After ten years of faithful service, our trusty Black & Decker toaster oven died.
The fan stopped blowing, which meant it essentially scorched the top of everything we tried to cook.
Between the fan failure and the accumulation of a decade’s worth of crumbs and grease, we decided it was time to give it a proper retirement.
And so the hunt was on…
The Contenders
Breville
We love all things Breville, so it was naturally one of the first brands we explored.
Their build quality is exceptional, and the designs are both intuitive and elegant. I was particularly drawn to the Breville Joule® Oven Air Fryer Pro, especially since it was on sale.
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The black stainless steel finish is stunning, and its precision-cooking features—powered by the Joule® app—promise consistent, professional-level results.
But as much as I adored it, budget constraints and the reality of how we actually use a toaster oven kept me grounded.
A step down in price but still an excellent option was the Breville Smart Oven® (also on sale).
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With its convection settings and air fry capabilities, it seemed like a great all-rounder. I’ve always trusted Breville products—our food processor, juicer, and hand blender have served us reliably for years.
But while Breville impressed me with its quality, I started to wonder if there were other features out there that might suit our needs better.
Our Place
A friend introduced me to the concept of steam ovens after serving me a heavenly, perfectly moist cake baked in hers. That inspired me to look into steam oven options, and the Our Place Steam Oven caught my eye.
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It’s a compact, stylish appliance with a minimalist aesthetic that would enhance the look of any kitchen. The idea of being able to steam, bake, and roast in one small appliance was very appealing.
Unfortunately, as gorgeous as it was, the capacity just didn’t fit our needs. For a family that frequently reheats casseroles, bakes bread, and cooks multiple portions at once, it felt a little too limited in size.
Other Options We Considered
Cuisinart
The Cuisinart Chef’s Convection Toaster Oven was a solid contender.
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Known for its dependability and versatility, this model offers multiple cooking presets, including air frying, convection, and broiling.
Its interior is spacious enough to handle larger dishes, and I appreciated its intuitive controls. While it doesn’t have the sleek aesthetic of other brands, its proven performance and reasonable price point made it a strong candidate.
Ninja Foodi
The Ninja Foodi 10-in-1 XL Pro Air Fry Oven caught my attention for its multifunctionality.
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This powerhouse can bake, roast, air fry, dehydrate, and even toast up to nine slices of bread at once.
Its fast preheating and large capacity are ideal for anyone who cooks for a crowd or meal preps. However, its bulkier design made me pause. It felt more suited for someone with a larger kitchen space or specific needs for heavy-duty cooking.
KitchenAid
Known for their iconic stand mixers, KitchenAid also offers countertop ovens that blend style and functionality. The Digital Countertop Oven with Air Fry is a sleek, mid-priced model with a variety of cooking functions.
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I loved its clean design and ease of use. While it didn’t have the capacity or extra features of some other brands, it seemed like a great option for anyone looking for reliable, straightforward performance.
The Final Choice
After what felt like a marathon of online research, I finally made my decision: the Emeril Lagasse 26 QT Extra Large Air Fryer, Convection Toaster Oven with French Doors.
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What won me over?
The overwhelmingly positive reviews, for one. Customers raved about its performance, versatility, and durability. But the feature that sealed the deal for me was the rotisserie function.
I love the idea of roasting chicken, pork, or even veggies with that perfectly even, golden-brown finish you get from a rotisserie.
The extra-large capacity is perfect for our family, and the French doors add an elegant touch while making it easier to access hot dishes safely.
Now that it’s in my kitchen, I couldn’t be happier with the choice—it’s like having a mini professional oven on the counter.
If you’re in the market for a countertop oven, the Emeril Lagasse model is worth serious consideration.
It’s versatile enough to handle just about any cooking task you throw at it, making it a worthwhile investment!
Hi Stacy and Jordan,
I 120% agree with the choice of the Emeril Lagasse oven. I own the Emeril Lagasse 360 Airfryer oven. It has the rotisserie function, dehydrator toaster, air fryer, oven, etc. it is wonderful to have all the features of a large oven at a much smaller foot print.
Yes. We’ve been delighted with it!