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Re-activateCountertop appliances, such as toaster ovens and microwaves, eat up valuable space. But more and more manufacturers are promoting these appliances as second ovens that do more than just warm up food and pop popcorn.
Our latest tests of 23 toaster ovens found a few delivered on those promises, while others botched the basics. The Hamilton Beach Set & Forget 31230, $100, is the first toaster oven we've seen equipped with a built-in temperature probe designed to "serve perfectly cooked meat every time." Hamilton Beach also claims the toaster oven can cook a roast faster and with less energy than a standard electric oven or range.
With those claims in mind, and before anybody could say "roast-off," Consumer Reports Home and Yard editor Bob Markovich brought the Hamilton Beach toaster oven to one of our labs, and challenged Senior editor Daniel DiClerico and the $1,800 Samsung FTQ307NWGX electric range, a top scorer in our tests. This might not be Evander Holyfield taking on Sherman "The Tank" Williams, but the video is suspenseful to the end.
If you're considering a toaster oven, see our advice on choosing one and our Ratings (available to subscribers). And be sure to check out our report on microwaves—some aim to be second ovens—and our take on the NuWave oven, another countertop appliance that promises range-like performance.
—Kimberly Janeway
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