A convection oven is a must-have for people who are looking for a smart appliance at home. We all want only the best microwave convection oven at home but often make mistakes while choosing one.

Before buying the best convection microwave oven, ask yourself what you are going to use it for. Several varieties of these ovens are available in the market, and each of them offers you a wide range of advantages. It could be difficult to select the right product when you are unaware of your own needs.

The first thing you must ask about is the space where the oven will be installed? Are you planning to keep it on the countertop? Do you have a larger and more dedicated space for this appliance? What are the size and the features you are looking for in the product? You need to answer each and everything before you set out to buy something.

However, first of all, you need to define why you need a convection oven. A lot of people buy these products simply because they think they will need it someday. Some others do it only, so their kitchen has an upgraded appliance. You must ponder on your needs before buying something. If all you do is quickly heat food and do some occasional crisping of meat, then don’t buy a convection style product. Your existing product will do the job very well.

Apart from the features of the oven, your choice will also depend on the money you are willing to pay. If you want to invest only in the best, you should be ready to dish out a larger sum of money. A happy medium would be finding a durable product from a well-known brand that satisfies your needs the most. Don’t find products that fulfill more than what you need. They could be priced very high and just because you don’t intend to buy these products repeatedly, you just buy the higher end alternative.

The good news is that you could find hundreds of reviews by genuine buyers online to find the best microwave convection oven. It is easy, less time consuming and can save you from buyer’s remorse. One such review awaits below.

Here is the list of best Convection Microwave Oven in 2018

#1. BLACK+DECKER TO3250XSB 

The new BLACK+DECKER TO3250XSB 8-Slice Extra Wide Convection Countertop Toaster Oven, Includes Bake Pan, Broil Rack & Toasting Rack, Stainless Steel/Black provides you a versatile product that could do everything from broiling to baking, heating to toasting. It can easily fit in 8 slices of bread or an entire 12-inch pizza. You can use most 9-inch x 13-inch pans with handles.

It comes with baking/broiling pans, because of which inserting and removing the food is very easy. It comes with a toasting rack. The powerful convection heating oven keeps the food warm. It comes with a Dedicated Toast Timer which helps in keeping the toast perfect each time. You can even select shades of toasting.

The good thing about the toaster is that it is designed keeping a small family’s needs in mind. It comes with numerous functions and is highly durable as well. You can cook you breakfast, lunch, and dinner in this oven for years to come. It also has a clever feature- a removable crumbs tray that can help you in keeping your oven shiny and clean for longer.

It is one product that a family can choose with closed eyes. With the quality of its products, Black+ Decker is a trusted name in kitchen appliances and the top toaster oven maker in the market. This product is the best convection microwave oven you can find at this price.

Pros

It can do broiling, baking, and heating easily.

Comes with a toast function with predictable shades.

Has an advanced heating element that cooks evenly and more effectively

Comes with a 60-minute precision timer for longer baking tasks.

Comes with a removable crumbs tray.

Cons

The temperature of the oven is always lesser than the set point. The heating element of the oven is calibrated carefully to ensure that the temperature settings are optimum for every use. You may take some time to learn the nuances of this oven.

#2. Oster Large Digital Countertop Convection Toaster Oven 

You will never regret buying this product, thanks to its great quality and durability. The Oster Large Digital Countertop Convection Toaster Oven, 6 Slice, Black/Polished Stainless (TSSTTVMNDG-SHP-2) gives you a two-in-one toaster oven that will be loved by all in your family.

The toaster oven is designed for small families as well as singles/couples who want a simple, no-frills offering that does what it says. The 6-slice convection toaster provides easier, faster, and more even cooking. It has a wide temperature range of 150 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit which is great for heating, broiling as well as simple baking.

The large countertop best convection microwave oven comes with interior light and digital controls for making internal viewing easy. The model could support 12-inch pizzas along with cookies and casseroles. It could also be used for roasting. Like most good product models, it comes with a removable crumbs tray and a highly durable baking pan. There are several preset cooking modes that help you get the right crisping, better browning, and flaky, tasty crusts. The countdown timer comes with 90-minute settings for elaborate baking or cooking. The timer also helps in getting you the right shade of the toast.

Pros

Comes with baking, convection baking, and broiling methods

The toaster comes with shade control timing facility

Easily bakes or heats a 9 to 12-inch pizza with ease

See through door allows seeing things inside

Come with durable baking trap and removable crumbs tray

Cons

Not very food for families with 4 or more people.

Other than that, there is no con that could possibly affect your decision to buy this product.

#3. Hamilton Beach (31126) Toaster Oven

If you are looking for a nice countertop oven that offers less maintenance coupled with excellent baking functions. You can use this large oven to bake, broil and toast. Because of its high-quality convection feature, it circulates air quickly and more evenly because of which you get an evenly cooked dish each time. This Hamilton Beach (31126) Toaster Oven, Convection Oven, Easy Reach comes with two rack positions, so you can easily adjust the height of the baked dish. It can cook or heat 12-inch pizzas very easily and accommodates 6 slices of toast. It also comes with a 30-minute timer which helps you in cooking perfectly. It is good for browning and crisping as well.

Pros

Comes with a large door and accommodated 12-inch pizzas with ease

Comes with two adjustable height settings

Easy to clean, comes with removable crumbs tray

Comes with baking, broiling and toasting functions

Lets you choose between bake and convection modes

Cons

Isn’t suitable for larger families

Gives off a lot of heat

Can be noisy on the convection mode

#4. Breville BOV845BSS 

The Breville product is known for its quality and durability. The product can cost you close to $300 without discounts. However, the long life and features never make you feel like you have made a wrong decision. It has 5 independent quartz heating elements with Element IQ. It comes with 10 preset cooking modes and an interior oven light to ensure that you can check your food easily. It can toast up to six slices at once and will easily bake, roast, broil or reheat. It can be used to make toasts, bagels, pizzas, and cookies. You can also use warm, slow cooking features for meats.

The convection ability of this Breville BOV845BSS Smart Oven Pro Convection Toaster Oven with Element IQ, 1800 W, Stainless Steel is commendable. The hot air circulates very evenly which leads to better, tastier dishes. As all the cold air surrounding the food is stripped away quickly, your cooking or heating time increases because of which you get higher quality by spending lesser time. It also comes with a non-stick cavity coating for easy cleanup.

Pros

Warm, slow cooking feature for meats.

Evenly toasts 6 slices of bread

Can handle a 13-inch pizza with ease.

Magnetic auto-eject rack to avoid burns

Quick convection for faster cooking

Easy Fahrenheit and Celsius toggle

Cons

Comes with only 1-year warranty

Finding thermal fuses for the product could be difficult.

#5. Breville BOV800XL 

Like most other Breville products, this one is very popular too. It offers you 5 quartz heating elements with Element IQ that provides quicker and more even cooking, whether you are roasting, toasting, baking, or broiling. It provides the right temperature for the right dish, helping you create scrumptious dishes with the minimum manual effort. It comes with 9 preset functions- Toast, Bagel, Bake, Roast, Broil, Pizza, Cookies, Reheat and Warm.

The Breville BOV800XL Smart Oven 1800-Watt Convection Toaster Oven with Element IQ, Silver comes with a backlit LCD panel that changes color from blue to orange while cooking. This is a smart feature that lets you know when your oven is in operation. The countertop product comes with a 1-year limited warranty as well. This ‘smart oven’ helps you in getting the best cooking results with 3 adjustable rack positions, auto shut-off and sound alert features. It can easily toast 6 bread slices at once and cook a 13-inch pizza with ease.

Pros

Cooks 6 slices of bread or a 13-inch pizza with ease

Excellent convection facility for even cooking

Smart oven comes with 5-quartz heating elements with Element IQ

Auto shut-off and sound alert

Comes with 9 preset cooking modes

Cons

Isn’t suitable for larger families

Cannot handle a 13-inch x 9-inch pan with handle

Isn’t PTFE or PFOA free

#6. Cuisinart TOB-260N1 Chef’s Convection Toaster Oven

The high-end and expensive offering from Cuisinart isn’t for the faint of heart. Listed at $450, the oven could be available at a great discount on Amazon. The 0.95 cubic-foot capacity of this oven lets you cook a 13-inch pizza with ease and handle a 13-inch x 9-inch baking pan too. It comes with 15 cooking functions and an innovative dual clock as well. It has digital display and controls that let you control the cooking very easily. It can even handle 9 slices of bread and provides shade control along with different settings for a different number of slices.

The advanced product comes with Dual cook functions to cook at two different temperature levels consecutively which can be used for cooking and browning meats perfectly. Add 30 seconds to any cooking preset using the ‘+30’ button. The Cuisinart TOB-260N1 Chef’s Convection Toaster Oven, Stainless Steel also comes with speed convection setting that skips preheating. It is arguably the best convection microwave oven if you don’t mind paying the big bill.

Pros:

Customizable toasting times, depending on a number of slices, with shade control

Programmable pizza size selection to control the temperature

Great heat sensor with 5 quartz heating element and Element IQ

BPA free

Cons:

Very expensive

Not suitable for families looking for a ‘value-for-money’ buy

#7. BLACK+DECKER 6-Slice Digital Convection Countertop OvenTO3280SSD

This amazing offering from Black+Decker gives you high-end convection cooking at a fraction of the cost of expensive ovens. It boasts of 20% faster cooking times and a 120-minute timer with auto-shutoff and stay-on functions that helps you in baking and cooking difficult foods like meats. It can handle 6 slices of bread and comes with a precision toast timer that can provide you perfectly browned toasts every time. Cook a 12-inch pizza easily in this oven while the powerful convection fan circulates the air evenly and provides you a crispy delight each time.

It comes with 7 preset modes that can be used for baking, broiling, toasting, bagel, reheating, pizza baking and frozen snacks cooking modes. All information is displayed on its digital screen.

Pros

Choose between 2 or 3 rack positions

Very cost effective, usually sells for less than $100

Toasts 6 bread slices or a 12-inch pizza with ease

20% faster cooking than previous models

Comes with 120-minute precision timer

Suitable for singles, couples, or small families.

Cons

Doesn’t come with any advanced features

May have uneven cooking hot spots, especially while baking pizzas

What to look for in a convection oven?

Before you decide which oven is right for your kitchen, you should be aware of the things you should look for in the convection oven. You want a product that doesn’t just boast of numerous features but also provides you durability and reliability.

Here are some features a convection oven needs

#1. Cooking sensors

If your oven doesn’t come with cooking sensors, it will likely provide you with overcooked or undercooked food very frequently. These sensors are designed to check the interior humidity of the appliance while cooking. As soon as the humidity drops below a certain level, some sensitive foods may get burnt, and you will end up disappointed. If you are a busy individual who must get ready for office quickly or look after kids while cooking, this feature is an absolute must for you.

#2. Turntable toggle

A turntable toggle helps you in getting an even saturation of the food inside the oven. It is not necessary for people who cook smaller dishes. However, if you frequently cook larger portions or for a family, this feature is a must-have. All you will have to do is push a button, and the plate will stop turning. Because of this, the small motor that powers the turntables remains secure.

#3. Capacity

The most important thing you should note in the convection oven is its capacity. Although you may ignore this basic feature, it is what decides whether you will get quality cooking or not. An oven that is too big or too small for the portions you cook will not only make you cram food but could raise your energy bills. If you cook for 2 people, get a product that could cook for 3-4 people at a time. This is because portions will get enough space to be adjusted. The capacity will also decide the size of the oven. Be careful that it fits in.

#4. Noise levels

Make sure that the product you buy doesn’t make too much noise. It could be very distracting and eventually start annoying you. In smaller apartments, the noise can get very disturbing, especially for those people who have sensitive hearing. Checking this feature could be very beneficial for you in the long run.

#5. Durability

Buying a product that will remain safe to use for the next 3 to 5 years or even more is a good idea for most people. You need a tough machine that provides you the right heating temperature for years. Though microwaves are designed to be tough, there could be instances where some cheap products garner more attention than the quality products. Eventually, you have to pay the price.

#6. Warranty

Even if you are buying the most high-quality product around, it is likely that things could go wrong. To protect yourself, find a product that comes with a good warranty. Some makes provide lifetime warranty and service for their products while some others tend to provide it for a year only. The sweet spot lies in about 2 years of warranty.

Also, the product you buy should be easy to repair. If you have to get it repaired miles away, it likely won’t make sense to repair it at all.

There are three types of convection ovens in the market. The first is the standard countertop model which is also the most popular. They are usually easier to keep and maintain. Lesser space on the countertop makes them desirable. There are also the over the range convection microwaves that help in saving counter space but are annoyingly difficult to install. Such products are generally not opted for by the homeowners.

The last type is that of the built-in convection microwaves. They are the best in the business, come with a huge capacity and are not used on countertops. Installing these microwaves is very difficult as well. Make sure you find the right size of the oven. A small mistake in dimensions could hurt your cause greatly. Also, these ovens are the costliest of the lot. So, give them a good thought before purchasing.

Tips for convection microwave operation and maintenance

Operating an oven isn’t rocket science but equipping yourself with the right information could make the difference when things go awry.

• Always make sure that you read the user’s manual carefully. Most people either throw away the manual or store it in someplace they will never find. It is advised to read it first before installing or using the microwave. Some simple instructions and 5 to 10 minutes of your time could likely save a few dollars and headache. Learn what each button does so you know what to do in case of an emergency.
• Don’t experiment. The best convection microwave oven in the market isn’t a small investment, and you don’t want to let it go down the drain just because you wanted to check if the metal can be microwaved.
• Don’t use the wrong features while cooking. Quick heat is usually only for heating small portions of pizzas and other foods. Don’t think you can use it to cook an elaborate noodle recipe or omelets. They cook food very quickly, but you need to check food early. These superfast cooking methods can burn foods too.
• Always clean the microwave splatters before you use the convection setting to bake something. It is highly likely that foods in microwave settings will splatter a bit. When you put something to bake, these splatters can also get cooked and create a big mess for you over time. Adopt a habit of cleaning the product from the inside after every use, so it keeps shiny like new.
• Always clean the microwave from the outside using a dry microfiber cloth. You can also use a plain cleaning cloth. Once in a week, use a damp cloth to clean the exteriors. It will maintain the good looks and shine of the product for longer.

Now that you know everything about these fantastic convection microwave ovens, you can buy something that suits your needs the most. Remember to define your needs before you buy something. The more you understand your requirements, the better equipment you will be able to buy. Good luck!