Countertop Vs. Toaster Oven: What's The Real Difference Between The Two?

Whether you're roasting up a tray of bacon or cooking an entire family meal, a traditional, wall-mounted oven is one of the most important tools in the kitchen. However, larger models are not the best choice for every kitchen — there's a reason traditional ovens don't work in tiny houses. Luckily, there are other powerful cooking appliances you can choose if you're working with a small space or are trying to cut down on how much energy your household consumes. Two popular replacements for a traditional oven are countertop and toaster ovens. Countertop ovens and toaster ovens can seem similar at first glance, but they actually have many differences, especially when it comes to their capabilities.

Both countertop and toaster ovens can handle most daily cooking tasks, such as making toast, reheating leftovers, or roasting food. The price for both appliances can vary greatly depending on the model, but you can typically find good options for around $200–300. Aside from these similarities, the two products function differently. If you don't plan on using the oven for much more than basic heating and cooking, a toaster oven will probably serve you fine. But, if you want access to a large number of cooking features, opt for a countertop oven.

A toaster oven is essentially just a normal toaster set on its side. Most toaster ovens work by heating food from above and below with heat that emits from the heating elements, although some models also have fans that heat food evenly from all sides via convection. Toaster ovens are usually pretty small, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. They are convenient to store when not in use, and since there is less surface area to heat up, toaster ovens can reach the desired internal temperature quickly. If you're only cooking for one or two people or if you need to heat up food efficiently, a toaster oven may be a good investment. Just be sure to keep it sparkling clean with these tips.

The downside of toaster ovens is that they aren't as powerful as regular ovens, which means it takes a lot longer to cook ingredients like meat. This doesn't mean you can't use a toaster oven to cook — you can use one to make everything from bacon to bread, as long as it can reach high enough temperatures — but you definitely won't have as many options as you would if you had a countertop oven. Most toaster ovens also don't have many extra features, such being able to dehydrate or air fry food.

Countertop ovens may be clunkier than toaster ovens, but they fit all the amenities of a wall-mounted oven in a much smaller package. Along with being able to accomplish all the same small tasks of a toaster oven, countertop ovens are powerful enough to roast entire chickens. Thanks to their larger size, countertop ovens can also fit more food so you don't have to cook in batches. This makes countertop ovens a better choice for households with multiple people or folks who want to cook a variety of food. In fact, if you're a serious home cook, you may want a countertop oven to work alongside your wall-mounted if you're making a big feast. If you need some guidance, try out the space-saving Wolf countertop oven.

To decide whether a countertop or toaster oven is better for you, you just have to consider your space and how important cooking is to you. If you need to completely replace your traditional oven, a countertop oven is probably a sound choice. But, if you only need a small appliance to help with day-to-day food prep, a toaster oven should work just fine.