The r on our upgrade pick, the Breville Pro, also begins counting down once the oven is preheated. However, it will pause the timer when you open the oven door, whereas the Cuisinart doesn’t. Unlike the dial-centric designs typical of other toaster ovens, the Panasonic FlashXpress has membrane buttons.
We noted if there were initial use hamilton beach counter ovening instructions, and followed them if provided. We updated this article in December 2022 to ensure the information reflected current prices, features and more. Our original top-rated picks selected by the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab remain the same. Considering its versatility and roomy interior, I found the price was very reasonable. This could be an oven replacement for pretty much everything except the Thanksgiving turkey or other massive meals.
We’ve read some user reviews regarding food catching fire in this oven. Though we never experienced this in over two years of long-term testing, always be sure to place food at least an inch from the heating element. 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. The Panasonic was the only toaster we tested in this price range that could create an evenly golden brown chicken thigh with a crispy skin.
After years of testing, we’ve found that convection toaster ovens and air fryer toaster ovens are actually more versatile appliances than pod-shaped air fryers . That’s because a toaster oven can fit more food at once, and in our experience it cooks more evenly. Air frying and convection cooking both work similarly in the sense that they both use a fan to circulate hot air. Air fryers also typically have a larger fan that works quicker and is positioned on top of the heating elements versus a convection oven with a smaller fan located in the back or side of the oven.
For one thing, the shape is sleek and angular, meaning it will more easily into a corner and sit flush against your backsplash. And most of these combo machines are stainless steel making them very durable, while many solo air fryers are shiny plastic that can feel like it’s a bit of a cheaper design. Many of these models can fit a 12-inch pizza, four-plus slices of bread and a whole chicken. No more batch cooking necessary, which means you can get dinner on the table for your whole family faster. If you get a toaster oven with a convection setting, you can also use it for air frying . While the fan isn’t quite as powerful as the ones in most pod-shaped air fryers or air fryer toaster ovens, it produces similar results.