Easy dials make it simple to choose bake, broil and toast settings. This oven also has convection technology using a top and bottom heating element and a built-in fan to distribute heat evenly for a uniform temperature. It also features a 30 minute timer with auto shutoff, so you know when your food is ready. Or you can choose an optional stay-on setting for food requiring more time.
The oven is extremely quiet as it operates with a dBA reading of 50.4; we virtually couldn’t hear it when it was running. The tray in the bottom of a Hamilton Beach toaster oven collects crumbs and other food debris to help prevent mess. You should empty this once every week or two depending on how frequently you use the appliance. If you want a simple toaster oven with a couple of nice conveniences, consider this compact model. The length of time the toaster oven is covered by its manufacturer for defects or repairs. Chances are your beloved air fryer doesn’t look as good or work as well as it used.
There are large countertop ovens that can fit a whole chicken and itty-bitty models best for bread and the odd frozen waffle or personal pizza. At $299 (and currently on sale for just $99), it’s less expensive than most smart ovens but has fewer features and cooking modes. From there, the smart oven automates the entire cooking hamilton beach process. I liked it and found it simple to operate, but would say it’s really only worth the money if you plan to buy a subscription for the Tovala meals it’s engineered to cook. Those run about $9 a pop and range from outstanding to just OK. Read CNET’s full review of an earlier-gen Tovala Smart Oven for a breakdown.
This toaster oven, however, gives you a good bang for your buck as far as functionality and performance. A black pan can be used for roasting, baking, or catching drippings when using the rotisserie. A smaller silver pan and a coordinating broiler rack can be used for roasting small foods as well as for baking. The top elements are at the very front and back of the oven, so I was surprised at how evenly my open-faced grilled cheese sandwiches cooked when I set the oven to broil. I was also pleased when I used the broil setting to sauce and broil some ribs I had cooked the previous day. The broiler isn’t super-fast or powerful, though, so it’s not the perfect replacement for the broiler in a standard oven.
With a cord length of 35 inches, I could place it almost anywhere in my kitchen. 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. I washed the racks and other pieces that would contact food, and I let the empty oven heat up to burn off manufacturing residue. Ace may modify or cancel the Beta Test Program at any time in its sole discretion, with or without notice to you.
It’s compact design lends itself to one-and-done, single-serving dishes. You should buy this toaster if you’re looking to save money and don’t need a large, multi-function oven. This toaster is designed to bake simple snacks, re-heat leftovers, warm side dishes, or cook small, pre-made frozen meals. It’s great for after-school goodies and would also be perfect for a college student or someone living the studio apartment life. We found the same heating map inconsistency when toasting bagels.
The FlashXpress also had the most accurately calibrated settings. The light setting delivered barely-there toasting while the dark setting produced proper hamilton beach toaster oven dark pieces of toast without burning them. The Breville and Balmuda also nailed the light and dark toast cycles when I put them through their paces.
Convection mode uses a fan to circulate air during baking or roasting.
With so many to choose from, there are bound to be some over- and under-performers in the category. I hauled in 10 models — and more bags of bread than I care to admit — in a mission to find the best toaster oven in 2023. We tested a slew of top models to find the fastest, most even-cooking toasters in town. Two cooking racks and a removable crumb tray that’s accessible from the front when the door is open complete the assembly. Since this is a large oven, you’ll be able to use much of your own cooking and baking gear, besides the pieces that came with the oven.