Nothing beats a homemade baked treat; these are part of what makes for the warm memories that most of us grew up with. But how can these treats be made without the best oven for baking?
There’s been a lot of arguments about which is oven is best for baking. Some argue for electric ovens others argue for gas powered range ovens. But the truth is that each type of oven has its own advantages and disadvantages.
In this article, we would present you with some options in both category. After that we’ll give you a buying guide that would help you ascertain which product and in what category that’s best suited for your needs.
Table of Contents
List of Best Ovens For Baking
The following are the ovens that we consider the best for baking:-
- Best Extra-large countertop oven – Oster Extra Large Digital Countertop Convection Oven (TSSTTVDGXL-SHP)
- Best Product on a Budget – BLACK+DECKER Convection Countertop Toaster Oven TO3250XSB
- High End and Best Rated Electric Oven on Amazon- Breville BOV800XL Smart Oven 1800-Watt Convection Toaster Oven with Element IQ
- Combination of Toaster Oven and Air Fryer-Cuisinart TOA-60 Convection Toaster Oven and Air Fryer
- Best Mini Electric Oven – Mueller Austria Toaster Oven
- High End Product From A Reputable and Well Known Brand- Samsung NX58H9500WS Slide-In Stainless Steel Gas Range
- Cheaper Option From A Less Popular Brand –Empava 36″ Slide-In Single Oven Gas Range
Electric Options
In this segment, we would explore electric options of ovens that are best for baking.
Electric ovens are gaining more popularity as the day goes by. This may be largely due to the ease of use, size and price. Whatever the case may be, these ovens over myriads of cooking options that free the user to explore all types of cooking.
Although some electric ovens are advertised as extra-large, almost all electric ovens would fit on a countertop. However, some would take up more space than others.
Below are the different categories and products for electric ovens:-
Best Extra Large Countertop Size Oven
This product we are about to explore is an extra large oven that can be placed on a countertop. Below are the major details that you need to know about this oven.
Product Name – Oster Extra Large Digital Countertop Convection Oven (TSSTTVDGXL-SHP)
Our Rating – 4 Stars out of 5
Features
(i) 1500 watt convection technology delivers fast and even heating for perfectly baked, cooked or browned products.
(ii) Digital settings for all the cooking options.
(iii) Large interior capacity that can fit 2 16-inch pizzas, 18 slices of bread and a regular sized chicken.
(iv) Comes with two oven racks, an integrated broiling rack and a baking pan.
(v) 90 minute timer and automatic shutoff function.
Benefits/Pros
The Oster Extra Large Digital Countertop Convection Oven is a multi functional kitchen appliance. With this oven you do not need a toaster. You can perform myriads of meal preparation including your breakfast toast. The oven has a range of 200 to 450 degrees temperature with pizza, toast, defrost and bake settings.
This oven is large enough to serve as the only oven you need. If you usually cook for a mixed number of folks (sometimes small, sometimes large) it can be an add-on oven to your conventional oven.
So you use it when you are cooking for a fewer number of persons. The advantage of this oven is that it keeps your kitchen cooler and conserves energy. In addition to all its great features, it is a very easy oven to use and clean. These are some of the reasons why it is on this list.
Cons
The cons of this product includes the following: –
(i) The buttons are not straightforward to use. You have to go through many steps to customize the controls.
(ii) The top and handle of the oven do get hot to touch.
Click here to check this out and buy on Amazon
Best Product On A Budget
Our next product is one we consider the best product on a budget. We would also give you a break down of its features and what to look out for.
Product Name – BLACK+DECKER Convection Countertop Toaster Oven TO3250XSB
Our Rating – 4 Star
Features
(i) Wide interior that’s specially designed to designed to fit a 9 x 13 inch baking pan with handles. It can also fit a 12-inch pizza or 8 slices of bread.
(ii) Employs convection heating that delivers fast and even baking. It has as maximum temperature of 450 degrees.
(iii) Comes with a toasting rack and dedicated toast timer for ease of preparation of your breakfast toast.
(iv) 60 minutes timer with stay-on function for meals that need longer time.
(v) Has four cooking options with three rack levels.
Benefits/Pros
This BLACK+DECKER Convection Countertop Toaster Oven is on this list because of its price and features. It is an affordable oven that comes in under $60 but packed with great features some of which are highlighted above.
This oven is ideal for people with small families and small kitchen space. If you want an oven that’s great for baking without breaking the bank, then this is for you. It employs most of the features that high end ovens have but not the capacity.
That said we feel it has enough capacity to cater for an average family that doesn’t do much entertaining. It fits most of the regular baking pans so you don’t need specialized accessories.
Cons
This oven has some downsides and they include the following:-
(i) Body of the oven is not insulated so it gets hot while in use.
(ii) It takes a little getting use to as the knobs/control are not intuitive.
Click here to check this out and buy on Amazon
High End and Best Rated Electric Oven on Amazon
This product is a high end oven from Breville and it has high ratings on Amazon. This seen in the reviews from over 5,000 verified purchases.
Product Name – Breville BOV800XL Smart Oven 1800-Watt Convection Toaster Oven with Element IQ
Our Rating – 4.3 Star Out of 5
Features
(i) High power 1800 watts with 5 Quartz heating elements delivers ultra-fast heating for perfectly done meals.
(ii) Element IQ technology. This helps to distribute heat intelligently throughout the 5 quartz heating element to provide stable and uniform heat. It also remembers if you preset your oven to deliver a particular taste.
(iii) LCD display helps you easily access the inbuilt smart functionality of the oven to choose preset functions.
(iv) 10 Cooking functions that also include slow cooking settings
(v) One year limited warranty on the product.
Benefits/Pro
This Breville Smart Oven Pro With Element iQ is an undisputed asset for baking the perfect homemade treats, making toasts and roasting all types of meat. It is on this list because it is a high end product that delivers value for the money.
Following the known Breville standard, this oven comes with user friendly and intuitive features that make meal preparation stress free.
The interior oven light allows user to check on what’s in the oven without opening the oven door and losing heat. With the slow cook function, you can set the timer for up to 10 hours before it automatically sets to the keep warm mode.
There are so many features that you stand to benefit from on this product. Click here to check it out and also here to check out another food prep appliance that would make your stay in the kitchen exciting and stress free.
Cons
The following are some of the disadvantages of this product:-
(i) The magnetic feature on the door for the baking rack functions only when the rack is set to the middle.
(ii) Does not have an interior light.
Click here to check this out and buy on Amazon
Combination of Toaster Oven and Air Fryer
Product Name – Cuisinart TOA-60 Convection Toaster Oven and Air Fryer
Our Rating – 4.2
Features
(i) Loaded with 1800 watts and 7 functions. They include – convection bake, bake without convection, air fry, convection broil, broil without convection, toast and warm.
(ii) Nonstick interior makes for ease of cleaning. In addition to that the interior light also allow you to check on your food without opening the oven door.
(iii) Has an adjustable thermostat with a 60-minute timer and auto shutdown. It also has a toast shade selector/timer.
(iv) Large enough capacity to toast 6 slices of bread, bake a 12-inch pizza, air fry 3 pounds of chicken wings or roast one average sized whole chicken.
(v) Comes with air fryer rack/basket, baking pan and oven rack.
Benefits/Pro
This Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven is a unique appliance that combines a full sized toaster oven with an inbuilt air fryer. It offers you all the advantages of a toaster oven and at the same time, the pleasure of crunchy fried treats without messy cleanups and extra calories.
Since this is a countertop oven, you forego the stress of moving your air fryer to and fro the storage cabinet. You now have it within reach whenever you need it!
This Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven is on our list because it is a cost effective way of getting two premium quality appliances in one. In addition to the cost effectiveness is space efficiency.
So get this oven and start enjoying its multiple functions.
Cons
There are some cons that you need to consider before you decide to buy this oven. They include the following:-
(i) The oven is not insulated so can easily heat up the house.
(ii) It doesn’t preheat and the temperature is always accurate.
Best Mini Electric Oven
Product Name- Mueller Austria Toaster Oven
Our Rating – 4.2
Features
(i) Space efficient compact design.
(ii) Curved interior enables the oven to accommodate 4 slices of bread or a 9-inch pizza.
(iii) Wide range of temperature between 150 to 450 degrees delivers the convenience of a regular oven and the convection technology circulates air for even and faster cooking.
(iv) Has four cooking functions at that include toasting, broiling, baking and warming.
(v) 30-minute timer also has exact toast setting and stay on function.
Benefits/Pros
The Mueller Austria Toaster Oven is an answer to prayer for folks with small kitchen space or those who cook for one. It is on this our list because it makes it possible for people to whip up homemade baked treats for one or less than 4 persons.
You do not have to spend so much money buying a high end oven when all you need is one that can toast your bread, warm up frozen pizza and prepare simple baked treats or meals.
This oven comes with a removable crumb tray that makes cleaning easier.
You can also conserve energy by making this an add-on product in your kitchen. Use it for small recipes and meals instead of heating up your regular range oven.
Cons
Much as we love this oven, it has some cons and they include the following:-
(i) Does not have a toasting setting so you have to watch it closely if you want to use it as a toaster.
(i)The wattage is low so you need to factor that in and set to a longer cooking time.
Gas Powered Options
Gas powered ovens are not really as popular as electric ovens. We think it’s because of two factors; the size and cost. Most gas powered ovens are often range (a combination of stovetop and oven). Those are types we would be talking about in this segment.
Kitchen range is really cost intensive (nothing less than $1,500) and usually require designated space in the kitchen. However, they have the advantage of meeting all your cooking needs in one spot. In addition to that, they can last a very long time (provided you get the right one). We know you wouldn’t even make the mistake of throwing thousands of dollars at a product you are unsure of.
So looking to give your kitchen an upgrade? Check out these two products:-
High End Product From A Reputable Brand
Product Name – Samsung NX58H9500WS Slide-In Stainless Steel Gas Range
Our Rating – 3.7 Star Out of 5
Features
(i) The slide-in design gives your kitchen that sleek and sophisticated ambience. It also enables the range to blend in with the overall décor of your kitchen.
(ii) Comes with 3 oven racks (one split and two wire) that provides enough capacity to prepare multiple and large batches dishes at once.
(iii) Employs true convection technology that distributes heat thoroughly and evenly producing perfectly cooked or baked meals at all times.
(iv) The flexible cooktop delivers the freedom to cook at any speed you desire. You can conveniently move your cooking from a quick boil to a slow simmer. This is facilitated by the True Dual Power Burner that has two independent heating elements with power ranging from 18,000 BTU to 700 BTU. It also has an oval burner for extra-large pots and pans
(v) Reversible cast iron griddle with smooth and ridged surfaces is included with purchase. This accessory is removable and enables you to cook different types of breakfast meals.
Benefits/Pros
The Samsung NX58H9500WS Slide-In Stainless Steel Gas Range is a sophisticated full powered kitchen range that’s surprisingly easy to use. This range is on our list of best gas oven for baking because of the premium quality material that it is made of.
Additionally, it is loaded with so many features a few of which we have highlighted above. Let’s further mention that it comes with a custom wok grate that allows you to place a round bottom wok on the stovetop.
More so, it has an intuitive control that offers simple instructions on how to choose your cooking options and a warmer drawer which helps to keep finished products warm.
Cons
The following are some of the demerits of this gas oven:-
(i) The griddle burner doesn’t heat up fast.
(ii) The control knobs turn so easily and can come on by mistake.
Click here to check this out and buy on Amazon
Cheaper Option From Less Popular Brand
Product Name – Empava 36″ Slide-In Single Oven Gas Range
Our Rating – 4.2 Star Out of 5
Features
(i) Combines 4 different burner sizes and a large capacity oven to deliver a wide range of cooking options. The burners are as follows:- one dual ring 17400-BTU burner, a rapid 8200-BTU burner, two semi-rapid 6900-BTU burner and auxiliary 5000-BTU burner.
(ii) Digital countdown timer that can be set for up to 12 hours.
(iii) Wide range of temperature between 150°F to 475°F.
(iv) Comes with 2 removable oven racks and 4 adjustable rack positions. These allow you to fit different sizes of food into the oven
(v) Transparent oven door allows you to monitor the progress of your food without opening the oven door and losing heat from the oven.
Benefits/Pros
The Empava 36″ Slide-In Single Oven Gas Range is a beautifully designed oven range that comes at a cheaper price than most others in the same category.
It is on our list because despite its relative affordability, it comes loaded with great features. This is a good deal if you are not able to afford or don’t want to spend so much on the high end product we discussed earlier.
One of its selling points is the Thermocouple Flame-out Failure System (FFD). This ensures the safety of your family in case of gas leakage.
This oven range has many more features; check them out yourself here
Cons
This oven is a great product but it also has some downsides.
Check out these articles for great recipes that you can make in any of these ovens and other useful tips:-
- 197 Cake Recipes – The Ultimate Guide
- How To Make Homemade Whipped Cream With Milk
- What To Make With Lemon Cake Mix
- How To Stack A Cake
- How To Use A Bundt Pan
- Icing Sugar — The Foundation For Cake Decoration
Buying Guide
The objective of this buying guide is to help you take note of factors that would help you get the best oven that’s suitable for you.
If you have read this article from beginning to this point, you would ascertain that there is no one product that can be termed as the best oven for your baking. However, there are some factors that would make one product the best oven for baking for an individual. These factors include the following:-
Electric Or Gas Powered?
Should you buy an electric or gas powered oven?
There’s this ongoing debate about gas or electric ovens on the subject of which is best for baking. The truth of the matter is that this depends largely on the region a person lives and personal preferences.
Most people in developing countries still prefer using gas powered ovens. This is because they are assured of constant supply of gas over electricity. However that isn’t the case in the US and other developed nations. So you can either buy electric or gas powered gas for your baking need.
This buying guide would address features to look out for in both electric and gas powered ovens.
Features to Consider in Choosing The Best Oven For Baking
Convection Baking Function
Look out for an electric oven that employ convection heating. This means that the heat would be circulated by the fan system and would get to every part of the oven. What this results in is even baking.
You may not even need to be overly bothered about this because most new models of electric ovens have multiple cooking functions that goes way beyond convection. Most of them have the fan defrost, grill and steam functions.
However, if you are considering buying an old model of electric oven then note this point.
Click here to check this out and buy on Amazon
Size
As with every kitchen appliance, the size of the oven in relation to your kitchen is very important. You cannot just go off and buy an oven without considering where it would sit.
Most electric ovens are made for countertops but are not usually the same size. Some have small footprints while others require designated space.
In measuring the size of your kitchen to determine the size of electric oven to buy, consider the following: (i) the design of the oven especially the door (what direction does it open to and how much space does it require to open) (ii) consider the height and width and how much space would be left between the oven and the wall. Note that there has to be at least 4inches between your oven and the wall for proper ventilation.
If you are thinking of a gas powered range then you know you need to have enough space for it. You should also measure the space that’s closest to the gas line and how well it would sit when connected.
Capacity
This factor goes hand in hand with the size. It is usually a knotty issue to get the right size of electric oven that would have the adequate capacity for one’s need.
Bear in mind that electric ovens with small countertop footprint would not have very large capacity. Read this review for a better understanding of oven capacity.
If at the end of all your research you discover that the small size wouldn’t meet your requirement then it’s time to redesign/rearrange your kitchen. Conversely you can think of innovative ways to maximize the small oven.
The same principle applies to a range. There are different sizes of gas ovens but most are usually adequate for an average family needs. However if you entertain a lot, you either look for one with a larger capacity or be prepared to prepare multiple batches of meals or baked goods.
Features That Are Easy To Understand And Use
Electric ovens come with so many “sophisticated” features. However, you must ensure that these features are user friendly. It wouldn’t do you any good to have a sophisticated oven that would require lessons before you can successfully use it
Some of other features that would be nice to have are:-
(i) Timer – both electric and some gas powered ovens have timers that help you program your baking. This goes a long way to enhance multitasking.
(ii) Energy saver – look for an oven that has low energy consumption.
(iii) Self-Cleaning – newer models of electric ovens have this feature that help to break down and remove stains and spills.
We have attempted to summarize the things you should look out for when buying the best oven for baking. However one thing you need to do before buying a product is reading reviews. This would help you get a feel of the value you would get from your purchase.
Conclusion
There is no single article that can boast of being an all-encompassing repertoire of knowledge on any subject. What we endeavor to do is give you enough information to help you make an informed decision.
Armed with the brief reviews we have provided, your search has been whittled down to 7 products. Any of these products would be the best oven for baking depending on your requirements.
We took out time to check out reviews from verified purchases and how well each product delivered on its promise. With that in mind, go ahead and check out these products and select one of them to start enjoying effortless and stress free cooking.
Click here to check this out and buy on Amazon
Best Oven For Baking- FAQs
How Do I Know What kind Of Oven I Have?
Ovens are delineated by the features that they have. These features include heat distribution, power source and placement. Somes ovens are conventional ovens while others are convection ovens. There are also electric ovens and there are also gas powered ovens.
Finally, the placement of the oven is also a distinguishing feature that lets you know what kind of oven you have. Some ovens are free standing ovens, some are countertop while other are wall mounted.
Each of these features afford the ovens different advantages. In the same vein they also have disadvantages. Find out more about the kind of oven you have in one of our previous articles. Click here to read it.
Are Convection Ovens Better For Baking?
The argument about which type of oven is better for baking has weighed heavily in favour of convection ovens. This is because convection ovens circulate heat/hot air around the oven for even heat distribution. Furthermore this heating method eliminates hot and cold spots in the oven which allows your food to bale evenly.
That being said however, you can still make your regular oven work perfectly for your baking. All you need is an understanding of timing, placement of the food to be baked in the oven and temperature.
The truth of the matter is that any type of oven you buy would need that you experiment with it to get a hang of how it works. But our candid advice would be that if you do a lot of baking, buy a convection oven. If on the other hand you want an oven for all types of cooking then you can buy a regular oven and learn how to adjust it for different recipes.
What Is The Difference Between Convection Bake And Bake?
The difference between convection bake and bake is the way the heat in the oven that’s used to bake the food is distributed.
Convection bake is when the oven you use distributes heat by blowing hot air around the oven by means of a fan in the oven. Bake on the other hand is when your oven distributes heat from bottom to top.
Convection bake is preferred by many bakers because it allows them to bake large batches of treats at once. The even heat distribution of convection ovens ensure that everything in the oven gets done at the same time and cooks evenly.
Regular bake on the other hand may not work perfectly for large batches of treats at all times. This is because the food in the bottom and upper racks of the oven would get done or even overcooked before the ones in the middle rack. This assertion was reached by experimenting with a large batch of cookies.
How Much Faster Is Convection Baking Than Regular Baking?
Convection cooking is about 25% faster than regular baking and at a lower temperature. This is made possible because the heat produced is circulated around the oven by means of a fan in the oven. This in turn means that every part of the food is heated up at the same time and pace making the food cook faster.
The convection process makes the atmosphere in the oven dry and caramelize food faster. That is what makes food such as veggies (e.g potatoes) and meat to get evenly brown on the outside and still remain moist on the inside.
One tip that works for baking with convection ovens is to reduce the temperature of the oven by 25 degrees Fahrenheit. Also ensure that you check the food before the end of the time stated in the recipe. In fact it is advised to check the food halfway into the end of the time recommended for cooking.
Pingback: Best Toaster Oven For Pizza - Cake Decorations Products