Intro
The toaster oven vs microwave question comes up a lot — and for good reason. Both sit on your counter. Both heat food fast. But they do very different things. This article breaks down the BLACK+DECKER Crisp ‘N Bake Toaster Oven and the COMFEE’ EM720CPL Microwave. It covers specs, real buyer feedback, honest pros and cons, and a clear verdict. Whether you cook for one or feed a family, this comparison will help you pick the right one.
Table of Contents
How We Evaluated These
This review is not based on personal testing. It is based on verified Amazon customer reviews, public star ratings, product specifications, and repeated buyer feedback. We looked at what people love, what they complain about, and what surprised them. The goal is simple: help you spend your money wisely.
BLACK+DECKER Crisp ‘N Bake — Full Review
Overview of the BLACK+DECKER TO1787SS
★★★★☆ 4.2 / 5
This is a compact toaster oven with an air fryer built in. It has five cooking modes and fits on most counters. It ranks #1 in Toaster Ovens on Amazon. Buyers like it for small meals, snacks, and reheating food so it stays crispy — not soggy.
Price range: Budget-friendly
Key Features of the BLACK+DECKER Crisp ‘N Bake
1. Air Fry Mode This is the big one. You get crispy fries, chicken wings, and snacks with little to no oil. Many buyers say it works just as well as a dedicated air fryer — but takes up less space.
2. Five Cooking Functions It bakes, broils, toasts, air fries, and keeps food warm. That is a lot for a small machine. Reviewers say the bake and broil settings work well for frozen foods and small pizza.
3. EvenToast Technology BLACK+DECKER built this in to cut down on hot spots. Buyers report that toast comes out evenly browned. That sounds small, but if you have ever used a toaster oven that burns one side? You know it matters.
4. Compact Size It is 15.5 inches wide and 8.2 inches tall. It fits a 9-inch pizza or four slices of bread. Good for small kitchens, dorm rooms, and studio apartments.
5. 30-Minute Timer + Accessories Comes with a bake pan, air fry mesh tray, wire rack, and crumb tray. Setup is easy. Cleanup is not bad either — the crumb tray pulls out.
Real Buyer Feedback on the BLACK+DECKER
What people love: Many buyers mention that the air fry function is genuinely useful. Reviewers commonly report that frozen foods come out crispy instead of rubbery. People also praise the toast quality — even browning, no burnt edges.
What people complain about: Some users say the oven runs a little hot. A few report that the temperature knob is not very precise. Reviewers also note that it takes a few minutes to preheat, which you would not need with a microwave. A small number of buyers mention the outside gets warm during use.
Surprising finding: Many buyers got this to replace both a toaster and an air fryer. For most of them, it did both jobs well enough that they got rid of the separate appliances.
Who Should NOT Buy the BLACK+DECKER
If you mostly reheat leftovers, this is overkill. A microwave is faster and uses less energy for that job. Also skip this if you have very limited counter space — it is compact, but still needs 11.5 inches of depth.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Air fry, bake, broil, toast, and keep warm in one unit
- Crispy results that a microwave cannot match
- Good toast quality thanks to EvenToast technology
- Comes with useful accessories out of the box
- 2-year limited warranty
Cons:
- Slower than a microwave for reheating
- Temperature control is less precise (knob dial)
- Outside gets warm — keep it away from cabinets
COMFEE’ Countertop Microwave — Full Review
Overview of the COMFEE’ EM720CPL-PMB
★★★★☆ 4.4 / 5
This is a 0.7 cubic foot countertop microwave with 700 watts of power. It ranks #1 in Compact Microwave Ovens on Amazon. It has a mute button, a child lock, and an eco mode. Over 27,000 buyers have reviewed it — that is a lot of real-world feedback to draw from.
Price range: Budget-friendly
Key Features of the COMFEE’ Microwave
1. One-Touch Cooking Press a button and go. It has presets for popcorn, potato, pizza, frozen veggies, beverages, and reheating. Buyers say this makes daily use very easy. No guessing, no fiddling.
2. Mute Button This one is a fan favorite. Press and hold the sound button for three seconds. No more beeping at midnight. Reviewers mention this feature more than almost anything else.
3. Two-Step Child Lock Push two buttons to lock it. This meets the new safety standard for microwave makers. Parents and teachers mention this a lot in reviews.
4. ECO Mode Cuts standby power by 50%. If you leave appliances plugged in all day, this saves a little electricity over time.
5. Defrost Settings Two defrost options — by weight or by time. Many buyers use this daily. It works well for meat, bread, and leftovers.
Real Buyer Feedback on the COMFEE’
What people love: Reviewers commonly report that it heats food fast and evenly. The mute function gets mentioned in hundreds of reviews — people really love it. Many buyers also praise the simple button layout. You can figure it out without reading the manual.
Compared to the BLACK+DECKER, buyers say the COMFEE’ is much faster for basic reheating.
What people complain about: Some users note that 700 watts is a bit low. It takes longer to heat food than higher-wattage microwaves. A few buyers mention the turntable is only 10 inches, which limits dish size. Some reviewers also say the plastic inside feels less solid than expected.
Surprising finding: Many buyers mention they keep this microwave for years. Several reviews mention it as a replacement for a previous COMFEE’ that finally wore out after long use. That is a good sign for durability.
Who Should NOT Buy the COMFEE’
If you want crispy food, do not buy this. A microwave heats with moisture — the opposite of crispy. Also skip it if you need to cook a lot at once. The 0.7 cubic foot inside is small. Bigger dishes may not fit.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Fast reheating for everyday use
- Mute button is genuinely useful
- Simple one-touch buttons — no learning curve
- Child lock for households with young kids
- Over 27,000 verified reviews — very reliable feedback
- ECO mode saves standby energy
Cons:
- 700 watts is on the lower end — slower than higher-wattage models
- Small 10-inch turntable limits dish size
- No cooking modes that produce crispy results
Toaster Oven vs Microwave: BLACK+DECKER vs COMFEE’ — Full Comparison
Here is how they stack up side by side.
Feature | BLACK+DECKER Crisp ‘N Bake | COMFEE’ EM720CPL |
Build Quality | Stainless steel exterior, solid feel | Plastic body, smaller footprint |
Performance | Great for crispy, baked food | Fast reheating, even warming |
Ease of Use | Knob controls — simple but less precise | One-touch buttons — very easy |
Durability | 2-year warranty, generally positive | Many buyers report multi-year use |
Size | 15.5″W × 11.5″D × 8.2″H | 17.3″W × 13″D × 10.2″H |
Value for Money | Strong — replaces toaster + air fryer | Strong — one of the best budget microwaves |
Best For | Crispy food, baking, toasting | Fast reheating, everyday cooking |
Cooking Results
The microwave vs toaster oven difference comes down to one thing: moisture. A microwave heats food from the inside using electromagnetic waves. Food stays soft and moist. That is great for soups, leftovers, and anything you just want hot fast. But it does not crisp anything.
A toaster oven uses dry heat — like a small conventional oven. It makes things crispy. Pizza crust stays firm. Fries stay crunchy. Toast comes out golden. The downside? It takes more time.
Speed
The COMFEE’ wins here. Press a button and food is hot in 1–3 minutes. The BLACK+DECKER needs a few minutes to preheat, and cooking takes longer. If speed is your main need, the microwave is the better pick.
Food Quality
The BLACK+DECKER wins here. Many buyers who switched from microwaving pizza to toaster-oven pizza say they will never go back. The crust is better. The cheese is better. If food quality matters more than speed, go with the toaster oven.
Comparing microwave oven vs oven toaster for energy use
For quick reheating, the microwave uses less power — it runs for 1–3 minutes. A toaster oven runs longer, often 10–20 minutes. When you look at microwave oven vs toaster oven for a dorm or small apartment, the microwave usually costs less to run day-to-day. The COMFEE’ also has an ECO mode that cuts standby power by 50%.
What About a Convection Microwave vs Toaster Oven?
Some microwaves have a convection mode. These can brown food a little better than standard microwaves. But most buyers who compare a convection microwave vs toaster oven say the toaster oven still wins for crispiness. Convection microwaves cost more and take up more space. Unless you specifically need both in one unit, a dedicated toaster oven does the job better.
Other Options to Consider
1. Toshiba EM131A5C Microwave A step up from the COMFEE’ — 1.2 cubic feet and 1100 watts. Better for larger households. Good if the COMFEE’ feels too small for your needs.
2. Cuisinart TOA-60 Air Fryer Toaster Oven A premium version of what the BLACK+DECKER does. More cooking functions, larger capacity, stainless finish. Costs more, but gets strong reviews from serious home cooks. Worth a look if you want more cooking power.
3. Panasonic NN-SN686S Countertop Microwave 1.2 cubic feet, 1200 watts, inverter technology for even heating. Better than most budget microwaves for cooking real meals. A strong option if you want more power than the COMFEE’.
Final Verdict
Both of these are good products. Neither is a bad buy. But they do different things.
Buy the BLACK+DECKER Crisp ‘N Bake if you care about food texture. If you want crispy fries, golden toast, or pizza with a real crust — this is your pick. It replaces both a toaster and an air fryer. That makes the price very fair.
Buy the COMFEE’ EM720CPL if you want speed and simplicity. If you mostly reheat leftovers, make popcorn, or defrost meat — this is the smarter buy. It is faster, easier to use, and has over 27,000 positive reviews.
When you look at toaster oven vs microwave for everyday use, the microwave wins for most people. It is faster and handles daily reheating without fuss. But if you want better-tasting food — especially anything crispy — the toaster oven is worth every penny.
My Pick: COMFEE’ EM720CPL — best for fast, everyday kitchen tasks.
Common Questions
Is the toaster oven vs microwave comparison still worth making in 2026?
Yes. Both are common kitchen appliances. The right choice depends on how you cook. If you reheat food daily, a microwave is faster. If you want crispy results, a toaster oven wins.
Can a toaster oven replace a microwave?
It can replace some microwave functions — like reheating and cooking small meals. But it is slower, so it is not a 1-for-1 swap. Many people own both.
Which one uses less electricity?
For quick reheating, the microwave uses less power. For longer cooking tasks, they are closer. The COMFEE’ also has an ECO mode that cuts standby power.
What is the difference between a microwave oven vs oven toaster for reheating pizza? A: Big difference. The microwave makes pizza soft and sometimes soggy. The toaster oven keeps the crust crispy. Most pizza fans prefer the toaster oven for reheating.
Is the COMFEE’ microwave quiet?
Many buyers say the mute function is one of the best things about it. You can turn off all beeping with a 3-second button hold. Reviewers mention this a lot — especially people who cook late at night.
