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The best mini ovens that could genuinely replace your main oven
These models can handle everything from toast to roast chicken
Tested by Blossom Boothroyd and Albert Orech-Achato
Mini ovens, also known as countertop ovens or toaster ovens, are no longer a niche appliance reserved for studio flats and caravans. Thanks to their speed and efficiency, the best mini ovens are now a genuine rival to your main oven (for certain tasks) – devotees report using their full-size oven just once a year, at Christmas.
It’s easy to see why, when today’s models are more versatile than ever, with many offering air frying and even steam functions alongside traditional baking and roasting. From designs with built-in hob rings to pastel miniatures that will take pride of place on your countertop, we’ve tested a wide range of options from top brands – and these are the best mini ovens on the market. For our full reviews and a detailed buying guide, keep scrolling.
Best mini ovens to buy in 2026
To find the best mini ovens, we put them through a wide range of cooking tests, including roasting vegetables, making chips and cooking a whole chicken, as well as toasting bread to check for hot and cold spots. For models with hob rings, we also fry an egg and time how long they take to boil a litre of water. Our experts assess the cooking performance alongside ease of use, design and the quality of instructions, before awarding a final score.
For more details on our testing protocols, scroll past our reviews.
Best Deal
Ninja Foodi 10-in-1 Multifunction Oven
Pros
- Outstanding cooking performance with even browning and crisping
- Wide range of cooking functions (including air fry)
- Large capacity comfortably accommodates multi-shelf cooking
- Easy and responsive controls
Cons
- Interior is tricky to clean
Score: 94/100
This Ninja mini oven excelled across the board in our cooking tests. We were impressed with how evenly it cooks food, resulting in crisp and fluffy chips (on the air fryer setting), golden and succulent chicken (roast setting) and evenly browned baguettes (bake setting). The intuitive controls make it simple to use, and we love how much accuracy the digital interface gives you – far more precise than a small dial.
This model commands a little more space than most of the others on this list, though the large capacity also means you can fit in bigger portions across the two shelves. Our only real gripe is how oil tends to stick to the interior, which combined with the placement of the heating elements make it a little difficult to clean. Overall, though, this is a truly excellent mini oven that might make you forget about your regular oven completely.
Key specifications
| Settings | Air fry, roast, whole roast, grill, bake, pizza, dehydrate, reheat, toast, bagel |
|---|---|
| Dimensions & weight | H33.5 x W43.5 x D50.5 cm, 20.7 kg |
| Capacity | 29 litres |
| Power | 2400 W |
| Accessories | Air fry basket, roasting tray, oven tray, 2 wire racks, crumb tray |
| Guarantee | 2 years |
HOMCOM Mini Electric Oven
Pros
- Excellent cooking performance for the price
- Wide range of functions (including air fry)
- Racks and trays are dishwasher safe
Cons
- Short 6-month warranty
Score: 93/100
Lagging just a single point behind our winner – but at a third of the price – this undeniably chic mini oven is a delight to use. It scored close to full marks across seven different cooking tests, delivering everything from crisp air-fried chips to tender roast vegetables. Despite this model's compact size, we were also able to comfortably fit a whole chicken inside, which it cooked to perfection in 45 minutes.
The controls are easy to understand (once you figure out that ‘broil’ just means grill), and although the dials don’t offer as much accuracy as a digital interface, we like the clear indicator light. On the downside, the oven’s ceiling catches oil on the heating elements, which are tricky to clean. It’s only guaranteed for six months, too. But overall, this is an excellent value buy that will look great on any countertop.
Key specifications
| Settings | Warm, broil, broil with fan, toast, bake, bake with fan, air fry |
|---|---|
| Dimensions & weight | H34.5 x W36 x D37.7 cm, 7.8 kg |
| Capacity | 20 litres |
| Power | 1400 W |
| Accessories | Air fry basket, wire rack, oven tray, crumb tray |
| Guarantee | 6 months |
Our Place Wonder Oven
Pros
- Cooks food quickly
- Compact and lightweight
- Stylish design with four colour options
Cons
- Accessories aren’t dishwasher safe
Score: 90/100
This stylish little oven has to take the crown when it comes to looks, especially with the choice of four colourways to match your kitchen. But it’s not just a pretty face – it excelled across our cooking tests, particularly for its ability to make golden, well-risen cupcakes in just 11 minutes. Keen bakers may also appreciate the unique steam feature, which can give bread a moist interior and crisp crust (or help reheated leftovers retain moisture).
The dial controls are easy to grasp, and we're charmed by the “ding” it makes when the timer goes off. At just under 30 x 30 cm, this is the smallest and lightest mini oven we tested, and the size is best for a one or two-person household. But it can still fit a big two-kilo chicken inside – and air fry it perfectly in under 40 minutes!
Key specifications
| Settings | Air fry, bake, roast, toast, broil, reheat, plus steam infusion option |
|---|---|
| Dimensions & weight | H29.5 x W 29.2 x D26.9 cm, 5.3 kg |
| Capacity | 12.3 litres |
| Power | 1400 W |
| Accessories | Air fryer basket, wire rack, oven tray, crumb tray |
| Guarantee | 1 year |
Hamilton Beach Mini Oven with Double Hotplate
Hamilton Beach Mini Oven with Double Hotplate
Pros
- Large capacity can comfortably hold two shelves of food
- Solid, durable build
- Easy to use with straightforward controls
Cons
- Hobs are slow to heat and can’t be temperature controlled – just turned on/off
- No crumb tray
Score: 87/100
If you’re looking for an all-in-one countertop kitchen, this mini oven has two hotplates on the top, allowing you to carry out stovetop and oven cooking simultaneously. Despite not being fan-assisted (which also means it doesn’t air fry), it produces evenly cooked dishes such as baked chicken, baguettes and cupcakes. It just works at a slower pace than the air fryer models – much like a regular electric oven.
Similarly, you need patience with the hobs – the small ring took 16 minutes to boil a litre of water, and the absence of temperature control makes it hard to simmer or fry things gently. But on the whole, it's a solidly built model with a generous 28-litre capacity – ideal for feeding a crowd out of a caravan, boat or anywhere without kitchen facilities.
Key specifications
| Settings | Top heat element (grill), bottom heat element, top and bottom heat element, hobs x 2 |
|---|---|
| Dimensions & weight | H30 x W42.7 x D52.4 cm, 10.5 kg |
| Capacity | 28 litres |
| Power | 3100 W |
| Accessories | Oven tray, wire rack, tray handle |
| Guarantee | 2 years |
Daewoo 1600 25L Electric Mini Oven
Daewoo 1600 25L Electric Mini Oven
Pros
- Durable build and long three-year warranty
- Straightforward dial controls
Cons
- Not fan-assisted and doesn’t heat as evenly as others
Score: 76/100
Despite being the cheapest model we tested, this budget mini oven has a solid build and comes with a three-year guarantee (on registration), which is a good assurance that it will last. It did an excellent job of roasting a whole chicken, although on tests with more delicate food items – such as sliced bread, vegetables and cupcakes – we spotted uneven browning and some hotspots.
This may be due to the lack of a fan to help distribute heat – which also means there’s no air fryer mode, just the top and bottom heat elements. The dial controls and indicator light are very easy to understand, though. While bakers may prefer something more consistent, this would be a great budget pick for those who mostly cook smaller items and straightforward oven meals.
Key specifications
| Settings | Top heat element (grill), bottom heat element, top and bottom heat element |
|---|---|
| Dimensions & weight | H31.5 x W48 x D36 cm, 6.1 kg |
| Capacity | 25 litres |
| Power | 1600 W |
| Accessories | Oven tray, wire rack, tray handle |
| Guarantee | 3 years |
Russell Hobbs Mini Kitchen
Russell Hobbs Mini Kitchen
Pros
- Large capacity so can cook lots of food at once
- Fan-assisted oven helps distribute heat evenly
Cons
- Can’t use oven and hob simultaneously
- Can’t control temperature of the hobs – just on/off
Score: 76/100
This compact all-in-one option is ideal for kitting out cramped kitchen areas with the ability to bake, grill and use hob rings. The responsive dials are easy to operate, and thanks to the fan-assisted oven, it delivers strong results when baking – we were impressed with the evenly browned cupcakes and excellent toast.
However, performance was less consistent elsewhere, with our chips, chicken and roast veg lacking a little crispness, even after longer cooking times. The hobs are slightly slow too and can’t be temperature controlled. They also can’t be used while the oven is on (and vice versa), which is limiting when you’re cooking several dishes at once. Overall, it’s a convenient and versatile option, but best suited to basic cooking.
Key specifications
| Settings | Top heat element (grill) with fan, bottom heat element with fan, top and bottom heat element with fan, hobs x 2 |
|---|---|
| Dimensions & weight | H36.1 x W 37.6 x 45.2 cm, 10.3 kg |
| Capacity | 30 litres |
| Power | 1600 W (oven only), 1750 W (both hotplates together) |
| Accessories | Oven tray, wire rack, tray handle |
| Guarantee | 3 years |
How we test mini ovens
Our in-house experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute evaluate mini ovens using a consistent set of tests to compare performance fairly across models. Our cooking tests cover air frying, baking and roasting to assess how well the oven handles different food types, textures and demands. Here’s a full breakdown.
✔️ Air frying tests: If the mini oven has an air fryer function, we cook foods like chips and chicken to assess airflow, crisping, browning, fat handling and cooking consistency. If the mini oven doesn’t air fry, we cook chips on the regular oven setting.
✔️ Roasting tests: We cook a whole chicken and a tray of chopped vegetables to check for sustained heat, even cooking, browning and moisture retention during roasting.
✔️ Baking tests: We bake cupcakes and part-baked baguettes to check temperature control, evenness of heating and general performance on both light and heavier bakes. ️
✔️ Toast test: We grill a layer of sliced bread that fully covers the oven rack, noting any pale areas, hot spots or scorched zones. This helps us assess heat distribution and the consistency of the heating element.
✔️ ️ Hob tests: If the mini oven has hob plates, we time how long it takes to boil a litre of water in a saucepan and fry an egg. Our hob tests don’t contribute to the mini oven’s overall performance score, as not all models have hobs, but we include it in our write-ups.
We also score ease of use and design, looking at things like the controls, accessories, racks and ease of cleaning. Finally, we examine the quality of the instructions before awarding a final overall score.
Why trust the Good Housekeeping Institute?
The Good Housekeeping Institute has been independently testing products for over a century, discovering which brands live up to their claims and helping consumers make informed choices.
Many of our experts have worked in product development and are highly experienced in creating rigorous protocols that consider how you would use the product at home. This is why our mini oven scoring factors in things like the design of the controls and ease of cleaning, alongside the comprehensive cooking tests carried out in our state-of-the-art test kitchen.
Our countertop oven reviews were designed by homes testing manager Blossom Boothroyd and carried out by homes tester Albert Orech-Achato. Our homes writer Jasmine Vorley then takes the data and feedback and transforms it into bite-sized, shoppable reviews.
What to look for when shopping for a toaster oven
✔️ Settings: Countertop ovens come with a variety of different settings and functions. While some can only switch on their top and/or bottom heating elements, many modern mini ovens can air fry, and some can have specific settings to roast, grill, bake, cook pizza, dehydrate, reheat, toast and more. Bear in mind what you’ll actually use when shopping.
✔️ Space: Consider how much room you have in your kitchen and what you plan to use the oven for. If space isn’t an issue, dream big: the 29-litre Ninja Foodi 10-in-1 Multifunction Oven can fit a whole chicken with space for another tray of veg. For those tight on space, compact models like the 12-litre Our Place Wonder Oven can still handle a two-kilo bird.
✔️ Design: Since your mini oven will most likely live on your counter, you may want to pay extra attention to aesthetics. Digital toaster ovens with stainless steel housing look sleek and modern, while pastel models with old-fashioned knobs add a fun retro vibe.
✔️ Hobs: If you’re going to use your mini oven as a makeshift kitchen (for instance, in a campervan), having hob rings on top can be a real added extra – though we’ve found they don’t offer the same speed and control as a regular hob.
✔️ Accessories: Most countertop ovens come with at least one wire rack and an oven tray. Air fryer models tend to include an air fryer basket, and many have a removable crumb tray for quick cleaning. Accessories that can go in the dishwasher (if you have one) are a plus, as this will help prevent caked-on gunk.
Are mini ovens worth having?
Many home cooks actually find they use their toaster oven far more than their full-sized oven – if they use their regular oven at all! A good mini oven can also replace your toaster, air fryer and microwave. They’re great for toasting bread, cooking small meals, air frying, reheating leftovers and cooking veg and proteins quickly.
Mini ovens heat up and cook food faster than regular ovens and tend to be more energy-efficient too – especially for cooking smaller portions. They’re also easier to clean. If you’re not regularly cooking for a large group and don’t need all your oven space – or if you need a compact way to make meals without regular cooking facilities – a mini oven is a fantastic option.
Final verdict: Which is the best mini oven?
Our best-in-test mini oven is the Ninja Foodi 10-in-1 Multifunction Oven, which took the crown for its outstanding cooking performance, generous capacity and easy digital controls.
If you’re looking to spend a little less, our runner-up – the HOMCOM Mini Electric Oven – lagged just one point behind the Ninja while costing a fraction of the price.
Jasmine is the Good Housekeeping Institute’s homes writer. With a background in design, she is committed to sorting the good products from the great –and helping Good Housekeeping readers do the same.
Throughout her career, Jasmine has written extensively about product quality, craftsmanship and sustainability, and is passionate about consumer rights. She previously worked as a writer and researcher at the product longevity platform Buy Me Once.
If she isn’t reviewing the latest gadgets for your home, you can probably find Jasmine cooking elaborate meals or crafting something weird and wonderful!
Blossom is passionate about finding the best home products and appliances for GH readers. As head of the homes testing team, she has led reviews across multiple categories, from pizza ovens, and smart plugs to portable fans and hobs. She enjoys delving into the intricacies of products and refining testing protocols to ensure we’re testing them against their claims. Her aim is to find the top-performing products on the market, to help take the hard work out of housework. Blossom’s most notable accomplishment in the lab has been toasting 528 slices of bread in her quest to find the best toasters money can buy. In her free time, she openly admits to being a music geek and indulges her creative side through crocheting, baking, singing and writing.
Albert Orech-Achato is a Homes Product Tester at the Good Housekeeping Institute, bringing a technology-led background that includes experience at Apple. He applies a critical, evidence-based approach to product testing, with a particular focus on performance, usability and value for money. Albert especially enjoys assessing kitchen appliances, while also testing a wide range of products for the home. His work helps consumers make confident, informed purchasing decisions based on rigorous, real-world evaluation.
