Not Your Grandma’s Toaster Ovens: 3 Ridiculously Versatile Picks We’re Loving Right Now

There are two kinds of home cooks in the world: the ones who love a toaster oven, and the ones who can do without. If you’re part of the latter group, you might want to reconsider, because today’s toaster ovens are nothing like those dated old appliances you once used for toasting bread or warming up frozen fish sticks. The latest models are versatile workhorses that can do dozens of things, including roasting veggies and chicken, baking pies, broiling fish, and frying up batches of perfectly crisp french fries. (Yes, you read that right — they can fry!) Plus, they’re cleverly designed to take up minimal counter space. Check out three of our current favorites that will instantly upgrade your everyday meals.

The spiffy-looking DeLonghi Livenza Digital Stainless Steel Countertop Convection Oven includes a wire rack, a baking sheet, and a pizza pan for whipping up frozen or fresh pies (no rotating required!). Besides saving you space, the compact oven also saves you time: It preheats up to 60% faster than a full-size oven and can cook up to 40% faster and more evenly. Plus, the nine pre-programmed cooking functions save you the hassle of constantly guesstimating cook time. From lasagna to quiche and pork chops to pastry, this machine can tackle it all. “This is a serious contender for most valuable kitchen gadget,” said one Amazon reviewer. Another adds, “This toaster-oven is a keeper!” We agree!

Buy: DeLonghi Livenza Digital Stainless Steel Countertop Convection Oven, $216

Rated as the number-one new release on Amazon, the Chefman Air Fryer Toaster Oven is a multitasking machine that can help minimize the clutter of owning too many appliances and save you precious space. In addition to toasting, baking, broiling, and even roasting a whole chicken, the Chefman comes with a large air frying basket for prepping oil-free goodies. Even better? While your chicken tenders are air-frying, you can bake a 12-inch pizza at the same time — how cool is that? “I’ve cooked wings, fries, toast, and a grilled cheese sandwich so far and can’t wait to cook more!” said a reviewer. Bonus points for the included Healthy Air Fryer Cookbook, which is perfect for those new to air fryers or who are always looking for fresh meal ideas.

Buy: Chefman Air Fryer Toaster Oven, $130

“Think of this as the Tiffany box of toaster ovens,” says Kitchn writer Sharon Franke about the Breville Mini Smart Oven with Element IQ, which made our Best List. The main draw is the smart time-saving preset function that toasts, grills, broils, bakes, and even reheats meals to perfection without you having to constantly monitor the oven. It’s petite yet roomy enough to easily fit a meal for two inside. Plus, several reviewers have claimed it’s the easiest toaster oven to clean, which says a lot!

Buy: Breville Mini Smart Oven with Element IQ, $179