I stopped using my full-size oven ever since I got my hands on the Our Place Wonder Oven. Here's why
I have a love-hate relationship with air fryers. I love the convenience of cooking in them, but they're usually pretty bulky and I like my counter space. It was also difficult for me to make anything other than hash browns with the cheap model I had in college. It wasn't until I came across the Wonder Oven by Our Place, which boasts an air fryer, toaster and mini oven all in one, that I was interested in trying another air fryer.
When I moved into a new apartment and realized I didn't have a toaster, I figured it was the perfect opportunity to test the Wonder Oven's capabilities. So, I completely ditched my apartment's oven throughout testing; anything I baked, reheated or toasted was with the Wonder Oven. I even avoided my microwave, relying on the Wonder Oven for everything besides lukewarm tea.
Though it took me some time to get used to the settings, the power and capability of the tool impressed me. It feels like an elevated version of an Easy-Bake Oven for adults, but it can do so much more.
Our Place Wonder Oven
The Wonder Oven is a multifunctional appliance that includes a removable air fryer basket, a wire rack for toasting, a nonstick baking tray and a crumb tray. It has three dials to control the cooking options, temperature and timer. The handle on the front mimics a larger oven's design, and the clear glass window lets you see your food crisp in real time. It really can do it all
When I first got my hands on the Our Place Wonder Oven, I decided to start with the basics. I pulled out an everything bagel and got to toasting. The toasting settings required some trial and error. A few pieces of bread were burnedt in the process, but I eventually figured out the right heat-to-timer ratio. When done properly, the toasting feature made bread and bagels crisp on the outside and moist in the center. My old toaster could never do that.
After a bagel or two, I moved on to air frying. I decided to make frozen broccoli and chicken fingers (a winning combination, if you ask me). I realized the Wonder Oven's air fryer mode is the most intuitive setting to master. Simply change the dial to 'air fryer,' place your food in the wire basket and watch everything sizzle until it's ready. Everything came out perfectly cooked, and it made me think of air fryers in a whole new light.
Then I moved on to the feature I was skeptical of: baking. I put this function through multiple tests, only to realize the Wonder Oven can, in fact, bake well. I started out with two small frozen chicken pot pies, which came out delicious. Then I baked some premade Nestlé Toll House cookie dough, burning one batch and getting the other just right. Any fears that the oven couldn't fully heat up to high baking temperatures were gone after that. (It can go up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.)
For a more advanced recipe, I plopped egg-and-cheddar biscuit batter in the Wonder Oven. The biscuits came out delicious, though slightly charred (something I have to work on). Finally, I cooked meat in the Wonder Oven. Chicken shawarma surprisingly fit on the small baking tray and made for a delicious dinner.
When it came to reheating, the Wonder Oven was perfect for keeping my leftover Raising Cane's chicken, fries and Texas toast crispy. It truly gave my day-old French fries a second life. Rather than having to wait to preheat a larger appliance, the Wonder Oven's smaller size and simple design make it even easier to achieve that satisfying crunch.
It's easy to set up and clean
Unlike a major appliance that needs to be installed, the Wonder Oven is incredibly easy to set up. The included rack, trays and basket are packaged separately from the oven, but once you pull everything out of the box, it's easy to slide each item into place. You start with the air fryer basket on top, then the wire rack, followed by the baking tray and finally the crumb tray. While you can cook with multiple accessories inside, I opted to take out anything I wasn't using and switch up the order to meet my needs.
When it was time to clean the Wonder Oven's accessories, I gave them a rinse with soap and water. The oven and the included accessories are not dishwasher-safe, but fortunately, the small trays are easy to clean. Since the cleaning instructions stress not to use any 'harsh' cleaning products or sprays, I stuck to water and Mrs. Meyer's dish soap.
Once I saw crumbs piling up, I pulled out the crumb tray to dump the excess. Some crumbs did escape the oven throughout testing, but considering all the things I made, it was not much of a mess. Both the inside and outside of the oven heat up quickly, so it's best to wait till things cool down before you clean.
Its compact size works for small kitchens
For all the features the Wonder Oven has, it's surprisingly compact. Standing at 11.6 inches tall, 11.5 inches wide and 10.6 inches deep, it's essentially a cube with three dials and a door handle.
I have limited counter space, so I was nervous the Wonder Oven would not fit — or even worse, be an eyesore in my small kitchen. However, the appliance fits in multiple locations around my kitchen, like on my countertop and on top of my kitchen's tea cabinet. I found the cord long enough (it's 48 inches) to reach a nearby outlet wherever I placed it.
Along with a compact feel, the Wonder Oven's matte finish makes it feel chic and look like a kitchen accessory rather than just a kitchen appliance. It's available in four colors that will either blend in with your other appliances or become a bold accent.
It's confusing to preheat
The timer makes preheating the Wonder Oven confusing. When I was ready to begin baking, the instructions directed me to set the temperature and turn the timer to five minutes. However, this was impossible. Every time I tried to turn the dial to five minutes, the oven light would not activate and the timer would revert to zero, contradicting the included instructions.
After doing some digging online, I found that other people had a similar problem with preheating their Wonder Oven. It turns out the timer dial does not work for shorter times, so when I preheat the oven, I now set it for 10 minutes instead. This guarantees the oven light and heat will turn on.
The fact that the timer doesn't catch for shorter times is frustrating. It forced me to experiment with temperatures and time for each setting. This difficulty also led me to burn toast and more than one cookie.
Once I got used to the quirks of the timer, I was able to discover toasting temperature settings that work and prevent baked goods from burning. However, this minor detail caused a few headaches, and I would have expected a tool over $150 to at least have a consistent timer.
You can't cook large batches of food
If you're baking cookies for more than a few friends or making a large dinner, the Wonder Oven's small size will feel constricting. While I appreciate that this toaster oven makes it easy to cook for one, the smaller capacity became an inconvenience while I was meal prepping. For example, I could only fit four biscuits on the small baking tray, even though I made enough batter for at least a dozen. While I did fit a whole chicken pack in the oven, it was a tight squeeze. A larger bird would not fit. So if you're looking to make a large roast, you'll need more space.
There is a bigger version of the Wonder Oven, aptly named the Large Wonder Oven. While I haven't tested this iteration, it certainly will fit more because it has a 32-quart capacity. For comparison, the original Wonder Oven I tested has a 13-quart capacity; however, the extra cooking space also means a large jump in price to $245.
The Wonder Oven is not perfect. It took me some time to get used to, but I've only turned on my actual oven once since I began testing this versatile appliance. (This is especially useful in the summer when it's too hot to turn on the full-size oven.) It allows me to bake, air fry, reheat and toast food to my liking — all in one compact appliance. It's comparable in price and capability to our winning air fryer pick, but the Wonder Oven's matte finish and chic design give it an elevated look on your countertop. You're still paying over $150, but this kitchen tool does a lot and does it well.
For those on the fence about air fryers, this appliance made me change my mind. It's replaced my need for several other kitchen products, and I've enjoyed baking cookies, crisping French fries and more in it. However, the timer and preheating issue make me wish it came at a lower price point. Additionally, if you are cooking for a family or are simply an avid meal prepper, you'll likely need something with a larger capacity.
Is Our Place Wonder Oven nontoxic?
Is Our Place Wonder Oven nontoxic?
Our Place prides itself on creating nontoxic cookware. The Wonder Oven's included baking tray has a nontoxic, PFAS-free coating. The other attachments are made of stainless steel and chromed steel.
In accordance with California Assembly Bill 1200, you can find any chemicals intentionally added to Our Place cookware disclosed on the brand's site.
How do you clean the Our Place Wonder Oven?
How do you clean the Our Place Wonder Oven?
You should clean the Wonder Oven with soap and water after every use. Before you do, make sure you unplug the machine. It can take a while to cool down after using it, but it is important to wait until it is cool before you begin cleaning.
For the inside of the oven, take out all the attachments, then wipe the interior with a cloth or sponge dipped in soapy water. The cleaning instructions stress that the attachments are not dishwasher-safe, so stick to hand-washing those with soap and water.
You should also avoid harsh cleaning chemicals, as these may alter the look and feel of the product. To protect your hands while cleaning, it is advised to wear gloves while you work. Do I always wear gloves while I hand-wash dishes? No, but I appreciate the extra protection if I've just gotten a Gel-X manicure.
Is the Our Place Wonder Oven worth it?
Is the Our Place Wonder Oven worth it?
While the Wonder Oven is not perfect, it is a quality tool that helps me cook all kinds of meals in my small kitchen. In fact, I've made breakfast, lunch and dinner with it. If you are new to air fryers, this is a user-friendly and versatile option.
The one thing about the tool that gives me pause is that you can't set the timer to anything under 10 minutes. That said, I still enjoy cooking with it and find it very useful.
In terms of price, the Wonder Oven is comparable to the Ninja Crispi, the best air fryer we've tested. Though both are capable tools, the Wonder Oven has six cooking functions while the Ninja Crispi has four.
CNN Underscored has a team of skilled writers and editors who have many years of experience testing, researching and recommending products, and they ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when applicable to make certain we are testing each product accurately, recommending only the best products and considering the pros and cons of each item.
For this story, associate testing writer Gareen Puglia ditched her apartment oven and cooked solely in the Wonder Oven. Puglia tested each feature of the Our Place appliance, making everything from cookies to chicken shawarma. As part of the testing team, Puglia covers a variety of products across lifestyle and outdoor verticals. Most recently, she co-wrote a piece on beach umbrellas and took neck fans out during a heat wave.
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