Are you thinking about buying a toaster oven? Good choice – it’s one of the most versatile and helpful kitchen appliances you can get. You’ll find that a good toaster oven can easily replace your traditional oven in many cases.

There are dozens of toaster oven models on the market, which can make it difficult to figure out which one that suits you best. Are you looking for a high-end luxury model, or are you shopping for a budget model without any advanced features?

Let’s start with introducing the most popular toaster oven brands.

At the high end of the scale we have Breville. They only have two models on the market at the moment, the BOV800XL and the BOV650XL, but they’re both about as advanced and luxurious as toaster ovens come. Breville have gone out of their way to make their toaster ovens easy to use, full of advanced features and extremely durable and high-quality. The downside, of course, is that their models cost much more than their competitors, and you can expect to pay over $250 for the BOV800XL.

Another popular brand that offers both luxury and mid-range models is Cuisinart. They’re a well-known brand when it comes to kitchen appliances, so you can be sure of the quality and durability of their ovens. The TOB-195 is their most advanced model to date, and a direct competitor to the Breville BOV800XL (but priced almost $100 lower, making it very attractive).

If you prefer to save money and get a budget brand, I suggest you take a look at what Black & Decker has to offer. They have a huge range of models, from the most basic to quite advanced (while still affordable). They don’t have as many innovative features as the more expensive brands, but they generally get good reviews and ratings from their users.

Now that you know a bit more about the brands, let’s take a look at what you need to figure out before deciding on a specific model.

First of all, you have to figure out what kind of capacity you need. Capacity is measured in slices on toaster ovens, and the most common models have either a 4- or 6-slice capacity. I recommend getting a 6-slice oven if you have the space in your kitchen, as you might feel a bit limited with a 4-slice oven, especially if you regularly cook for many people. If you’re single, a 4-slice might be all you need.

Then there’s the features. A common feature is convection cooking, which is said to reduce cooking time by as much as 30%. Some people love it, some say they could surely live without it. It’s up to you if you need it, but you need to realize that convection ovens are always more expensive than regular toaster ovens.

Lastly, don’t forget to compare the warranty and customer service before you buy. By doing some reading online you can see if the brand you intend to buy are known for good (or poor) customer service, and what their policies are when it comes to warranty and returns. You’d be surprised how much it can differ between brands.

I hope this article has given you some ideas to consider before you buy a toaster oven. It can be a big investment so don’t rush off and buy one until you’ve done your research and read some reviews.