Mini ovens are a must-have for anyone who has a small kitchen or limited cooking needs or skills. Lightweight and compact, usually designed as table top ovens, they conveniently sit in a corner, taking minimum space while offering maximum versatility.
Say you don’t have enough room in your kitchen to fit in a large oven? Or do you usually cook for one, maximum two persons at a time? Then a tabletop oven is clearly everything you need. The same goes if you’re a student on a campus. An older person living alone. Or an adventurous person traveling with a motorhome.
Some of the best portable ovens, designed as mini versions, even come with hot plates, for increased efficiency and utility. Let us show you a top of the most appealing mini ovens, along with a comprehensive buying guide. It will help you out in making the best possible choice!
Best Mini Ovens
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1
Best Overall
1Sage Smart Mini Oven Pro
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2
Best For Low Budgets
2Tefal Optimo Mini Oven
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3 | Buy On Amazon | ||
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4
Best For Higher Budgets
4Russell Hobbs Mini Multi-Cooker
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1. Sage Smart Mini Oven Pro
- Element IQ for smart heating elements control.
- Features 10 different pre-set cooking functions.
- Equipped with a convection fan for even, fast cooking.
- Programmable through LCD display.
A table top oven with smart functionality like Sage’s Smart Oven Pro simply cannot go unnoticed. It bakes, it toasts, and it grills, and it can take over most of your cooking needs. The convection fan allows fast and uniform cooking, whereas the 10 pre-set cooking functions make operation a breeze. To top it off, this oven comes with element IQ controls, for smart heat distribution.
Those who are not very skilled at cooking will particularly appreciate the 10 cooking functions. They cover toast, grill, pizza, crumpet, bake, cookies, roast, warm, reheat, and slow cook. So, it has a little bit for everyone, from rookies to passionate cooks.
And thanks to the LCD display, everything appears simple and intuitive. You get to see the cooking modes, the temperature, and the cooking time. With the Slow Cook you can play around with flavours and prepare dishes that take anything from 4 to 10 hours! And if you’re not around when the food is ready, the Keep Warm function will automatically come into play.
Specifications
Pros
- Designed for optimal heating control.
- Comes with pre-set cooking programs.
- Allows you to keep foods warm.
- Can toast bread slices.
Cons
- A bit noisy because of the fan.
- Some parts feel a bit flaky.
2. Tefal Optimo Mini Oven
- Convection oven with 19L cooking capacity.
- Features eight different pre-set cooking modes.
- Comes with a rotisserie kit, baking tray, and reversible grid.
- Maximum temperature set to 2400 C, timer duration 120 minutes.
This plug-in oven from Tefal makes an appealing choice for use in small spaces. And given its countertop functionality, it may also prove useful for those who are having difficulties in bending to access a traditional low oven. It’s versatile and includes a full range of useful functions. Despite its somewhat limited capacity, there’s little it cannot successfully cook.
As it gets very close to the average weight and size of a microwave oven, it also features a design that makes it pretty straightforward to use. It’s actually ready to use, out of the box. And the large dials from the top panel let you easily control the cooking mode, the timer, and the temperature.
Convection and Conventional, Bain Marie, Defrost, Pastry, and two different Rotisserie programs are ready to use at the push of a button. And with the shallow roasting tin and the metal wire tray included in the package, you can actually cook two lots of food at the same time. Easy to use, easy to clean, it provides great value for the money!
Specifications
Pros
- Compact design with powerful cooking capacity.
- Comes with many useful cooking accessories.
- Features a generous range of pre-set cooking modes.
- User-friendly design, for easy operation.
Cons
- Tends to get hot on the outside during cooking.
- Glass finish reduces visibility.
3. Laptronix Mini Oven
- Mini oven with a 23 L cooking capacity.
- Two different ceramic hot plates you can independently control.
- Three different pre-set cooking modes.
- Wire rack, baking tray, and baking tray handle included in the package.
If you love a good mini oven with a classic design, this 23L table top cooker with double hotplates will make it to your shortlist. Even though it comes with only three pre-set functions, the combination of hot plates from the outside with the baking tray and wire rack from the inside will cover all bases. Cooking, roasting, or grilling aren’t just easy, but also enjoyable when you do it with this 1500W mini oven.
Compact and designed with portability in mind, it easily provides the capabilities you get from conventional ovens. But, of course, it does so at a fraction of the space and cost of a traditional oven. Student accommodations or anyone’s small apartment, a house on the wheels, and many other crowded spaces can easily make room for this versatile tabletop oven.
In the box, you’re getting the mini oven, along with a baking tray, a wire rack, a tray handle, and the user manual. You just take it out, plug it in, and start cooking. The two plates can work at 600W and 800W and are independently controllable. Through it all, it’s a convenient, mini but sturdy oven that provides more than decent value for its price point.
Specifications
Pros
- Sturdy electric mini oven with great cooking capacity.
- Compact and portable, suits various cooking settings.
- Allows the selection of one of the two heat settings.
- Provides good value for the money.
Cons
- Not so clear operation instructions.
- Top plates might take some time to heat up.
4. Russell Hobbs Mini Multi-Cooker
- Electric 30L multi-cooker with dual hotplate at 750/1000W.
- Integrated fan for faster, more even cooking.
- Thermostat control ranging from 60 to 230 degree Celsius.
- Comes with a baking tray and a special grill rack.
With this multi-cooker from Russell Hobbs, you’re getting a lot more than a table top oven. It comes with its own baking tray and grilling rack, plus two hotplates at the top, giving you even more cooking options. And with a 30L cooking capacity, it looks even more tempting. From grilling and roasting to baking, frying, or boiling on the two hobs, it will easily tackle pretty much any cooking task.
At its core, it is an electric mini-oven with a built-in fan and a thermostat that puts you in control of the cooking temperature. The hotplates from its top function independently, at 750W the small one and 1000W the large one. And while the two hobs don’t feature temperature control, the oven itself lets you set the temperature and comes with a 120-minute timer.
For a more relaxed experience, you can always count on it to auto-shut off when the time goes up. Plus, you can be sure you’ll be notified about it with the ready bell. It is an easy to use oven, built to last, and providing good value for the money. The 2-year warranty can go up to 3 years with a simple online product registration. So, you might want to check it out!
Specifications
Pros
- Generous cooking capacity.
- Versatile, with multiple cooking functions.
- Designed with numerous practical features.
- Warranty can be extended from 2 to 3 years.
Cons
- No temperature control for the hobs.
- Oven and hobs won’t work simultaneously.
5. Dualit Mini Oven
- Electric tabletop mini-oven with plate warming area.
- 18L cooking capacity with a curved back.
- 120-minute timer with auto shut-off and bell.
- Insulated and with double glazed door.
Perfect for cooking in small places, this eye-level mini-oven can serve as your main cooking option or as an additional one. Dualit walked the extra mile in designing this model, extending its 18L capacity with a curved back design, which means larger, circular dishes – like a whole chicken on a round plate – will better fit the cooking tray.
What’s more, the versatile cooking functions and the ability to heat-up in as little as 3 minutes make it truly stand out. In the package, you’re getting a lot more than the traditional rack wire shelf that other mini ovens have to offer. It also comes with a grill pan and a 9-inch pizza pan, giving you the option to cook two batches at the same time.
Yet the truly appealing feature is the non-stick interior paired with a full-width tray that you can easily remove. It collects any crumbs or drips during the cooking process, and when it’s all done, you can easily remove it and wash it in an instant. A must-have portable oven for any kitchen, indeed!
Specifications
Pros
- Designed for convenient operation.
- Maximized cooking capacity thanks to the curved back.
- Handy temperature selection with fast heat-up time.
- Features non-stick parts for easy cleaning.
Cons
- Outer wall can get a bit warm.
- No light inside.
6. De'Longhi Mini Oven
- 12.5L cooking capacity.
- Three cooking options to choose from.
- Thermostat ranging from 60 to 220 degree Celsius.
- Electronic timer that goes up to 120 minutes, with automatic shut-off.
A good countertop mini-oven like this one, from De’Longhi, is hard to overlook. While its internal cooking capacity is somewhat smaller compared to other similar models, it makes up for it by meeting all the requirements of a great miniature oven. You can use it for cooking traditionally, for grilling, or simply for reheating your cooked food. And it is pretty straightforward and simple to use.
The oven comes with its own baking tray and rack wire. And it features three simple control knobs: one for the cooking mode, another one for the cooking time, and one for temperature. The cooking time range is generous enough to spread for a good 120 minutes. Whereas the temperature range goes up to 220 degrees Celsius.
It cooks nice and evenly. It shuts off by itself when the time is up. And it also comes with a handy bell notification, just in case you’re not nearby when your food is ready to serve hot. Compact and lightweight, it can be easily carried around, and it makes a good choice for anyone with limited space or cooking skills.
Specifications
Pros
- Simple and intuitive design.
- Allows traditional cooking, grilling, and heating.
- Features easy to use temperature and time controllers.
- Shuts off automatically.
Cons
- Not so easy to clean.
- Somewhat limited cooking options.
Mini Oven Buying Guide
Type
A mini oven is, by definition, a regular oven (in terms of functionality), though sized to fit smaller spaces and smaller cooking needs. In some instances, it might look very similar to a microwave, at least from the outside. However, there are at least two different types of table top ovens, in the mini category:
Mini Electric Oven
A mini electric oven is a tabletop oven where you can bake, grill, or reheat food, just like you do with a traditional oven. It lets you set up the cooking temperature, time, and mode. And the most versatile ones include pre-set cooking modes, where you just push one button, and you don’t have to worry about tweaking other controllers.
While on the mini size, these small portable ovens are still designed to fit a baking tray and a grill rack at the same time. This means you can cook on two levels, which gives you a little bit of wiggle room. You can cook the meat on the grill and the veggies in a pan, underneath it, soaking up all the juicy flavours that drip from the top grilling rack.
Mini Oven With Hob
A mini oven with a hob is a mini electric oven with ceramic hotplates at the top. The hobs usually come with different wattages, but without the option to adjust their temperatures, like you do when cooking inside the oven.
Because mini ovens have lower wattage, they usually don’t have enough power to allow cooking on the hobs and in the oven at the same time. This is a potential drawback, but being able to use the hobs right on top of the oven is saving you a lot of space.
Portability & Size
Portability and size are two essential design details of any mini oven. The options vary a lot, however, and depending on the space you have at hand, you might want to consider a mini oven with a somewhat generous capacity. Or, on the contrary, you might want to go for the most compact option, perhaps a mini oven with a hob. If you are just interested in portable hobs, we have a review for you!
A portable mini oven, however, shouldn’t be just a small size, but also feature a lightweight construction. These two will also depend on the size of the cooking chamber. A regular mini-oven, one that doesn’t make any compromises in terms of size, can have a cooking capacity of up to 30L, around 9 or 10 kg – sometimes even more –, and around 40 x 45 x 35 cm.
Small Oven
It might feel a bit confusing to learn that there are truly smaller and larger… mini ovens, but that’s the range of offers you’re getting on this appliance. As opposed to the generously-sized portable oven above described, one that is truly small size can weigh as little as 4.5 kg.
Sized around 45 x 30 x 20 cm, a small mini oven still gives you the versatility of the larger models. However, it is easier to carry around. And it will make a better choice for those who are always on the go, travelling with a caravan or moving their camping site often.
Mini Oven And Grill
Whether you want to grill a whole chicken or just toast some bread, grilling is a very handy feature of an oven. Most mini ovens do include it. In case you’re not sure if your desired model comes with it, suffices to check if it includes a grilling rack in the package.
One aspect you need to pay attention to, however, is to always use the grill function with a tray underneath the rack. It will make your cleaning job significantly easier. Also, the best mini ovens include in the package, along with the grill rack, a set of cooking gloves, or a pair of tongs, for easy and safe grilling.
Pricing Range
Just like size and weight can vary a lot, so do the prices. Of course, there is also the design and how much control options you have at hand, features that can easily add up to the final price. And so, you might find mini electric ovens priced around £100, even £150, making a more expensive option than a simpler mini oven with a hob.
Then, you might want to consider the brand reputation, too, on top of the warranty and the reliability of the customer support. A simple mini oven from Tefal, for instance, may be more expensive than one with a very similar design, from a less popular manufacturer. If £150 is considered a high price, low prices are somewhere between £60 – £80.
Our Verdict
Despite the numerous options available on the market, a mini oven is not easy to choose. There are standard features you’ll get with any tabletop oven you lay your eyes on. And some extra, fancier features, which you may or may not need.
The most important aspects you should take into account have already been underlined in this mini oven buying guide. You’ve also seen some of the best choices from both renowned and less renowned manufacturers.
So, with the list of desired features in mind, and with an accurate image of what a fair price is, you can confidently consider our best mini oven suggestions. Or expand your research looking into other similar models. Whatever you do, take the time to carefully consider all the information available on your chosen product!