Reduce Cooking Time Using the Best Convection Oven

Calphalon is an industry titan when it comes to cookware, and the company definitely knows how to produce an excellent convection oven. This countertop oven utilizes Calphalon's proprietary Quartz Heat Technology, which they claim produces 40% more heat and does so more evenly than competing ovens. Even with the added heating (and preheating) capabilities, it's insulated well enough to remain fairly cool to the touch while in use. The oven comes with 12 different preset cooking functions that encompass standard baking, reheating, defrosting, broiling, and everything in between, and some of the more quirky and/or versatile functions include a dedicated setting for cookies and another one for pizza. There's also a "Step Cook" function that allows users to program the oven to execute two cooking functions in one go, saving time when used during back-to-back cooking sessions. There's a generous array of accessories included with the oven: two baking trays (one for general use and one for pizza), a wire rack that can be placed in one of two positions, a dehydrating basket, and a pull-out crumb tray that greatly simplifies clean-up. The exterior appearance is a departure from the stodgy looks associated with countertop ovens, thanks to a bright display and touchscreen controls along with a pair of dials to adjust the temperature, cooking time, and function. While it’s an excellent convection oven overall, we've seen users report some uneven heat distribution in the perimeter area. Given how that's a minor drawback, however, it’s a winner in our books!

Are you a foodie who orders take-out all the time? How about investing in a quality convection oven in order to substantially improve what you can cook at home? This KitchenAid countertop oven packs enough cooking power in a relatively compact size to tackle just about any receipe from a wide range of meat entrees to the sweetest cookies for dessert. Despite its comparatively smaller footprint, the oven compartment is large enough to fit a pair of medium-sized whole chickens at once. The controls are minimalistic yet well-labeled, and this oven comes with 12 cooking presets to cover roasting chickens, proofing dough, baking pizzas, and anything else you'd care to use an oven for. KitchenAid also includes a temperature probe that can be plugged in to the unit while in operation, making it that much easier to check the internal temperatures of your food without having to open the door repeatedly. The whole interior is non-stick, making clean-up and maintenance simple and straight forward. The exterior features a smooth, matte black finish, with the control panel residing below the door. That door, however, gets hot, and you could burn yourself up if you aren’t careful. At this price, it's easily one of our favorite convection ovens.

As Cuisinart themselves would say, this Air Fryer Toaster Oven goes a long way to helping you "Savor The Good Life!" The combination of an air fryer and toaster oven means it works equally as well with cookies and cakes as it does pizza or meat - all with the added benefit of making healthier meals compared to deep frying. It's down on the number of functions compared to similar ovens (7 as opposed to the more common 12), but this Cuisinart model gives up nothing to its competitors in terms of real-world cooking performance. The oven compartment is designed to fit an entire chicken for roasting, and it'll easily swallow a medium pizza on the rack. This is somewhat of a surprise given its more compact proportions - it measures about 16 inches wide and deep and stands at 14 inches tall. The controls are placed above the door, with a no-nonsense array of knobs that control the timer, temperature, cooking mode, and toast shade. Overall, it’s a good convection oven, but the smaller size may limit its appeal with larger families.

This 12-in-1 convection oven by COSORI offers you the freedom to explore a wide range of food recipes, from the most familiar comfort foods to the most daring ones that require a special touch. It starts with an intuitive design, with a clear glass door flanked by the control panel just to the right. This layout allows ample capacity for even bulky foods, including fitting an entire chicken or pizza. The 12 cooking modes cover baking, roasting, broiling, and air frying, and COSORI even includes a rotisserie set if you prefer to cook using that method. Beyond the expected baking pans and crumb trays, there's a recipe book that encourages experimentation with flavors. Honestly, everything about this oven is spot-on, making it worth consideration if you're looking for a new way to cook.

Though Toshiba is better-known for its electronics expertise, this company also has a fair bit of experience in the cookware field as well. This Digital Convection Oven is about as budget-friendly as it gets, yet it sacrifices next to nothing in terms of performance as a convection oven. There are 10 cooking presets (despite the description claiming 9) - the expected convection bake, toast, broil, reheat, and defrost are all present, as is a keep-warm mode. Despite the economical price tag, this convection oven also comes with a rotisserie cooking kit. The rest of the accessories are standard fare - there's a baking pan and a baking rack, both of which can be positioned in accordance with cooking modes by using the convenient labels. The non-stick interior and removable crumb tray make cleaning easier, and the rest of the controls offer highly intuitive operation in conjunction with the bright display. Essentially, this oven comes with everything you need to make sure you have a convenient and even baking experience without breaking the bank.

Closing with the winning brand, this one’s more of a budget solution. Like the other Calphalon entry, this convection oven also comes equipped with the same Quartz Heat Technology that allows this oven to put out a claimed 40% more heat, all while maintaining even heat distribution. It's got the same extra-large capacity that will fit the standard whole chicken or medium pizza, depending on where the racks are placed. There are 11 cooking presets found on this model; it loses the Bread Proof function compared to the model we selected as our Top Pick, but were you really going to use that function anyway? Likewise, it loses the touch-sensitive controls compared to the other Calphalon oven, but some will argue that physical buttons actually present an advantage when it comes to ergonomics. Calphalon includes a solid baking tray and a wire baking tray, along with a dehydrator rack and a pan designed specifically for pizzas. If you don't mind forgoing a few convenience features like a Bread Proof mode or an aesthetically-pleasing control panel, this one will work just as well for a lot less money.