For those with a cramped kitchen, this KitchenAid digital countertop oven review might have the perfect solution for you.
Suppose you don’t have space for a toaster, an air fryer, a grill, a dehydrator, and all the other small appliances that make modern cooking exciting and easy. In that case, the KitchenAid digital countertop oven is your one-stop appliance for everything.
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Table of Contents
KitchenAid Digital Countertop Oven Review Summary
The KitchenAid digital oven saves a lot of countertop space by serving as a toaster, air fryer, and countertop oven in one. If you’re a toast fanatic, this appliance is one of the best at producing an evenly browned bread that matches your chosen setting.
And while it’s not the most miniature countertop oven on the market, it’s not as significant as other popular models. The great news is that it has excellent temperature consistency. It can comfortably fit two whole chickens simultaneously or bake a large lasagna. This is because the controls are located underneath the oven cavity, not on the side.
Introduction
Convection countertop ovens were designed to save you time by using strategically placed fans and hot air to cook food up to 20% faster. The only issue is that full-size convection ovens typically have a higher price tag than their conventional stovetop or wall-mounted counterparts.
Thankfully, the KitchenAid digital countertop oven is equipped with the power of a full-size convection oven at a much lower price. This is what kitchen dreams are made of.
Brand Profile
KitchenAid first arrived on the market as a brand name for an electric stand mixer developed by the Hobart Manufacturing Company in 1919. Hobart had begun manufacturing the first electrically driven machines for grinding food items, including coffee beans, peanuts, and hamburgers, in the early 1900s. By the 1930s, the KitchenAid mixer had become extremely popular.
Acquired by Whirlpool in 1986, today KitchenAid manufactures a full line of premium-price home appliances, including microwaves and conventional ovens, cooktops, refrigerators, dishwashers, in-sink garbage disposal units, automatic clothes washers and dryers.
Specifications
The following are the specifications of the model:
- Dimensions: 16 x 17 x 11.3 inches.
- Colors: Black Matte.
- Material: Metal.
- Weight: 15.9 pounds.
- Wattage: 1800 Watts.
- Volts:120 Volts.
- Temperature: 450 °F.
- Warranty: 1 Year Limited Product Warranty.
Features
Cooking functions
This digital countertop oven comes equipped with 9 preset cooking functions, namely:
- Bake
- Broil
- Toast
- Warm
- Reheat
- Bagel
- Pizza
- Cookies
- Roast
- Frozen
Unfortunately, there are no grilling or air-frying options, for example, which is a definite bummer. Nevertheless, most of the preset cooking functions are designed to make cooking basic things like pizza, toast, and bagels easier. Still, we found nothing extraordinary about cooking except the toasting function.
Most users loved how the oven could produce a perfect toast according to preset settings every time. So when it comes to toasting, there isn’t much more you could ask for.
As for frozen foods, the oven has great heating options, and frozen pizza, for example, tends to cook well in this model. While the temperature accuracy could be better, it generally does perform well and provides consistent temperature output.
Our favorite features are the built-in temperature probe and the linked pre-programmed settings. Both functions save you from burning or undercooking your food. So rest assured that you’ll have perfect meals every time.
The oven comes with a plug inside the convection oven. To connect the probe, all you need to do is simply place one end of the temperature probe into the plug and the other end into the meat you’re cooking. When using the temperature probe, there’s a dial you can use t choose your dedicated setting. The temperature probe automatically monitors the food, and the convection oven will shut off and alert you when it’s done.
It also comes equipped with an interior light that lights up during use, so you can keep track of your food as it cooks without having to open the door.
Capacity
This digital countertop oven comes with a slightly limited capacity. While other products on the market can easily fit two whole chickens, the KitchenAid KC0211 can fit one entire kitchen, which is not too bad.
In fact, this product has 50% more capacity than leading competitors while leaving the smallest countertop footprint.
Design
The KitchenAid digital countertop oven is very sleek without being too obtrusive. The oven is visually appealing with a black matte finish and stainless steel accents on the handle and the trim around the door. The black chrome knob, and black buttons, tie everything together nicely.
There are two dials, three buttons, and a small LCD display that you can use to control the model. Lastly, the manufacturer has included a sizeable shallow enamel baking pan.
Ease of Use
Most users found this model to be easy to quick. The oven’s interior is made with a non-stick material, so a sponge and warm water with mild detergent are all you need to wipe away any grease and splatter. The 9 x 13-inch pan and racks are just as easy to clean, and so is the crumb catcher.
Value
Retailing at $159, this digital oven is an affordable investment. It does an impressive cooking job for standard meals. However, if you cook more sophisticated meals regularly, you might want to consider other options that can do more.
Pros
- This is a very versatile model that makes a perfect toast
- Most users loved its quiet performance
- User-friendly
- Accessories are dishwasher safe
Cons
- Due to the lack of insulation, the appliance’s exterior tends to get very warm, so safety is a serious concern.
- Temperature settings are slightly inaccurate
- There are no recipes in the manual
How does it compare with similar products?
Purchasing the right smart oven in your kitchen makes all the difference. While there are no innovative features on this model, it is a quality product. But if you’re looking for more features or like a countertop oven with a lot more bells and whistles, the KitchenAid digital countertop oven might not be the right one for you.
So to give you a comprehensive review, we have a brief comparison discussion and table of four alternatives to this model so that you can make an informed decision.
Ninja Foodi Smart XL Indoor Grill
Ninja is one of the global leaders in the kitchen appliance game, so this Ninja Foodi smart XL indoor grill is one of the best products on the market. But don’t let the word ‘grill’ mislead you; this appliance does more than just grill; it can also air fry, roast, dehydrate, broil, and bake. It does everything KitchenAid does and more. In fact, we consider it to be six appliances in one.
Retailing in the $300 range, it is definitely an expensive model, but once you buy one, rest assured it will serve you for several years, if not decades.
KitchenAid 12-Compact Convection Countertop Oven
If you don’t want to give up too much countertop space, KitchenAid also has the KitchenAid 12-Inch Compact Countertop Oven. It packs a lot of power but can fit a whole chicken and two 12-inch pizzas with a much smaller footprint. Although you will have to sacrifice a lot of features and digital display controls plus it’s not as aesthetically pleasing.
It features an adjustable, integrated timer, convection, a pizza bake function, adjustable racks, and auto shut off.
Nuwave Bravo XL Smart Oven
Designed to be a user-friendly, affordable, and time-saving kitchen appliance, the Nuwave Bravo XL Smart Oven has been sold to over 6 million customers worldwide. It features a unique heating technology that ensures an even cook (or bake) for any vegetable or meaty dish and more. It is powered by 1800 watts of electricity, so you don’t need to worry about hot or cold spots.
The air fryer toaster oven comes with an integrated digital temperature probe and a triac digital switch. Both allow you to monitor the temperature levels as you cook.
BLACK+DECKER 8-Slice Extra-Wide Toaster Oven
This Black + Decker toaster oven is specifically designed for easy use. It features an extra-wide interior that can be used for casseroles, frying, broiling, and baking sheet cookies. It is pretty spacious and can fit most standard 9″x13″ oven pans.
It comes with a 60-minute timer so you can keep track of your food as it cooks. The toaster oven has a powerful convection fan that distributes warm air throughout the oven for fast and even cooking. There are also 3 rack positions, so you have cooking flexibility.
This oven provides a powerful combination of performance and convenience, ensuring that you have access to a wide variety of cooking options. If you’re on a budget and need something functional but affordable, look no further than this BLACK+DECKER 8-Slice Extra-Wide Toaster Oven.
Comparison Table
| Product | KitchenAid Digital Countertop Oven | Ninja Foodi Digital Oven | Breville Bov900bss | Nuwave bravo XL smart oven | BLACK+DECKER 8-Slice Extra-Wide Toaster Oven |
| Outer Dimensions | 17″ x 18″ x 11.5″ | 19.72″ x 7.56″ x 14.96″ | 17.2″ x 21.4″ x 12.8″ | 20″ x 13.5″ x 11″ | 14.5″ x 22″ x 11.5″ |
| Maximum Pizza Diameter | 12″ | 13″ | 13″ | 13″ | 12″ |
| Power Consumption (W) | 1800 | 1800 | 1800 | 1800 | 1500 |
| Accessories | Wire rack, air fry basket, baking pan, broiling rack | Air Fry Basket, Sheet Pan, Wire Rack & Removable Crumb Tray. | 13″ Pizza Pan, Oven Racks x2, 9″x13″ Broil Rack, Enamel Roasting Pan, Mesh basket rack | Rack
Chrome Mesh Rack Grill/Griddle Plate Crumb/Drip Tray Temperature Probe Pizza Peel Pizza Cutter/Server Manual/Recipe Book Cooking Club App |
Baking pan, wire rack |
Conclusion
Most users find that the KitchenAid digital countertop performed exceptionally well across most cooking metrics. It can produce moist baked goods, perfectly crisp but not burnt toast, and almost delicious frozen pizzas.
It does struggle with temperature accuracy, so you need to keep this in mind when you are cooking temperature-sensitive dishes. However, we found that it simply doesn’t outperform similarly priced options at this price point. But if you need something simple and you’re on a budget, it might be worth buying.
We recommend checking out the BLACK+DECKER 8-Slice Extra-Wide Toaster Oven if you need a small toaster oven. Not only is it cheaper, but it also comes with better cooking accuracy. However, you might have to sacrifice cooking options.
We hope our KitchenAid digital countertop oven review has given you the necessary information you need to make the right purchase for your cooking needs.