I like using a toaster oven as it's far more convenient and quicker than the regular oven, and I'm no cook.

But paying a little more attention to my meals, I found that then tended to be undercooked.

The set temperature varies from the actual temperature by several degrees, and not always by the same amount.

This is exacerbated by to factors:

1) when the temperature is set to over 390 °F, this setting will last for approximately 14 minutes, and then automatically lower to 380 °F. Using “Convection”, when the temperature is set to over 350 °F, it automatically turns off after 10 minutes from the start. In case of an insufficient baking, perform additional baking if necessary.

Wow.

2) I only recently discovered that many manufacturers have set the 'Ready' indicator for preheating to beep before the selected temperature is reached.

So when you put food in the oven, it's still going to take a few minutes to come to the desired operating temperature.

Wow x 2.

So now I have to 'trick' the little oven to get the temperature I want when I want it.

Too many little hoops to jump through, but the food is properly cooked.

I think there's a Breville in my future.

I've got manuals to a couple of models and I'll be reading them carefully.

---

I am that Masked Man.

All you can do, is all you can do.

There’s trouble — it's time to play the sound of my people.

Your boos mean nothing to me, I've seen what you cheer for.

Insisting on your rights without acknowledging your responsibilities isn’t freedom, it’s adolescence.

I've been to the edge of the map, and there be monsters.

We are a government of laws, not men.

Everybody counts or nobody counts.

When a good man is hurt,
all who would be called good
must suffer with him.

You and I have memories longer than the road that stretches out ahead.

There is no safety for honest men except
by believing all possible evil of evil men.

We don’t do focus groups. They just ensure that you don’t offend anyone, and produce bland inoffensive products. —Sir Jonathan Ive

An armed society is a polite society.
And hope is a lousy defense.

You make me pull, I'll put you down.

I *love* SIGs. It's Glocks I hate.

Toaster oven temps are quite wide ranging relative to the stated temp. On my oven, at least.

---

Hurts like a bastid...

Your observations suggest to me why some food products state specify not to use a toaster oven in their time and temperature cooking directions.

why some food products state specify not to use a toaster oven in their time and temperature cooking directions.


Indeed.

But I like to live near the edge.

A better toaster oven is farther from that edge.

America's Test Kitchen did a test on several, and unfortunately, they didn't name any bad actors, but they did name a Brivelle model is the best of them, and it's still in production.

It's somewhere around $270, but is reliable.

It's been long known that many manufactures don't really put much effort in to these, and that's not much different than a lot of other products.

Using an oven thermometer has worked out well, but a better oven is enticing.

---

I am that Masked Man.

All you can do, is all you can do.

There’s trouble — it's time to play the sound of my people.

Your boos mean nothing to me, I've seen what you cheer for.

Insisting on your rights without acknowledging your responsibilities isn’t freedom, it’s adolescence.

I've been to the edge of the map, and there be monsters.

We are a government of laws, not men.

Everybody counts or nobody counts.

When a good man is hurt,
all who would be called good
must suffer with him.

You and I have memories longer than the road that stretches out ahead.

There is no safety for honest men except
by believing all possible evil of evil men.

We don’t do focus groups. They just ensure that you don’t offend anyone, and produce bland inoffensive products. —Sir Jonathan Ive

An armed society is a polite society.
And hope is a lousy defense.

You make me pull, I'll put you down.

I *love* SIGs. It's Glocks I hate.

$270 is pretty expensive for a convection oven IMHO.

For $235, you can get a 1.5 cubic foot TOSHIBA 3-in-1 EC042A5C-BS Countertop Microwave Oven, Smart Sensor, Convection oven from Amazon. I’ve used this oven for a few years and it works great. The convection oven function takes longer to warmup than a typical standalone convection, but the display on the oven gives you an accurate temp and you can adjust your cooking time accordingly.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/20/2022 09:03AM by Forrest.

Forrest,

$250 to $400 is the going rate for a convection oven from a brand like Breville. You can get a countertop convection oven for less $$$ easily. Will it perform as well as one of the better models from Breville, Ninja and similar brands? Probably not.

Personally, the cooking tech in a countertop convection oven and a microwave oven differ enough that I'd be very leery of purchasing a combination unit. But, if it works for you, then that's solid.

Robert

Robert,
Thanks for the clarification. I was thinking toaster oven = convection oven. Toaster ovens were in the $50-$100 range for many years.

Convection microwave ovens are not new technology - they've been making them since the 80's.

Forrest,

You can get a toaster oven that is just a toaster oven, a toaster oven broiler, a convection toaster oven, etc. They're common and have been around for decades though the convection toaster oven was less common back in the day. Now they're the standard for toaster ovens. These machines are in the $50-$100.

Countertop ovens like a Breville Smart Oven are a different class of machine entirely. They're designed to be a smaller scale replacement for a regular oven. Think larger and more capable than a common toaster oven. The only time our Breville can't handle an oven job is when the size of the item I'm cooking won't fit in it. Otherwise, it is just as capable as our regular gas range.

Robert

where can I find an Oven 101 crash course to understand the difference between various models discussed here? Thanks

Quote
RAMd®d
America's Test Kitchen did a test on several, and unfortunately, they didn't name any bad actors, but they did name a Brivelle model is the best of them, and it's still in production.

It's somewhere around $270, but is reliable.

I have that Breville toaster oven -- undercooked food has not been a problem with it.

---

It is what it is.

N-OS,

I have the original Breville Smart Oven. Mine is from 2010 or so. Rock solid reliable. Just like the one my parents have and the models both of my brothers have. The temps are accurate and none of them undercook food. Mine cooks so well I've had to adjust recipes to account for it. My operations manager has one of the higher end Brevilles and he's is thrilled with it. In his words, "It's frigign' awesome!"

My office has a slightly smaller but similar Cuisinart countertop oven. I prefer the Breville - likely since I'm accustomed to it - but Cuisinart was a highly rated model and it works very well.

Robert



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/20/2022 02:15PM by Robert M.

I agree with Robert M. The Breville oven is not even remotely in the same class as the many cheap toaster oven brands that you can buy at Target or wherever. It compares more to our regular oven than any other toaster oven I've ever tried.

---

"In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion." (1987) -- Carl Sagan

That's three pointed recommendations for a product I am already considering, from three very reputable sources.

Resistance may be futile.

---

I am that Masked Man.

All you can do, is all you can do.

There’s trouble — it's time to play the sound of my people.

Your boos mean nothing to me, I've seen what you cheer for.

Insisting on your rights without acknowledging your responsibilities isn’t freedom, it’s adolescence.

I've been to the edge of the map, and there be monsters.

We are a government of laws, not men.

Everybody counts or nobody counts.

When a good man is hurt,
all who would be called good
must suffer with him.

You and I have memories longer than the road that stretches out ahead.

There is no safety for honest men except
by believing all possible evil of evil men.

We don’t do focus groups. They just ensure that you don’t offend anyone, and produce bland inoffensive products. —Sir Jonathan Ive

An armed society is a polite society.
And hope is a lousy defense.

You make me pull, I'll put you down.

I *love* SIGs. It's Glocks I hate.

RAM,

I personally prefer the size of the standard Breville Smart Oven or a bit larger. It allows for more versatility since it can accommodate standard-sized 1/4 sheet pans and similar sized cookware. We put a near 12" diameter pizza pan with a 10" diameter pizza in ours. No problems. The smaller versions of the Breville and similar caliber smart ovens, while still very good, can't handle cookware of that size.

Definitely factor in at least one or two 1/4 sheet pans and similar sized cookware as a part of the investment in a smart oven. You'll find yourself using them all the time. We use our Commercial II 1/4" sheet pan every couple of days.

More recently, we bumped across Curtis Stone Dura-Bake pans of various sizes on HSN. Can't say I like giving a nod to products pushed by a celebrity chef but, to give credit where credit is due, they're very good. Sturdy and great non-stick.

These should fit in a standard Breville Smart Oven:

[www.hsn.com]

Not the smaller smart oven but the standard one.

Robert

The Toshiba convection microwave I mentioned above has a 13.6 inch turntable. It’s a good size oven that will cook everything I need except the Thanksgiving turkey.