Convection/Toaster Ovens - Help a poor Kiwi upgrade her kitchen so she can have tendies and pizza rolls

[Accept Only Substitutes]

I'm trying to replace my ancient gas range. Because reasons I can't get the induction range of my dreams. Yet. And I do not want to replace it with another gas range. I don't like gas.

I've got an induction burner I adore for cooking, but if I get rid of my range I have no way to make pizza rolls. A woman's gotta live, man!

There are a million options for toaster ovens and convection ovens out there. I have no idea where to begin to start looking for something that meets my needs:

Big enough to cook a frozen pizza without cutting it in half.
Or A 9x13 casserole dish (actually it's a half pan for food service lines, but I think that's about the same size)
Not too expensive - I'm willing to pay for quality, because I don't want to do this bullshit again in a few years, but I'm not made of money. A couple hundred bucks or so is about my budget.
I'm in the US so has to be available in a chain here or on Amazon.

I don't do turkeys or roasts, or a lot of baking in general. I just need something that will last a long time being used maybe five times a month. Maybe I'll use it more often if it doesn't heat up the kitchen like my current oven does.

Lastly, what's the difference between convection and toaster ovens?

 

[rdrr]

Convection just means there is a fan to blow around the air.

Best thing to do, is look at reviews, and see if they also include references to actual internal temperature. Many ovens, especially toaster ovens, do not reach the set temperature. No matter what you buy, do get an oven thermometer, you'll learn a lot about how poorly many ovens function.

*edited to add.

I do recommend the, "GeekChef" brand. I know, it's a dorky stupid name, however, they do reach temperature you set them to. I've tested them.

 

[Accept Only Substitutes]

Convection just means there is a fan to blow around the air.

Ah. Like an air fryer. That would let me get rid of one of my things in my kitchen.

Best thing to do, is look at reviews, and see if they also include references to actual internal temperature. Many ovens, especially toaster ovens, do not reach the set temperature. No matter what you buy, do get an oven thermometer, you'll learn a lot about how poorly many ovens function.

Ah, this is true. I have an oven thermometer for my oven already. I didn’t think of looking for the actual temperature in reviews. Good tip!

 

[rdrr]

Ah. Like an air fryer. That would let me get rid of one of my things in my kitchen.



Ah, this is true. I have an oven thermometer for my oven already. I didn’t think of looking for the actual temperature in reviews. Good tip!

The toaster oven/air fryer combos are nice. I will never understand people who would use one of those air fryers that are made of plastic. High temperatures+plastic=whatthefuck.

 

[Weed Eater]

I don't do turkeys or roasts, or a lot of baking in general.

Why live.

You don't deserve induction.

 

[Accept Only Substitutes]

Why live.

You don't deserve induction.

My stupid husband is vegetarian (fucker, that's basically his one flaw) and I'm diabetic. FML.

 

[Exigent Circumcisions]

My stupid husband is vegetarian

Must be tough to have a lesbian for a husband.

 

[Ed Special]

Clearly you do not own an air fryer

 

[𝕺𝖑' 𝕯𝖎𝖗𝖙𝖞 𝕱𝖆𝖙𝖘𝖔]

The toaster oven/air fryer combos are nice. I will never understand people who would use one of those air fryers that are made of plastic. High temperatures+plastic=whatthefuck.

I have one of the nicer cuisinart toaster oven/air fryer combos and it kicks ass. The model is discontinued but it's great for baking in small batches, broiling burgers, roasting vegetables, reheating leftovers, etc. The small size means you need to adjust time and temp and sometimes technique for recipes but once you get the hang of it it's way more efficient and convenient than using a full sized oven.

 

[Stoneheart]

uhh autists, pls help me buy some 20$ tiny oven from amazon...

 

[Accept Only Substitutes]

The $20 ones are too small and will crap out in a year. Any of them worth buying start at $200.

I have one of the nicer cuisinart toaster oven/air fryer combos and it kicks ass. The model is discontinued but it's great for baking in small batches, broiling burgers, roasting vegetables, reheating leftovers, etc. The small size means you need to adjust time and temp and sometimes technique for recipes but once you get the hang of it it's way more efficient and convenient than using a full sized oven.

I do like my Cuisinart food processor. I looked at the ones on Amazon and I'd need a smaller casserole dish, but I can deal with that. That definitely helps narrow things down.

I liked the size of an Oster one but quite a few reviews said the door just exploded on them or the device was hot enough to warm food left on top of it. Another one, a Ninja, I think, requires it's own dedicated 220 circuit! Both are nopes.

 

[Bees]

I’m a little late here but I’ve had this $70 farberware convection toaster oven for five years. I use it every day. It fits a normal sized frozen pizza or a family sized stouffers lasagna. It roasts a whole chicken no problem, it is my favorite appliance and I haven’t used my real oven since thanksgiving 3 years ago. Protip: if offered purchase the extended warranty and then claim it in year 3, haha now you have a free air fryer oven. Fuck Walmart bleed the beast but get this one:

Farberware Air Fryer Toaster Oven
https://www.walmart.com/ip/718543483

Ps the only thing it doesn’t do well is…toast.

 

[WebLurker]

My stupid husband is vegetarian (fucker, that's basically his one flaw) and I'm diabetic. FML.

Sorry for my ignorance, but what does being diabetic have to do with not being able to cook roasts? There's lots of veggies that a great roasted.

Also, I've been scouting youtube for low-carb, zero-sugar alternatives for baked foods (breads etc) so let me know if you'd like any links for recipes, I've found some really good channels.

 

[Lorne Armstrong]

“Ancient”? I doubt it. I’m sure your current one is old but my advice is instead of going for the newest thing, go even older.

 

[Accept Only Substitutes]

Sorry for my ignorance, but what does being diabetic have to do with not being able to cook roasts? There's lots of veggies that a great roasted.

Also, I've been scouting youtube for low-carb, zero-sugar alternatives for baked foods (breads etc) so let me know if you'd like any links for recipes, I've found some really good channels.

I can cook roasts, but it's a lot of meat just for myself. The meat is expensive too. I do roast veggies. I can't really bake sweets/breads because of the diabetes.

I would love some links! Drop them on my profile or in a pm.

 

[Aunt Carol]

Big enough to cook a frozen pizza without cutting it in half.
Or A 9x13 casserole dish (actually it's a half pan for food service lines, but I think that's about the same size)
Not too expensive - I'm willing to pay for quality, because I don't want to do this bullshit again in a few years, but I'm not made of money. A couple hundred bucks or so is about my budget.
I'm in the US so has to be available in a chain here or on Amazon.

I have been using a Ninja Foodi SP101 toaster oven for several months, upgrading my previous toaster oven. Under $200 new. There are tons of returns and reconditioned ones on eBay for under $100, just make sure it comes with the pans.

It's short but wide, so it fits a 13x13 pan. I was worried about the height at first, but then I realized that I really don't bake or roast tall things. The tallest thing I regularly put in an oven is spaghetti squash, and that's cut in half so it's fine. All that extra horizontal area is great for spreading out roast vegetables or for a frozen pizza; witness the dichotomy of Man.

It does air fry/convection, which I hadn't had in previous ovens and am enjoying. I love roasting vegetables and "air frying" in the basket makes it much quicker and less of a hassle.

Fun gimmick: after it cools down enough, it beeps and the screen says "flip." You can then flip it up on its rotating foot and it takes up much less counter space:

 

[Accept Only Substitutes]

I have been using a Ninja Foodi SP101 toaster oven for several months, upgrading my previous toaster oven. Under $200 new. There are tons of returns and reconditioned ones on eBay for under $100, just make sure it comes with the pans.

It's short but wide, so it fits a 13x13 pan. I was worried about the height at first, but then I realized that I really don't bake or roast tall things. The tallest thing I regularly put in an oven is spaghetti squash, and that's cut in half so it's fine. All that extra horizontal area is great for spreading out roast vegetables or for a frozen pizza; witness the dichotomy of Man.

It does air fry/convection, which I hadn't had in previous ovens and am enjoying. I love roasting vegetables and "air frying" in the basket makes it much quicker and less of a hassle.

Fun gimmick: after it cools down enough, it beeps and the screen says "flip." You can then flip it up on its rotating foot and it takes up much less counter space:

View attachment 3287773

I think this is the one I'll get. I like that it flips up. I like the size, I don't roast tall things either, so I don't need a bigger one. The interior is the right size for my casserole dishes.

This one didn't come up in my searching Amazon. I blame the Chinese sellers of cheap crap for flooding the results and a shitty search engine that doesn't have enough flexibility. Sigh.

 

[Aunt Carol]

I think this is the one I'll get. I like that it flips up. I like the size, I don't roast tall things either, so I don't need a bigger one. The interior is the right size for my casserole dishes.

This one didn't come up in my searching Amazon. I blame the Chinese sellers of cheap crap for flooding the results and a shitty search engine that doesn't have enough flexibility. Sigh.

The Ninja brand also makes a standalone air fryer, so that also makes it difficult to search. The Amazon search engine is terrible for the consumer.

I got my oven, unused but with a dent, for about $90 (including shipping) on eBay. On the flip side, I've seen them in brick and mortar stores, so you've got the option of cheap or immediate.

 

[Accept Only Substitutes]

The Ninja brand also makes a standalone air fryer, so that also makes it difficult to search. The Amazon search engine is terrible for the consumer.

I got my oven, unused but with a dent, for about $90 (including shipping) on eBay. On the flip side, I've seen them in brick and mortar stores, so you've got the option of cheap or immediate.

I've been reading the reviews on Amazon, the one star ones because I like to see what type of problems people are complaining about with things before making a decision. If everyone's complaining about breaking quickly, that tells me I shouldn't expect it to last and pass on it.

Almost all of the one star reviews are about food not cooking properly in it. I'm assuming you haven't experienced this, otherwise you wouldn't recommend it!

Most of them are complaining specifically about the air fryer and grease from meats getting everywhere while using it. I won't be using it for meat often, so those reviews don't concern me, but the ones that say food in general doesn't cook do.

Have you used aluminum foil on pans? People are saying they can't because it's too close to the top element.

 

[Aunt Carol]

Almost all of the one star reviews are about food not cooking properly in it. I'm assuming you haven't experienced this, otherwise you wouldn't recommend it!

Most of them are complaining specifically about the air fryer and grease from meats getting everywhere while using it. I won't be using it for meat often, so those reviews don't concern me, but the ones that say food in general doesn't cook do.

Have you used aluminum foil on pans? People are saying they can't because it's too close to the top element.

Yeah, I don't know how they're managing not to cook things. When I air fry/air roast/convectionize things, I put the temperature down about 20 degrees from what I would in a regular oven, because it seems to work better/not singe the tips. This oven heats up really quickly compared to the toaster oven I had previously, too.

I am not a meat person but they might have missed the bit in the instructions that says that you're supposed to put the roasting pan on the rack underneath the air fryer basket (the basket hangs above, in its own slot), to catch grease drips before they hit the heating elements. Sometimes I raw-dogg air frying vegetables that are less wet.

Haven't had any problem with aluminum foil either; that's what I put under my spaghetti squash halves.