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. We preferred this subtle sound to the ear-shattering beeps on some digital models, like the Wolf Gourmet Countertop Oven. We also looked at smart toaster ovens, such as the exorbitantly priced June Oven; it boasts an HD camera (which monitors hamilton beach toaster your food as it cooks), carbon fiber heating elements, and two convection fans. When we tested the June Oven in 2018, we didn’t feel the technology was helpful enough to justify the price, and the oven didn’t produce better results than our pick, the Cuisinart, which costs significantly less. We recognize that for some, a level of automation could prove helpful, so we’ll continue to test smart ovens.
Also, clean the heating element and the bottom of the unit before operating. An accumulation of crumbs and other food particles can burn and begin to smoke if not cleaned out regularly. Unlike our upgrade pick, the Cuisinart lacks a handy rack-position key on the oven door. However, when you open the oven door, you’ll find the rack position numbers printed on the side of the oven. But you’ll still have to consult the user manual to know where the racks should be placed for each cooking function, which is a little inconvenient.
They’re also not moved or banged around as much as slot toasters, making their electrical components less susceptible to failure. We like the Breville Air Fryer Pro’s sleek design and easy-to-navigate interface. The Breville also has a Phase Cook feature (similar to the Cuisinart’s Dual Cook Mode), which allows you to program two back-to-back cooking functions. Like the Cuisinart, the Breville’s rack glides out when you open the door so you don’t have to stick your hands deep into the oven cavity to retrieve your food. It comes with two oven racks so you can cook more food at once—an addition we appreciate with the Cuisinart too.
However, neither chicken wings or French fries came out with the kind of results we’d expect from fried food. The Hamilton Beach has manual knobs that adjust the temperature (from 150 °F to broil/toast mode), the function (broil, toast, and bake), and the 30-minute timer. The biggest drawback to this model is the toast shade setting on the timer dial. You have to turn the knob past the 10-minute mark and then reverse it to the desired shade setting.
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.
That’s why I’m excited about my new Hamilton Beach convection toaster oven. It makes it easy and fast to cook delicious food when we don’t want the hassle of using the oven. And it’s easy to use so that works for my growing family with busy teenagers. This model from Hamilton Beach is a great choice if you make toast often, heat up frozen pizzas, make breaded chicken for the kids, or perhaps only cook for one or two. If you’re looking for a second oven, it’s not the one to choose as it doesn’t do a good job on baked goods and can’t accommodate a whole chicken. To get the complete lowdown, here’s our full Hamilton Beach Air Fryer Sure Crisp Toaster Oven review.
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.
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It also comes with an air fry/dehydrate basket rack and a broiling rack that fits inside its enamel roasting pan. But we still prefer the Cuisinart’s ceramic pizza stone over the Breville’s nonstick pizza pan (though Breville does sell a pizza stone separately for around $30). To test how well the toaster ovens maintained a set temperature, we stuck an air probe thermometer into their cavities and monitored them for 20 minutes. 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. Some brands will advertise the material of their toaster oven’s heating elements, and generally, ovens using quartz or ceramic will cost more than those using Calrod.
You have to set the temperature and then assume the oven has reached temperature after a certain amount of time (the manual suggests setting a 10-minute timer after you turn the oven on). This required guesswork made using the oven feel quite clunky and unrefined. You should also know that as soon as the oven is preheated, the timer starts counting down. This can be annoying if you’re not quite ready to put your food in the oven, but we think it’s easy enough to adjust the timer once you’re ready.