A countertop oven can do everything your wall oven does, provided you choose the right appliance. Baking bread and cakes, broiling your favorite meats, toasting rolls and roasting chicken – the best countertop ovens perform all of these duties.
And because they take up less space, they’re ideal for smaller kitchens. You’ll save on energy, too, as they typically use much less power than conventional ovens.
This article will review the best rice cookers in the UK and what to look out for when buying one.
Disclaimer: Price This Please is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you.
Best Overall – Sage Smart Oven Pro
This attractive, stainless-steel countertop oven is perfect for making meals fast with consistent results.
All you have to do is select the settings you wish, and it will beep when it’s finished. It can reach 180°C in about 3 minutes, and it does everything you would want from a standard oven.
The slow cook function can cook food for up to 10 hours. This is also has followed by an automatic change to a ‘keep warm’ setting.
It has 10 different cooking functions, including toast 6 slices, Bagel, Bake, Roast, Grill, Pizza, Cookies, Reheat, Warm and Slow Cook.
Interior oven light which turns on automatically when you open the door and at the end of the cooking time
Features
- 28 x 32 x 47 cms
- 14.1 kg weight
- 21L capacity
- Stainless steel construction
- 2400 watts power (convection-powered)
Pros
- LCD display with smart functionality with highly visible settings
- Super-fast 2400 W preheat function
Cons
- None
Bottom Line
A quality oven that does it all and is easy to use, especially for those who don’t like to cook. Make selections using the dials, and leave it to do its thing.
Runner Up – Aicook Air Fryer Toaster Oven
This air fryer and toaster oven has 3 rack levels that allow you to prepare food for up to 10 people.
It has a large 23-litre capacity that is perfect for families. Despite the size, it is still relatively light compared to others countertop ovens, making it a great choice if you need to travel around a lot.
The 6 heating elements and the large fan provide an efficient airflow system that requires little to no oil for your food – thereby reducing fat and calories for healthier eating.
The 4 knobs provide ease of use for everyone: manuals and 75 recipes are included. You can make cakes, grill chicken, steaks or kebabs, cook fries, toast bread, and much more. It can reach temperatures up to 230 degrees C, cooking food quickly.
Regardless of whether it’s rotisseries, grills, fried foods, cakes or more, you can do it all with the Aicook Air Fryer Toaster Oven.
Features
- 41.5 x 41 x 37.5 cms
- 10.8 kg weight
- 23L capacity
- Stainless steel construction
- 1700 watts power (convection)
Pros
- Large capacity
- Light weight means it’s easy to travel with
- Easy-to-clean non-stick interior
Cons
- Components aren’t dishwasher-safe
Bottom Line
This countertop oven is excellent for those who want something that’s easy to use and doubles as an air fryer. . It’s large enough to feed a family, too, and includes safety features. Highly recommended as our runner-up.
Best Budget – Netta Electric Mini Oven
If you are looking for a countertop oven that is easy to clean, easy to use, and does the basic functions of grilling, toasting and roasting, then this oven is perfect for its modest price.
It is perfect for smaller kitchens such as those in caravans, holiday homes, or student accommodation.
It comes with 3 built-in shelf heights so that you can adjust as you need to, and it can bake bread or cakes, grill meats and casseroles, roast veggies and other foods, and toast bread.
It has an easy-to-clean, non-stick interior and heat-resistant tempered glass door. It has 3 large dials for ease of use, including 120-minute timer. It also comes with a detachable handle, grill rack and baking tray.
Features
- 48 x 36 x 29.5 cms
- 6.3 kg weight
- 20-litre capacity
- Stainless steel construction
- 1500 watts power
- Max temperature of 230℃
Pros
- 365-day warranty
- Easy to use
- Compact size
Cons
- Some users find the oven doesn’t go over 170°C
Bottom Line
Its light weight means it’s easy to take with you on trips or to give as a gift for students setting up on their own or for anyone with limited space who wants to cook for themselves.
Best Commercial / Large – Kukoo Electric Convection Countertop Oven
If you’re just starting a cooking business and need an affordable way to cook your food, this countertop oven is perfect.
Bake times are very good when compared to other types of ovens due to its double fan. It has 4 trays with plenty of space.
It’s built very well, ensuring that all 4 trays bake equally where they are located, hence you don’t need to move around and waste time.
Although technically a countertop, its large dimensions and weight mean it isn’t the most transportable. It’s larger than most conventional ovens, so make sure you have the space before buying.
Features
- 53 x 57 x 59 cms
- 35 kg weight
- Rubber feet
- 4 trays
- Double fans
- 12-month warranty
Pros
- Wide temperature range from 50 to 300°C
- Trays equally spaced and cooked equally, ensuring no food ends up over or undercooked
Cons
- If you end up using all 4 trays, you’ll probably struggle to fit taller foods like loaves in.
Bottom Line
If you have a bit more space on your countertop and you want a professional-level countertop oven for baking with consistently even results, this is the oven for you. Its robust construction will handle a lot of use, so this is a perfect oven for anyone who bakes in large quantities or often, such as someone starting a home food business.
Great Value – Severin 2058 Countertop Toaster Oven
This large oven with its 42-litre capacity enables you to make a variety of foods for your family for a reasonable price.
The turning spit allows you to prepare meat or poultry without added fat or oil, and you can also make pizza, chips, cakes, rolls and more.
It’s a great size, being bigger than a typical microwave, but smaller than a main oven. This allows you to cook larger foods like joints and poultry without it taking over your kitchen.
It’s also very easy to use and understand straight from the box. It has 3 analogue dials: one on/off, one for temperature and one for function. These include grill, oven and rotisserie. The rotisserie feature in particular is excellent for cooking poultry.
It is very quiet when in use and pretty light, but still stable, so it can be carried around without too much hassle.
Features
- 42 x 51.5 x 36.5 cms
- 4 shelf positions
- 42L capacity
- 60 to 230°C
- 9 kg weight
- 42-litre capacity
- Alloy steel construction
- 1800 watts power
- Includes turning spit
Pros
- Quick warm-up time
- Relatively lightweight given its generous capacity
- Has Detachable crumb tray and interior glass panel for easy cleaning
Cons
- None
Bottom Line
With its generous capacity, this oven is larger than a microwave yet smaller than a conventional oven, so it’s perfect for families. The rotisserie spit is excellent for preparing joints and poultry, and the analogue dials make it easy to use for everyone. It’s easy to use, simple, yet effective.
Well Reviewed – Koolla Mini Electric Oven
The Koalla Mini Oven is a high-performing yet relatively compact oven. It has a good 35 litre capacity with 4 sliding shelf heights that makes family meals easy to prepare.
It has 5 cooking functions with 11 pre-set with a temperature range from 70 to 230 C and 2-hour timer. It’s internal convection fan does spread the heat uniformly but it can take a little while to heat up, roughly around 10 minutes.
It comes with several accessories including removable crumb tray, baking pan, wire rack, and rotisserie attachment. The crumb tray in particular is very easy to clean.
Features
- 53.6 x 40.6 x 34.5 cms
- 13.8 kg weight
- 35L capacity
- Stainless steel
- 1700 watts power
Pros
- Easy to clean
- Even heat circulation so no need to rotate food during cooking
- All accessories are dishwasher-safe
Cons
- Can take a little while to heat up
Bottom Line
This mini oven is an excellent buy for the price, providing uniform heat while being easy to use and to clean. Family meals are simple to prepare, as this countertop oven heats up fast and holds a generous amount of food. Its sleek and stylish appearance make it a perfect addition to the modern kitchen.
Considerations When Buying a Countertop Oven
Countertop ovens are very useful as they save space and energy, but there are a few other things to consider when making your purchase.
Check out the following considerations. There are several, so it could be helpful to first determine which ones are deal-breakers for you.
Size
Take a look to determine how much counter space you have available. You don’t want to buy your perfect oven and then find it doesn’t fit – so break out the measuring tape and see what size you need.
Consider also how much food you’ll want to make at any one time. A family of four will require a larger-capacity oven than someone living on their own.
Cooking Functions
Most countertop ovens will all offer baking, toasting, broiling, and roasting. Some, however, offer additional features. You may want a rotisserie spit if you like to roast joints and poultry.
If you’re someone who loves fried food but doesn’t want to use additional oil or fat, some ovens come with an air fry function. Other models offer a slow-cook option, where you can cook a dish on a lower heat for up to 10 hours.
The more functions you can perform with your oven, the more space you’ll save overall as you won’t require additional appliances.
Think about the types of dishes that you make the most, and check if they’ll be possible in your new oven. If you usually make casseroles, for example, you may not need a rotisserie spit, even though it might be nice to have.
Material and design
Do you prefer stainless steel appliances? Or the sleek, black look? Consider the current style of your kitchen, as you may want to choose an oven that fits in with your kitchen’s look and feel.
Is safety a concern? Some ovens have double glass doors that are cool to the touch even while in use, which could be important if you have small helpers in the kitchen.
Ease of Use
Are you someone who loves anything digital? Or do you prefer large, analogue knobs?
Do you have children who love to cook? They may love pressing the buttons of a digital model.
Will anyone with vision impairments be using the oven? If so, large knobs might be easier to use.
Consider clean-up time, too. Some ovens have non-stick interiors that you can wipe clean with a damp cloth. Other models have removable items such as crumb trays and racks that may or may not be dishwasher-safe.
Summary
If you want to not only bake, roast, and toast, but also slow cook, then you’ll want to go with the Sage Smart Oven Pro. For those who are after the benefits of an air fryer, the Aicook Air Fryer Toaster Oven provides the perfect solution, along with baking, toasting and other functions.
The Netta Electric Mini Oven is our top recommendation if you have very limited space or you want to gift someone a small oven for their daily needs as a student or a couple. And for anyone who wants to bake a lot and often, the Electric Convection Oven would be ideal, especially if you want to prepare food for resale and you are after highly consistent results.
If you enjoy roasting poultry or joints of meat and perhaps have children who want to watch it cook, the Severin Toast Oven could be just the thing. However, if you want an attractive yet small oven that can cook for a family of 4, then go for the Koola Mini Oven.