The KitchenAid KCO211BM Digital Countertop Toaster Oven didn’t toast as evenly as our picks, and several slices of bread were burned in patches on the bottom. Some of the Bagel Bites we baked were also undercooked and pale. The Cuisinart TOB-40 Custom Classic Toaster Oven Broiler is easy to use, but on its medium setting, bread became too dark. Also, this model has no timer, so you’ll have to keep a close watch on your food to prevent it from overcooking.
Some ovens’ results weren’t dark enough; others were overdone or unevenly cooked. This was also one of the only models in this price range that could bake chicken thighs with a golden brown, crispy skin. Up against bigger, more expensive toaster ovens, the FlashXpress more than held its own. Similar to many other small toaster ovens, including the Comfee CFO-BB101, the Mueller lacks a convection fan and an interior light. In addition, it only has two heating elements which can usually lead to uneven heat distribution compared to four or more heating elements. However, you won’t get the stellar performance and extra features that you find on the more expensive models.
The half-bagel slices in the front toasted perfectly, while those in the rear of the oven were paler and less crispy. Overall, we gave the Easy Reach higher than average marks for toasting and feel it does an acceptable job with this metric. Most of the frozen items we heated came out a little undercooked after the recommended cooking time.
After 4 minutes of toasting, the four pieces of toast had pretty good surface color. However, the colors varied from light golden to golden brown on both the top and the bottom, so we could only give a 7/10. It might seem like a hard task to find your perfect , but we’ve done our research. This guide contains all you need to know to make your purchase easier.
We also tested the unique features on certain models, such as dehydrate modes or the steam feature on Balmuda’s The Toaster. Additionally, we took note of any excessively loud beeps and evaluated the usefulness of each model’s accessories. This model comes with the most basic accessories, including an oven rack, a baking pan, and a crumb tray. More-advanced digital models will alert you once the oven is preheated to a set temperature, but the Hamilton Beach lacks this feature. The instruction manual recommends allowing 5 minutes for the toaster oven to preheat. Even so, a charming, old-school ding does alert you when the timer goes off.
This handy appliance will toast, broil, or bake all of your favorite foods for your busy lifestyle. And a compact toaster over takes up less counter space making it great for a small kitchen or work area.Want to toast a bagel or bread? With a small toaster oven, you can do your baking hamilton beach air fryer without ever turning on your regular oven which saves energy. And with most of our small toaster ovens including a broil grid, bake pan and removable crumb tray, you’ll be toasting (baking and broiling) in no time. The Cuisinart also has two convection speeds, regular and high.
When the time came to remove the chicken from the oven, I used the special tool provided. While I managed to get the chicken out, it was an awkward process. For my next attempt (I like chicken), I used heatproof, waterproof barbecue gloves for more secure chicken extraction.
A large toaster oven that also works as an easy-to-clean rotisserie oven; earns our expert’s approval. While a yellow cake baked up moist and tender in the recommended time, it didn’t rise very high and the top crust was quite dark and unevenly colored. If dual functionality, space-saving design and ease of use are your top criteria for countertop appliances, then take a look at this combination mini oven and toaster. Toaster ovens by Hamilton Beach only take up a small amount of counter space and have a variety of uses.
We also like that the FlashXpress beeps when the cycle has finished and turns itself off automatically (as does our other pick, the Cuisinart). This model also has an oven light, which is rare for toaster ovens at this price level. However, for the best results, we’d still recommend waiting a couple of minutes for the unit to preheat. What’s convenient about 100% analog toaster ovens is that it’s very simple to adjust time and temperature during cooking. When the timer runs out, a bell will sound and the oven will shut off. Afterward, you can freely leave it plugged in and not worry about power consumption as it has no digital display.
While this might seem like a good idea, it often lead to drastically uneven cooking and burnt dishes. The kitchen was barely big enough for one person to maneuver and you had to access the oven at an angle. Michael Sullivan has been a staff writer on the kitchen team at Wirecutter since 2016.