52 Things We 💙: Cuisinart toaster oven

Wirecutter picks that have withstood the test of time Sarah MacReading The Cuisinart [Chef’s Convection Toaster Oven]( is a versatile, powerful mini oven disguised as a toaster. by Michael Sullivan The [Cuisinart Chef’s Convection Toaster Oven]( is not your grandma’s toaster oven. Unlike a one-trick slot toaster, it offers nearly all of the capabilities of a full-size oven. It can evenly toast up to nine slices of bread, bake a 13-inch pizza, or roast a whole chicken, making it a great alternative to firing up your full-size oven in warmer months. The Cuisinart has come to my rescue more times than I can recall. It was my main oven for nearly four months while my apartment building underwent emergency gas-line repairs. I used it to cook everything from salmon and chicken to cookies and cakes. I even used it to prepare an entire Thanksgiving meal after the oven in the Wirecutter test kitchen suddenly went kaput the morning of a photo shoot. The Cuisinart can do everything an air fryer promises to do and more. The Cuisinart has remained our top toaster oven since 2015, and it can do everything an [air fryer]( promises to do and more. The heating elements preheat quickly, and its two-speed convection fan makes snacks crispy. The Cuisinart is still the only toaster oven we’ve tested that includes a ceramic pizza stone—most other models include only a flimsy metal pan. The single dial control on the Cuisinart functions as a combined start/stop button and timer. Though the Cuisinart’s dial is not as intuitive as those on some other models we’ve tested, it’s easy to get the hang of after a few uses. The Cuisinart also comes with a three-year limited warranty, while most similarly priced competitors include only one-year warranties. Wirecutter is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. [Learn more](. How it started Cuisinart began in 1971, when Carl and Shirley Sontheimer decided to improve upon the French Robot Coupe (a commercial food processor) and adapt it for American home cooks. The company is now synonymous with the home food processor, which gained almost immediate acclaim from Julia Child, among other celebrity chefs. Though Cuisinart is best known for its food processor, it has branched out, and we recommend Cuisinart’s [electric kettle]( [two-slot toaster]( and [roasting pan]( of surprisingly good quality considering how different they are from the chopping machine that made them famous. When to buy As with a lot of medium and small kitchen appliances, we’ve seen decent sales on this toaster oven around Prime Day and Black Friday. But there has been a recent spike in price for the Cuisinart, so it’s worth buying if you see it priced anywhere near $200. The numbers $200 Average street price, but recently between $230 and $280 $150 Best price we’ve ever seen Make it last Empty the crumb tray often, and clean any grease splatters inside the oven, following the manufacturer’s instructions. This will prevent gunk from building up inside the oven, which could potentially start smoking and stinking up your kitchen. Copyright © 2020 Wirecutter, Inc., all rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you signed up for our newsletters. To stop receiving all our emails, [unsubscribe](. Our mailing address is: Wirecutter, Inc. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018‌ [View this email in your browser]( [Privacy Policy]( | [Contact Us]( | [Change your email](