It has a coating but is not completely non-stick so you may need to watch out for some stubborn stains after a hefty roast. Our measurements of the oven’s footprint were 14.96″ x 11.61″ x 8.86″ which pretty much coincided with the manufacturer’s 14.84″ x 11.85″ x 8.86″. However, the weight of the oven by itself was already 9 lbs whereas the label said the entire box was 7.63 lbs. The oven has a cool-touch door handle and back buffers to prevent it from being too close to the wall. The meat was acceptable in terms of texture and juiciness, but didn’t stand out as remarkable.
We felt that the larger size would save on heating up the big oven for some smaller side dishes. While the timer is loud, you get used to it like everything else and it’s really nice to have a built-in timer aside from our oven timer. This oven is not “intuitive”; it definitely takes some getting used to.
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. As in other toaster oven air fryers, a shallow basket is provided for air frying food in a single layer. We were very happy with the browning and crisping on breaded chicken breasts.
But fewer heating elements aren’t necessarily an indication of poor toasting performance. If the oven cavity is small, two elements are enough to regulate heat. That said, avoid larger toaster ovens with only a couple of elements because they won’t be able to hamilton beach distribute heat evenly. The more heating elements a toaster oven has, the bigger and more expensive it will be. If you need a slightly smaller machine, we think you’ll be happier with the Cuisinart—it performed just as well and it’s also more affordable.
For instance, our budget pick, the Hamilton Beach, has the same quartz elements as the Cuisinart Chef’s Convection Toaster Oven, which costs more than $200. And the Wolf Gourmet Countertop Oven we tested, which normally costs over $700, uses Calrod hamilton beach toaster oven elements, which are typically found in cheaper models. So, it’s not always worth paying more for certain elements, as performance varies with every oven. Generous size can hold 6 slices of toast, a 9 x 11-inch baking pan, or even a 12-inch pizza.
It was the Hamilton Beach Toastation, a combination mini-oven and toaster. What made the Toastation unique is that it had a slot on top like a standard toaster but it was also a small oven that could bake or broil. It was easy to use, cooked evenly and quickly, saved on precious countertop space and it was a cute red color, so it added a little extra personality to my kitchen. Then one day that switch that flipped it from oven to toaster broke. The Toastation had a long life and served us well, so I didn’t feel like it owed me anything. However, they did have a new version of a mini-oven and toaster combo.
The first batch of toast was crispy on the outside while still soft and moist on the inside, so we gave it an 8/10 for taste. Our head chef, Tuyet Pham, said it would go very well with everything including sandwiches, soup, omelets, and eggs benedict. Also keep in mind, some products may only be available in our stores, not online. A. Toaster ovens are no less safe than regular ovens, especially when you buy from a reputable manufacturer like Hamilton Beach. Of course, you should always read the manual before use and adhere to any safety guidelines contained within. Along with our in-house experts, our team analyzes thousands of product reviews from the most trusted websites.
However, the back-left side of the oven routinely toasted a little lighter than the rest of the oven. The roll-top feature allows the user to access items by reaching down to them, making it much easier to adjust or remove food without bumping into the oven or burning your hands. Many toaster ovens have very little space between the racks and the interior sides of the oven, making it challenging to adjust or remove food. We also liked the fact that the Easy Reach’s door is completely clear, which allowed us to monitor all of our food in one glance. We also love that the entire door can be removed for easy cleaning. The Balmuda’s controls and capacity are also limited compared to our top picks.