We preferred this subtle sound to the ear-shattering beeps on some digital models, like the Wolf Gourmet Countertop Oven. 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. However, it’s difficult to determine exactly where the dial should be placed for your preferred toast shade.
This countertop oven is available in several different variations. For example, some of these ovens have doors that roll back and open upward instead of downward, making it easier to take food in and out. We found the same heating map inconsistency when toasting bagels. The oven is only big enough to toast two full bagels at a time.
In fact, it received higher scores than some bigger, fancier models with double or triple the price tag. Coupled with a thirty minute timer, the toaster oven shuts itself hamilton beach toaster oven off at the end of its cooking time. While wiping it clean was easy, I’d suggest being careful to not slop water or food into the convection fan’s vent holes in the oven.
We also ran a bonus round to evaluate how well each oven could crisp up the skin on chicken thighs—a very telling test, as very few models excelled at this task. We stopped the baking after 27 minutes as the fries weren’t getting any more colors. This, nonetheless, was over our time limit of 25 minutes, so it hamilton beach was a 0/10. The Mueller could barely fit a 3 lb chicken for our Whole Roasted Chicken test. If you were to purchase this oven and use it to roast a whole chicken, we recommend cutting it open or chopping it into pieces beforehand. The toasting controls can be hard to figure out to avoid burning your toast.
You’ll need to reduce the toast shade setting for each subsequent batch you make to prevent the bread from burning. This convection toaster oven has a slightly more powerful fan for air frying than the Cuisinart, plus convenient markings on the door and the easiest-to-clean interior. It also has additional settings for proofing bread, slow cooking, and dehydrating.
It is nice for using for potatoes, garlic bread, or smaller entrees. I have never used it for pizza, but if you had a small one, you could probably make it fit. I use this in the summertime, especially, when I do not feel like using the large hamilton beach oven and want to just make something quick. The one downside that I have found is that the timer makes a dinging sound the entire time is counting down. You turn the dial to the time you want it to be and as is keeping track it ticks.