Best Kitchenaid Toaster Ovens of January 2021: Comparisons, AI Consumer Report, and Reviews

When you’re the one in charge of cooking, you inevitably have some certain concerns. What to do when you consume baked and roasted foods regularly, but your limited counter space does not allow for a traditional oven? Or when you want to toast your bread but you need a kitchen appliance more functional than a toaster? If you’ve had similar wonders, no worries because we’re here to help you. 

The launch of toaster ovens, or countertop ovens - a cross between an oven and a toaster, has proven itself as an effective solution. Among the manufacturers of this device, KitchenAid is one of the Best Toaster Ovens. In this article of ProductUpdates, we’ll talk about the best KitchenAid toaster ovens to show you why this company has gained its current prestige. 

Generally speaking, countertop ovens from KitchenAid can be categorized into three main groups: Countertop Oven with Air Fry, Dual Convection Countertop Oven, and Digital Countertop Oven.

1. Countertop Oven with Air Fry

The name says it all. KitchenAid has soon discovered the market’s need for not only toaster ovens but also air fryers, thus integrating air frying function in their toaster ovens. 

The KitchenAid KCO124BM Countertop Oven with Air Fry is a telling example. With the No Flip Air Fry Basket and Even-Heat Convection Technology which are all signature characteristics of this group, the KCO124BM model makes cooking a piece of cake. Moreover, this device has a large capacity that can accomodate a whole family, yet its footprint is relatively small, allowing you to create whichever dish your family members like and still save money on electricity.

2. Dual Convection Countertop Oven

The dual convection toaster oven, on the other hand, allows you to cook food at a much faster pace. It has been calculated that with the same amount of ingredients, a dual convection oven usually takes 20% time less. This type of toaster oven also has a built-in temperature probe so if your desire is to take full control of the cooking process, a dual convection countertop oven is a smart choice. 

For instance, consider the KitchenAid KCO255BM Dual Convection Countertop Oven. This model can make enough food to feed your entire family with a capacity of 3.6lbs, which equals the weight of 2 whole chickens. Versatility is an advantage, with 12 presets that could manage any task from baking to cookie, pizza and even dough proofing. Like any other machine of the same type, the dual convection bake featured reduces cooking time by a wide margin. One more bonus is ease of use: since this device is equipped with an interior light, users can easily know what’s happening without having to open the oven. 

3. Digital Countertop Oven

Like what’s suggested by its name, what sets a digital countertop oven apart is the digital display. This characteristic makes reading and controlling the cooking process a breeze, so if convenience tends to be on the top of your list, do not miss out on a KitchenAid digital countertop oven.

Let’s look at a typical appliance of this group: the KitchenAid KCO211BM Digital Countertop Oven. Besides a digital display that generates an at-a-glance update on the dishes inside, this model has non-stick coating interior, therefore cleaning is no longer an ordeal. Similar to 2 above-mentioned ovens, this one has a large capacity and various presets, guaranteed to enrich your food processing experience.

From what we’ve introduced, you can have a general idea of which toaster ovens KitchenAid offers, and how they are different from each other. You may even start thinking about making a purchase, but there is one question in the way: Where to start?

Obviously KitchenAid provides a wide array of products from which customers can choose from, thus finding the best KitchenAid toaster oven is by no means a simple job. If you’re in the same situation where the variety of this kitchen appliance confuses you, don’t worry because we are here to help. Read on to discover our recommendations of what you should take into account before arriving at the final decision.

1. Size

The first thing to keep in mind is how much space you’ve got for your toaster oven. Normally a toaster oven is smaller than a conventional one. However, KitchenAid is known for its large appliances, so the toaster ovens from this company often takes up more counter space than those from other brands. 

But don’t let this piece of information deter you from buying a KitchenAid countertop oven! The models may be a bit less compact, but they can still fit on any standard countertop. Check in advance, make sure you have the specific measurements of both the oven and your counter space and the problem is solved. If you’re still hesitant, let us tell you that any possible problem relating to sizes and dimensions can be compensated by the premium quality.

2. Accessories

The toaster ovens from KitchenAid are phenomenal on their own, but when they are used with the added accessories, cooking is taken to a whole new level. 

While most toaster ovens come with traditional ones like a baking rack or a crumb pan, those with higher price tags like the KitchenAid KCO275SS are equipped with a bunch of extra features. A 12-inch non-stick multipurpose pan, a 12-inch broiling rack, a cooling rack, a stainless steel crumb tray and a non-stick drip tray, these accessories make the KCO275SS one of the most convenient models on the market. It also has a 60-minute timer, perfect when you’re busy and don’t have much time to stay by its side throughout the process. 

3. Automatic settings

When it comes to dishes that you make frequently, you want something that would help you save a lot of time rather than a machine that you have to set up everything from the start over and over again. Under this circumstance, you should opt for appliances with cooking presets that allow you to cook your staples with nothing more than a simple press of a button. 

KitchenAid KCO273SS is a model that’s worth discussing. This 19.7-pound digital countertop oven has 9 pre-saved programmed functions including bake, toast, pizza, broil, cookie, bagel, asado roast (which regulates temperature to effectively roast foods), keep warm and reheat, generating outstanding performances with any mission it’s assigned with. Furthermore, it has a timer that could run up to 120 minutes, so you can be less worried if you’re the forgetful type.

4. Ease of Cleaning

Another factor that you should pay attention to is whether it’s easy to maintain proper hygiene or not. For some of the models that are featured with extra accessories or those that are of more complex design, cleaning can cause trouble. Harder to clean, more time-consuming,... in the long run it can mess with your oven’s performance or even discourage you from using it. 

In most cases, the foods processed in the toaster oven produce tons of crumbs and even grease, so you need to make sure that the cleaning of the model you have in mind is something you can handle. 

If you’re constantly thinking about cleanliness, check out the KitchenAid KCO234CCU. The whole body of this model is constructed with a quality stainless steel material, which not only gives the appliance a sleek design but also makes it less difficult to maintain hygiene. In addition, all the accessories featured have been designed to make cleaning a piece of cake: a crumb tray, a removable metal drip and a removable broil pan with grilling rack. The oven cavity is also covered by a non-stick coating. No more panicking when it comes to the afterwards of a meal!

Related:

• Best Krups Toaster Ovens
• Best Ninja Toaster Ovens
• Best Cuisinart Toaster Ovens
• Best Hamilton Beach Toaster Ovens
• Best Black And Decker Toaster Ovens
• Best Toaster Ovens Under $100

1. Will a toaster oven overheat the kitchen?

The conventional ovens are notorious for heating up your kitchen. While it appears to be a normal thing in cool weather, it can be a giant problem in the hot months of the year. Imagine living in a hot area, owning a traditional oven and using it in the summer: Unbearable!

Fortunately, the toaster oven is the savior. With special technology to regulate heat, a toaster oven can prepare your food without turning your entire kitchen into a hot space. 

2. Does a toaster oven use less electricity than a conventional oven?

While the electricity consumption of a conventional oven tends to fall between 2500 to 5000 watts (depending on model, age...), an average toaster oven only uses 1300 watts. So when you make the same dish, a toaster oven can save you at least 50% of electricity. 

3. What’s the difference between a toaster and a toaster oven?

A toaster is a kitchen appliance that’s specialized in toasting thin slices of bread, so it’s slightly better at toasting breads compared to a toaster oven.

A toaster oven is OK when it comes to bread toasting, but as a multifunctional device it is way more versatile, with the ability to replace a traditional oven.

Consequently, based on your preference and your usage pattern, you can make an appropriate decision.

4. What types of dishes can you make with a toaster oven?

As a substitute for a conventional oven, a toaster oven can handle several different tasks like grilling, baking, roasting, toasting... Moreover, it can be in charge of frozen foods like pizzas or biscuits, and the flavor is even better compared to other devices.

5. Can you put aluminum foil inside a toaster oven?

The answer is yes. Nonetheless, there are some rules that you should follow, otherwise there is a high risk of a fire. The rules are:

• Only use aluminum foil when there is food inside the toaster oven, and the food should be placed on top of the foil.

• The aluminum foil should be neatly cut or folded to fit inside the pan.

• The aluminum foil cannot cover the broiling rack or any other heat source.

The toaster oven, without a doubt, would do wonders to any household having it. With great versatility and space-saving design, it’s a must-have item for modern kitchens. If you’re still on the hunt for the best KitchenAid toaster ovens, continue to the next part where we round it up to 2 final winners.

The models that deserve your consideration are the KitchenAid KCO255BM and KitchenAid KCO223CU. The models have a temperature range that runs up to 450 degrees, therefore you can make anything that you normally make in a traditional oven with this countertop appliance. The convection bake technology regulates heat more evenly, making tastier foods with less time required. With a large capacity, a 60-minute timer and stainless pans and trays, the KCO223CU is the best you could ask for  regarding ease of use as well as ease of cleaning.

Another excellent model is the KitchenAid RKCO253SS. The most remarkable feature of this toaster oven is its fast preheat, which can save you a lot of time as well as money since less energy is consumed. It has 4 cooking presets including baking, broiling, roasting and toasting, allowing for even greater versatility. The material is also stainless steel, which makes the oven aesthetically pleasing and easy to clean. Overall it’s a top product that would satisfy any customer.

In short, depending on your purpose, needs as well as your budget to choose the Best Toaster Oven. Below, our experts recommend some suitable items for the best KitchenAid Toaster Ovens: 

• Best KitchenAid Toaster Oven for overall: KitchenAid KCO255BM 

• Best value KitchenAid toaster Oven: KitchenAid KCO275SS

• Best budget KitchenAid toaster Oven: KitchenAid KCO211BM

And that concludes what we’ve got to say about the best KitchenAid toaster ovens. Thanks for your attention and we hope you will keep track of our future articles!