4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Nicest looking; Sorry performer.
Date of Review: Mar 9, 2007
The Bottom Line: Looks better but on toasting, doesn't perform as well as cheaper models from B&D, Ham Beach, & others.
I wanted a nice looking, decent sized toaster oven mostly for making cheese toast, the occasional garlic toast, heating a bagel, baking the occasional non-nuked potato and maybe even for broiling a small steak or small baking tasks. I've had toaster ovens by Panasonic, Black & Decker, GE, and Hamilton Beach, if not more, and this is the nicest looking,worst performer by far, at least in the toasting category (I have not tried baking or broiling in the 16 months I've owned it).
As for toasting, it does so unevenly, half the top charred and the other half fairly decent. The setting dial is a pain - for anything under 5 minutes you turn the dial to 20 minutes and then twist it back to your best guess within a range for what level toast you want. I kept the box for a year - kept thinking I'd take advantage of my beloved Costco's liberal return policy but after so long felt I'd just kept it too long to return it in good conscience. I have Oster appliances that perform valiantly. This is not one of them. I only wish Panasonic hadn't quit making theirs. I had one and gave it away because it was so worn and beat up looking, but I guess since it's over 27 years old, it has a right to look a little worn. It's STILL working, without ever having needed a repair - and still works better than this particular Oster.
