A quality toaster oven is an essential tool for the creative cook that goes beyond reheating leftovers or making cheese on toast. The best extra-large toaster ovens take up the slack in a small kitchen; they can cook whole chickens, make quick work of pizza, and even steam rice.
As an avid chef and a longtime fan of toaster ovens, I’ve compiled a list of the best extra-large models on the market for cooking a wide variety of foods. These ovens take the cake, and some can bake it as well!
Cuisinart CSO-300 Combo Steam + Convection Oven
A far cry from the electric coils of your mother’s toaster oven, the CSO-300 uses convection heat to evenly cook food, and has a steaming feature that takes it out of the realm of heating and baking and into the world of cooking fish, rice, and vegetable.
Amazon.com – unavailable currently
Amazon.com – unavailable currently
Steam and Convection
The steam feature puts the high end model from Cuisinart on the top of the list. While it can bake and proof bread, its everyday uses make it a must have for the home chef. Leftovers come out fresh and not dry, it can be used to steam meats after broiling, and it leaves vegetables tender.
The CSO-300’s convection system is the second feature that sets it on top; whole chicken come out brown and juicy; and pizzas come out with just the right amount of crispiness and bubble. Using the ovens bake and steam function, you can cook a dry rubbed pork shoulder that rivals outdoor grills; crispy and brown on the outside and tender and moist on the inside.
The oven has ten settings; toast, convection bake, broil, bread, steam, super steam, bake steam, broil steam, warm, and light.
The Fine Print
Some drawbacks of the stainless steel model from Cuisinart are that separately some of the features perform poorly. Broiling on its own leaves meat dry, baking without steam sometimes undercooks cookies and bread, and steaming a chicken doesn’t crisp the skin.
Other complaints about the CSO-300 is that it is difficult to clean; the ovens nooks and crannies means more time scrubbing after cooking a big meal.
Lastly, the high-end model is pricy, going beyond the budget of college chefs. This is a tool for those who want connivance at a cost; giving options that other brands opt not to include in lieu of practical matters.
The Final Say
The Cuisinart CSO-300 is a great addition to a kitchen; its versatility makes it a goto appliance instead of a traditional oven. The combinations of steaming, baking, and broiling brings new life to leftovers, leave meat and chicken moist and tender, and open up new methods for cooking staples like rice. For the home chef that wants an XL toaster oven with the features of a convection oven combined with the nuances of a steamer, this oven is the best fit for the job. Buy the CSO-300 on Amazon.
Alternative:
Cuisinart TOB-135 Deluxe Convection Toaster Oven
First Runner Up- Breville Smart Convection Oven
The BOV800XL is a toaster oven that takes the work out of cooking; its IQ Element technology puts the heat where it’s needed depending on what you are cooking. It has 9 preset functions that include baking, broiling, roasting, toasting, reheating, and warming. Once set, Breville’s XL oven five heating elements cook food perfectly. For baking, the oven uses convection; for broiling the top heating element is used, and when toasting, both the top and bottom warm up to do the job. The large oven can take on a whole chicken, a 12-inch pizza, and broils burgers well. Its smart controls are easily adjusted, set with knobs instead of a LED display. Some complain that the model leaves meat tough, but adjusting the rack height and heat usually fixes this problem. Buy the BOV800XL on Amazon.
Second Runner Up- Oster Extra Large Countertop Oven
On the list for its size and capability to cook a lot of food at one time, the TSSTTVXLDG-001 is a great toaster oven for large families. The oven has two baking racks, can cook a 16-inch pizza with ease, and has a defrost function. In total it has seven settings; including pizza, toast, broil, bake, and convection bake for even cooking. The Oster’s drawbacks include a short cord, and problems when opening and closing the door; use care as it’s heavy and can crash into the countertop. Some state that the broil function doesn’t deliver, but overall the oven produces well cooked food at volume. Buy the Oster Extra Large Oven from Amazon.
Third Runner Up- Delonghi Digital Convection Oven
Making the grade as a large convection toaster oven that can cook two pizzas at one time, the DO2058 from Delonghi takes the hassle out of baking, broiling, toasting, and roasting. It’s versatility puts it on the list of runners up as it can warm leftovers, bake cakes, broil steaks and burgers, and roast chickens. Its broil and convection functions stand out, but the Delonghi does have a few drawbacks. The oven only uses convection for baking, skipping a normal bake function for hot air circulated by a fan. The interior light is also a complaint; it’s hard to monitor food through the door without opening it. Overall, the DO2058 does a good job without the hefty price tag of similar models like the Breville. Buy the XL Delonghi toaster oven on Amazon.
The Last Word
For the serious cook who wants all the features of a convection oven without using the space, Cuisinart’s convection and steam combo is the right choice. The ovens sleek features make the grade; delivering moist meat, steamed fish, crispy pizza, and tender chicken without having to constantly monitor their progress. The Steam function sets the bar for the new line of convection ovens, giving the avid cook the ability to sear, broil, bake, and roast food with steam. This adds a much needed element to conventional counter top ovens, one that is worth the price tag and puts mouthwatering food on the table.
Update:
Since the Cuisinart CSO-300 Combo Steam + Convection Oven is temporarily unavailable, the first runner-up – Breville Smart Convection Oven takes over the trophy.
