Best Budget Toaster Oven Reviews & Buying Guide 2023
If you do not need the gadget with a full list of bells and whistles, you can find the best budget toaster oven and the best inexpensive toaster oven with a decent set of features without breaking the bank.
Have some extra cash to spend? Then you can get a more functional oven that will have most of the necessary features for just about a hundred dollars.
But you will have the majority of your cooking needs covered even if you choose a good inexpensive toaster oven.
You can be sure you will not think about getting a replacement at least for a couple of years.
If you have a bit more money to spend, you should look into ovens from Cuisinart and Breville. You can start by checking out my Breville BOV650XL review.
Contents
Common Features Of Budget Toaster Ovens
Out of the many features, most of the best-rated cheap toaster ovens under 100 dollars possess the following features:
- Toast shade monitors: These help your toasts achieve your preferred shade of golden
- Cool to the touch handles: No more burning your hands
- Spacious interior: Most of them could hold a large pizza inside
- Digital controls
- Often have exteriors made out of stainless steel
- Basic functions, including baking, broil, and toast
- Several models in this inexpensive price range including Oster mentioned above, have a convection fan that circulates the hot air in the oven.
Getting a toaster oven for your kitchen setting is an important move, given how we intend to buy this toaster oven to be used for a long time. This chapter assesses my selection of the best toaster ovens under $100 in a constructive way. That will let potential buyers like you can get a better understanding of toaster ovens before investing a hefty amount of your hard-earned dollars.
The diverse market of kitchen appliances can leave customers confused and intimidated about which affordable toaster oven to buy. And the trick to sorting out a plan through this is to study the best ones. But first, you need to understand the toaster oven features and determine which ones are suitable for your usage and your budget.
Introduction
Toaster ovens have a very inclusive functionality ranging from toasting slices of bread to cooking a whole pot chicken. However, it’s better to know what features and attributes you need before sorting through list of hundreds of models claiming to be the best toaster oven.
If you’re not someone who needs heavy-duty work done by the toaster oven, then it’s better to decide on something lightweight and minimal, avoiding too extravagant ones.
And if you’re looking for a do-it-all budget toaster oven for experimenting around with cooking, then you can get the fancy ones with high power performance.
7 Best Budget Toaster Oven Models
Before we proceed, let’s take a look at some of the best inexpensive toaster oven models available in the market.
#1 Cuisinart TOB-80N (Rising Talent)
The Cuisinart TOB-80N perfect space-saving countertop oven for any kind of kitchen. This model has four functions: toast, bake, broil, and keep warm. The functionality is very user-friendly and simple. You just have to choose the desired function among the aforementioned four, fix the temperature and time limit, and press the start button.
The temperature and cooking duration settings are customizable. With just 3 control dials, this toaster oven covers a lot for many of us. We will not need to touch controls multiple times to get the desired effect. With a dimension of 15.5 x 17.12 x 10 in, the unit weighs a bit over 11 lbs. The external material used here is stainless steel. The downside to this is that even the oven’s color is stainless steel. That can be a big NO for some of us who are very sincere about the outlook of the kitchen.
It contains a hands-free auto-slide removable crumb tray, the TOB80N has a non-stick interior that is easy to clean. The toaster oven takes up 1500 watt power for functioning. As energy efficient as that factor is, it can also end up taking more time to bake.
This oven comes with a recipe book, allowing you to choose from various recipes. It also teaches you a couple of useful cooking tricks. The interior can easily fit 4 slices of bread or 9 inch pizzas at a time. The Cuisinart provides a 2-year warranty for the toaster oven.
A counter-friendly device, this oven has a spacious interior. Moreover, the user also gets a free broiling rack. The TOB-80N is user-friendly, allowing even kids to operate it with ease. Whether you want your toast a light golden or really dark, the Cuisinart toaster oven functions impeccably.
The toast shade fixing dial is often complained as tough to work with. Heating is convenient as this appliance beeps thrice after heating cycle is complete. However, the ticking sound can end up irritating some, as stated in reviews.
The toaster provides slots for two different rack placements. The absence of bagel function can be a drawback for some users.
Pros
- User-friendly simple controls
- Four functions: toast, bake, broil and keep warm
- Minimalistic functionality involving only three dials
- Non-stick interior
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Removable crumb tray available
- 2 year warranty
- Worth the money as per prior customers
- Space-saving toaster oven
- Customizable heating and time chart
- Commodious interior
- No need of an oven mitt
- Customizable toast shade
Cons
- Sports a stainless steel color
- Can take more time to bake
- BPA free materials
- Loud ticking sound
- No bagel function
- Rigidity in the knobs
- Timer not applicable for baking and broiling function
#2 Cuisinart TOB-40N (Powerful)
If you are looking for a mid-price ranged toaster oven, the Cuisinart TOB-40 has been a winner sporting the #1 position for a long while. This toaster oven is a convenient appliance that has four functions: toast, bagel, bake and boil. With a dimension of 16.29″ x 14.63″ x 8.86″, this kitchen appliance weighs 15.6 lbs.
The material is stainless steel which is practically the most preferred one. The Cuisinart TOB-40 comes in silver color. Its interior is non-stick and could easily hold a large pizza (up to 11 inches). Also, the non-stick feature makes cleaning simple and effort-free. The front of this oven is made up of stainless steel, which makes it look better.
Operating at a power of 1800 Watts, this toaster oven is intelligent with its always even toast shade monitors which make sure that your toasts are exactly the way you like. The toasting feature ensures even shading whilst making sure the bread does not dry out.
The slice capacity ranges from 4 to 6 slices. There are heating elements on both the top and bottom. Due to this, the heating performance has been reportedly impressive according to the customers. In the case of the bagel setting, the upper heating element ejects more heat than the bottom one so that the bagels outer part of toasty with respect to the other softer side.
Adjusting the timing is very simple and consistent. However, the bake and broil function cannot avail the timer which can be very bothersome at times.
With rubberized dials, a cool-touch handle, and a removable tray, the Cuisinart TOB-40N is a smart choice. The auto side-out rack allows easy removal of hot cooked food. The automatic shutoff feature prevents the user from burning themselves.
The Cuisinart TOB-40N is smart with cord storage that takes up the excess cord. It also has a wide temperature range for the temperature dial, from 150 degrees to 450 degrees. The writings indicating the functions of the buttons have been complained to be too small to read. But honestly, I think the petty downsides are not much if you think about how mid-ranged the price is.
Pros
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Non-stick interior and cool-touch handle
- Even toasting technology
- Mid-ranged affordable price
- The outer body does not get heated
- Excellent toasting performance
- Automatic slide-out rack prevents accidental burns or the need for hand mitts
- Time-efficient toasting technology
- All accessories are dishwasher safe
- Easily removable crumb tray
- Limited 3-years warranty
- BPA free plastic parts
Cons
- Takes up considerable space
- Absence of timer for bake and broil functions
- Tough to fit in 6 bread slices as opposed to what they promise
- The alarm sound is too loud and similar to fire alarms
- Font size too small on the button labels
#3 Hamilton Beach 31330 (Highly Rated)
Unlike many toaster ovens, the 31330 convection oven cooks food evenly. With a dimension of 17.7 x 14.2 x 9 inches, this toaster oven weighs 11.7 lbs and on not only affordable but also compact. It has a roomy interior and a large 12 inch pizza or 6 slices of bread would fit inside easily.
This model by Hamilton Beach has been credited to be a very reasonable option for pizza lovers, given the baking performance and the roomy interior. The oven comes in a color mixture of black and silver, giving it a classy touch if you ask me. This Hamilton Beach oven has the following functions: toast, bake, broil and keep warm.
The Hamilton Beach 31330 looks simple and elegant with a large, curved glass door. The curved aspect of the door facilitates users with more hand space during the movement of the food item. It is available with a black and red finish. It comes with an auto-advance rack, giving easy access to the user. It comes with a baking pan, broil rack, and removable slide-out crumb tray. Some have mentioned the poor visibility of the labeling of the controls.
Other functions of the 31330 include the 30-minute timer. With this feature, the oven will keep cooking until manually turned off or the 30 minutes end. This facilitates users in cooking food items that take a long time.
It comes with a ready bell that indicates the end of the heating/cooling cycle. There’s also a Stay On feature that makes the oven continue cooking until manually turned off by the user. But I would suggest being very careful while using this feature.
The temperature selector has a wide range of 150 degrees to 450 degrees. It happens to be very energy-efficient. For the toaster function, a knob allows you to choose between light and dark toast. I have, however, concluded that this toaster oven performs well as an oven than as a toaster. So, I would suggest toast lovers to steer clear of this toaster oven and consider other options.
Pros
- Very commodious
- The heat range of 150 degrees to 450 degrees
- Energy efficient
- 2 rack levels
- Auto-advance feature
- Slide-out crumb tray
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Looks classic for the black and silver color
Cons
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- Excess exterior temperature
- Poorly functioning convention fan
- Not a great toaster
- Poor labeling of controls
#4 BLACK+DECKER CTO6335S
The Black and Decker CT06335S Countertop Convection Oven is the ultimate product of fine convection technology and grace. With a dimension of 22.8 x 13.4 x 15.5 inches, the toaster oven weighs 15.5 pounds. It has a power capacity of 1500 watts and performs majestically.
This toaster oven can fit 6 slices of bread or 12 inch pizzas or even one whole chicken. Among many toaster ovens, this one was found to be very temperature accurate. You get what you asked for.
The functioning of this oven is found to be very user-friendly. And the excellent convection fan technology does not only cook food faster but also does so evenly. Users have commented on this oven is very suitable for baking dishes. If you are looking for the best toaster oven for baking, this one may be an excellent choice.
The adjustable rack positioning feature is a very convenient one. Basically, there are 2 rack positions, however, the wire rack is designed such that it allows the user to have four different positions to keep the rack on.
The temperature in this oven ranges from 200°F to 450°F. It is better not to use this for simply keeping the food warm because even the lowest temperature is too much for keeping food warm. And may result in over-cooked food items.
The control panels offer an array of 12 controls namely, timer, bake, broil, toast, bagel, temp, cookies, pizza, frozen snack, Start/ stop, convection, etc. As per consumer feedback, I have noticed people complaining that the touchpad interface does not function accurately. This diverse array of controls may seem hard to grasp at first, but you get used to it.
Just above the control panel is the LCD display screen. Customers have mentioned that the buttons can get heated during cooking. However, not hot enough to cause burns.
The timer setting is a must when it comes to this toaster oven from Black & Decker. If not mentioned, the Black & Decker CT06335S oven automatically sets the timer to 30mins. I would have appreciated it if it was 10mins/15mins and not 30mins, considering user convenience.
Then again, a very uncomfortable aspect of it is the fact that users HAD TO fix a temperature setting before setting the timer. However, it has a very accurate temperature dial. This toaster oven offers a 2-years warranty which is better than many ovens out there.
Pros
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- Temperature accuracy
- Impressive convection technology
- Versatile cooking performance
- 6 preset one-touch cooking functions
- Generous timer settings
- Fast and even cooking
- Great for baking pies and cakes
- Large interior
- Easy to clean
- 2-year warranty provided
- Removable crumb tray
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Cons
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- Absence of door hinge
- No rack stopper
- No rotisserie settings
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#5 Oster TSSTTVMNDG (Popular)
Recognized as one of the best products of 2011 in a leading consumer research magazine, the Oster TSSTTVMNDG is a toaster oven that allows faster, more even cooking. This is thanks to its smart convection technology. This toaster oven with dimensions of 15.37 x 19.76 x 11.38 in weighs 20.3 lbs. and stainless steel is the material being used.
This toaster oven is available in the color black. One can easily fit their pot chicken in the chamber with such an extra-large interior. The Oster TSSTTVMNDG has a crumb tray that can be removed and cleaned as well. It has two rack positions. Also, this appliance makes use of digital controls. Apparently, this model is one of the cheapest toaster ovens that features a digital control panel. Moreover, the interior light helps with easy viewing.
The digital control has seven cooking settings. Here’s the button for oven setting from which you can choose bake or convectional bake or broil. For toasting, you get to have decent control over the temperature, timing, and toast shade as well. The oven toasts excellently preventing the drying out of bread items no matter the toasting shade.
And I must mention the presence of a bagel toasting option. Anyhow, some have reported the toasting process to be slow. Any high power toast mode can burn the bread item.
The interior space is promising enough to fit 9-12 inches of pizza. However, I do not know if that information was taken considering the handles in the scenario. The defrost option makes sure you can warm frosted food items before baking or toasting them. Sporting a separate defrost button, the Oster TSSTTVMNDG also has an oven clock. The oven clock is a great addition to the abovementioned attributes of this toaster oven.
While cooking in the convection bake setting, this oven is quiet, unlike many others. The impressive internal capacity adored by the convection fan feature facilitates faster and easier functioning than a typical toaster oven.
Whether your recipe calls for a 500 degrees oven or you want to melt the parmesan over your lasagna at a low temperature, this oven will produce results that live up to your expectations. The oven clock is very precise and turns off when the task is done. The alarm sound is kind of low as pointed out by many.
According to the users, this might be one of the best large toaster ovens under $100.
Pros
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- Bakes and toasts perfectly
- Accommodates 6 slices as promised
- Bakes up to 12 inch pizzas
- Convenient crumb removable tray
- User-friendly digital controls
- Fine interior lighting
- Maintains temperature accurately
- Adaptable in multiple ways
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Cons
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- Burns toasts on high settings
- Beep sound is low
- Wire rack does not have a stoppage
- Instruction manual is not thorough enough
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#6 Toshiba AC25CEW-BS
The Toshiba AC25CEW-BS sports a black stainless steel image that blends into the kitchen’s outlook impressively well. This toaster oven weighs 16.21 pounds with a dimension of 19×10.8×15.6 inches. It possesses a capacity of 6 slices and even fits 12-inch pizzas. The appliance comes with a baking pan and a 3 piece rotisserie set. It has a temperature setting ranging from 150°F to 450°F. The temperature accuracy is proven to be significantly high. It has a power of 1500 watts and a voltage of 120V.
The toaster oven functions on 10 different available settings that generate a sense of accuracy and control for the users out there. And the backlit Blue LED digital display just adds up to the look. The modes in the control panel are very easy to read and follow as well. The adjustability in the rack positions is very helpful for a diverse range of food items. The convection fan technology speeds up the cooking process and promotes even cooking of food at the same time. Also very useful for baking and toasting. It’s better to use this feature at a lower temperature.
The removable crumb tray makes the cleaning process easier. However, this feature is something very commonly found in all ovens. And I would not gush much over it. The oven has 7 preset cooking modes namely, toast, broil, bake, and defrost, cookies, reheat, pizza, rotisserie, convection, and keep warm. This wide array of cooking modes is something that caught my eye in Toshiba’s case. The interior surface is non-stick.
Pros
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- 10 different manual settings
- Removable crumb tray
- Faster and even cooking due to convection fan
- Non-stick interior
- Rotisserie function
- Adjustable rack positions
- LED digital display and conveniently readable labels
- Functioning process is very precise, and to the point
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Cons
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- Not very well-functioning
- Complains about the warranty
#7 Hamilton Beach 31511 (Modern & Stylish)
The Hamilton Beach 31511 is stainless steel beauty that uses up to 74% less energy compared to a typical toaster oven. With a dimension of 16.75 x 13 x 9 in, it weighs only 11.9 lbs. This does not sport the convection feature.
It has the following functions: bake, broil, and toast. Using a 30-minute timer, this appliance has an auto-shutoff system. It also has a loud and clear ring bell that indicates the end of the cooking/baking process.
This toaster oven holds the ability to fit a medium-sized pizza. The rack is also made of stainless steel and has three levels to be fixated on. Depending on the food items, one has to determine which level to put the rack in. The top rack should be suitable for making toasts or bagels or English muffins, or even to broil food that does not need much time to broil. The middle rack should be appropriate for toasts, pizzas, or broiling food items that take a considerable amount of time. And lastly, the bottom rack should be used to make chicken roasts or food items that are tall.
I would suggest users be careful while pulling the rack out since it lacks any stop point. Things can get ugly pretty quickly. The temperature knob allows the user to raise the broiling temperature to up to 450 degrees. The unit also has a cool-touch handle that assists in the easy opening of the oven door. Therefore, you don’t find yourself burning yourself in the process of operating the oven.
The 31511 is 27% faster than many of the other ovens found in the market. The three control dials are Temperature, Function, and Timer. The temperature lets you choose from 200 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Function dial has the bake, broil, and toast functions. From the Timer dial, you can choose from Stay On/Off, Toast Settings, and time markings. Moreover, it isn’t large or bulky. If necessary, finding a space for this toaster oven will not be a hassle even in a small kitchen.
Pros
- Auto shutoff system
- Saves time and energy
- Glass door for convenient monitoring of food
- Three control dials
- BPA free parts that get in touch with food
- Removable crumb tray
- The heating process is very time efficient
Cons
- Inaccurate temperature
- No LCD display
- The timer dial is very stiff
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the top-rated toaster oven under 200 dollars?
The appliance prices vary all the time depending on the season, retailer, and other factors. The toaster oven under $200 definitely falls into the affordable price range reviewed in this article, but you should check out products one by one to see the current price.
Is it possible to turn off the toaster oven before the cycle is complete?
The answer is yes. You have the freedom to stop the cycle whenever you want. Just turn the timer anti-clockwise so it can point to the ‘off’ section. The bell will then go off to signal the end of the cycle.
Is it possible to operate my oven without using the crumb tray?
Yes, it is possible but not advisable to do that. Using the oven with the crumb tray prevents it from damaging your countertop. make sure you have removed excess food and tightly closed the crumb tray in its position.
Conclusion
A toaster oven is generally something you intend to buy once in quite a while, considering how much money goes into buying one. This article gives you a constructive insight into the selection of inexpensive toaster oven models available in the market.
As much as I have always mentioned how only one toaster oven cannot be the best option for everyone, and it truly depends on the kind of usage you expect to make. I will also give a final verdict on the toaster oven that I find the best among all seven of them.
As diverse the features of available best toaster ovens under 100 dollars are in the kitchen appliance market, it needs no saying how there are always certain features any user will need for the convenient operation of ovens.
I have found the Black & Decker CT06335S, has undoubtedly the most impressive array of features that makes it a favorite for the users out there.
The specifications of this model of toaster oven have been found to be the most suitable for all kinds of users. Starting from the accurate temperature setting to the precise options and modes, the Black & Decker CT06335S strives to meet customers’ convenience which is very commendable.
And hence, I found it to be among the affordable toaster ovens and would recommend it to potential users.
If after checking out the affordable toaster ovens you decide that you need something more feature rich, check out my Breville BMO870BSS Combi Wave™ 3 in 1 Oven Review.