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Cozy living spaces and kitchen gadget aficionados may appreciate the value a toaster oven brings. Toaster ovens are one of those miracles of modern life, offering the same abilities as a conventional oven in mini-size.
If you are not a fan of microwaves and don’t have space for a full-size oven, a toaster oven is a working solution that lets you bake, broil, and toast.
Toaster ovens are great for making bagel pizzas, heating buns, making sandwiches, and of course, avocado toast. Some models of toaster ovens come with a recipe book, so when you are at a loss for inspiration, you can get cooking.
The quest to outfit a kitchen, dorm room, or office space with a beloved toaster oven does not have to break the bank. There are plenty of great toaster ovens from trusted brands that offer a lot of value for the price point.
Even better, you can score an aesthetically pleasing toaster oven with all the bells and whistles for under 100 dollars.
Before you begin your hunt for the ideal toaster oven, know how much use you plan on getting out of your appliance. Some meals are better suited for a larger conventional oven, but if your family size is small, a toaster oven is just the right size.
You might discover that the best toaster ovens under $100 are capable of whipping up a small batch of cookies, just as quickly as they can pop out a flaky, tender biscuit.
Maintenance on most toaster ovens is pretty low maintenance, requiring a light wipe down, and cleaning up the crumb tray at the bottom. Toaster ovens are helpful for cooking meals and snacks quickly when you don’t want to use an oven or microwave.
Personally, the iconic leftover pizza slice is a perfect match for a toaster oven, as the appliance can give food an even crisp and rejuvenate the flavors.
If you want to take advantage of an advantage that is energy efficient and doesn’t require using natural gas, a toaster oven is an indispensable resource.
A Quick History Lesson
For anyone who loves bacon and likes to have it readily accessible, the microwave makes it easy to have crispy bacon whenever you need it, and it doesn’t take much to get it to that point. However, there are some important things to consider as far as getting the perfect bacon every time you cook it.
- Thickness of Your Bacon: Selecting thicker cuts of bacon will mean that you’ll have to cook it longer, the opposite occurs with thinner slices. Ideally, give your bacon about 30 seconds more of cook time if you enjoy thicker cuts of bacon.
- Power of Your Microwave: Every microwave is different, so adjust your cooking techniques appropriately.
- How Much Bacon You’re Cooking: If you’re going to be cooking a lot of bacon then are better off opting to use your oven or skillet to get more bacon cooked faster, but a microwave creates a perfect opportunity to prepare a small amount whenever the craving takes you.
A Quick History Lesson
In 1893, a Scotsman by the name of Alan McMasters invented the toaster. Bread was never the same, as people could enjoy toasting their bread evenly on both sides and then slathering it with jams, jellies, or marmalade spreads.
Of course, once a new invention hits the market people jump at the chance to improve upon technology. In 1910, William Haddaway invented the first toaster oven in the U.S. with the support of the Westinghouse Corporation.
Front loading convection toaster ovens provide many uses beyond simply toasting bread, and make a compact replacement for a full-size oven.
Benefits of Toaster Ovens
It makes sense why many people choose a toaster oven for their home, as they provide many benefits not offered by larger appliances.
Toaster ovens are compact and can fit on a countertop, saving precious space that a full-size oven would require for operation. Toaster ovens are easy to clean and don’t cause a kitchen to become hot and uncomfortable.
Anyone who enjoys hosting guests may rely on a toaster oven when they need additional cooking space, and the traditional oven is occupied.
If you want to lower your carbon footprint, toaster ovens preheat faster and require less energy to cook food. The best toaster ovens under $100 might surprise you with how well it fits your lifestyle and produces yummy results.
Aside from toaster ovens, similar kitchen appliances include the following.
- Countertop Convection Oven
- Infrared Countertop Oven
- Rotisserie Oven
Many models come with an auto-shutoff feature to prevent overheating or an accident. Convection toaster ovens are designed to evenly heat items, so there is less risk of cold spots or uncooked food.
Infrared countertop ovens are usually more expensive, but convection countertops are adequate and reasonably priced.
Typical toaster ovens come with settings for everyday tasks such as making cookies, heating bagels, pizza, baking, and broiling.
How We Choose Our Ratings
Before we could compile a list of the best toaster ovens under $100, we looked at significant must-have features that had to be included. We looked at warranties, construction materials, and how much space the appliances would need to function. We also considered aesthetics, because no one wants an ugly kitchen appliance despite being a steal.
Top 7 Best Toaster Ovens Under $100
We feel confident that this list of the best toaster ovens on a budget will satisfy your needs, and provide reliable service for years to come. We considered customer reviews from real people, looked at brand reputation, and the type of features and value offered for the price point.
Hamilton Beach Toaster Oven
Hamilton Beach is one of those brands with a reputation for creating economical kitchen appliances. Just because this toaster oven is inexpensive and won’t break the bank, doesn’t mean it skips out on value.
Persons with mobility issues may appreciate a toaster oven with a roll-top door which readily moves up and out of the way. When a spill or accident happens, the door design helps make clean up a cinch, as the door doesn’t block the oven.
There is less chance that you will put the toaster oven on the wrong settings, as the comfortably contoured knobs help to make a selection easier.
Two rack positions allow you to choose how you want to cook your meal, whether you are broiling, baking, or toasting. Hamilton Beach makes sure to get you started cooking as soon as you take this toaster oven out of the box, as it includes a handy cake pan.
Moderate cooking jobs are readily handled with this toaster oven, which can fit six slices of toast, a 12-inch pizza, or a cake pan measuring 9 inches by 11 inches.
Pros
- Style of the door makes access to toaster oven easy
- Comes with a cake pan
- Two rack positions
Cons
- Back part of the toaster oven cooks a bit faster than the front, so watch your items
Rating: 4.4 Stars
Nostalgia RTOV220RETRORED Retro 12-Slice Toaster Oven
If you like the retro style but don’t want to shell out for an antique, Nostalgia has you covered with a delightful red retro-style toaster oven.
Enjoy a clever toaster oven comes with 0.7 cubic feet of space, which is ample enough to handle cooking twelve slices of bread at once or two small pizzas.
1500 watts power this toaster oven so you can bake, toast, or broil. The clear window lets you keep an eye on your food as it cooks, and the temperature controls range from 200 to 400 degrees.
Cleanup isn’t too bad, as the crumb tray is removable. You can get started cooking, as this convection toaster oven conveniently comes with an aluminum baking pan and two racks.
The knobs are cleanly designed, and you can take advantage of a 60-minute timer with a bell if you have to step away for a moment.
Pros
- Retro style is eye-catching
- Lots of cubic space to cook plenty of things at once
- Clear window gives you view inside while it’s cooking
Cons
- No way to determine clearly when the oven reaches the desired temperature
Rating: 4.1 Stars
Oster Digital Countertop Toaster Oven
If you just need a middle-of-the-road toaster oven that is not too large, this 6-slice toaster oven from Oster may be the right fit.
Since this is a convection oven, you can cook using a temperature range from 150 degrees to 450 degrees, rivaling a normal size oven. There is no need to fuss with troublesome knobs that might not be clearly marked, as digital controls allow you to select the right settings.
If you can’t get a good look inside the oven, there is a handy interior light to keep things illuminated.
Oster made this bargain toaster oven spacious enough to handle a 12-inch pizza, casseroles, and even a small roast.
The power cord measures 31.5 inches in length for flexibility of placement, and the crumb tray is removable for easy cleanup.
Pros
- Includes baking pan
- Digital controls use seven preset settings
- Convection technology reaches up to 450 degrees F
Cons
- Slow to cook if you are in a rush
Rating: 4.1 Stars
Toaster Oven by Mueller Austria
Other toaster ovens may be tricky about evenly toasting items when they are closer to the front or the back, but Mueller Austria’s toaster oven is designed to resist such problems.
Toasting four slices of bread in one shot is easy with this toaster oven, without fear of any slices being overcooked or underdone. The interior of this toaster oven is curved, which is perfect for heating a pizza.
Four major functions are covered by this toaster oven, including broiling, baking, toasting, and keeping food warm until you’re ready to eat.
Similar to a larger oven without taking up as much space, this toaster oven uses convection heat to cook things up to 450 degrees. There is a built-in timer that is limited to 30 minutes to keep track.
Pros
- 1100 watts of power
- Reaches up to 450 degrees F
- Ample space to toast four slices of bread
Cons
- It’s hard to pull the bottom tray out when servicing
Rating: 4.1 Stars
Black + Decker Toaster Oven
When you need the flexibility provided by a toaster oven, Black and Decker has you covered with this wide-set appliance. Convection heating powered by 1500 watts helps heat foods evenly for excellent taste and texture, rivaling a traditional oven.
The circulating fan works quickly to bake items, so you don’t have to wait long to eat.
Instead of fussing over knob controls, digital controls make selecting the desired feature or temperature seamless. There is even a 120-minute timer built-in, which helps you keep tabs on your cooking, so you don’t forget.
Save energy and space with this toaster oven when you want to heat a snack, back cookies, enjoy pizza, or cook frozen foods.
The interior of the toaster oven is curved to handle 12-inch pizzas, and there are two racks for convenience.
Pros
- 1500 watts of power
- 120-minute timer
- Digital controls
Cons
- The area around the buttons can become hot
Rating: 4 Stars
Black + Decker Extra Wide 8-Slice Toaster Oven
Toaster ovens like this one can tackle larger jobs, with enough space to cook up to eight slices of toast comfortably.
A sizable pan with handles measuring nine inches by thirteen inches can be placed inside without a problem. Save money on having to buy specialty mini cookware, as this toaster oven is spacious enough to use standard baking pans.
Keep food warm until you are ready to set the table, or use the rack to broil or toast items. Toasting is easier with the way this oven is designed, as you can select the setting via the desired shade for your bread.
Due to the nature of this toaster oven, the temperature inside may be slightly cooler than what you set, but you still get reliable results.
The included 60-minute timer will allow the oven to stay on for tasks that go beyond the limit. Three racks allow you to adjust the oven to bake or toast things just right.
Pros
- Three rack positions
- Included 60-minute timer
- Roomy enough to handle standard sized bakeware
Cons
- There have been some issues with calibrating the temperature
Rating: 3.9 Stars
Hamilton Beach Toastation
Hamilton Beach isn’t afraid to make bold design decisions, as this toaster oven combines a standard toaster with a countertop oven. Save on money and energy with this nifty device, which allows you to toast up to two slices of bread up top, but still bake or broil in the drawer.
Both the oven rack and a baking pan that is included are dishwasher safe, so keeping things clean and maintained isn’t stressful.
Choose between toasting bread using a shade indicator or fit up to two pizza slices comfortably inside for a quick snack.
If you wish to bake anything, you will need to select the Oven Mode and set the oven to 450 degrees. Preheat takes about fifteen minutes and then you are ready to go.
Aesthetics were clearly a thought with this toaster oven, and the door handle grants quick access. Once this toaster oven has done its job, if you are still away from the auto-shutoff feature prevents unwanted incidents.
Cleanup requires removing the crumb tray and giving this appliance a wipe down.
Pros
- Settings provide consistent results
- Oven Mode reaches 450 degrees
- Combines toaster and oven all-in-one
Cons
- The toaster oven is on the small side of the spectrum, which might not be enough space
Rating: 3.8 Stars
Buyer’s Guide
Toaster ovens, just like other kitchen appliances do eventually break down, so it pays to prepare for a replacement in the future. The average lifespan of a toaster oven is about five years, provided it is used correctly and receives routine maintenance.
It is vital that owners of a toaster oven take the time to remove crumbs, stains, and other debris that can take away from the toaster oven’s appearance and function.
If a toaster oven stops heating up, starts to emit smoke, or is making strange noises it’s time for a replacement.
Make sure to measure out the counter space where you want to place your toaster oven, so you don’t accidentally bring home an appliance that is too large for your space. Know well how you plan on using your toaster oven, so that it is capable of heating up to the right temperature, or has preset settings for specific foods.
On the flip side, be cautious about grabbing a toaster oven that is too small to meet your needs, even if it’s a good price.
Overall, we want you to realize that there are economical toaster ovens available that provide consistent results or can prove helpful when you need more room in the standard oven.
Toaster ovens are effective, make reliable replacements for a microwave, and are low maintenance. Anyone who has concerns about microwaves and radiation or denatured food can feel confident with a toaster oven.
If you don’t like the idea of fussing with a larger oven, want to cut down on your gas bill, or enjoy making small batches of baked goods, toaster ovens are a winner. Thanks to how a toaster oven is designed and heats food efficiently, using one significantly reduce your carbon imprint.
Once you have decided on your budget, consider how many items your toaster oven choice can handle, the power wattage, and other features that might make it a deal-breaker
Best Time To Buy
Right before the year ends, you can grab the best deals for a toaster oven in November and December, before new inventory hits the shelves. If you can make good timing when shopping for a small appliance like a toaster oven, you could potentially save 20 to 30% off of the suggested retail price.
