This study conducted tests on various toaster ovens to evaluate their toasting capabilities, speed, consistency, temperature accuracy, and cooking functions. The toasting capabilities were examined by comparing the evenness of toasting, as well as the calibration of the doneness settings such as light, medium, and dark toast. Most toaster ovens performed well in terms of evenness, with only a few exceptions. Speed was also considered, with the Panasonic FlashXpress being the fastest in toasting. Temperature consistency and accuracy were tested by measuring the fluctuation of temperature over 15 minutes at 300 degrees Fahrenheit, with most ovens performing fairly well in this aspect.
The cooking functions were tested by baking pizza bites and Jamaican meat pies in each toaster oven to evaluate their ability to cook more substantial foods evenly. The results showed that the Breville and Balmuda toaster ovens produced the best browning on the outer pastry shell of the meat pies. Toaster buttons and displays were also evaluated, with digital displays being favored for ease of programming. The Breville Mini Smart Oven and Panasonic FlashXpress were highlighted for their user-friendly displays. The ease of cleaning was assessed by scrubbing the baking sheets after cooking pizza bites, with some toaster ovens having easier-to-clean sheets than others.
Specifications of each toaster oven, including energy draw, settings, toast time, exterior dimensions, weight, key features, colors, and warranty, were outlined for comparison. The study emphasized the importance of considering the size of the toaster oven before making a purchase, as different models vary in size and capacity. Overall, the tested toaster ovens showed varying strengths and weaknesses in terms of performance, ease of use, and cleaning, providing consumers with valuable information to make an informed decision when choosing a toaster oven.
