Small benchtop ovens, also called toaster or compact ovens or glass convection ovens are a good alternative when you have a small amount of space and only need to cook small amounts. 

Through our testing, we reveal which toaster ovens:

• perform best at reheating pizza, roasting chicken and making toast
• are the easiest to use
• are the easiest to clean
• are safest

We’ve also partnered with Shop Ethical on this update to show the ratings the Ethical Consumer Group gives to each company.

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CHOICE is an independent, non-profit organisation dedicated to helping consumers. Clicking a link will take you to a retailer’s website to shop. While we make money if you buy through some retailer links, this doesn’t influence any of our rankings. 100% of the money we make goes straight back into our non profit mission. We’re currently testing this service and will consider providing more shopping links in the future. Tell us what you think.

Safety concerns

We have significant concerns about the safety of some toaster ovens, especially for people who have small children around the kitchen. As they’re not well insulated, the outer areas can get very hot with temperatures between 75°C and 100°C.

Another concern is how readily compact ovens can tip forward when you open the door and pull out a rack to remove food.