Living in Florida means I am always looking for excuses not to turn on my full-size oven. Between the heat, the long preheat times and the way it instantly makes the kitchen feel 10 degrees hotter, I usually avoid it unless I absolutely have to. That's why countertop ovens have slowly become my go-to, even though I'll be honest... a lot of smart ovens promise the world and often fall flat.
But the iQ MiniOven is different. It's currently on sale, and more importantly, I've discovered it actually works the way a smart oven should. No gimmicks, no frustration and no wondering why I paid extra for features I never use.
A smart oven that doesn't overcomplicate things
The iQ MiniOven manages to hit a sweet spot between powerful and practical. It offers 11 different cooking modes, including baking, roasting, air frying, broiling, dehydrating, slow cooking, reheating and even proofing dough -- something I've found myself using a lot as I'm determined to nail down a sourdough recipe in 2026. It can reach temperatures up to 500 degrees and uses a high-powered internal motor to keep airflow consistent, which makes a real difference when you want crispy results without babysitting your food.
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Despite being compact enough for the counter, the interior is surprisingly roomy. It can fit a 13-inch pizza or a standard 9 by 13 baking pan, which is more than enough for weeknight dinners or small batch cooking.
The design is great, too. It's sleek and modern, while the touchscreen is bright and responsive. The interior light actually lets me see what's going on inside (something my previous toaster oven didn't do) and the soft-close door feels more premium than I expected.
It also connects to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and works with the Chef iQ app. And unlike some smart appliances, the app is genuinely useful. I can monitor cooking progress, get guided cooking help and adjust settings without hovering in the kitchen. On hot days, that alone feels like a win.
Why the price makes sense long term
At full price, the iQ MiniOven sits firmly in investment territory. Even with the current sale bringing it down to $499.99 from $599.99, this is not an impulse buy. But smart ovens are the kind of appliance that can quietly pay for themselves over time.
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