The Cuisinart has four slots for the racks, with metal hooks that pull out the middle rack when the door is opened. It was one of the fastest models to preheat to 350 °F, taking just over three minutes. Some toaster ovens (ones with convection technology, like our larger pick) can even work with air frying recipes, though that may require some adjustments.
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 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.
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 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.
Despite the lack of interior light, I was able to see through the glass to see my food cooking, although I would have appreciated a light for a better view. You’ll need to wait until 2023 to buy or install a new electric oven, when the rebates (which will vary by state) go into effect. Also, we found the middle shade setting for toasting (setting 4) to be a bit dark. We recommend using setting 3 for making perfect golden-brown toast. We also used an AI-powered analysis tool to scan 6,500-plus customer reviews across nine toaster ovens to identify what made some models better or worse than others.
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.
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. That’s because a toaster oven can fit more food at once, and in our experience it cooks more evenly. Generally, you need to increase the cooking time by several minutes and the temperature 25 to 50 degrees to compensate hamilton beach for the toaster oven’s larger cavity. If you’d like to air fry, but you just don’t have the space (or budget) for an air frying toaster oven, then a pod-shaped air fryer might be best for you. Their cooking baskets can also be a little safer or simpler to maneuver than a hot pan for children, new cooks, or those with mobility concerns.
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. Of course, since rotisserie is in this product’s name, I had to test out that function—on birds up to 5 pounds, which is the oven’s limit. The most difficult thing about cooking a rotisserie chicken is tying it and getting it balanced on the spit so it can spin properly. Once I accomplished that, the rotisserie worked well, and the chicken cooked evenly.