The 10 Best Mini Ovens
We’ve reviewed dozens of mini ovens and listed the 10 best options
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What are the Top Small Microwaves?
If you are reading this page, I’d say the fundamental question you are asking yourself is what are the best mini ovens to buy?
Well, that’s exactly the question I was asking myself when my sister called in a panic to tell me that there had been a delay in her new kitchen renovation and that she was going to be without her convectional oven for about a month. Despite having a slow cooker and a microwave, this situation was far from ideal, especially, with my nephew who, at the time was 3 years old.
My challenge was to research as many mini oven reviews to find a mini oven that:
- Was in my budget – I didn’t want to spend a fortune
- Included hot plates – my nephew’s favourite meal is spaghetti bolognese.
- You could bake a cake in – my sister enjoys baking!
But, my criteria for finding the best mini oven will probably be different from yours. I was looking for a temporary fix, finding a means to an end, and finding a mini oven with hob. But there are many reasons why people buy mini ovens, and not to act as ‘plasters/band-aids’
We have whittled down and reviewed dozens of top rated models and featured their cooking modes and accessories such as is they have a non stick baking tray, crumb tray or grill rack to help you find the best mini oven to suit your cooking needs, space or capacity.
Read on to see our list of top rated mini ovens that we feel are most deserving of the top spots and at the end of our review section we have included a handy mini oven buying guide.
The Reliable Small Microwaves 2022
1.
Laptronix Small Microwave and Grill
The Laptronix Mini oven with hob and grill is a great oven and grill with the handy addition of two hot plates that sit on top of the main unit which can be operated at the same time as the oven.
Its 23L capacity is more than sufficient, to cope with day to day family cooking and also light enough to transport with you to the caravan or boat. As for other mini ovens, it is energy efficient and cheaper to run than conventional ovens.
This is the model I choose for my sister when she was experiencing delays with her home renovation. I wanted a mini oven that came with hobs, that was affordable, efficient, with a decent capacity and that had great reviews.
She was delighted and cooked and baked everything she would have in her main oven from casseroles and jacket potatoes, chilli & rice, savoury pies, bread and even a small Sunday bake roast.
Features
- Dimensions: (H)29 x (W)30 x (D)76cm
- Capacity: 23 L
- Power: 1500W
- Minute Timer: 60 minutes
Reasons to Buy
- Comes with a baking tray, baking tray handle and wire rack.
- Double hot plate
- Hob and grill
- 3 preset cooking modes
- Timer - turns the oven off if the timer has stopped
- All the benefits & capabilities of a conventional oven
Reasons to Avoid
- Exterior and door retain a hot temperature so not suited to being boxed in
2.
Beko MSH28B
Mini ovens with hobs and a separate grill can be hard to come by, but this Beko performs very well with all tasks.
It holds 28 litres at once, and there is a timer to keep you on track as well as a host of specific settings such as a bottom-only option for crisping up pizzas or breads.
This compact and practical mini oven and grill won’t disappoint you, it’s able to reach a temperature between 90 and 230°C, it can also cook just what you would in an ordinary oven. The interior light means you can keep an eye, and just as with a full model, the inner glass door can be removed to make it easy to clean.
We think it is a great price for what you get, and most importantly the oven and hob can be used simultaneously. It takes a bit longer to cook food than some other mini ovens, but we think having additional hobs and a grill makes this mini oven a great addition to your home.
Features
- Dimensions: (H)39.6 x (W)41.6 x (D)56.0
- Litre Capacity: 28L
- Minute Timer: 120 Minutes
- Power / Energy: 1100W
- Material: Stainless Steel
Reasons to Buy
- 2-in-1 - great for small spaces
- Easy to keep clean
- 2 x hot plates
- Separate grill only function
Reasons to Avoid
- Is a little slow
3.
Quest 35409
This is an absolute bargain of a compact mini oven. Admittedly, the price is probably because of the smaller capacity and general basic levels, but it could make a great addition as a spare cooker or in a caravan/boat.
There is a 60 minute timer and temperature choice of 100°-230°C. It comes with a baking tray and wire rack and handle that can be used for either tray or rack, and 2 x Quartz heating elements which already makes it great value for money. There are two shelving heights to choose from, and a cool touch handle means the door can be opened safely.
The downsides are that there is only a 9 litres capacity, making this mini oven unsuitable for larger meals, and the grill doesn’t get quite as hot as other mini ovens and therefore you need to allow a little longer than you might need to compared to an alternative mini oven and grill. But it could be best the best mini oven if you are cooking for one person, or as a bit of spare space to cook the chips while the main oven is packed with everything else.
Features
- Dimensions: 26 x 36 x 22 cm
- Litre Capacity: 9L
- Minute Timer: 60 Minute timer
- Power / Energy: 650W
Reasons to Buy
- Price
- Comes with everything included to get you started; baking tray, wire rack, & handle
- Double layered heat resistant tempered glass doors
- 2 x Quartz heating elements
- Easy to clean, light to move around and fits neatly in a corner of a worktop
- Cool-touch handles
Reasons to Avoid
- General lack of power and space
- Exterior gets warm
4.
NETTA Electric
This Netta oven is a little larger than many of the mini ovens in this review but it is just as affordable and is a great go-to choice for any couples looking to save a bit of space. Generally available for less than £120, this mini oven comes with dual hot plates as well as grill functionality, and with a large capacity – 45L, should give you more than enough space for cooking even sizeable dishes with minimal room.
This well-rated convection oven has a two hour timer, as well as variable power settings between 600W and 800W, meaning you can switch up how you want to cook your dishes. This is an amazingly energy efficient kitchen staple, and the best part is that it barely takes up space. Great for students and for anyone living in limited space.
Features
- Dimensions: H55.5 x W40 x D38cm
- Litre Capacity: 45L
- Minute Timer: 120 mins
- Power / Energy: 600W to 800W
- Warranty/Guarantee : One Year (Manufacturer)
Reasons to Buy
- Double hot plates and includes a wire rack and baking tray
- Very easy to use with precise functions
- Takes up barely any space
- Cooks meals up to 230 degrees C -quick cooking times
- Energy efficient
Reasons to Avoid
- Not the most powerful for the price
5.
De’Longhi EO12012
Vary your cooking skills with this easy to use this mini oven, created by De’Longhi who are synonymous with great design and practical attributes.
The versatile mini oven has the option to adjust the temperature from as little as 60°C all the way up to 220 degrees celsius. It heats up fairly quick too, with its 1400 watt power and offers three cooking functions – traditional, grill and a lower heating elements for slower cooking.
The lightweight oven is perfect for your kitchen counter and easy to transport, so you can also take it with you – if you have a caravan or holiday letting, why not pack it up and save money by not eating out? It can act as an oven for big meals or you can simply use it to re-heat, grill or toast.
It isn’t the biggest as it only has 12 litres of space, but it provides complete quality and durability and comes with a baking tray and wire rack. You will also be pleased to learn that it has a slow cook feature and a safe double glass door.
Features
- Dimensions: (H)29.2 x (W)49.7 x (D)37.6cm
- Litre Capacity: 12L
- Minute Timer
- Power / Energy: 1400W
- Material: Stainless Steel
Reasons to Buy
- It is a powerful machine that can easily sit on your worktop
- It has a conventional grill setting
- Three year replacement warranty
- It is lightweight and portable
- Comes with baking tray and wire rack
- 120-minute temperature timer with auto shut off & bell
Reasons to Avoid
- It has only small capacity
- Costs over £80 for little space or features
6.
Tefal OF445840 Optimo
Tefal don’t do things by halves unless it comes to the price of course. You can pick this bespoke mini oven and grill up for a budget cost, yet still gives a high-quality performance.
It really is impressive and boasts eight cooking functions. Use the oven to defrost, grill and bake even bain-marie. It even showcases two rotisserie functions to roast your chicken, which gives large cavity performance on a smaller scale.
The overall weight is low, which makes it nice and easy to carry from one bench to another or take in a caravan. You could even keep this mini oven for those overflow occasions such as the Sunday dinner or Christmas and just bring it out when required. This electric mini oven is powerful enough for all your cooking needs and can heat up to 240°C, so is ideal for everyday cooking too.
Features
- Dimensions: (H)46.2 x (W)31.8 x (D)22.8 cm
- Litre Capacity: 19L
- Minute Timer
- Power / Energy: 1380W
Reasons to Buy
- It can heat up your food quickly and efficiently with power level
- Comes with a grill and bake function and a number of other cooking functions including defrost and bain-marie
- It is lightweight and easy to place on your kitchen counter or store away
- Rotisserie function included
Reasons to Avoid
- It hasn’t got a huge amount of space
- The trays aren’t easy to slide out
7.
Severin 2058
This super-size mini oven and grill is fantastic for anyone who wants flexible access to a cavity that they can just power up and on to cook all kinds of everyday meals. With a stack of cooking power at 1800W and an acoustic timer that you’ll be able to use for meals cooking for up to two hours, you can also benefit from seriously hot meals at up to 230 degrees celsius.
What’s more, there’s an amazing amount of capacity here at 42L, as well as plenty of versatility in the different functions and features available. Use this toast oven to bake, cook, prepare poultry, pizza and more. It also warms up really quickly, too – making it absolutely worth every penny you pay (which is less than you might expect, too).
Features
- Dimensions: H42 x W51.5 x D36.5cm
- Litre Capacity: 42L
- Minute Timer: 120 mins
- Power / Energy: 1800W
- Warranty/Guarantee : 2 Years (Manufacturer)
Reasons to Buy
- A very affordable mini oven
- Tons of space in one cavity
- Very versatile - great for most main meals
- Warms up quicker than most
- Removable crumb tray
Reasons to Avoid
- Not much to say against it!
9.
Sage The Smart Microwave Pro
Sage are renowned for providing the best bespoke items and this Smart Oven Pro mini oven is no different. From the moment you take one look at its sleek and elegant design you know that this mini oven is the real-deal.
The reason we didn’t rate this as best mini oven was purely because of its price tag. With that said, we feel this the Smart Oven Pro is an investment and one sure to last, so if you can afford it, you won’t regret it.
In addition to its beautiful exterior, it also comes packed with innovative technology including convection features that evenly heat up the whole meal. There is a handy reheat function which will prepare leftovers, and a handy pizza setting and slow cook feature which are sure to both come in handy for several mealtimes.
In total, there are ten pre-set programmes to take the guesswork out of meal prep. It also benefits from unique Element IQ technology.
What is Element IQ technology?
Element IQ technology, basically it refers to heat transfer. The Smart Oven Pro transfers heat via 5 independent quartz heating elements. The element iQ technology automatically adjusts the way it heats food, depending on what you’re cooking. Lasagne’s will be crisp on top, and meat joints will be succulent throughout.
Features
- Dimensions: (H)28 x (W)47 x (D)32cm
- Litre Capacity: 21L
- Minute Timer
- Power / Energy: 2400W
Reasons to Buy
- Sufficient space with 21L capacity
- Lots of technology including a clever heating design
- Incredible level of power that heats your meal quickly and efficiently
- It has functions 10 preset functions, toast, crumpet, bake, grill, pizza, cookies, reheat and also slow cook
- Convection fan for fast and even cooking
Reasons to Avoid
- It is one of the more expensive mini ovens (but worth it)
- Only one shelf
10.
Geepas
This great mini oven is the perfect choice if you’re looking for something to fit a tighter budget, though that really doesn’t mean you are ever missing out on some of the best features mini ovens have to offer. This system doesn’t just toast or cook, as it has up to six different preset features, as well as air circulation, a 60 minutes timer, and a brilliant rotisserie functionality.
Take up to 30L of space for a slender price tag and you’ll be able to cook up most main meals in this wonderful booster to any modern kitchen space. You’ll also get a clear window on how things are cooking, and with a two year warranty supported as standard by the manufacturer, you can be sure that you’re protected for plenty of time to come.
Features
- Dimensions: H50.5 x W36.3 x D31.3cm
- Litre Capacity: 30L
- Minute Timer: 60
- Power / Energy: 1600W
- Warranty/Guarantee : 2 Years (Manufacturer)
Reasons to Buy
- Very affordable
- 30L capacity
- Six different cooking features and functions
Reasons to Avoid
- Not the most modern-looking oven!
10.
Ninja Foodi 8-in-1 SP101UK
The Ninja Foodi mini oven is a well-priced, multi-master of an oven unit, offering eight different presets, a digital timer, a grill and more. Presets to this system are fantastic in the sense that you can simply let your Foodi decide what temperature is going to work best.
The thermostat to this system is flexible and you also receive a more than reasonable 10 litres in main oven capacity here, meaning it should be more than useful when cooking up smaller meals.
Features
- Dimensions: (H)19.2 x (W)38.0 x (D)50.1
- Litre Capacity: 10 L
- Minute Timer: Yes
- Power: 2400 watts
- Warranty: 1 Year
Reasons to Buy
- Very easy to use
- Lots of different functions
- Reasonable capacity
- Very quick to cook with
Reasons to Avoid
- Some people struggle with even cooking
FAQs
If you can bake it in a main oven, you can bake it in a mini oven! So, cakes, bread, cookies and puddings. However, there are a few points you need to consider when cooking in your mini oven:
The simple answer is yes, mini ovens use less energy, therefore, making them more energy-efficient than your main oven. The reason for this is the time they take to reach your desired cooking temperature. The Dualit 89200 mini oven (reviewed above) reaches a temperature of 180°C in three minutes and 230°C in less than five minutes!
Convection mini ovens circulate the air around the food, aiding even and speedy cooking with many mini ovens running as low as 800 watts, for example, the Quest 35409 is 650W.
If you would like to work out how kilowatt-hours (kWh) used you can use this calculation:
Watts x hours = total watt-hours / 1,000
e.g. 1,300 watts x 0.2 hours = 260 / 1,000 =2.6 kWh
Next you need to multiply that by the price you pay for your electricity to find out the cost for running your oven.
There are multiple benefits to owning a mini oven. Some households leave it on the kitchen counter as an extra cooking appliance for when they’re hosting a dinner party and there is lots of food on the go. Others have it as their main oven, either because they don’t have space for a full-sized model or because they don’t need the capacity. If you only cook for yourself or as a couple, then a mini oven will work perfectly, especially the ones that come complete with hotplates and hobs.
Can Your Small Microwave Hold Your Oven Tins?
You will need to consider this before you start baking in your mini oven.
Cake tins vary in sizes and it is possible for some cakes to switch between loaf tins and round tins or even consider making mini cupcakes! Plus for say a victoria sponge you can buy different sized tins, so where an 8″ tin maybe to big depending on your compact oven a 6″ may fit well.
Before You Start Half Your Ingredients
You may find that you need to cook a smaller cake. So rather than waste your ingredients you can half the mixture you will make, alternatively, you can cook two cakes using all the ingredients.
Pre-Heat Your Small Microwave Before You Start Weighing Your Ingredients
As for main ovens its really important to make sure that your oven is at the required temperature before you start cooking. You don’t want to be left with a sunken or undercooked centre.
For Cookies Use a Silicone Baking Mat
You can, also, use baking parchment, however, if you are using your wire rack to cook on rather than your baking tray it’s much easier to whip out your cooked cookies using a silicone baking mat, then when you then add your next batch of cookies into your mini oven you can just add the next batch.
If You Are Making Bread Use Your Small Microwave as a Prover
This is great if you are short of space. Turn your oven on and heat to 90 c. Turn the oven off and pop your bread in to prove…you will be the envy of the campsite!
Don’t Open the Oven Door of Your Small Microwave During Baking!
As for baking in your main oven, you shouldn’t open the door when cooking. Doing so will result in temperature fluctuations and a high possibility of your cake collapsing. The beauty of a mini oven is that because they are positioned on counters, they tend to be at eye-level and you can view your food cooking without opening the door of your mini oven!
Should I Buy a Small Microwave?
Mini ovens, also called toaster ovens are perfect for boaters and camping/caravaners and tick many boxes due to their compact design, and also because they are efficient and offer easy removal and storage.
Toaster ovens are also perfect for people who live on their own and for students in shared accommodation and of course for people like my sister who find themselves in a temporary situation with unforeseen problems with kitchen installations and of course if your oven breaks and you have a delay in replacing your main oven and would like to take your time in researching your new oven replacement.
Your starting point, when beginning your quest in finding the best mini ovens is to figure out exactly what your cooking needs are, (might you need a mini oven with a hob (like I did) or how about a separate/portable induction hob)? where do you think you might position your mini oven within your kitchen or if in a shared property, your room and what functions and features you will need along with your budget.
How Do I Choose a Small Microwave?
Our recommendation is to start by thinking about why you want your mini oven. A few questions to ask yourself are: Will I be using this in the short term i.e. has your main oven broken down, and you need a short fix to get you by while you research and buy your next main oven? Or do you need this for a campervan, caravan or boat, in which case, again you won’t be using full-time, but will be looking for a mini oven that will be reliable, last for many years and support weekend and short break cooking?
So our top 3 considerations when choosing a mini over are:
- Budget
- Space
- Functionality
Ultimately you want value for money, and what is value for money for one person isn’t strictly for another, value doesn’t always mean price!
How Much Should You Expect To Pay For a Good Small Microwave?
It’s amazing that there are so many mini ovens on the market that offer great value and you can now pick up a new mini oven for around £50-£100.
Are Small Microwaves Quick to Heat Up?
Something that bugs many owners of mini ovens is the slow start-up speed to reach your ideal cooking temperature range. Look for mini ovens that provide a high power level, which should enable you to reach your desired temperature range and cooking much quicker.
What’s the Cooking Capacity of a Small Microwave?
Even though you aren’t looking for a huge oven, you need to ensure that the mini oven you choose still provides sufficient capacity. In regards to mini ovens, anything over 20 litres is pretty impressive and we even list some that exceed 30 litres. Think about whether you intend to use your mini oven as your primary source of cooking or just to help you out for special occasions.
What Cooking Functions Can You Expect From Your Small Microwave?
You will want to look for mini ovens that offer as many cooking functions as possible and that heats up quickly. There are mini ovens that grill, bake, roast and even toast your food. If you often have chicken, it may even be worth looking at mini ovens which have a rotisserie function or spit roast cooking function.
What Power Output Can You Expect From Small Microwaves?
When you are researching mini ovens lookout for the watts measurement. As mentioned above, it helps to preheat the unit quicker but also improves your cooking experience.
Our best mini ovens buying guide will help you understand what to look out for when assessing, comparing and reviewing electric mini ovens, we also share some of the top features of the mini ovens that we have picked out.
Can you Bake In a Small Microwave?
Yes, you can bake in a mini oven, however, there are a few things to consider:
Internal Capacity Of Small Microwave
Cakes rise, make sure you buy a mini oven with enough height to take rising into consideration – the last thing you want is cake stuck to the heating elements!
How long does your Small Microwave take to get to temperature?
Mini ovens, although equal to cooking in a main oven do take longer to get to temperature, so take this into consideration before you bake.
The size of your cake tin
You may find that you need to go down a cake tin size and keep in mind that you may need to cook one cake and then the second while the first cools on a cooling rack. For cookies, most ovens come with baking trays for cooking all manner of foods but will be ideal for cookies. Just line them first as you would for a conventional oven.
Conclusion
We hope you have found this elecetric mini oven review helpful and that it gives you confidence in making the right decision when looking for the mini ovens that will suit your needs.
We really believe that mini ovens with grills and mini oven with hob are great solutions to getting you out of sticky situations such as when your main oven breaks down and you are waiting for it to be repaired or while you research new ovens.
But also, if you own a boat, caravan or love to camp and would like to self cater with your own cooking when away from home you will be delighted with your electric mini oven purchase, and finally, a compact oven is fantastic for those who’s cooking needs are for one or two people, or who live in shared accommodation such as students.
Due to the size of compact mini ovens, they are easy to store and also come as a handy back up when you are cooking for large numbers such as at Christmas.
If you would like further help with understanding a little more if a mini oven is right for you or the person you are buying for you can read our article What are Mini Ovens Used For? for further information.
About Author
I had the idea for Which Kitchen Appliance? In 2016 when a friend was planning a new kitchen and asked me to help her choose her new kitchen appliances. She knew that I had trained as a chef, had a passion for cooking and an interest in interior design.
After hours and hours of trawling websites looking for a double oven, built-in microwave, hob & extractor fan the excitement that was soon waned…we were bored and frazzled. But finally, we succeeded and she got her new kitchen.
This led me to think that there must be a better way of researching kitchen appliances, if only there were somewhere that you could go and find kitchen appliance reviews and helpful hints and tips on getting the best from and look after your appliance under one roof with information that was comprehensive, easy to understand and that you could trust…and so WhichKitchenAppliance? was born. I now work full-time on WhichKitchenAppliance?
