Black & Decker 6-Slice Dining-In Digital Countertop Oven

A countertop oven earns a spot in my kitchen only if it can meaningfully take over weeknight duty from the range without eating up half the counter. After several weeks of breakfasts, lunches, and a handful of dinners, the Black & Decker countertop oven hit that mark more often than not. It’s compact enough to live under a cabinet, yet roomy enough to slide in a 12-inch pizza. Most importantly, it cooks predictably—a trait that too many budget ovens miss.

Design and build

At 19 inches wide, 14 inches deep, and 12 inches tall, this oven is a mid-size footprint with a genuinely useful interior. It weighs about 11 pounds, so moving it for cleaning isn’t a chore. The stainless exterior looks tidy and wipes down easily, and the easy-view glass door lets you check progress without opening and dumping heat.

Inside, you get three rack positions and a simple, squared-off cavity that avoids the awkward curves some competitors use. Black & Decker bundles a broil rack, a bake pan, and a removable crumb tray. The tray is accessible from the outside, which is the right call—it means you’ll actually empty it instead of letting charred crumbs ruin your next batch of cookies.

Capacity and layout

Capacity is where this oven earns its keep. A standard 12-inch pizza fits cleanly with room to spare along the edges so air can circulate. Four slices of bread toast comfortably; six fit with a bit of overlap if you don’t mind rotating mid-cycle. Taller items like bone-in chicken thighs and a small loaf pan also clear the top elements on the middle rack. The three rack positions let you fine-tune proximity to the elements—top for broiling, middle for baking, and bottom for thick casseroles or to avoid over-browning.

Controls and ease of use

The digital controls are straightforward: dedicated buttons for function, time, and temperature, plus start/stop and a clear display. There are seven cooking functions, including toast, bake, broil, and a convection mode. Instead of cryptic icons, the labels are plain-language, which makes it friendly for anyone to use. The 120-minute timer is generous, and the stay-on option is handy for slow bakes or dehydrating. Auto-shutoff provides a useful safety backstop.

Small touches help. The display is readable at a glance, button feedback is positive, and the oven remembers your last setting within a function, so dialing in your preferred toast shade or go-to roast temp doesn’t become a daily chore.

Heating performance

Heat-up is brisk for the category. From room temperature, I was up to 400°F in under 10 minutes in bake mode, a touch faster with convection engaged. Temperature stability is better than expected for the price: in my testing with an oven thermometer, it held set temps within a reasonable home-kitchen band once it settled. Like most compact ovens, it cycles the elements on and off to maintain heat; you’ll hear faint clicks as relays engage, which is normal.

Convection mode moves air effectively and evens out browning front-to-back. It’s not a blast-furnace “air fryer” fan, but it’s strong enough to crisp a crust and shave a few minutes off roasting. Plan to lower recipes by about 25°F when using convection to avoid over-browning the edges.

Toasting and everyday tasks

Toast is a deceptively tough exam for a countertop oven. Here, the oven performs well and consistently. With four slices on the middle rack, medium darkness, I got even browning and a crisp top with a warm, slightly softer underside—ideal for buttering without tearing. If you prefer uniform crunch, place bread directly on the rack rather than on the pan. The dedicated toast function calibrates time and element balance intelligently, and the audible alert is loud enough to hear from an adjacent room without being abrasive.

For frozen snacks, the oven shines. Fries and nuggets crisp up better than a microwave can manage, and the convection fan prevents the dreaded soggy underside. Reheating leftovers—especially pizza—benefits from the dry heat and airflow; slices regain a crackly bottom in a few minutes at 375°F with convection.

Baking, roasting, and broiling

• Pizza: A 12-inch thin crust on a perforated pan browned evenly in 10–12 minutes at 425°F with convection. On a solid pan, I found rotating once halfway through delivered the best color.

• Cookies: A half-sheet equivalent on the included pan baked in about 8–10 minutes at 350°F. Convection speeds things up; drop to 325°F if your go-to recipe tends to brown quickly.

• Vegetables: Brussels sprouts and carrots roasted beautifully at 400°F with convection. The circulating air rendered surfaces crisp while keeping interiors tender.

• Chicken thighs: On the middle rack with convection at 400°F, skin crackled without requiring a finishing broil. If you do broil, move to the top rack and keep a close eye; the elements here are appropriately assertive.

• Broiling: The broil rack situates food close enough to the elements to get a real sear. Salmon fillets and open-faced melts turned out well. As with any compact broiler, attention matters—the line between perfect char and too much color can be less than a minute.

There’s a mild rear hot spot, common to many countertop ovens. A quick rotate on longer bakes solves it.

Noise, heat, and safety

The convection fan produces a modest hum—quieter than a range hood, louder than a microwave’s turntable. The relay clicks as the elements cycle are audible in a quiet kitchen. Neither sound bothered me, but if you’re chasing library-level silence, you’ll notice.

The exterior gets hot, especially the glass door and the top panel. That’s normal for this class, but it’s worth leaving a few inches of clearance around the oven, keeping cords off the top, and using mitts when pulling pans. The door is tempered glass and easy to see through; as with any glass-front oven, avoid splashing cold liquid onto hot glass to reduce thermal shock risk.

Cleaning and maintenance

The nonstick interior wipes down well once it cools. The external crumb tray is the unsung hero—slide it out, dump crumbs, done. The included bake pan is serviceable but on the thinner side; it can flex slightly when hot, so support it with two hands when removing. Standard quarter-sheet pans fit if you prefer heavier cookware.

Grease splatter from broiling will accumulate over time; lining the pan with foil and wiping the door after use keeps the oven looking fresh. The racks slide smoothly and don’t snag on the side rails.

What could be better

• Fan and relay noise: It’s not loud, but it isn’t whisper-quiet either. Sensitive ears will hear cycling and airflow.

• Exterior heat: The top panel runs hot. Don’t use it as extra storage, and be mindful of overhead cabinets during long broils.

• Included pan quality: It works, but upgrading to a thicker quarter-sheet pan improves browning and durability.

• Interior light: There isn’t one. The clear door helps, but you’ll rely on ambient kitchen lighting to check doneness.

None of these are deal-breakers, but they’re worth noting for particular kitchens and preferences.

Who it’s for

This oven is a strong fit for small households, students, and anyone who wants to keep the full-size oven off for most weeknight cooking. It’s also a smart second-oven option for holidays or multicourse dinners. If you’re after ultra-quiet operation or extra-large capacity for sheet-pan meals feeding a crowd, you may want to step up in size and price.

Final recommendation

I recommend the Black & Decker countertop oven. It balances footprint, capacity, and control in a way that makes everyday cooking faster and more predictable. The digital interface is friendly, the 120-minute timer and stay-on mode cover everything from toast to slow bakes, and convection delivers real improvements in crisping and evenness. You’ll need to give it the space and respect any hot countertop oven deserves, and the included pan is worth upgrading, but those are manageable trade-offs for the performance and value on offer. If you want a compact, capable oven that handles toast, pizza, roasting, and quick bakes without fuss, this one earns a permanent spot on the counter.