Countertop oven directs the heat

Firing up the oven in order to cook a meal isn't a particularly good way to beat the heat. However, along with resorting to cold meals on hot days, other methods of meal preparation have necessarily evolved. Sure, the microwave is a fast, go-to option for heating up a meal, but its limitations for developing flavor are well known. Since trying to brown food in the microwave isn't anywhere near effective, a more direct approach is needed. As in the direct heat supplied by a toaster oven.

Capable of so much more than toast, the Breville BOV450XL Mini Smart Oven is a countertop option for quick and easy heating. Four independent heating elements direct heat according to the chosen mode. These eight modes can be customized to personal preferences. In addition to toast and bagel settings, there are options for bake, roast, and broil, as well as specialized settings for cookies and pizza. When it is time to turn down the heat, reheat and warm functions enable the countertop oven to really challenge other appliances as the first choice in meal-making.

Part of the Smart Oven series from Breville, the BOV450XL is smaller in capacity than its other two counterparts, but still large enough for an 11-inch pizza. Rated at 1,800 watts (as are the other Breville Smart Ovens), the minimal interior requires less time to heat up--and consequently less time spent in a hot kitchen. Available in October.