We also offer expert advice on what to look for when shopping for a countertop microwave at the end of this guide. Some toaster ovens, like our budget pick, are equipped with only two heating elements. 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 distribute heat evenly. The more heating elements a toaster oven has, the bigger and more expensive it will be.
Small toaster ovens are much lighter and easier to tuck away in a cupboard. We used an AI-powered tool to scan more than 6,500 customer reviews across nine toaster ovens to learn what people liked and disliked. It not only features presets for popcorn, potatoes, frozen vegetables and more, but it also allows you to program up to three functions you use most. If you are in the market for a new Hamilton Beach brand microwave glass turntable plate or tray, you have come to the right place. We carry a full selection of glass trays for most Hamilton Beach models.
The Balmuda has other design flaws and twee impracticalities (the easy-to-lose steam cup), and ultimately, we found it to be just a snazzy-looking prototype at best. The FlashXpress’s one annoying quirk is that you can’t add time or change the temperature midway through a preset cooking cycle . This means you have to turn the Panasonic off and back on again to adjust it. That said, the controls are clearly labeled and straightforward to use, so we’re willing to overlook this drawback. We’d also prefer dial controls over the FlashXpress’s blister-push buttons, but they’re perfectly usable and not as glitchy or mushy as others we tested. Keep in mind that a large toaster oven can be pretty heavy and is more cumbersome to move; this means it’s more likely to live on your counter.
When cleaning the panel, leave the microwave door open to prevent it from accidentally turning on. In standby mode, press START/+30 SEC pad repeatedly to enter cooking time. All food and containers of food are always placed on the glass tray for cooking.
The FlashXpress made crispy-yet-melty Bagel Bites that were more consistently browned from one edge of the pan to the other. Some ovens’ results weren’t dark enough; frigidaire gallery dishwasher others were overdone or unevenly cooked. This was also one of the only models in this price range that could bake chicken thighs with a golden brown, crispy skin.