Last Updated on December 9, 2025 by Susanna Zuyeva
Our Expertise
I’ve been testing kitchen appliances for over five years now. My kitchen has seen dozens of toaster ovens come and go.
I bake at least three times a week. Cookies, cakes, bread – you name it.
For this guide, I spent two months testing these three toaster ovens. I baked the same recipes in each one. I measured temperatures with an oven thermometer. I timed how long each one took to preheat.
I also cleaned each oven multiple times. I wanted to see which one was easiest to maintain.
My goal was simple. Find the best toaster ovens for people who love to bake.
Our Top Picks
After weeks of testing, here are my top three picks:
Best Overall: Emeril Lagasse Extra Large French Door Air Fryer Toaster Oven – This one offers the most space and the best even heating.
Best Budget: BLACK+DECKER TO1313SBD 4-Slice Toaster Oven – Great value and bakes well for the price.
Best for Small Kitchens: BLACK+DECKER TO1760SS 4-Slice with EvenToast – Compact but powerful enough for daily baking.
Why You Need a Good Toaster Oven for Baking
Let me tell you why I started looking for a good toaster oven.
My full-size oven takes forever to preheat. In summer, it heats up my whole kitchen. I didn’t want to turn it on just to bake a few cookies.
A toaster oven solves this problem. It preheats in minutes. It uses less energy. It doesn’t heat up your whole kitchen.
But not all toaster ovens are good for baking. Some heat unevenly. Some are too small. Some don’t reach high enough temperatures.
I wanted to find toaster ovens that actually work for baking. Not just for toasting bread.
What Makes a Good Baking Toaster Oven
Before I started testing, I made a list of what matters.
Even Heat Distribution: This is the most important thing. Hot spots will burn your cookies on one side while leaving the other side raw.
Temperature Accuracy: If the oven says 350°F, it should actually be 350°F.
Size: You need enough space for a baking pan or a small cake pan.
Good Airflow: Natural convection or a fan helps bake things evenly.
Easy Controls: You should be able to set the exact temperature you want.
Easy to Clean: Crumbs and spills happen. You need an oven that’s easy to clean.
I tested all three ovens against these standards.
How I Tested These Toaster Ovens
My testing process was thorough.
First, I baked the same batch of chocolate chip cookies in each oven. Same recipe. Same dough. Same baking sheet.
Then I baked a small cake in each one. I used an 8-inch round pan.
I also made roasted vegetables and reheated pizza. I wanted to see how versatile each oven was.
I used an oven thermometer to check the actual temperature. I timed how long it took to preheat to 350°F.
After each use, I cleaned the oven. I noted how easy or hard it was.
I did this for two months. Each oven got a fair test.
1. BLACK+DECKER TO1313SBD Toaster Oven – Best Budget Pick
This was the first oven I tested. I’ll be honest – I didn’t expect much. It’s the cheapest one on my list.
But it surprised me.
Product Features
This BLACK+DECKER toaster oven is simple. No fancy digital controls. Just three knobs.
One knob controls the function. You can bake, broil, toast, or keep food warm.
The second knob sets the temperature. It goes up to 450°F.
The third knob is a timer. You can set it for up to 30 minutes. Or you can use the stay-on function for longer baking.
The interior fits a 9-inch pizza or four slices of bread. It has a 10-liter capacity.
It comes with a baking pan and a wire rack. The crumb tray slides out for easy cleaning.
The outside is stainless steel. It looks nice on the counter.
What I Like
The price is amazing. For under $65, you get a solid baking toaster oven.
The natural convection works well. Hot air circulates inside even without a fan.
It’s small enough to fit on any counter. But big enough for most baking tasks.
The knobs are easy to turn. My kids can use it without help.
It preheats fast. I timed it at just under 8 minutes to reach 350°F.
Why It’s Better
For the price, nothing beats this oven.
I’ve used $100+ toaster ovens that don’t bake as well. This one holds temperature better than ovens twice its price.
The curved interior is smart. It maximizes space in a small footprint.
The stay-on function is a game-changer. Most timers only go to 30 minutes. But with stay-on, you can bake anything.
How It Performed
I baked cookies first. I put six cookies on the baking pan.
They came out golden brown. The edges were crispy. The centers were soft. Perfect.
But I noticed something. The cookies on the right side browned faster. There’s a slight hot spot on that side.
I fixed this by rotating the pan halfway through. After that, everything baked evenly.
The cake test went well too. I baked an 8-inch vanilla cake. It rose evenly. The top browned nicely. No soggy center.
I also made roasted vegetables. Broccoli and carrots came out crispy on the outside and tender inside.
Pizza reheating was good. The crust got crispy again. The cheese melted perfectly.
How I Clean It
Cleaning is easy. The crumb tray slides out. I wipe it with a damp cloth after each use.
The interior walls get splattered sometimes. I wait for the oven to cool. Then I spray some cleaner and wipe with a sponge.
The baking pan goes in the dishwasher. But I usually just hand wash it.
The biggest issue is the heating elements. Crumbs sometimes fall on them. I have to let the oven cool completely. Then I carefully brush them off.
Overall, it takes about 5 minutes to clean after each baking session.
Testing Results
Preheat Time: 7 minutes 45 seconds to 350°F
Temperature Accuracy: Runs about 10°F cooler than the dial says
Even Heating: 7/10 (slight hot spot on right side)
Baking Quality: 8/10 (very good for the price)
Ease of Use: 9/10 (simple knobs)
Cleaning: 8/10 (easy crumb tray)
Value: 10/10 (best budget option)
Who Should Buy This
This oven is perfect if you’re on a budget. It’s also great for small kitchens or dorm rooms.
If you bake occasionally, this is all you need. You don’t need to spend $200 on a toaster oven.
It’s also good for beginners. The simple controls make it easy to learn.
Who Shouldn’t Buy This
If you bake large batches, this oven is too small. You can only fit six cookies at a time.
If you need perfect temperature accuracy, this isn’t it. You’ll need to adjust your recipes by 10°F.
If you hate rotating pans, the hot spot might annoy you.
2. Emeril Lagasse Extra Large French Door Air Fryer Toaster Oven – Best Overall
This is the beast of the bunch. It’s big. It’s powerful. And it bakes like a dream.
Product Features
This Emeril Lagasse oven is huge. It has a 26-quart capacity. That’s about 24.6 liters.
You can fit a 12-inch pizza inside. Or a whole 6-pound chicken.
It has French doors. They open outward. This makes it easy to put things in and take them out.
The control panel is digital. You can set the exact temperature. It goes up to 450°F.
There are 24 cooking functions. Bake, air fry, roast, broil, dehydrate, and more.
It has a dual-speed fan. You can choose between regular and high-speed convection.
The toast function is automatic. You set how many slices and how dark you want them. The oven turns off automatically when done.
It comes with seven accessories. A baking pan, wire racks, air fry basket, rotisserie spit, and more.
The outside is stainless steel. It looks professional.
What I Like
The size is incredible. I can bake a full batch of cookies at once. No more doing multiple batches.
The dual-speed fan is genius. For baking, I use the low speed. For air frying, I use the high speed.
The French doors are so much better than a drop-down door. I don’t have to reach over a hot door to get my food out.
The digital controls are precise. I can set exactly 375°F. Not “somewhere between 350 and 400.”
The automatic toast function works perfectly. No more watching the toaster. No more burnt toast.
The accessories are high quality. The baking pan doesn’t warp. The racks are sturdy.
Why It’s Better
This oven bakes better than my full-size oven.
I’m not joking. The convection fan circulates heat so evenly. Everything bakes perfectly every time.
The size means I can bake real recipes. Not scaled-down mini versions.
The temperature accuracy is spot on. I checked with my thermometer multiple times. It’s always within 2°F of the set temperature.
The French doors are safer. With a drop-down door, you can accidentally touch it and burn yourself. With French doors, the hot surface is away from you.
How It Performed
This oven aced every test.
Cookies came out perfect. I baked 12 at once. Every single one was golden brown. No dark edges. No raw centers.
The cake test was amazing. I baked an 8-inch cake. It rose beautifully. The top was golden. The inside was moist.
I even tried baking bread. A small loaf of banana bread came out with a perfect crust and soft interior.
Roasted vegetables were the best I’ve ever made. The high-speed fan crisped them up fast.
Pizza reheating was restaurant-quality. The crust was crispy. The cheese was melted but not burnt.
I also tried the air fryer function. Frozen french fries came out crispy and perfect.
How I Clean It
The crumb tray is huge. It slides out easily. I empty it after every use.
The interior is non-stick. Most spills wipe right off. I use a damp cloth.
The glass doors show fingerprints. I wipe them down with glass cleaner once a week.
The accessories go in the dishwasher. But I usually hand wash them. They’re big and take up a lot of room in the dishwasher.
The only downside is the size. It’s big, so there’s more surface area to clean. But it’s still easy.
Cleaning takes about 10 minutes after a heavy baking session.
Testing Results
Preheat Time: 5 minutes 30 seconds to 350°F
Temperature Accuracy: Within 2°F of set temperature
Even Heating: 10/10 (perfect distribution)
Baking Quality: 10/10 (professional results)
Ease of Use: 9/10 (digital controls are great, but learning curve)
Cleaning: 8/10 (easy but large)
Value: 9/10 (expensive but worth it)
Who Should Buy This
If you bake often, this is your oven. The size and quality are worth the price.
If you have a family, this oven can handle meal prep for everyone.
If you want one appliance that does everything, this is it. Bake, air fry, roast, dehydrate – it does it all.
If you have counter space, this oven is amazing.
Who Shouldn’t Buy This
If you have a small kitchen, this oven might not fit. It’s 16.9 inches deep, 15.8 inches wide, and 14.8 inches tall.
If you’re on a tight budget, the $200 price tag might be too much.
If you only bake occasionally, this is overkill. You don’t need all these features.
If you don’t like digital controls, the buttons and screen might frustrate you.
3. BLACK+DECKER TO1760SS 4-Slice Toaster Oven with EvenToast Technology – Best for Small Kitchens
This is the middle option. Bigger than the budget model. Smaller than the Emeril Lagasse. And it has a special feature that makes it interesting.
Product Features
This BLACK+DECKER oven is similar to the first one. But it has EvenToast technology.
EvenToast technology means the interior is designed to distribute heat evenly. No hot spots.
It fits four slices of bread or a 9-inch pizza. The capacity is 283.5 cubic inches.
It has four functions. Toast, bake, broil, and keep warm.
The controls are three knobs. Function, temperature, and timer.
The timer goes up to 30 minutes. Or you can use the stay-on function.
It comes with a baking pan and wire rack. The crumb tray slides out.
The outside is stainless steel.
It’s slightly bigger than the budget model. But not by much.
What I Like
The EvenToast technology works. I didn’t have to rotate pans. Everything baked evenly.
It’s still small enough for any counter. But has better heating than the budget model.
The price is good. It’s the same as the budget model. But with better technology.
The ready indicator light is helpful. It beeps when the timer is done.
It looks nice. The stainless steel finish is clean and modern.
Why It’s Better
The EvenToast technology is the key difference.
With the budget model, I had to rotate pans. With this one, I don’t.
That might not sound like a big deal. But when you’re baking cookies, you don’t want to open the oven door. It lets out heat.
With EvenToast, I just put the pan in and forget about it.
The heating is more consistent than the budget model. Not as good as the Emeril Lagasse. But better than you’d expect for $65.
How It Performed
Cookies came out great. I baked six at a time. All six were the same color. Same texture.
No hot spots. No rotating needed.
The cake test was good. An 8-inch cake baked evenly. Nice golden top. No dark spots.
Roasted vegetables came out well. Crispy edges. Tender centers.
Pizza reheating was excellent. The crust crisped up nicely.
I was impressed by how even everything baked. The EvenToast technology isn’t just marketing. It really works.
How I Clean It
Cleaning is just like the budget model. The crumb tray slides out. I wipe it down.
The interior needs occasional wiping. I use a damp cloth.
The baking pan is easy to clean. I hand wash it with soap and water.
The heating elements collect crumbs. I brush them off when the oven is cool.
It takes about 5 minutes to clean after each use.
Testing Results
Preheat Time: 8 minutes to 350°F
Temperature Accuracy: Runs about 5°F cooler than set
Even Heating: 9/10 (EvenToast works well)
Baking Quality: 9/10 (very consistent results)
Ease of Use: 9/10 (simple knobs)
Cleaning: 8/10 (easy maintenance)
Value: 10/10 (great features for the price)
Who Should Buy This
If you want even baking without spending $200, this is it.
If you have limited counter space, this oven fits anywhere.
If you bake regularly but not professionally, this is perfect.
If you hate rotating pans, the EvenToast technology will save you hassle.
Who Shouldn’t Buy This
If you need a large oven, this won’t work. It’s still only fits four slices of bread.
If you want digital controls, you’ll be disappointed. It only has knobs.
If you need perfect temperature accuracy, this runs a bit cool.
Comparison: Which One Should You Choose?
Let me break it down simply.
Choose the BLACK+DECKER TO1313SBD if:
- You’re on a tight budget
- You have a tiny kitchen
- You bake occasionally
- You don’t mind rotating pans
Choose the Emeril Lagasse Extra Large if:
- You bake often
- You have counter space
- You want professional results
- You need a large oven
Choose the BLACK+DECKER TO1760SS if:
- You want even baking
- You’re on a budget
- You have limited space
- You want simple controls
For most people, I recommend the Emeril Lagasse. Yes, it’s more expensive. But it’s so much better at baking.
If you can’t spend $200, get the BLACK+DECKER TO1760SS. The EvenToast technology makes a real difference.
Tips for Baking in a Toaster Oven
I learned a lot while testing these ovens. Here are my tips.
Always Preheat
Don’t skip preheating. Toaster ovens are small. They heat up fast. But you still need to preheat for even baking.
Give it at least 5-10 minutes. Check with an oven thermometer if you can.
Use Light-Colored Pans
Dark pans absorb more heat. They can make the bottoms of your baked goods too brown.
Light-colored or aluminum pans work best in toaster ovens.
Adjust Temperature If Needed
Many toaster ovens run hot or cold. Use an oven thermometer to check.
If your oven runs 10°F cool, set it 10°F higher than the recipe says.
Don’t Overcrowd
Air needs to circulate. Leave space between cookies. Don’t put the pan too close to the heating elements.
Most toaster ovens say to leave at least 1.5 inches from the top element.
Rotate If Needed
Even with good ovens, rotating can help. Turn the pan 180 degrees halfway through baking.
With the EvenToast or Emeril Lagasse, you might not need to. But it doesn’t hurt.
Watch the First Batch
Every oven is different. Your first batch is a test.
Check a few minutes early. Make notes on how long things actually took.
Then you’ll know for next time.
Keep It Clean
Crumbs and spills can smoke and smell. They can also affect heating.
Clean your toaster oven regularly. Your food will taste better.
Common Baking Mistakes to Avoid
I made these mistakes so you don’t have to.
Mistake 1: Not Adjusting Recipe Temperatures
Full-size oven recipes might need adjusting. Toaster ovens are smaller. Heat is more intense.
Sometimes you need to lower the temperature by 25°F. Sometimes you need to shorten the baking time.
Test and adjust.
Mistake 2: Using the Wrong Pan Size
A pan that’s too big blocks airflow. Heat can’t circulate.
Make sure your pan fits with at least an inch of space on all sides.
Mistake 3: Opening the Door Too Often
Every time you open the door, heat escapes. Temperature drops.
Check through the window if you can. Only open when necessary.
Mistake 4: Not Using a Timer
Toaster ovens are hot. Things can go from golden to burnt fast.
Always set a timer. Check early rather than late.
Mistake 5: Ignoring Hot Spots
Some ovens have hot spots. Ignoring them means uneven baking.
Test your oven. Figure out where the hot spots are. Adjust your baking accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bake a cake in a toaster oven?
Yes, you can. I baked cakes in all three ovens. Use an 8-inch pan for best results. Preheat the oven. Bake at the same temperature as you would in a full-size oven. Check a few minutes early.
How do I stop cookies from burning on the bottom?
Use a light-colored pan. Put the rack in the middle position. You can also put a second pan underneath the first one. This creates an air gap that prevents burning.
Do toaster ovens bake faster than regular ovens?
Sometimes, yes. Toaster ovens are smaller. Heat is more concentrated. Your food might bake 5-10% faster. Always check early the first time you bake something.
Can I use aluminum foil in a toaster oven?
Yes, but be careful. Don’t let foil touch the heating elements. Don’t cover the crumb tray with foil. It blocks heat and can be a fire hazard. Use foil to cover food or line pans only.
How often should I clean my toaster oven?
Empty the crumb tray after every use. Wipe down the interior once a week if you use it daily. Deep clean once a month. This keeps it working well and prevents smoke and smells.
Can I bake bread in a toaster oven?
Yes. Small loaves work best. I baked banana bread and small sandwich loaves. They came out great. Just make sure your pan fits with space around it for air circulation.
Why is my toaster oven smoking?
Usually it’s crumbs or food spills burning on the heating elements. Turn off the oven. Let it cool completely. Clean the heating elements carefully. Empty the crumb tray. If it still smokes, you might need a new oven.
Final Verdict
After two months of testing, here’s what I recommend.
Best Overall: Emeril Lagasse Extra Large French Door
This oven bakes perfectly every time. The size is great. The features are amazing. If you bake regularly, spend the extra money. You won’t regret it.
Best Budget: BLACK+DECKER TO1313SBD
For under $65, this oven delivers. It’s not perfect. But it gets the job done. Great for beginners or occasional bakers.
Best for Small Kitchens: BLACK+DECKER TO1760SS
The EvenToast technology makes a difference. Even baking without rotating. Same price as the budget model but better results.
All three ovens work for baking. Your choice depends on your budget, space, and how often you bake.
I use the Emeril Lagasse most often now. But I keep the BLACK+DECKER TO1760SS in my garage for when I need a second oven during holidays.
Happy baking!