Roaster ovens are such a great addition to any household. Not only do they allow you to cook deliciously moist meats, but you can use them to make soups and even sweet treats like cookies too!
Some people think that it’s only for cooking turkey and chicken. But, in truth, a roaster oven can do much more than just roast a bird. It can basically do anything a crock pot can do, except that you can buy roaster ovens that are much larger than your typical slow cooker. And, you can easily convert any slow cooker recipe into one for a roaster oven.
Also, you can use a roaster oven in a variety of settings, and it travels well. So it great for a family gathering, a church event, the basement, garage or camper.
They are a great appliance to have, especially if you are a family on the go. But, which roaster oven is the best option for you? There are plenty of brands and models to choose from that it can be difficult to know where to start.
Nesco Roaster Oven Reviews
That is where we come in. We have reviewed five different roaster ovens so you do not have to. In this article, we have focused on one company, in particular, Nesco.
We have included a wide range of their roaster ovens to suit every budget. We hope this article helps you to find the perfect roaster oven!
OUR TOP PICK
The Nesco 4816-12 is a small roaster oven that can roast enough food for a family of up to six.
Although it is compact, it still cooks a good amount of food. Being only 10 pounds it is easy to transport and store.
The total dimensions of this roaster oven are 14.75 x 15.13 x 8.25 inches. As you can see, it will not take up too much counter space.
In terms of color, there are 4 different options to choose from giving you a good amount of choice. The colors available are red, white, stainless steel, and silver with black accents.
This roaster contains a circle of heat cooking element. This is a popular element choice with the Nesco models because it heats food from the outside in.
This allows the food to cook thoroughly and evenly. It also keeps your food, and especially meat, moist.
The cook well is made out of porcelain and the steel rack inside is removable.
Although this is a roaster, it can be used for multiple other purposes, such as steaming, broiling, baking, and slow cooking.
The roaster oven has automatic temperature control which ranges between 175 - 450 degrees. There is a temperature dial to choose the temperature you require too.
Overall, the price of the Nesco 4816-12 is reasonable. It is great for those on a budget looking for a new roaster oven.
EDITORS CHOICE
The Nesco 4816-14 is very similar to the first roaster we have included.
However, as they are different models, there are some differences. In terms of its size, its dimensions are 15 x 8.5 x 15 inches.
It weighs slightly less than the 4816-12, being only 8.95 pounds. It is available in white.
Similarly to the first model, this can feed up to six people comfortably. The whole of the 6-Quart pot insert is removable to make emptying easy. This also helps when cleaning.
The base of this roaster oven is 750 watts. It heats food quickly and efficiently. You have full temperature control thanks to the temperature dial on the front of the roaster.
The temperature can range between 200 - 400 degrees, which is a slightly smaller range compared to the first model.
The cooking rack insert is made out of stainless steel and has handles on the top of it for easy removal.
As it can be removed, this allows you to cook larger items too. The handles on the side of the roaster remain cool, even when the roaster is at its highest temperature.
It is an oval shape and has a double porcelain finish which is particularly durable. The cook well is non-stick which is great when cooking and cleaning.
The circle of heat technology ensures that your food is cooked well and remains moist throughout.
In terms of price, it is very reasonable, especially given how much food this roaster can cook at once.
BEST VALUE
The Nesco 4818-12 is a much larger roaster compared to the two previous 8-Quarts.
Although it is not as portable as the previous two, you can use it to cook significantly more food. The roaster oven is shaped differently from the first two models we reviewed.
Instead of being oval-shaped, it is more rectangular, allowing you to fit more into the roaster at once.
The overall dimensions of this roaster are 24.75 x 16.75 x 9 inches. Given this, it is bulkier to store and will take up more counter space.
The capacity of this model allows you to cook a whole 22-pound turkey. You can also use it to bake sweet treats.
It looks more like a classic roaster. It can perform all of the functions of an oven, apart from broiling.
In regards to temperature, it ranges from 200 - 450 degrees. The dial on the front of the roaster allows you to adjust the temperature accordingly.
This model also contains the circle of heat designed elements and has a total wattage of 1425. The cook well is porcelain.
It can be removed for easy cleaning and food access. The porcelain makes this roaster oven great for everyday use as it does not scratch, chip, stain or corrode.
The roaster comes with a removable stainless steel rack. This is good if you are planning to cook multiple things at once. Being stainless steel it is easy to clean. It has handles to make removal easy.
In regards to its price, it is more expensive than the first two models we have discussed. However, it is much larger and the price reflects this.
RUNNER UP
The Nesco MWR18-14 is another 18-Quart Roaster.
It is available in two different colors, white and black. In terms of its exact dimensions, these are 23.75 x 16 x 13.11 inches.
It is a larger roaster that weighs 17.96 pounds in total. The white version has black accents on the handles and around the rim of the toaster oven. The total wattage of this model is 1450.
It is UL approved and the cook well is made from ceramic. Similarly to the other models, we have reviewed, the cook well can be removed.
This makes it easy to clean. You can perfectly roast a turkey in this roaster oven, this is thanks to its great circle of heat technology.
The model is particularly good at insulating and stopping heat from escaping. This improves and speeds up cooking times. It has automatic temperature control.
In addition to this, you can manually change the temperature, using the temperature dial. The temperature ranges between 200 - 400 degrees.
The MWR18-14 has cool-touch handles that prevent potential burns when cooking.
The stainless steel rack also contains handles to allow you to easily remove food from the oven. It is easy to insert and remove and can be cleaned with ease.
You can cook a variety of different food in this roaster oven, such as soups, roasts, beef, and baked goods.
Essentially it will perform in a very similar way to a conventional oven.
Given all that this roaster oven can do, it is very reasonably priced. It is a great quality model that is great for larger families that enjoy cooking bigger meals.
RUNNER UP
The final Nesco Roaster Oven we will be reviewing is the 4818-14. Again this roaster oven is similar to the other models we have reviewed, when it comes to its overall design.
This model comes in one color, ivory, and it has more of a traditional look. Again the shape of this roaster oven is more squared instead of being oval-shaped.
In terms of dimensions, these are 24.75 x 16.75 x 9.00 inches. This is another larger model that would be slightly more awkward to store. However, given all that it can do, it is still fairly compact. It is 1425 watts.
This model would be great for larger families and for those who would prefer to cook entire meals at once. It can cook a good-sized turkey with ease.
What makes this model stand out from some of its competitors is its higher domed lid. This higher dome allows you to cook larger pieces of meat.
The self-basting cover will help to lock in moisture and make the food you are cooking extra tasty.
The Nesco 4818-14 has a thermostat on the front of the oven that is adjustable. The temperature can be adjusted between 200 - 450 degrees.
Again, the cook well is porcelain making it durable, reliable, and easy to clean.
It can be removed, along with the stainless steel rack. This model can do everything an oven can do, apart from broil, which makes it a great investment.
It is a very reasonable price given that it works in much the same way as an oven. It's worth investing in.
We hope this article has helped you to find the best Nesco Roaster Oven for you.
