It’s pretty difficult to live in the modern age without a countertop oven. Sometimes we need to prepare meals as fast as possible due to our schedule being so tight, and this is where countertop ovens start to shine. The best thing about them? They are not expensive, they don’t take a lot of space and most importantly, there are tons of choices available on the market. But is this a downside as well? Well… kind of?
Due to the market being so saturated with electronics, kitchen appliances and other similar products, it’s sometimes overwhelming for the average person to choose the right product. Thankfully, in today’s article we’ll make that a lot easier for you. Willing to learn more? Now’s the right time to do so. Let’s take a look.
1. Do you have enough space for the oven?
Although these things can be really space-efficient, compact and well-looking, not every kitchen can handle one of them. If you need to do complete remodeling of your countertop area just to fit this one in your kitchen, maybe the effort is not worth it. Either that, or you’ve been eyeing a different model that’s slightly larger and doesn’t fit in your determined space for the oven. The first and most important thing whatsoever is to take the necessary measures. Use this information to prevent making the wrong type of purchase.
Remember that the countertop oven needs a little bit more room for the cables, and some centimeters to simply “breathe”, so it doesn’t need to be stuck and fit in a “slot” that’s exactly as large as the oven itself. The people working at the store will help you with this.
2. Are you going to use it on a daily basis?
Before you purchase anything, especially a kitchen appliance, you need to ask yourself whether you’re going to use it regularly or just every once in a while. If it’s the latter, you might want to think twice about purchasing. It’s not the cheapest investment you can do, and although these things are really useful and time-saving, they’re not for everyone. But, this is just some common logic that you need to apply before purchasing any item for your home.
If you are a fan of baking, grilling or toasting your food, then you are making the right decision purchasing one of these things for your kitchen. And, these things are a lot healthier than microwaves for example, since they use steam mechanisms to cook the food instead.
3. Keep the cord length in mind before buying
Countertop ovens don’t have really large cables, and the reason for this is to ensure safety. So, you need to plan these things ahead before purchasing. If you don’t have an electric plug somewhere close, you may have some troubles connecting the oven. You’ll either have to purchase an extension cable or you’ll have to get a model with a larger cable, which may be difficult to find. Nothing too serious that should prevent you from buying. It’s just something to consider before you rush out your decision and then come home just to get disappointed. If you are interested in taking a look at a few models, and determining which one may be the best choice for your kitchen, Piecorps.com is a website where you can learn more as well as take a look at some examples with prices included.
4. Check the reputation of the brand and do proper research
As I said above, you are not paying a small price for this kitchen appliance, so the most important thing you as a customer need to do is do proper research on the brand and the exact model you’re looking to purchase.
More expensive brands usually mean better quality, but that’s not always like that, and you should know it if you are willing to save some money on your countertop oven purchase. Researching some of the “underdog” brands is also a good idea, since they are usually trying their best to provide best quality and longest warranties. The best way to do this is by reading customer reviews on sites such as Trustpilot. However, avoid reading official reviews on the main brand’s website because they usually filter out the negative products.
The best way to get an honest opinion about a certain countertop oven model is by asking someone who already has one for a while. As for features and functions, we’re going to talk about that in the following part.
5. Shortlist the models based on their functions and features
Not every countertop oven comes with the same features. Some are more modern and automated, but they cost a lot of money. The real question here is, do you really need all those fancy features? Are you a dedicated cook? Or you’re just looking to casually prepare a lunch for you and your friends every now and then. Smart timers and all those fancy things will add up to the price, and there’s no doubt that they make your life easier, but do you need them? Start shortlisting based on this and you’ll have a much better time narrowing down the list.
6. Is the warranty solid enough for the price of the product?
Last but not least, warranty is important, and if you are buying a very expensive countertop oven you should make sure that the warranty is also good enough. You don’t want to pay a thousand dollars for something that’s covered only two or so months by the manufacturer. This is why we mentioned checking the “underdog” brands since they almost always give best warranties to attract new customers and make a name for themselves out in the market.
Conclusion
Exposing your food to radiation is definitely not the most appealing thing to those who care a lot about health and well-being. This is where countertop ovens come into play as they are the much needed healthier version of microwaves. In today’s article we listed the six most important things you need to consider before purchasing a countertop oven. Thank you for reading.
