Convection Oven Vs Toaster Oven: Overview

"You don't need a silver fork to eat good food." – Paul Prudhomme (American Chef)

Good food is always a delight. It is enjoyed regardless of one's family, regional, professional, or financial background. However, cooking delicious food requires a certain amount of skills and effort. You can improve your skills by practice. And the process gets easier if you are equipped with the correct tools for it. Although, with the varieties available in the market, finding the one that is perfect for your requirements can become a hectic process. And among those trouble makers, convection oven vs toaster oven is the most common one.

Here we highlight some of the most basic differences between the convection oven and the toaster oven so that you make the right choice for yourself.

What is a Toaster Oven?

Toaster Oven

A toaster oven is an electrical kitchen (cooking) appliance utilized for toasting, broiling, and baking. It is an oven version of the toaster that can be used for heating and cooking small quantities of food in common terms.

Toaster ovens are generally compact as compared to convection ovens. This makes it easy to move around when they are not in use. However, due to their size, the quantity of food that can be cooked or heated inside is very limited. Another downside is that many of them come with factory settings, making them non-flexible according to your recipe.
Toaster Oven Review

Let's understand the benefits and drawbacks of using toaster ovens in kitchens, both domestic and commercial:

Pros
  • Smaller and compact
  • Almost no installation required
  • Lightweight and movable
  • Energy efficient
  • Best for reheating foods
Cons
  • Takes counter and shelf space
  • Uneven heat distribution
  • Takes longer to reach the desired cooking temperature
  • Limited cooking options
  • Not suitable for large meals

What is a Convection Oven?

Convection Oven Review

A convection oven is a more upgraded version of the toaster oven. It comes with a fan (or several) and an exhaust system. It has more to offer for the menu. However, it is bulkier than toaster ovens and consumes more energy.

They are usually installed under the counter. Thanks to the fans that circulate the heat evenly inside the oven, the food is cooked evenly on all sides. You can get the crispy crust or soft surface with the right settings, as you may like it. But getting the right settings may take some time and experiments.

Convection Oven Review

We have well-understood the pros and cons of toaster ovens; therefore, it's now time to look into convection ovens and its benefits and drawbacks of using it.

Pros
  • Even heat distribution due to fan
  • Flexible to the recipe
  • Suitable for any size of the meal
  • Reaches desired temperature faster
  • Reduces cooking time
Cons
  • Bulkier in size
  • Additional installation is required
  • Immovable
  • Comparatively consumes more energy

Convection Oven Vs Toaster Oven: The Differences

Here we will pick the primary features and specifications that you must consider in convection and toaster ovens before buying one of the most suitable options. Have a look below and check out which one suits you the most.

Feature
Toaster Oven
Convection Oven
Size
Toaster Oven is compact and lightweight as compared to convection ovens. However, they do take counter space.
The Convection Oven is larger and bulkier than the toaster ovens. They are generally installed under the counter.
Heating Technique
Toaster Ovens use the heating elements that further heat the walls, air, and the baking pan and ultimately cook the food. However, the heat is usually distributed unevenly and may leave several hot spots.
Convection Ovens use fans to distribute the heat generated by the elements. The fans then circulate the heat across and inside the oven. This constant circulation helps in even heating at all corners of the oven.
Cooking Time
Toaster Oven takes longer to heat up, and thus takes more time to cook the dish.
Convection Oven, thanks to the fans, the heat is constantly and evenly circulated inside the oven. Thus, it reduces the cooking time.
Energy Consumption
Toaster Ovens are more energy-efficient as compared to convection ovens.
Convection Ovens consume more energy than toaster ovens. However, some ovens may use different sources of energy as fuels.
Cooking Technique
The Toaster Oven is best for baking small quantities of food. The dishes start with a flour batter that needs to settle down and slow cook (like muffins).
Convection Ovens can bake varieties of dishes, from muffins to a whole turkey. You have to be mindful of the settings, and you are good to go.
Suitability & Compatibility
Toaster Ovens are best suited for heating and reheating food.
Convection Ovens are best suited for baking and cooking food.

More comparison:

Air Fryer Vs Toaster Oven: What’s The Difference?

Toaster Oven vs Microwave: The Detailed Comparison

Convection Oven Vs Toaster Oven: Which Is Right For You?

Suppose you are someone who is not very interested in cooking. Or someone who only require to bake in small quantities. Maybe someone who moves around frequently or need it for heating food. Then I would recommend a toaster oven for you. But if you love cooking, likes experimenting with different recipes, or have to cook in larger quantities, then a convection oven is best for you. However, if you are still confused, or neither fits your requirement, I would suggest going for a hybrid model.

That is a convection oven in the size of a toaster oven. They may be a bit over-budget, but it combines the pros of both convection and toaster ovens while reducing some of the cons.

Whatever may be your cooking habits or requirements, having the right tools and appliances always helps. In logic, convection oven vs. toaster oven is all about fan, size, and utility. But it is your skills and love for cooking that matters the most in the end.

Talya Davis Talya Davis

Talya, like all members of the HomeDesignX team, is enamored by all things related to cooking and eating. She’s written cookware articles for numerous publications before working with her lifelong friend Jessica to create their very own website on cookware.

She's currently writing a book on induction cooktops, and enjoys making clean, vegan meals for her family.

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