Preheating the oven in July? That sounds less like getting ready to make dinner and more like issuing a challenge to your air conditioner. It's hot out. Not only does your AC not need any reason to work harder, but who wants to hang out in a hot kitchen or eat a casserole right now?
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If you still need to cook dinner, this is a great time for countertop appliances. An air fryer can crisp up some wings or roast a chicken. A toaster oven can perfectly cook pizza. Pressure cookers and slow cookers can produce full family meals without touching the oven or a stove burner.
In this article: Ninja Crispi 4-in-1 Glass Air Fryer, BLACK+DECKER Toaster Oven and Hamilton Beach Sure-Crisp Air Fryer Toaster Oven Combo
These small appliances can handle all the cooking the oven typically does, but they have one thing in common: They won't heat up your house. From quick lunches to dinner parties, these will have your cooking needs covered — no sweat.
Ninja Crispi 4-in-1 Glass Air Fryer 12% OFF
Instead of preheating the whole oven for a personal meal or small family dinner, how about an air fryer? This one uses a 1,500-watt PowerPod with the option of a 6-cup or 4-quart borosilicate-glass container to cook in. It offers Air Fry, Bake, Max Crisp and Recrisp modes to handle everything from leftovers to up to a 4-pound chicken, and all cooking components are PFAS-free and dishwasher-safe.
With a 10-liter interior, this toaster oven has room for up to four bread slices or a 9-inch pizza. Separate controls cover baking, broiling, toasting and keeping food warm, and it offers natural convection that circulates heat. The 30-minute timer includes a stay-on option, and the crumb tray slides out for easy cleanup.
Hamilton Beach Sure-Crisp Air Fryer Toaster Oven Combo
This combination air fryer and toaster oven gives you options — it can handle everything from toast to pizza to crispy chicken. It fits four bread slices, a 9-inch pizza or a 3-pound chicken and offers air fry, bake, broil and toast settings. It comes with an air-fry basket, bake pan, broil rack and removable crumb tray.
Chefman Everything Maker & Pizza Oven
This pizza oven does more than just pizza — its upper and lower nonstick plates reach 428 degrees and can make quesadillas, omelets, pancakes, sandwiches, crepes and more. Every unit includes a digital cookbook. The built-in indicator lights show power and preheating so you know when it's ready to use, and you can store it vertically to save space.
Hamilton Beach Electric Indoor Searing Grill 17% OFF
When it's too hot to even cook outside, bring the grill into the AC. This indoor grill offers a 118-square-inch cooking surface that ranges from 200 to 450 degrees and uses a removable, PFAS-free nonstick plate. The lid has a window to keep food visible while it cooks, and the grill plate and extra-large drip tray can go straight in the dishwasher.
Cuisinart Griddler Indoor Grill, Panini Press, Sandwich Maker & More
This one countertop appliance works as a grill, griddle and panini press. It's made with reversible PFAS-free plates, separate temperature controls on each side and a removable drip tray. The plates, tray and included scraping tool are all dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup.
Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Mini Electric Pressure Cooker 33% OFF
Don't touch the stove — cook soups, rice, beans and more in an Instant Pot instead. It comes equipped with seven functions and 11 one-touch programs. Its stainless steel inner pot has a tri-ply bottom for sauteing, and it has built-in functions for pressure cooking, steaming, slow cooking, yogurt making and warming.
Cuisinart ClearView 4-Quart Air Fryer
This air fryer offers a viewing window so you can keep an eye on your food while it cooks. Its four-quart glass vessel fits up to 2 pounds of wings or a 4-pound chicken, and its five functions include Air Fry, Bake, Broil, Recrisp and Keep Warm. Both pieces that come into contact with food are PFAS-free.
Crock-Pot 7-Quart Manual Slow Cooker 33% OFF
Big-batch cooking doesn't have to mean standing over a pot on a hot burner. This 7-quart Crock-Pot serves nine or more people and can hold a 7-pound roast. It offers simple Low, High and Warm settings, and its oval stoneware and lid are removable and dishwasher-safe for easier cleanup.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
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