This Toaster Oven Is So Good, I Rarely Use My Real Oven Anymore

I initially bought the Breville toaster oven because I was cooking daily for a private chef client who wanted very small portions of food sent frequently and was frustrated with turning my regular oven on for 30 to 60 minutes every day to bake a dish that weighed scarcely a few ounces and fit on the smallest of baking sheets. As a resident of Los Angeles, where much of the year involves the usage of one’s home air conditioning, I was also tired of wasting so much energy to cool my kitchen down from using the oven.

Eventually, I set out for a more eco-friendly solution and landed on a toaster oven. Once I began searching, though, I was taken aback by all the different functions offered in current models—how is one to choose?

I decided that if I was going to take up counter space, I might as well make it worth it with a single appliance that did the work of several. Ranked one of the top countertop ovens, the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Toaster Oven has 11 functions—toast, bagel, broil, bake, roast, warm, pizza, air fry, reheat, cookies, and slow cook—and is large enough to fit an entire 12-well muffin tin or medium pizza. I knew I would like this product; I just underestimated exactly how impressed I would be. 

This little appliance can cook a piece of fish from frozen, convection-bake cookies that are simultaneously chewy and crispy, bake a batch of cupcakes in less time than a full-size oven, and successfully air-fry anything from chicken wings to sweet potato fries.

My only complaint is in relation to the air fryer function: Unlike dedicated air fryers, this one just has a basket and a drip tray inside the oven. If you’re air frying something that leaks oil, such as breaded chicken thighs, your kitchen will get a little bit smokey. That said, there's never enough smoke to set off the smoke detector in my kitchen, and it disappears as soon as the oven is off.

All parts of the toaster oven are incredibly easy to clean, so any trapped grease can be removed by pulling out the grease tray and washing it off in the sink. Additionally, the parts are dishwasher-safe, so there’s no need to wash them by hand.

While my full-size oven remains a vital part of my kitchen for large applications and meals, I rarely ever use it now. My Breville is perfect for everything from a single batch of baked goods to a festive air-fried meal for myself and my partner. This little appliance can do so much, and so quickly, that it's become my go-to for most daily cooking and baking needs. 

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

Ariane Resnick is a special diet chef, certified nutritionist, and bestselling author. She has more than 20 years experience in the food and writing spaces and believes in a joy-filled approach to health and wellness.