Question:

I’m really sort of scared to use this thing without some sort of idea of how it all works and what to expect in terms of cooking time and such.

What do you recommend?

Answer: Don’t let a convection oven intimidate you.

You really don’t have to rely on cooking times as much as some recipes would lead you to believe.

Alton Brown, the host of Good Eats and author of several cooking books, is wary of any recipe that doesn’t use “time” as a just a general guideline or suggestion.

The real way to cook is to ensure that whatever you are cooking achieves the appropriate temperature so that there isn’t trouble after consuming (food-borne illnesses).

The same cooking temperatures still apply with a convection oven, and the use of a good meat thermometer (with an alarm) will save you a lot of guesswork and make you look like a total pro in the kitchen.

Chicken should be cooked to 180 degrees F (82 degrees Celsius).

Turkey is the same as chicken at 180 degrees F (82 degrees Celsius).

Boneless Turkey Roast can be cooked to a lower temp (since you don’t have to worry about the bone holding a lower temp)… like 170 degrees F (77 degrees Celsius).

Cured Pork should be cooked to 160 degrees F (71 degrees Celsius).

Fresh Pork can be cooked to 160 degrees F (71 degrees Celsius) for a “medium” cooking or to 170 degrees F (77 degrees Celsius) for “well-done” temperature.

Anything else, such as beef, veal, lamb, etc can typically be cooked to preference.  Remember though, don’t rely so much on cook times… as the final temperature of the meat/meal is the final judge.

One important thing to remember is that even conventional ovens do not always accurately gauge temperature, and can be inaccurate by up to 20 degrees in either direction.  In other words, you may think that you are cooking a roast at 450 degrees F because that’s what the oven is set to… but your oven is really cooking it at 420 degrees F.  That’s why we always use a meat thermometer and use cooking times as a rough estimate.

But, if you absolutely must use cooking times for things such as bread or vegetables or something else that’s not easily measured with a meat thermometer, here is a handy reference that we have found to be fairly accurate in most cases:  http://www.convection-calculator.com/

Enjoy!

Question:

I really don’t want anything too expensive, but I would like for it to be good and reliable.  I don’t like the idea of using something for a year and then sending off to a landfill.

Do you have any recommendations for me?

Answer: As much as we hate to play favorites around here, we love helping people pick out the right countertop convection oven for their needs.

Based on what your say your needs and wants are, here is what we recommend…

I think that you would be best matched with the Cuisinart Convection Toaster Oven… specifically the TOB-195.

You say that you want something that is easy to use, and the Cuisinart Convection Toaster Oven is extremely easy to use.  The simplicity of this toaster oven is amazing.

You say that you want something that is built to last… and this particular toaster oven comes with a whopping 3-year warranty, which is the best toaster oven in terms of reliability.

Does this mean that the toaster oven won’t break for 3 years?  No, but manufacturers typically don’t put a three year warranty on something that they don’t expect to last for at least 3 years.  Manufacturers lose money on items when they break within the warranty period, so the longer the warranty period means that the manufacturer has built this toaster oven to exceed 3 years.

However, please don’t take this to mean that anything that doesn’t have a 3 year warranty is junk, because that’s not the case.  We have had our Breville Convection Oven for almost 3 years and it’s been working great this entire time, with absolutely no hiccups whatsoever.  It’s our personal favorite, but it’s a little more expensive due to the advanced features and the extra interior space that it provides.

Which leads me to the only complaint we have heard about the Cuisinart Convection Toaster Oven, and that is interior cooking space.  It only holds about 4 pieces of bread when laid flat in the oven, which may give you some idea of how much space this toaster oven provides.  But, it does offer the inexpensive price you were looking for, simplicity and durability… so, it seems to be the best toaster oven for your needs.

Retail Price: $229.99

Best Price: Click Here to See Lowest Price

Availability:  Click Here to Check Availability

Interior Size: 0.60 Cubic Feet

Size: 16.5 in x 14.5 in x 10.75 in

Power (Watts): 1800 Watts

Warranty: 1 Year

Many people are under the impression that toaster ovens are so “80s”, which couldn’t be further from the truth.

Just like anything else, these new convection toaster ovens have taken advantage of rapidly-advancing technology; and they are now easier to use and more efficient than ever.

On the “chopping block” this week is the Breville BOV650XL Four Slice Smart Oven with Element IQ. This is the medium-sized convection toaster oven (sort of the little brother to the previously-reviewed Breville BOV800XL) in the Breville line, and each Breville BOV650XL comes with…

• A roomy .6 cubic foot interior cooking space
• Breville’s patented “Element IQ Technology” for easy temperature control
• 8 pre-set cooking functions to include Toast, Bagel, Bake, Reheat, Pizza, Broil, Cookies, and Roast
• A tempered see-thru front glass door and three adjustable cooking racks
• An easy to read LCD backlit display
• An included 10 x 10 inch enamel baking pan as well as a 10 x 10 inch enamel broiling rack
• A compact design that measures 16-1/2 by 14-1/4 by 10 inches
• A 1 year limited factory warranty

The Breville BOV650XL – Big Enough for Your Needs?

With a multitude of convection toaster ovens on the market to choose from, the Breville BOV650XL is one of the easiest to use we have tested.

We found ours online for less than $200, and the shipping was included in the sales price. It shipped fast, and we received our Breville BOV650XL convection oven  in three days.

Once unpacked, we liked the solid design; and while there is enough interior space to handle whatever we wanted to bake in it, the compact design insured that this convection toaster oven did not take over our countertop.

It has enough interior room to accommodate four slices of bread or an entire 12 inch pizza at one time; and the push button and turn knobs on the front of the oven make it easy to program.

The Breville BOV650XL Is Simple to Operate

This toaster oven takes the guesswork out the most common baking tasks; and the pre-programmed settings make it brainless to use for cooking pizza or toasting your bagels.

The Element IQ technology means that the power adjustments on this toaster oven can be completely dialed in by the user. The Element IQ feature is as simple to use as dimmer switch; you can adjust the power setting up or down with a twist of a front knob.

And the Element IQ adjusts the power so that it is as efficient as possible. For every one of the eight pre-sets included with the Breville BOV650XL, the oven automatically adjusts the cooking time and sets the amount of power needed for each setting.

And while the pre-programmed cooking settings are pre-set at the factory and make it almost impossible to mess up as both the time and temperature are set; you can individually adjust all of the pre-sets to your particular tastes.

And once you do, the smart Element IQ technology in this convection toaster oven will remember those pre-set adjustments until you decide to change them again.

It has a bright, backlit LED display that is large enough to read from across the room, and it is color coded to tell you exactly where it is in the cooking cycle.

It displays orange to tell you that it is pre-heating and cooking, and turns blue once the cooking cycle is completed.

The Breville BOV650XL – Additional Features

Also included with every Breville BOV650XL is an additional 10 inch by 10 inch enamel baking pan and a 10 inch x 10 inch enamel broiling rack.

The crumb tray is easily accessible from the front, and the interior is coated with a non-stick surface finish so that clean up is a snap.

While not the largest of convection toaster ovens, it is ideal for those smaller jobs that you used to use your regular oven for.

Easy to use, easy to clean, fast heating, a small, compact design…

The Breville BOV650XL is a handy, efficient option for those smaller, routine baking and toasting jobs that you usually had to use your oven for.

Manufacturer:

Retail Price: $159.99

Best Price: Click Here to See Lowest Price

Availability:  Click Here to Check Availability

Interior Size: 0.60 Cubic Feet

Exterior Size: 20.1 in x 16.2 in x 11.3 in

Power (Watts): 1440 Watts

Warranty: 1 Year

You have a lot of different choices when it comes to a countertop convection oven; so why not stick with a brand and a name that you know and trust?

KitchenAid has been making quality kitchen appliances for years, and the new KitchenAid Convection Oven is another quality addition to the KitchenAid product line.

Every KitchenAid Countertop Convection Oven comes complete with…

• A convection bake, broil, and warm/reheat capapbility
• An easy to clean, non stick interior
• Two included adjustable oven racks
• An included enameled broiler pan
• A full width easy access crumb tray
• A 60 minute timer
• A space saving design measuring 20 inches by 16 inches by 11 inches high

The KitchenAid KCO223CU Convection Countertop Oven – Plenty of Interior Space

We ordered the KitchenAid Convection Oven online and paid less than $130; and that price included the shipping.

It arrived in two days, and was ready to go to work right after unpacking.

While this KitchenAid countertop oven is compact enough to fit unnoticed in even the most cluttered of kitchen countertops, there is more than enough room in this unit to bake or toast whatever you’d like.

It is spacious enough to accommodate two full 12 inch pizzas, a five pound chicken, a good quantity of split chicken breasts, or even two loaves of bread along with fresh muffins.

It preheats in half the time of a regular oven, and with a high range of 450 degrees, it has more than enough power to bake fries, fish patties or other foods that need 400 degrees or higher.

And the convection feature on this countertop oven makes this a breeze to use.

Not only does the heated air inside the oven get circulated by the low power interior fans to insure even cooking for all of your baking (particularly cookies); but it finishes the job about one third faster than your regular oven.

The included 60 minute timer is handy for set and forget baking, and this countertop oven is ideal for reheating leftovers and cold pizza.

The KitchenAid Counterop Convection Oven – Quality Construction & Easy to Use

We really liked the easy to use front time and temperature controls on this model. We tested the temperature settings with an independent digital thermometer, and found a variance of less than five degrees over forty five minutes.

So not only does the KitchenAid Convection Countertop oven get up to temperature faster than our regular oven; but once at the desired temperature, it keeps it there over a prolonged bake.

And one other feature we noticed on this countertop oven that was a problem with other ovens…. This KitchenAid Countertop actually turns itself off when the baking job is complete.

One of our previous countertop ovens was supposed to have this feature, and it melted its own power cord on time when it didn’t turn itself off.

Another thing we liked about the KitchenAid KCO223CU Countertop Oven was the front accessible full width crumb pan for easy removal and cleaning.

Several other models we have tested had the crumb tray in the back, and maneuvering a countertop oven in an already crowded kitchen was an inconvenience.

Plus the KichenAid has a non stick interior, and the two included oven racks are easily removed so clean up is a piece of cake.

The KitchenAid Convection Oven – A Few Negatives to Consider

They call this a “toaster” oven, but the last thing I would make in it is toast.

Using the KitchenAid Countertop Convection Oven as a toaster is almost impossible; we can never get the temperature right.

Without constant attention, we continually burned the toast… Thankfully, making toast was not the reason we bought this oven in the first place.

One other caveat; this countertop oven can get warm to the touch on the exterior while in operation for over 45 minutes. Not super hot, but uncomfortably warm; which may be something to consider depending on where in your kitchen you place this oven.  This means that you should not place anything flammable or “melt-able” on top of the KitchenAid Convection Oven (paper towels, hand towels, bag of sliced bread, etc).

But the KitchenAid Convection Countertop Oven is a great value for the price; and it really excels at pizza, banana bread, cookies and muffins.

The broiler is great for top browning (French dip and sub sandwiches come out great under the broiler), it is extremely easy to use, a snap to clean, and cuts your actual cooking time by as much as a third.

Plus, the KitchenAid name and quality is included with this countertop convection oven at no additional charge.

Manufacturer: Cuisinart

Retail Price: $325.00

Best Price: Click Here to See Lowest Price

Availability:  Click Here to Check Availability

Interior Size: 0.53 Cubic Feet

Size: 16 in x 17.75 in x 9.65 in

Power (Watts): 1500 Watts

Warranty: 3 Year

The Cuisinart name is a byword when it comes to quality kitchen appliances; and the Cuisinart line of toaster/convection countertop ovens are built with the same high quality and attention to detail as every other Cuisinart kitchen product.

Under review this week is the Cuisinart TOB-195 Exact Heat Toaster Oven & Broiler; and every Cuisinart TOB-195 has…

• A combination convection/toaster oven/broiler with a 0.6-cubic-foot capacity
• Pre-set factory settings for easy cooking with pizza, bake, broil, toast, convection, bagel, reheat, and defrost buttons
• Shade control with heat sensor to maintain a precise interior temperature
• Electronic touchpad controls
• Both a clock and an oven timer
• An easy-to-clean, non stick interior
• A compact design that measures 16 by 17-3/4 by 9-5/8 inches
• A 3-year factory limited warranty

We ordered ours online for less than $200, which was a steal considering the retail price on this countertop convection oven is over $300… and the shipping was included in the purchase price.

It arrived in four days, and outside of unpacking and wiping down the interior and the racks, it was ready for immediate use.

This Cuisinart Convection Toaster Oven Looks as Good As It Cooks

The exterior stainless design with brushed chrome accents looks great on any countertop, and it does an exceptional job at baking and toasting.

And the title of “toaster oven” is actually a misnomer; this Cuisinart works just as well (if not better) than your regular oven… It just does the job in a smaller, space saving design.

Coming in at 16 by 18 by 9.5 inches, this Cuisinart convection toaster oven is compact enough to fit on any countertop; and yet it has more than enough room for your needs. The interior cooking space is 0.6 cubic feet, and can accommodate a whole chicken, or broiling enough fish for the entire family, or even fit an entire 12 inch pizza.

The Cuisinart TOB-195 Toaster Oven & Broiler Is A Breeze to Use

One of the space saving designs on this countertop oven is the state of the art electronic touch pad control panel mounted on the bottom of the unit.

It is well labeled, easy to use, and the digital time and temperature settings are a must to have on any countertop oven.

It also comes with factory pre-sets so baking, pizza, bagels, reheating, and defrosting are available at a touch of a button; any guesswork or fumbling through the manual to find the right time and temperature settings are eliminated completely.

And the convection oven works exceptionally well; the fans kick on and circulate the heated air throughout the over to insure even cooking in 33% less time than your regular oven.

Plus, they are whisper quiet…. This convection oven makes no more noise while operating than my refrigerator does in the background.

It gets up to temperature very quickly (no more waiting around for your oven to pre-heat), and the Cuisinart even shade control with “exact heat” sensor makes certain that the oven temperature remains exactly where you set it.

And with its brushed chrome interior, removable trays, and tempered glass see thru front door, clean up is a snap.

The Cuisinart TOB-195 Toaster Oven – A Few Minor Inconveniences

Like most Cuisinart products, this is a superior design for a countertop oven; but why did they put access to the crumb tray in the back?

Rotating the oven on the countertop to access the crumb tray is a minor nuisance; and an interior light with this unit would have been nice as well since our kitchen is not the brightest lit working area of the house.

But the Cuisinart TOB-195 Toaster Oven is a superior countertop convection oven. It looks great on the counter, is extremely easy to use with the push button controls and factory pre-sets, and pizza, bread, and muffins come out nicely browned and crisp.

It gets up to temperature much faster than a regular oven, and is more cost efficient for smaller meals and snacks than using the regular oven.

While a little more expensive than other models available, it is definitely worth it for the Cuisinart name, as well as superior baking capabilities in a countertop toaster oven and broiler.

Retail Price: $99.99

Best Price: Click Here to See Lowest Price

Availability:  Click Here to Check Availability

Interior Size: 0.43 Cubic Feet

Exterior Size: 20.1 in x 16.3 in x 12.6 in

Power (Watts): 1500 Watts

Warranty: 1 Year

When looking for a countertop toaster oven, you want one that actually does a great job of baking or toasting; but you also want one that does not take up your entire countertop.

The Black & Decker name is synonymous with high quality; and their line of countertop toaster and convection ovens follows this tradition.

This week we review the Black & Decker CTO4500S Stainless Steel 6-Slice Countertop Convection Oven.

Each Black &Decker CTO4500S Oven comes with…

• Both broil and bake oven capabilities
• A convection oven feature
• A slide out front access crumb tray for easy cleaning
• An easy cleaning non stick interior
• A 1500 watt element and 60 minute timer

We found our Black & Decker CTO4500S online for just under $50; which was about $20 cheaper than we found for the same model locally, and the shipping was included in the purchase price. It shipped fast, and arrived in three days.

The Black & Decker CTO4500S – Great for Small Items

This is a perfect combination convection/toaster oven ideal for those smaller meals and snacks that you used to have to bake in the regular oven.

This countertop convection oven does it all; and it does a great job at each task.

For small baking projects, our testing with muffins and pizza shows that this countertop oven does a better job than the regular oven while saving energy at the same time.

And the convection feature makes this countertop oven more efficient as well; not only does it provide a great, crispy crust to bread and pies, but it finished the job in about two thirds the time of the regular oven.

One complaint about countertop convection ovens is the fan noise. In our testing, we found that the fans that kicked on to move the warm air around the oven were audible; but not nearly as loud as a vent fan or our microwave.

And for a small countertop oven, it has ample interior room for a full 9 inch pizza or six muffins; but it is not so big that you lose half of your countertop. It is compact enough to fit in even the tightest of countertop spaces, and with its stainless steel exterior it is right at home with other stainless steel appliances in modern kitchens.

The toasting function works great, especially if you are trying to toast four slices of bread at the same time; and it works equally well on waffles or garlic bread.

And reheating cold pizza is a breeze with this Black & Decker convection oven.

It takes a little less time than a regular microwave; but unlike the microwave, the pizza comes out crisp and browned rather than soggy

like it does in a microwave.

The crumb tray is front accessible, and slides out completely for easy cleaning; and the interior uses a non stick coating so it is very easy to clean as food does not get attached to the interior walls like it does in most microwave ovens.

This Black and Decker Convection Oven is Not Perfect…

While the positives far outweigh the negatives with the Black & Decker CTO4500S, there are a few design items we found that would probably be easy fixes.

The knob design on the timer is not the most accurate. There is no way to really dial in the precise time as this knob slides into an “approximate” timer setting. A digital timer would be preferable, but then again, this is not a $200 deluxe countertop oven.

And our other complaint is with the actual timer settings on this countertop oven.

They are simply microscopic; and if you have less than perfect vision, reading the timer settings can be a chore.

Even with bright lighting in our kitchen, we found ourselves checking the timer settings three or four times to insure that they were set where we wanted them.

Again, making these settings a little easier to read would have been an easy factory fix; but it is a minor irritant.

Overall, this is a nice, economical, easy to use countertop convection/toaster oven that does a great job for those smaller snacks and foods that are normally a pain to start up the regular oven for.

The Black & Decker CTO4500S does what it’s supposed to do very well; and rolls, cookies, garlic bread, and pizza come out tasting great.

Retail Price: $109.99

Best Price: Click Here to See Lowest Price

Availability:  Click Here to Check Availability

Interior Size: 1.10 Cubic Feet

Exterior Size: 21 in x 18 in x 15.5 in

Power (Watts): 1500 Watts

Warranty: 1 Year

Like everyone else, you may have grown up with the GE or Hamilton Beach toaster oven on the counter; and didn’t realize how handy these little appliances were.

But these are not your mother’s old toaster ovens anymore; they are really powerful, easy to use appliances that make your everyday cooking and baking a little easier.

Our review for this week is the Hamilton Beach 31197 Countertop Oven with Convection and Rotisserie options.

The Hamilton Beach Convection Oven has…

• Multiple cooking options to include broil, convection, bake, and rotisserie
• A 10- to 120-minute timer or “stay on” option
• An adjustable temperature up to 500 degrees F
• A roomy interior that can accommodate a 5-pound chicken or 2 12-inch pizzas
• An easy-to-clean, non stick design
• Two cooking racks, two baking pans, a broiler rack, a rotisserie skewer, and a rotisserie lifter
• A medium design that measures approximately 21 by 18 by 15-1/2 inches; 1-year limited warranty

The Hamilton Beach Convection Oven – No Need to Turn On the Regular Oven

We found our Hamilton Beach 31197 Countertop Oven online; and shipping was free.

It is a solid, sturdy unit that is a little larger than the average countertop convection oven.  The larger of size of this unit makes it easy to prepare a larger amount of items. It will easily accommodate two 12 inch pizzas (on separate rack levels), a large roasting chicken, or even a medium sized birthday cake.

If your family is four people or less, you can even cook entire meals in this countertop oven; with no need to turn on the regular oven.

This is a handy “three in one” countertop convection oven that allows you to broil, bake, or toast whatever you want. And the included rotisserie rack makes preparing moist, tender and juicy meats easier than ever.

The Hamilton Beach 31197 Countertop Oven – Easy to Use

The Hamilton Beach 31197 has some intelligent design features that make this countertop oven a breeze to work with.

There are three easy to use control knobs that control the features of this countertop convection oven.

One controls the function of the oven; from broil to convection to bake or rotisserie. You have the temperature control knob that ranges from 150 degrees to 500 degrees; and the third allows you to control the cooking time from ten minutes up to two hours; or you can set it for “stay on” and let it cook for as long as you’d like.

It has two adjustable racks so you can configure this oven however you’d wish to fit in the varying sizes of food; and the see thru front glass window makes it easy to monitor the progress of your cooking at a glance.

It is extremely easy to clean with a non stick interior, and comes complete with a slide out tray, rotisserie forks on the rotisserie rod, a rotisserie lift, and even a handy pizza pan.

The Hamilton Beach 31197 – Great Results

The two main features that set this Hamilton Beach convection oven apart from its competitors is the rotisserie option and the convection oven.

When using the convection oven, the fans on this unit kick in and it freely circulates the heated air around the food. This makes for even cooking, and finished the job 33% faster than a regular oven. So you can cook or bake in about the same just over the amount of time it would take to microwave; but you still get that crisp, fully baked taste on your pies or bread.

And the rotisserie feature works extremely well.

We tested a 4.5 pound chicken with the rotisserie (it can handle up to a 5 pound chicken on the rotisserie), and it came out really moist and flavorful.

Here’s how we did it:

• We brined the chicken at least 12 hours (24 hours is better) in a mixture of honey, salt, vegetable stock and various herbs.
• We lined the bottom of the Hamilton Beach Convection Oven with heavy duty aluminum foil to catch the fat drippings.
• We skewered and positioned the chicken on the rotisserie forks and mounted everything in the unit.
• We used a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of bird about every 30 minutes for the first 2 hours.  After that, we checked the internal temperature about every 10 to 15 minutes to make sure we didn’t overcook the chicken.
• We pulled it out when the internal temperature (of the thickest part of the chicken breast) reached about 165 degrees.

The chicken came out browned very nicely, and cooked through about thirty five minutes faster than a typical (non-convection) kitchen oven.

Overall, the Hamilton Beach 31197 Countertop Oven is a great value for the amount we paid. It is easy to use, the convection feature works particularly well, it is easy to clean, and there is more than enough room in this oven for a complete family meal.

Retail Price: $299.99

Best Price: Click Here to See Lowest Price

Availability:  Click Here to Check Availability

Interior Size: 0.80 Cubic Feet

Exterior Size: 18.5 in x 12.5 in x 10.75 in

Power (Watts): 1800 Watts

Warranty: 1 Year

When looking for a convection toaster oven, it really does pay to shop around.

After all, a convection toaster oven can actually replace your main oven for those smaller jobs; and the convenience is actually worth the money.

Under review is the Breville BOV800XL Smart Oven with Element IQ.

Every Breville BOV800XL…

• Is an 1800-watt convection toaster oven
• Has just under 1 cubic foot of nonstick interior space
• Uses the “Element IQ technology” for temperature control
• Comes with 9 pre-set functions
• Contains 5 quartz heating elements
• Has a user-friendly control panel with an easy to read LCD screen
• Features 3 adjustable rack positions
• Also comes with an auto-eject wire rack, a removable crumb tray, a pizza pan, a baking pan, and a broil rack included
• Measures 18-1/2 by 12-1/2 by 10-3/4 inches to fit in even the smallest countertop spaces
• Comes with a 1-year limited warranty

The Breville BOV800XL Countertop Convection Oven – Intelligent Design In A Small Space

The Breville BOV800XL Smart Countertop Convection Oven with Element IQ is ideal for people with a limited amount of countertop space.

We got ours online for just under $250, and the shipping was paid for by the seller.

It arrived within 4 days, and there was absolutely no assembly required.

After unpacking this convection toaster over, we were immediately impressed by its attractive stainless steel exterior design; plus, unlike other convection toaster ovens, this unit has a rock solid design.

It is a truly functional unit designed for small spaces; and its countertop footprint allows this convection toaster oven to fit into even the smallest of space. And the included adjustable racks make configuring this toaster oven effortless; regardless of what you choose to cook in it.

The Breville Countertop Convection Oven – Easy to Use Digital Controls

This Breville convection oven is a breeze to use and operate; and the Element IQ technology allows you complete control over the interior temperature.

There are nine different pre-sets already programmed into this unit. You can choose from Bagel, Broil, Cookies, Bake, Reheat, Warm, Pizza, Toast, or Roast; and since each pre-set has both the temperature and time programmed into the unit, it makes it almost “idiot-proof” to use.

Naturally, you can adjust the pre-sets for your individual taste; and this convection toaster oven will even remember your personal setting adjustments for the next time you use it. And the large, easy to read digital LED interface on the front makes it easy to monitor both the time and the temperature with a quick glance from across the kitchen.

It is painless to operate with the push button and knob controls on the front panel; and the Element IQ technology functions essentially like a dimmer switch on your lights. You can increase or decrease the power of the Breville BOV800XL with a simple turn of the knob.

The Breville BOV800XL Convection Oven – Big Results From A Small Package

The Breville BOV800XL gets up to temperature very quickly, and the included extra pans that other convection toaster ovens do not include make this an indispensable kitchen appliance.

We particularly like the auto-eject feature where the wire rack is automatically popped halfway out of the oven so you are not reaching inside of a hot oven for food retrieval.

The crumb tray is accessible from the front of the oven for easy removal, and the included baking and pizza pans make it a breeze to use for commonly baked items like your favorite pizza or chocolate chip cookies.

Cleanup is a snap, since it has a non- stick interior that wipes clean very easily; and the front window does not cloud up after two weeks of use.

If you are a bachelor or have a small family, you really need to think about the Breville BOV800XL as a safe, easy to use, and very handy kitchen appliance.

Not only does it heat up faster than a conventional oven, but is more energy efficient as well. And it is indispensable for those small jobs that you used to fire up the regular oven to complete.

Answer: The word convection in scientific terms usually implies the natural circulation of hot and cold currents in air or liquid.

For example, hot air tends to rise and cold air tends to sink… so, if the sun heats the earth and the earth warms the air, then that hot air will attempt to rise and push against the cold air above it.  As this same air cools, it naturally tries to move downward again.

This naturally occurring process is happening all over the world at the same time, and although we can predict the movement of the air to a large degree, it can still make for some pretty unpredictable weather patterns.  Convection in our atmosphere can cause anything from a light breeze to hurricane-force winds, depending on the level of convection.

As stated before, however, this is typically a natural process.  Convection as it applies to a convection oven, on the other hand, is an assisted process.

Traditional ovens will have a heating element at the bottom of the oven and another at the top of the oven.  Usually, only the bottom heating element is used because heat tends to rise.  The process of heat rising from the top of the oven to the bottom tends to equalize the heat within the oven to a certain degree, but there are still hot-spots within the oven that can cause problems in cooking.

Also, when trying to use the entire oven for cooking (as in using multiple wire shelves at the same time), the lower wire shelf tends to get the hottest and therefore has the tendency to burn before the food on the top shelf even gets done.

A convection oven solves these problems by forcing the air to circulate.  Typically one or more fans circulate air within the oven which equalizes the temperature in the oven, eliminates hot-spots within the oven and actually speeds up the cooking process.

Typically, when switching over from a conventional oven to a convection oven for the first time, you should monitor the contents of your oven very closely.  Because convection features will greatly reduce cooking times, there is a tendency to burn food if not monitored.

However, this doesn’t take much time to get used to, and the benefits far outweigh the initial learning curve.  Hint:  The use of a simple meat thermometer will go a long way in making sure you don’t burn your meats, such as turkey, chicken, roasts, or even meatloaf (170 degrees F for beef and 185 degrees F for pork).

Some convection ovens have gone the extra mile and added even more additional features (as if cooking food faster wasn’t awesome enough), such as pizza bumps or rotisserie options.

Needless to say, we are big fans of convection around here… and now that you know what “convection” means (where it applies to ovens), we hope that you will be too.