In this article, we’ll be reviewing the best toaster ovens under $50. If you are a fan of compact ovens, this one is for you!
The traditional toaster is fine but let’s face it, you are slightly limited as to what you can put in it. It was great for a slice of bread and maybe a bagel. However, you wouldn’t want to try your frozen pizza! Toaster ovens provide a compact solution to a range of baking needs.
We are going to look at some of the best toaster ovens under $50 and why you would want one.
In a hurry? Here’s our best tip:
Get the Black & Decker toaster oven (TO1313SBD). It’s a great product, very easy to use, capable of impressive temperatures, and all that for an affordable price. Oh, and also the reputable Black & Decker brand behind it.
Table of Contents
The best toaster ovens under $50
Black & Decker 4-Slice Countertop toaster oven (TO1322SBD)
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Key features:
- Bake, broil, and keep warm cooking function
- Baking pan, broil tray, and removable crumb tray included
- EvenToast Technology
- Fits a 9″ pizza
- Size: 11 x 9 x 15.5 inches
This 4-slice toaster is made of stainless steel with a glass see-through door. It measures 11 x 9 x 15.5 inches and weighs just 7.85 pounds. It is a compact toaster but has a curved interior allowing for pizzas up to 9 inches in diameter.
Cooking options include baking and broiling with dedicated trays included. There is the option to keep the food warm or set temperatures between 200ºF and 450ºF.
You can set the timer for up to 30 minutes or choose the “Stay on” option for longer cooking times. We like the dedicated toast timer that lets you choose the right toasting color for you.
The EvenToast Technology means that your bread is toasted on both sides thanks to the top and bottom heating elements. The removable crumb tray helps to keep the inside clean. All of the trays can be washed with warm soapy water. The toaster can be wiped down with a damp cloth.
Pros:
- It comes with a 2-year limited warranty
- The toast is evenly cooked and to the right color
- The heating elements are bright enough to see your food
Cons:
- Not everyone finds this toaster very attractive
Black & Decker toaster oven (TO1313SBD)
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Key features:
- Bake, broil, and keep warm cooking function
- Baking pan, broil tray, and removable crumb tray included
- EvenToast Technology
- Fits a 9″ pizza
- Size: 11.18 x 8.3 x 15.47 inches
You might think we are crazy reviewing another Black & Decker Toaster Oven that appears to be the same. This toaster is a newer version of the previous one and comes with some nice additional features.
It is also made of stainless steel with a glass door. The dimensions are slightly different at 11.18 x 8.3 x 15.47 inches; however, it weighs less at 5 pounds. The capacity is the same so you can fit a 9″ frozen pizza or 4 bread slices.
It comes with a baking pan and oven rack/broil tray. The baking pan has an Advanced George Tough nonstick coating for easier cleanup. The baking pan and removable crumb tray are dishwasher safe.
The cooking functions are the same with the ability to bake, broil and keep warm. The only difference is that there are three control knobs. You can still choose “Stay on” and a timer for up to 30 minutes. It also has a handy dedicated toaster timer.
The toaster oven still comes with EvenToast Technology, but the heating elements are improved. It is part of the Rapid Grill Series and heats up 30% faster than older models. Finally, it comes with the same 2-year limited warranty.
Pros:
- It’s cheaper than the older model
- Impressive temperatures, great to broil meat
- It’s very easy to use in general
Cons:
- It’s a shame there aren’t adjustable heights for your baking tray
Betty Crocker toaster oven
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Key features:
- Bake and toast cooking functions
- Quartz heating elements
- Auto shut-off
- Dual oven tray positions
- Size: 15.98 x 10.87 x 9.45 inches
Betty Crocker is a brand synonymous with baking and oven treats. The Betty Crocker toaster oven is the ideal countertop oven to accompany a wide range of recipes. This is a stainless-steel toaster in black. It measures 15.98 x 10.87 x 9.45 inches and weighs 7.15 pounds.
It has a good capacity with 4 bread slices easily fitting on the oven rack. There are two positions for the oven rack, and it comes with a deep baking pan too. Although the product information doesn’t state it, there is enough space for a 9″ pizza and frozen pizza turns out great.
The toaster has dual quartz heating elements for even toasting on your bread slices. The temperature ranges are also quite impressive, from 105ºF to 480ºF. Although there isn’t a broil cooking setting, the temperature is definitely hot enough to broil. This is due to the 1000 watts of toasting/baking power.
You can also take advantage of the 30-minute timer and dedicated toast time. This toaster has auto-shutoff, which means you don’t have to pay as much attention. There is also a bell signal to tell you when the oven has finished cooking or baking. There is a drop-down crumb tray.
Pros:
- It does a great job on biscuits, frozen pizza and to oven baked meat
- It looks nice and is definitely a good toaster for small spaces
- Temperatures are accurate
Cons:
- The crumb tray isn’t removable
Comfee toaster oven
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Key features:
- 4-slice toaster or 9″ pizza
- Available in three different colors
- Non-stick interior
- Toast, bake, and broil cooking functions
- Size: 11.1 x 14.8 x 8 inches
Amazingly, the Comfee toaster oven is even more compact, particularly in terms of height. This measures 11.1 x 14.8 x 8 inches and weighs 7.68 pounds. It is available in black, silver and white.
There are two simple control knobs, one for the temperature and the other for the time. The maximum temperature is 450ºF with a bake and broil setting. The dedicated toast timer lets you choose the shade of color for your toast. There is another 30-minute timer as well as a “Stay on” cooking function for longer cooking times.
There are top and bottom heating elements for even toasting. With two oven rack positions, you can use the top rack for toasting and broiling and the lower rack for cooking or baking.
The toaster oven comes with an oven rack and baking pan. These can be washed in hot soapy water with a soft cloth. The non-stick interior is a bonus when it comes to cleaning, as is the removable crumb tray.
The Comfee toaster oven is the cheapest we have looked at and it comes with a one-year warranty. This makes it a great value oven for all its features and design.
Pros:
- You get fast cooking times
- It’s easy to use and very easy to clean
- The manual has a couple of nice recipes to try
Cons:
- The glass door gets very hot
Hamilton Beach 4 Slice toaster oven
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Key features:
- It fits 4 slices of bread or a 9″ pizza
- Bake, broil, and toast cooking functions
- Roll-top door for easy access
- A very sleek design
- Size: 16.12 x 11.93 x 8.97 inches
The first thing you will notice about this countertop toaster oven is the lovely design. It’s a sleek, modern, and practical oven. It’s made of steel and is silver with black features. The contoured knobs are designed for an easy grip. The toaster oven is 16.12 x 11.93 x 8.97 inches and weighs 10.38 inches.
The best part of the design is the roll-top door. This saves space on your countertop and it means that no food falls onto the door. The fact that you can remove the door makes it even easier to clean this oven. It comes with a baking tray, an oven rack, and a crumb tray that slides out from the front.
It comes with top and bottom heating elements to allow for baking, broiling, and toasting bread. The highest temperature setting is 450ºF. The timer goes up to 30 minutes and you can toast bread to the right color with the dedicated toast timer.
The “Stay on” feature is specially designed so that you can’t accidentally turn it on. You also have two oven rack positions, so the oven is ideal for frozen pizza, snacks, and baking cakes.
Pros:
- The design of the door makes it safer and easier
- Brilliant to keep clean even though there is no mention of a non-stick interior
- It’s powerful and toasting bread is fast
Cons:
- The oven gets quite warm on the outside
Galanz Retro toaster oven
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Key features:
- Large capacity oven with 6 slices of bread
- 8 cooking functions including convection bake
- There is a light inside the toaster oven
- 90-minute timer
- Size: 18.3 x 15.8 x 11.3 inches
We wanted to take a closer look at the Galanz toaster oven because of the fun design and great cooking options. It comes in either Bebop blue or red, which makes a nice change to the typical silver kitchen appliance.
The oven isn’t as small as the other ovens but at 18.3 x 15.8 x 11.3 inches, it is still a compact toaster. It weighs 12.1 pounds. The larger size means it can fit a 12″ pizza or 6 bread slices.
What many will love is that you can use this as a convection toaster oven. Other cooking options include bake, toast, roasting, broiling, pizza, dehydrating, and keeping warm.
The temperature of the dual heating elements can be adjusted from 200ºF to 450ºF. There is also a big difference in the timer, being able to set the cooking time for up to 90 minutes.
It comes with a removable crumb tray, an oven rack, and a baking pan. They are non-stick and with a non-stick interior, it’s super easy to clean. It’s also helpful to have an interior light to see your cooking or baking progress.
With all these cooking functions and the cool design, you would expect a higher price. Nevertheless, this is still a cheap toaster that does an excellent cooking job for frozen pizza, bread, and many other foods you would put in a regular oven with convection cooking.
Pros:
- It’s super retro, even has a little bell instead of a beep when cooking has finished
- The glass door is large and makes it easy to see inside the oven
- Perfect size for a family but it still saves space on your countertop
Cons:
- The trays are a little flimsy
Toaster Oven buying guide
What are toaster ovens?
Toaster ovens are small ovens that can sit on your countertop. Many have more than just the option to toast. You can use countertop toaster ovens to bake and broil.
They will often feature many of the same cooking options as a traditional oven, including things like a timer, oven racks, and various temperature settings. They are also easier to clean than regular ovens.
Why buy a toaster oven?
A toaster oven is an ideal kitchen appliance if you are short on space. Many university students can keep one in their dorm to heat snacks. Other people like to have a countertop toaster oven in their RV for when they are on the road. If you are like me and hate the sight of a cluttered countertop, a toaster oven won’t annoy you.
Another excellent reason to buy a toaster oven is because of the price. A cheap toaster is still going to be around $20-$30. A lot of 4-slice toasters we have looked at are similar in price to a toaster oven, if not more expensive.
If your countertop toaster is on the fritz, it makes sense to buy a toaster oven. At the same time, if your traditional oven needs replacing, you could save space and money with a toaster oven.
What should you look for when buying a toaster oven?
The main things you need to consider when you are choosing a toaster oven are the capacity and the design. A countertop toaster oven isn’t necessarily a replacement for a regular oven. You can’t imagine cooking a whole roast in one. But they are an excellent solution for your morning toast, heating food, and smaller meals.
It makes more sense to use a toaster oven for cleaning too, especially with a non-stick interior. The Galanz Retro toaster oven impressed us with its capacity and design.
Most of the ovens have toast, bake, and broil cooking features which are enough for the use of a compact toaster. The one thing we noticed is that you do need to play around with the cooking options.
The quality of the bread will impact the color of the toast. As with regular ovens, convection ovens, and even smart ovens, it takes a while to get the right baking and cooking results.
Finally, when you are making your decision on the best toaster oven, remember that you need to leave some space around it on your countertop. Although they are compact toasters, they produce a lot of heat and can’t be placed directly against a wall.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it better to get an air frying toaster oven?
Air frying is much faster than a convection oven and healthier than traditional frying. If you want an air frying toaster oven you need to think that the size will be larger and the price even larger.
Consider how much you would actually use the air frying feature. If it isn’t that much, you might be better off buying a cheaper, separate air fryer.
Why is the toaster oven smoking?
Special oils are used in the manufacturing of these ovens to prevent warping. When you first use the toaster oven, it’s normal that you’ll feel a strange smell and some smoking.
Be sure to follow the cleaning instructions before use to reduce this problem. The toaster may also smoke because of food that is stuck to the surface.
How important is the crumb tray?
Very! A regular oven doesn’t have heating elements at the bottom. If crumbs or food fall onto the bottom, you just need to scrub it off or make sure there is a tray under the cooking food.
With heating elements on the bottom of a toaster oven, you need a crumb tray so that food doesn’t fall onto them. A removable crumb tray is even better for cleaning.
Can you buy replacement trays?
Yes. Most toaster oven manufacturers have replacement trays available. You don’t need to buy a tray from the same manufacturer. If you measure the interior of the toaster oven, you will be able to find compatible trays and oven racks.
Wrap Up
I love cooking and baking, and I am a big fan of toaster ovens. It will indeed use an air fryer for certain cooking and a regular oven for baking. But my toaster oven is the perfect solution for fast toasting, quick delicious frozen pizzas and I often broil meat.
They take up very little space on your countertop and they are far more versatile than a 4-slice toaster. Considering the excellent value of these best oven toasters for under $50, it makes sense to invest in one to see just how much cooking, baking, toasting, and broiling you can do.
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