But according to a representative we spoke with, Cuisinart won’t repair the oven if it becomes defective under warranty, and won’t ask you to mail it back. Instead, they’ll ask you to cut the cord and send them a picture of it, then send you an entirely new unit. They’ll even do this if the lightbulb burns out, which is the downside to this otherwise excellent warranty. For certain issues, you may have to choose between living with a broken minor part and sending an otherwise functional machine to the landfill. If something goes wrong with the oven after the warranty expires, Cuisinart will offer you 20% off the retail price of a new oven and provide free shipping.
The timer on our upgrade pick, the Breville Pro, also begins counting down once the oven is preheated. However, it will pause the timer when you open the oven door, whereas the Cuisinart doesn’t. Keep in mind that a large toaster oven can be pretty heavy and is more cumbersome to move; this means it’s more likely to live on your counter. Small toaster ovens are much lighter and easier to tuck away in a cupboard. Beta Test Program memberships are available for purchase only on The membership fee is published on the Site and is subject to change from time to time in Ace’s sole discretion. Your membership is returnable for a full refund of the purchase price within forty eight (48) hours of purchase.
The FlashXpress compensates for the increased temperature by automatically reducing the cook time, so the results are the same every time. These were some of the fastest toasting times of all the toaster ovens we tested. Our Hamilton Beach® Small Toaster Ovens are the ultimate in kitchen convenience.
All in all, these results made the Hamilton Beach’s temperature knob seem more like an on/off switch. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time). The Calphalon Quartz Heat Countertop Toaster Oven didn’t toast as well as our picks and it didn’t evenly melt the cheese on bagel bites.
Should you encounter any problems with the FlashXpress under its one-year warranty, contact Panasonic. Unlike our other picks, Panasonic sells replacement parts for many of the oven’s components (including the heating elements, power button, and door handle). Beyond performance, there are other features hamilton beach toaster that set the Panasonic FlashXpress apart from the competition. Hooks on the door help eject the toaster’s wire rack, so you don’t have to reach your hand as far into the oven cavity to retrieve your food. A toaster oven is a multipurpose appliance that lets you toast bread and bake or reheat food.
They may use less energy, but if you’re buying with sustainability as a top priority, and you have the counter space, you should probably consider getting a toaster oven instead of a slot toaster. We’ve learned through research done by The Ohio State University that slot toasters aren’t built to last (you can read more about OSU’s in-depth work in our blog post). Since most modern slot toasters aren’t repairable, they’re destined for a landfill once they give out. Toaster ovens, on the other hand, typically last longer, which may be in part because the heating elements are enclosed or better protected by metal guards to prevent damage.
It’s common for most toasters to release steam while toasting, so don’t be alarmed. This is a normal occurrence, especially if the bread is particularly moist. Also, the FlashXpress has a somewhat flimsy, stamped-metal crumb tray (versus the sturdier trays that come with our other picks). But the warping didn’t make the tray overly difficult to pull out or to clean. We noticed that crumbs tended to accumulate on the inner ledge at the base of the oven’s door.
It’s not the model for anyone who is looking for a replacement for their full size oven. It’s much cheaper than any other toaster oven we tested — considerably less so than our winning toaster oven, the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro. However, the performance is a little hit and miss, so be prepared for compromise. For the past two years, two Wirecutter employees have used the Hamilton Beach for basic tasks like making toast, reheating pizza, and baking frozen snacks. One of our testers initially tried toasting bread in the baking pan, which only browned the top of the bread.