Our Place took the internet by storm with the brand's initial release, the beautiful Always Pan, back in 2019. Since then, the brand has released several other pans and pots — with the same styling and many of the same features as the Always Pan — and has even offered up tableware (like plates and bowls) and other kitchen tools (like knives). They even revamped the famed Always Pan — releasing a 2.0 version earlier in 2023.
Now, the internet darlings have taken a daring step into an entirely new category: cooking appliances. Like the Always Pan, the newly-minted Wonder Oven was made to replace much more than just a single thing in your kitchen. In fact, Our Place markets the Wonder Oven as a "6-in-1 air fryer and toaster oven with steam infusion." And while the brand's reputation is certainly quite sterling — including plenty of accolades and celebrity endorsements — the promise is a big one.
Rather than take the brand at its word, I got hands-on with the Wonder Oven to see if it lives up to the hype of the Our Place name in its styling, functionality, versatility, etc. For the last couple of weeks, I made toast (and full-on sandwiches), frozen treats, roasted veggies and much more, And I'm ready to share my opinion on this significant kitchen appliance release.
Our Place Wonder Oven: What We Think
Overall, the Wonder Oven is spectacular. It boasts the same gorgeous signature styling as all of Our Place's kitchenware and at least a measure of the same versatility. While it can air fry, bake, broil and more, its highlight feature is undoubtedly its steam-infusion toasting. And it has a large enough cooking area to accommodate double-decker toasting or larger items (like a Cornish game hen, for instance). It's also very quick to heat up and cooks a measure faster than my full-sized oven, which is great for when I'm in a hurry or making smaller meals.
However, the large internal oven space does mean the device is a good deal taller than most toaster ovens (by about a third to a half) — though it still takes up roughly the same footprint. And while I love the simplicity of the controls — utilizing three simple twist knobs instead of a complicated digital display is a stroke of minimalist, dummy-proof genius — I do wish there were a bit more precision in the timer (even just five-minute markings would help). Still, it's worth noting that I happily got rid of my original toaster oven within a week of using this one, so take that as you will.
Our Place's signature style is still thankfully intact
Undoubtedly, the first thing you're going to notice about the Wonder Oven is how it looks. It is, in a word, beautiful. It looks kind of like someone took a full-sized oven and shrunk it down — which makes its overall form kind of timeless. But it also benefits from Our Place's signature styling cues — like the quartet of available colorways.
The appearance also speaks to the device's quality. There are no jagged lines or rough edges; the whole thing looks clean, minimalist and well-considered. This is the kind of kitchen appliance you're going to be proud to show off — which is fine because you'll probably be using it all the damn time anyhow. Our Place, once again, does not disappoint when it comes to style and design. And I don't even care if that makes me sound like a fanboy.
The utterly-simple user-friendliness is a huge selling point
In this increasingly digital age, it seems like every brand thinks its devices need to have some kind of smart integration. I'm here to tell you that some things do not — and my toaster oven is one of those things. Our Place seems to agree, as it made the Wonder Oven magnificently, elegantly dummy-proof. There are no touchscreen displays, smartphone apps or AI assistants of which to speak. Instead, the whole thing is controlled by a trio of twist knobs. And the old-school simplicity might just be my favorite thing about this countertop appliance.
The first knob controls the temperature — going from 200 – 450 degrees Fahrenheit. The second controls the mode — including reheat, roast, air fry, bake, broil and toast (the latter two even have helpful notes on what temperature to set). And the third is a 60-minute auto timer, which turns the oven off with a cheery chime once it runs out. The only other thing the oven has to influence your cooking is the steam infusion, which is just a little cap on the top you fill up with water (it holds 10 milliliters) and pour into the spout. That's it. That's all there is to it. And that utter simplicity, juxtaposed against a backdrop of so many overly complicated devices, is a beautiful thing.Adding just a little water for the steam function will keep your toast from drying out.
It's quite big for a countertop appliance — but that's a good thing
When compared to a traditional toaster or toaster oven, the Wonder Oven is a good deal taller. I'd say it's about a third to a half taller than my original toaster oven (which was similar in design, size and shape to this one). And while that size may be a detractor for some, I'd make the argument that, in this case, it's a good thing.
First off, the height of the Wonder Oven is still well below the point at which my kitchen's upper cabinets start. And since toaster ovens get so hot (hot enough to melt storage plastic, I, unfortunately, discovered a long time ago), the top is hardly functional storage, even with the extra third-to-half. So, as long as you have normal cabinetry (or perhaps no cabinetry), the height will make very little difference to you.
Second, the extra height translates to a larger internal cooking area. Yes, the Wonder Oven still has the depth and width of a normal toaster, but the extra height means you can actually set it up to do double-decker toasting. Or you could set the rack at the lowest part and it will accommodate larger meals (I keep using Cornish game hen as the measurement, but it could be a small roast, a loaf of bread, etc.). That makes this countertop oven a good deal more versatile, even if it only worked like a regular old toaster oven (remember: It has a lot more features than that).
The simplistic controls, while good overall, are a bit wanting
As I mentioned earlier, the simplicity of the Wonder Oven is one of the great beauties of this particular kitchen appliance. However, in a perfect world, I'd like to see one minor change to the third knob, the timer, in particular. As this is a 6-in-1 device, it needs to be able to cook for a long time, so I understand the 60-minute timer. But having 60 notches around the circumference makes it difficult to select an accurate cook time if you're not matching the knob to a 10-minute interval.
This can get especially frustrating at shorter cook times, as it is tough to tell when you're hovering around the five-minute mark. And when toasting a single piece of bread, a minute here and there can be kind of make or break — and I have the burnt-to-coal slices to prove it. Furthermore, the device appears to only kick on if you go past a certain point. Set the timer too low and it won't toast at all (you can tell if it's working because the internal light turns on). If there was just a touch more precision to the timer knob, I think it might rectify this, but I'd settle for five-minute interval markings at the very least.
The internal tray slots have one key design flaw
Obviously, I love this countertop oven. But I'm not so smitten that I'm willing to overlook its admittedly rare problems. But there's one especially that sticks out to me: the trays can too easily be tipped out of the device when you're trying to remove your food from them.
I don't know about you, but I don't love sticking my hand all the way inside a hot oven. Especially on this small scale, there's too much chance for me to tap my hand on a wall or heating element and pull back blistered digits. Instead, I'd like to be able to pull the tray out and more safely remove my food. Unfortunately, the Wonder Oven's topside supports — which are supposed to prevent the trays from tipping downward when you pull them out of the oven — aren't quite prominent enough. There's enough play that the trays tip forward when you pull them out, and if you pull them slightly too far they'll potentially fall altogether. I found that out the hard way by dropping a bagel on the floor.
Now that I learned that hard lesson, I haven't made the mistake since. I do, however, wish that the trays fit a bit tighter inside and that they weren't so easy to tip over, spilling your hot food onto the floor and causing you to yip and yowl as you try to catch it and right the trays.
Our Place Wonder Oven: Alternatives
Because of the pricing, styling and functionality, people will inevitably compare the Wonder Oven to the high-end Balmuda Toaster — which also has a steam function but is over $100 more than Our Place's offering and offers fewer features overall (although some with deep pockets may still prefer the Balmuda for its styling and prestige). There are also plenty of countertop smart ovens on the market, like the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro, that offer even more functionality than the Wonder Oven but do so with considerably less style and more complexity (and usually at a higher cost).
