative tests regarding cooking performance, design, and user-friendliness to find the best small toaster oven for every budget, culinary purpose, and home interior.

Most notably, our performance tests required roughly 90 hours of development and execution time. The process includes toasting over 50 packs of white bread (That’s over 500 slices of toast!), baking more than 20 nine-inch pizzas, not just 20 three-pound whole chickens, and something over 15 pounds of frozen french fries.

Small toaster and its features

The toaster is not an ordinary piece of kitchen equipment, and its purpose is more important than just making fried bread. It is he and his girlfriend, the coffee maker, who fill our mornings with the aroma of coffee and fresh toast. The breakfast prepared by him helps to forget about the interrupted sleep and come to terms with the inevitability of the upcoming work day. A small toaster does a big and important job.

Purpose and construction of toasters

Let’s get to know this “hot guy” who works so hard in our kitchens. In technical terms, this is a universal kitchen appliance designed for baking bread toasts. It saves us from the need to cook fried bread with an ordinary frying pan, which, you see, is a very prosaic task.

Its device is not complicated. The principle of operation is the same as that of a conventional electric stove. A very similar filament coil, located in the heating chamber, produces infrared rays, which, by heating the bread, gently toast it. Radiation is created using a nichrome wire. In its manufacture, an alloy of chromium and nickel is used.

The main types of toasters

Before deciding which type of toaster to give preference to, find out what groups they are divided into. With a wide variety of brands of toasters, their design and construction features, in general, they are all divided into three categories:

1. In mechanical toasters, baking is controlled visually. In their design, there is no any automation. Even a simple flip of the toast is carried out with a special handle. Of course, this is the cheapest type of toasters.
2. The next type will be a semi-automatic. Its design includes a thermal switch. With its help, the temperature of the surface of the bread is controlled and the device is turned off in a timely manner.
3. In addition to the heating element, the automatic toaster has a thermal switch and a special device that allows you to freely set the baking time. At the end of the process, the finished toast is thrown out.

Features of household toasters

Toasters, small and large, share a number of common technical features. So, for example, the adjustment of operating modes in more complex designs is carried out using touch panels. More simple models are equipped with an oval scale. On some products, this scale is devoid of numbers and symbols, and is marked with simple strokes.

Smaller toasters are usually equipped with 12cm deep bread holes. Larger ones are 14cm deep. In the latest toasters, various technical improvements have been made to speed up the baking process.

These innovations include the convection chamber or the infrared heating function. A number of modern models are equipped with functions of automatic defrosting and roasting of bread. As a rule, these functions are combined into a single work cycle. The heating chambers of some devices are equipped with a porcelain or non-stick coating. They are easy and convenient to use.

Additional features include the reheat function, which allows you to reheat previously cooked toast. In addition, one cannot fail to mention a simple, but sometimes necessary emergency shutdown button, which makes it possible to interrupt the process at any time.

How to choose a toaster

Whether you want to choose a small toaster or a large toaster, try to figure out the features you think you need and can easily do without. Think about how many toasts you would like to cook at the same time. If you have a large family, then it probably makes sense to look for a toaster with more holes. It will allow you to cook bread for all family members at once. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the safety specifications when using the appliance so that a small toaster does not cause big trouble.

When choosing, take into account the advantages of devices in metal housings over devices whose housings are made of plastic. The former heat up less during operation and better maintain the internal temperature. If your plans include not only making toast, but also baking various bakery products, stop at models equipped with a toaster-grill system. Whichever toaster you choose, be sure to check that it does what it was designed to do.

Another important point: even the smallest toaster takes up a certain amount of space in the kitchen. Be sure to consider where and how it will be installed. If you are buying a large toaster, then this requirement is doubly relevant.

About the pros and cons of various models

Like everything in the world, any toaster model is not without its advantages and disadvantages. Let’s talk only about those that are typical for most designs. When choosing a specific product, you can consider this issue in more detail.

Speaking, in general, about the advantages of toasters, we note that with their help we can save ourselves from the unpleasant need to stand at the stove every day and toast bread. With the help of a toaster, cooking time will be minimal, and the quality of the finished product is usually high.

The disadvantages are not so significant. Among them are some seasonal restrictions on the use of the device. The fact is that some owners do not use toasters in the summer. In addition, only lovers of toasted bread have a real need for them, for everyone else they simply take up space in the kitchen and are used only occasionally.

Avoid ill-advised purchases

Before you go to the store to buy a toaster, be sure to check the Internet and reference books for the features of various models. At the same time, compare their characteristics and functionality. It will be useful to read the reviews of those who have already made such a purchase. Please note that the consultant who will recommend the purchase of a particular model in the store is an interested person. His task is, first of all, to sell the goods.

Thomas Disch – The Courageous Little Toaster read online

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A fairy tale for obedient household appliances

From the moment it was installed in a country house, the air conditioner groaned and choked. He began to weaken, grow old and fail. All other electrical household appliances experienced melancholy and anxiety, but when he finally stopped working, they felt relieved. During this time, no truly friendly ties between them arose … none at all.

And now there were five appliances left in the house. The vacuum cleaner, the oldest of all, a solid and reliable model (it was Hoover), was their boss, if we assume that they had one. And also a radio with an alarm clock, but without frequency modulation, made of white cracked plastic; a cheerful yellow electric blanket and a table lamp purchased at a pawnshop, sometimes thought at night, makes it higher or lower in status than other appliances bought in a store. And finally, a toaster, a shiny little Sunbeam. He was the youngest member of the family and the only one who had spent his entire life in the summer house. Four others had come from the city with their master many years earlier.

It was a pleasant house… very cold in winter, of course, but the latter mattered little to the appliances. He stood on the northern edge of a huge forest, miles from other settlements and so far from the nearest road that no noise could be heard here, day or night, except for the screams and the strange rumble of the forest and the soothing sounds of the dwelling itself … the crackling of beams and the tapping of drops rain on window panes. They were accustomed to their suburban existence and loved this little house immensely. Even if they had a choice, which is not to say, they would never want to be taken back to the city after the holidays, as was the case with some other appliances, such as a mixer and a TV. They were devoted to their owner (an innate quality of all electrical household appliances), but after spending so much time in the forests, they inexplicably changed their character and already respected any most incredible way of life.

The toaster was a special case. He arrived straight from the mail order store, which explained why he showed more curiosity about city life than the other four. Often, left to himself, he wondered what model of toaster his owner could have in his city apartment, and secretly cherished the conviction that whatever the model of another toaster, this latter still did not succeed in excellently toasted slices of bread better than him. . Not too dark, not too pale, just brownish golden and crisp! However, he did not share this reflection with anyone, since they all, on occasion, experienced painful doubts about their actual usefulness. Old Hoover could spend hours in his mind going over the new low-slung vacuum cleaners with long, flexible hoses and disposable garbage bags. The radio regretted not being able to receive different stations, and the electric blanket thought it needed a good dry cleaning. The table lamp, on the other hand, could never look at a hundred-watt light bulb without a feeling of intense envy.

But the toaster, unlike the others, was pleased with himself. Although he knew from magazines that there were models of toasters that could hold four slices of bread at once, he did not think that his owner, who lived alone and did not seem to have many friends, could use such an appliance “for many people.” Toasted toast is valued not for quantity, but for quality: that was the motto of the toaster.

It would seem logical to assume that these appliances, living in a comfortable house surrounded by a majestic lush forest, had no reason to complain and worry. But, alas, it is not. They were all unhappy and suffering, being at a loss as to what they should do. ..as these five poor electrical appliances were abandoned.

“And the worst part,” the radio said, “we don’t know why.

“The worst thing,” the table lamp pumped, “is to remain in the dark like this, without explanation, not knowing what could have happened to the owner.

“Two years,” sighed the electric blanket, “how he, before that, lively and cheerful, plunged into melancholy.

“More like two and a half years,” said the radio, which had a keen sense of time. – The owner left us on September 25, 1973, and now March 8, 1976. It turns out two years, five months and thirteen days.

– Do you think he knew that he would not return when he left? the toaster asked, revealing a secret fear that neither of them dared to express aloud. “Knew he was leaving us… and didn’t dare to say?” Is it possible?

“No,” said the faithful old Hoover, “that’s unthinkable. I can say, without fear of making a mistake, our owner would never leave a house full of serviceable appliances to rust . .. rust!

Plaid, lamp and radio were quick to agree. The owner had never dealt with them with such impudence. Something had to happen… some incident, some unforeseen circumstance.

“In that case,” the toaster said, “we just have to be patient and act as if nothing out of the ordinary has happened. I am convinced that this is exactly what the master expects of us.

They did just that. Every day this spring and this summer they did their usual work. The radio turned on at exactly seven-thirty every morning, and while it played upbeat music, the toaster, with no real bread, imagined that it was toasting two well-crispy toasts from an imaginary one. From time to time he ventured to cook hot sandwiches with cheese and ham. For sandwiches, the thickness of the pieces of bread must be measured very precisely, otherwise they will not be able to be removed later with ease. Of course, it is preferable to cook sandwiches in a specially designed grill, but there was none in a country house equipped only with an old gas stove, and the toaster tried its best. In any case, imaginary sandwiches couldn’t get stuck.

This was the morning routine. On Tuesday and Friday afternoons, old Hoover roared and roared around the house, sucking in every speck of dust. In fact, he collected very little garbage, since the dwelling was modest in size, and tightly closed windows and doors did not allow dust and dirt to enter from outside, except for those days when the vacuum cleaner itself rolled out of the house to leave a small pile of dust on the edge of the forest.

At dusk, the table lamp was lit, and all five appliances gathered in the kitchen corner of a large room that occupied the entire ground floor to talk, listen to the news of the day, or simply look through the window at the sad loneliness of the forest. Then, when the moment came for other devices to turn off, the electric blanket crawled up the stairs to the mezzanine with a small bedroom arranged there, where, due to the fact that the nights were cool even in summer, it began to radiate gentle warmth.