I have a toaster oven graveyard out in my dumpster. I was buying name brands and subjecting them to only moderate use, yet we were going through the things faster than pet goldfish.For my most recent purchase I decided to pay for top quality. I based my purchase decision on my experience with other Cuisinart products and extensive reading of reviews from many sources. I've had my oven for about six months now, and I've been heartily pleased with my selection.
Besides durability, my chief concern in shopping had been size. It turns out this is even bigger than what I had before--both wide and tall. I can fit Corningware pans with the domed lids and knobs on top. Yet the outer dimensions are quite modest.
I wasn't sure I would use the convection feature, and in fact didn't get around to it until last week. It produced an excellent roast chicken, and I probably will use it more and more to make "weekend" dishes during the week. The additional cost for the convection over the regular was small, so it's definitely worth it even for occasional use.
The oven itself functions admirably. I love that it beeps when it's fully preheated, and the heat sensor really does keep it constantly and evenly heated to the correct temperature. I'm using this much more than my regular oven, especially during the summer.
The controls are easy to use and well thought-out as far as flow and intuitive functions. The only thing I'm not crazy about is setting the timer--one press for every minute, one for every hour. Gets to be a pain when you're setting 45 minutes. But, that is balanced out by the fact that the timer alarm keeps beeping until you come turn it off. No one little "ding" that you miss because you've stepping into the other room for a minute, leaving your food to burn.
Toasting is uneven as noted elsewhere, but this is typical of toaster ovens. Adjusting the rack can help. And honestly, it's really only an aesthetic problem. I do like that the toasting fuction includes a countdown timer so you know how long until breakfast!
My only real complaint lies with the broiler pan. Upon first inspection out of the box I was pleased with its apparent quality. But on the very first use it warped, and now buckles significantly on every use. Further, after the first washing I took it out of the drying rack only to discover rust along the bottom edge where water had pooled. I didn't even think it could rust, let alone do it on its first contact with water. I have to think my specific pan is lemon, as for them all to be like this would just be inexcusable in a product of such otherwise impeccable quality.
Also, the design team really fell apart when it came to the oven rack on which this pan sits. The rack--at least in one of its positions--actually wraps around the front corners of the pan. This means in order to take the pan out of the oven you have to lift it 1/2" vertically over the rack. Lift it and whatever's on it, plus whatever hot grease has accumulated, with nothing to grab it by. The other option is to take the rack out with it, which means tilting everything 30 degrees to get it past the stops. Not only is this bad design, it's dangerous.
But since I'm not using the pan every day, and since I love everything else about it, I'll still give it five stars.
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Product Description:
Why a convection oven you ask? The answer is simple: cook up to 30% faster and cook foods more evenly. A fan gently circulates the heat. The Exact Heat sensor maintains precise oven temperature for baking and broiling while the shade control memorizes up to seven brownness settings for toasting.
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