Toaster ovens: the downsides, first

Amazon's review summary says durability gets mixed reviews, with some units breaking down after a few years. One 1-star Walmart reviewer says the oven stopped working after 6 months.

Serious Eats' only dislikes were that it is quite large for a countertop appliance and that the fan is loud.

In Wirecutter's test, Bagel Bites placed between the door and the front of the rack came out noticeably paler than those in the middle and back. Amazon's summary calls heat output mixed, with some owners reporting uneven heating, and value for money is also mixed.

Wirecutter appreciated its compact size but says it didn't do well in many of its tests. Serious Eats, by contrast, found it heats evenly and handles toast to baked dishes reliably.

Amazon's summary says temperature control gets mixed feedback, with some owners reporting it runs about 25°F off.

Serious Eats notes the glass door isn't framed with steel like larger Breville models, leaving hot edges exposed, and there is no interior light. Value for money is mixed on Amazon.

Walmart's lowest-rated reviews (many syndicated from cuisinart.com) describe an 'ErL' error after 3 weeks, door glass shattering, doors that don't close properly, and units dying just after the warranty. Walmart's AI summary lists a loose door as a con, and Amazon's summary says some owners find it overpriced for its lifespan.

Serious Eats says it couldn't make a simple piece of toast without burning it. Wirecutter found it the most even toaster, but says the middle shade setting (4) runs a bit dark and recommends setting 3.

Wirecutter says one knob controlling time, temperature and toast shade isn't intuitive, the timer starts as soon as preheating ends, and there is no rack-position key on the door. Under warranty Cuisinart replaces the unit rather than repairing it.

Wirecutter says it can't fit a 13-inch pizza and suits only a handful of frozen snacks or a few chicken thighs. Size is mixed on Amazon (some say it is smaller than expected), and several Walmart 1-star reviews call it too small.

Wirecutter: you can't add time or change temperature mid-preset, and Celsius-based steps allow 390°F but not 400°F. Serious Eats found the interface limiting, with a 25-minute maximum cook time and no countdown timer.

Amazon's summary says durability is mixed, with some units breaking after about 3 years. Walmart low-star reviews mention a door that doesn't close fully and a unit that disappointed after 5 months.

Amazon's summary says heat output is problematic, with the lower element not heating evenly and food not cooking properly. Wirecutter found it runs cool and says to add about 25°F when baking.

Amazon's summary says customers report safety concerns, including flames coming out of the oven and burnt hands, and units breaking within a year.

Wirecutter says the toast-shade setting on the timer dial is hard to judge, you must lower it for back-to-back batches, there is no preheat alert, and the door lacks a strong spring, so it can fall open.

Good Housekeeping says it is shorter than other toaster ovens and can't quite fit a whole chicken. Serious Eats notes there are only top and bottom rack positions. Size is a mixed aspect on Amazon.

Serious Eats found the small chamber tricky to clean well. Cleaning is mixed in Amazon's summary, and a Walmart 1-star review says it cannot be cleaned properly.

Serious Eats says food got too dark wherever it was placed and the side-handle door was awkward. Walmart low-star reviews describe a pan warping on first use, a unit quitting within a month, and breakers tripping.

Wirecutter says it didn't cook as evenly as the Breville and Cuisinart models, and its fish sticks weren't as crispy as the Breville's.

Wirecutter found the screen less intuitive and harder to read, says you must press start after preheating, and found the oven reported it was preheated about two minutes before it actually reached 350°F.

Wirecutter's rotisserie spit was hard to assemble and produced a pale, unevenly roasted chicken. Low-star reviews on the Walmart listing Wirecutter links to describe heating elements or whole units quitting within months, and Walmart's AI summary says the door doesn't open fully.

Good Housekeeping says the strong fan and extra element may be too powerful for delicate foods. Several Walmart 1-star reviews say it burns nearly everything or burns toast on light, and Amazon owners mention temperature inconsistencies. Serious Eats found Cuisinart's top-fan digital sibling ran aggressively hot.

Good Housekeeping says you can't dial in a precise time or temperature. A Walmart 1-star reviewer calls the timer logic baffling.

Good Housekeeping found the oven gets dirty quickly from splatter, food sticks to the basket, and accessories must be hand-washed. Amazon shoppers are split, with some calling it very hard to clean.