I Tried the Balmuda Toaster Oven, and It's Completely Worth Giving Up Counter Space For

I eat a lot of bread. Peanut butter and banana toast is my favorite midday snack, toast with cinnamon butter is one of my favorite desserts, and bagels are my go-to breakfast when I tire of oatmeal and smoothies. Given how often I eat bread, it’s probably not surprising to learn that I keep a large stash of sourdough slices and bagel halves in my freezer to satisfy these cravings. 

For years, I’ve relied on the Breville Die-Cast 2-Slice Toaster to handle the defrosting and toasting process for me. It’s done an excellent job, and I would recommend it to anyone who has a large enough kitchen to accommodate multiple appliances. But when I got the opportunity to test the Balmuda Toaster Pro, I jumped at it. I couldn’t help but think about those days when I lived in a New York apartment with two bedrooms, three roommates, and no oven. Given our small kitchen and limited storage options, I would have been over the moon to own this multifunctional marvel.

Balmuda Toaster Pro 

$379 at Amazon

I can confidently say that the Balmuda Toaster Pro is not only the best toaster I’ve ever used, but it’s also a powerful oven if you’re cooking for one person. I pull it out to warm up leftover pizza slices, heat croissants, refresh day-old French fries, cook asparagus, bake two cookies, and, of course, toast frozen bread. It even has a salamander grill mode that releases an intense blast of heat over the top of a dish, much like a blowtorch or a broiler. For crème brûlée or pasta dishes with a sprinkling of cheese, this setting has come in handy. 

But where it really shines is in its toasting abilities. For evenly browned, lightly crisped toast, you’ll want to set the Balmuda to shokupan mode (named after Japan’s popular milk bread). For golden-brown bread with a thick, crusty exterior, you might want to choose the golden toast mode. There are also pizza and croissant modes, which are obviously used for their namesake foods. All of these settings utilize the power of steam to create crisp crusts and fluffy interiors. Simply fill the included cup with water, pour it into the slot, and let the toaster work its magic. When using the final two modes — oven and salamander — no water is necessary. 

Outside of its impressive heating abilities, I was also drawn to the Balmuda for its chic appearance. Its simple black or white exterior is timeless and classic-looking, so it will never go out of style. While it costs $379, its compact design, luxe look, and useful settings ensure it’s a worthwhile purchase. In fact, it will only take up approximately 14 inches of space on your counter.    

Whether you have a small kitchen with minimal storage space or you’re simply someone looking for one of the best toasters money can buy (with additional oven technology), look no further than the Balmuda Toaster Pro. 

Shop More Toasters and Toaster Ovens at Amazon 

Breville Die-Cast 2-Slice Toaster

$200 at Amazon

Breville Mini Smart Countertop Oven 

$160 at Amazon

Our Place Wonder Oven Pro 

$325 at Amazon

Black + Decker Toaster Oven 

$60 at Amazon

Bella 2-Slice Slim Toaster 

$25 at Amazon

Cuisinart 4-Slice Stainless Steel Toaster 

$80

$48 at Amazon

At the time of publishing, the price was $379.