 This is the best Toaster/Convection Oven we have ever seen. Brand & Type: Krups Toaster Oven Price range: Medium-High End Rating: 9 Description: Sturdy, well-made toaster oven. Pros: Great design, even heat, convection feature, well made, large size. Cons: Larger and heavier than normal toaster ovens. Conclusion: Having tested and used this model from Krups for about 1 year we can say for sure that is has been useful and convenient. The convection feature has produced quicker cooking times than the oven for homemade biscuts and casseroles. Overall the quartz heating elements get hot quick and because it is pretty small it does not take long to pre-heat, or not at all in some cases. The buttons and general design are very clean. The controls are digital and are easy to use, with a cool blue backlight. You can set temperatures anywhere from 200 degrees F to about 450 degrees F. There are bake, convection bake, toast and broil options. All the buttons are clear and are easy to clean. The case is black metal and has a very sturdy feel, with nice handles that stay cool. It feels like it is fairly large, but the interior is probably a common size. For many people the first thing they do is to pre-heat the oven for cookies and they wait 30 minutes for it to heat-up. With this toaster oven it preheats almost automatically. This model fits a 8 x 8 inch square pyrex perfectly. Unless you need to use larger baking dishes there is really no reason not to use this oven for everything. The biggest thing to be aware of is that when you set the convection feature make sure you reduce the cooking time. There were a few times when a recipe calls for chocolate chip cookies set at 375 degress F for 10-12 minutes and we learned that when the convection feature is on make sure you go 6-8 minutes otherwise it burns pretty bad. For the year we have tested it the oven has performed very well. We would completely recommend this oven in any serious kitchen. It is not the kind for $30 that breaks or melts after a few months of use, it has a feel that it is made to last. Update: We recently went through the isles of Bed Bath & Beyond to look at some of the newest models and there has been some improvement in the quality convection toaster ovens they carry. Cuisinart has a couple nice sturdy models that should compete well with this Krups. They are about the same size and seem to be well made. This level of toaster oven can be quite pricey though, most of these models can go for over $200. But you just can't compare it to the $30 models.
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