ChefIQ MiniOven review | Digitpatrox
ChefIQ: Specs
Type: Digital
Size: 16.1 in W x 16.4 in D x 14.4 in H
Weight: 37.4 pounds
Capacity: 0.85 cu. Ft.
Temperature Range: 90ºF to 500ºF (21ºC to 260ºC)
Power: 1750w/120V
Dishwasher Safe Parts: Yes
Easy to Clean: Yes
App Control: Yes
Recipes: CHEF iQ app
Cooking functions: Bake, roast, air fry, dehydrate, toast, slow cook, broil, air broil, reheat, keep warm, and proof.
Of all the appliances in my kitchen, our toaster oven probably gets the most use. The model I’ve had for the last nine years — a Breville we got as a wedding present — is big enough for us to roast enough chicken, salmon, and other foods for dinner, without having to turn on our main oven. I’ve been so pleased with it that I’ve even replaced a small fuse in it twice, rather than having to buy a new model.
But now that I’ve been using the CHEF iQ MiniOven for a few months, I don’t think I’m ever going back to my older model. Not only does the MiniOven take up less counter space, but it’s equally large on the inside, and has a number of smart features that, while not crucial to its operation, make things a lot more convenient. While the MiniOven is on the pricey side for a toaster oven, it’s become my new favorite appliance in my kitchen. Here are three things I liked — and two I didn’t — and if it’s earned a spot on our list of the best toaster ovens.
CHEF iQ MiniOven: Price and availability
The CHEF iQ MiniOven costs $599 — not overly cheap for a toaster oven — and comes with a ceramic-coated baking tray, ceramic-coated egg tray, wire rack, air fryer/dehydrator rack, and a mini glide rack; the last is a slide-out rack on ball bearings, one of those features you only get on higher-end ovens. It’s easily one of the things I love the most about the oven.
The MiniOven also works with the CHEF iQ Sense smart thermometer (starting at $99 for a single probe, sold separately). These Wi-Fi-connected probes integrate with the oven so that you can cook by temperature, rather than time.
CHEF iQ MiniOven: It’s a connected device — but you don’t need to use that feature
One issue I have with some smart kitchen appliances is that they require you to use an app on your phone. It’s why I prefer Weber’s kitchen thermometer over, say, Meater’s; I can simply look at the device itself, rather than having to take my phone out.
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A touchscreen at the top lets you select from various cooking modes (bake, air fry, toast, etc.) or choose presets for various foods, like making eggs over easy, reheating a frozen pizza, or roasting chicken thighs. Each of these presets was clearly labeled with little icons for types of food, and I didn’t have to dig too deeply to find the setting I needed.
The oven also pairs seamlessly with the CHEF iQ Sense smart thermometer. As soon as I pulled one of the probes from its charging case, the oven’s display changed to ask me if I wanted to cook something to temperature, rather than by time.
Should you want to use the CHEF iQ app, you can select the same controls as on the oven itself.
While you can start a cook from the app, you have to tap on the oven’s control panel itself within 10 minutes, to ensure you’re not running something unattended.
The app also features a collection of hundreds of recipes with guided cooking; it starts with a checklist of ingredients, then shows short videos of how to add them all together. However, all of the recipes in the app are for the iQ Cooker or the iQ Sense, and not the MiniOven. So, if you’re making, say, pork chops, you can’t have the app automatically start preheating the MiniOven. It’s a bit of a miss.
CHEF iQ MiniOven: It maximizes its space
Measuring 16.1 x 16.4 x 14.4 inches, the MiniOven took up less counter space than my Breville, and at first, I was worried it wouldn’t be able to fit as much inside (it has a 0.85 cubic-foot capacity).
The MiniOven is able to make the most out of its small footprint by mounting the display on the top, at a slight angle. At first, I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it there, as I usually store extra pans and racks on the top. But, they were able to fit behind the display with no issues.
The oven was spacious enough for me to roast an entire 5-pound chicken. I spatchcocked the bird, though, as not doing so would have meant that the top was a bit too close to the upper heating elements.
CHEF iQ MiniOven: It cooks (almost) everything perfectly
Just about everything I cooked in the MiniOven came out perfectly. Using the egg tray, I made mini breakfast bites with bacon and cheese.
I also roasted several chickens (albeit not at the same time) with potatoes and onions arrayed around the edges; using the CHEF iQ Sense, I was able to cook the chicken to a spot-on 165º, though its skin was slightly darker than I would have preferred.
Salmon roasted in the oven also came out succulent and tender, with just the right amount of browning on top.
It was also excellent at air frying. On separate occasions, I made zucchini fries, chicken nuggets, and fish sticks, and was impressed at how quickly they started to brown. In fact, I had to take them out earlier than I thought.
CHEF iQ MiniOven: It’s not the best at toasting
Ironically, the one thing I feel the MiniOven isn’t great at is toasting bread. Even when you select the darkest setting, bread comes out only slightly toasted.
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Now, while I’m glad it doesn’t turn my muffins into charcoal, I would like for them to be a bit darker than a pale tan. Still, toasting was fairly even: the pieces in the back of the oven were done faster than those in the front, but not overly so.
CHEF iQ MiniOven: It can get a bit toasty
You’ll want to keep the kids away from this oven, as its sides can get pretty hot, especially with longer cooks. While I was roasting a chicken with the oven set to 400º F, I used a laser thermometer to measure the temperature on the exterior.
The side of the oven near the door hit a toasty 180º, while the window in the front was around 120º. Fortunately, the door’s handle remained cool to the touch. However, this is an issue common to many toaster ovens, and in fact, its temperatures were lower than that of many others we’ve tested.
CHEF iQ MiniOven: Verdict
The CHEF iQ MiniOven’s closest competitor is the Breville Joule Oven Air Fryer Pro, which costs about the same and has similar smart features. However, the MiniOven has a much nicer display and can work with wireless temperature probes, which allows for more precise cooking.
Apart from its performance when toasting bread, I found little to complain about in using this oven every day for months. With the exception of the temperature probes — one of my favorite features — I didn’t use the MiniOven’s app or smart features all that much, though it was nice to get alerts on my smartphone when dinner was ready. At $500, the MiniOven could be overkill for many. But for those who rely on their toaster oven to cook a lot of their meals, it could be worth the investment.
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