Hamilton Beach Countertop Convection Oven
Originally, I purchased this oven with the intention of eventually buying a full sized oven, but I see no need to now that I have been using this one for almost a year for all of my baking needs. I use it for baking muffins, rolls, and scones. I also bake cakes, brownies, and cookies in it as well as baked potatoes, roasted veggies, and casseroles. This oven has never let me down. It is a work horse and it is easy to take apart and clean. The bottom of it even slides out which makes cleaning a breeze.
I never imagined that it would replace a full sized oven, but since I only cook for myself and my wife, I have found no need for a larger appliance. This is great because it not only saves on energy costs but it allows for more space in my kitchen. It has a timed cooking function, but I usually just time the foods myself. Because of its compact size, it preheats very quickly in about ten minute’s time. It cooks foods faster and more evenly than a typical full sized oven because it heats from both the top and the bottom.
Another thing that impressed me about this oven is the value. I have been cooking for years and I have cooked a lot of different foods and I have used many different ovens, including a similar sized oven when I was living in Japan, but this is by far the best oven in this price range with which I have had the pleasure of cooking. For less than a hundred dollars, you really can’t beat the price for such a quality appliance. When I first purchased this oven I didn’t realize what a bargain I was getting. I thought the results that I would get would be mediocre at best but I was blown away at how quickly it can cook quality dishes.
The first thing that I baked in this oven was pizza and it is still my favorite thing to make in it. This is because it turns out so perfect every single time. The main thing that I noticed when using my Hamilton Beach Countertop Convection Oven for the first time was the amount of time it saved me. What would normally have taken a few hours to bake in other ovens of this size that I have used in the past, took barely an hour to bake in this oven and less than half that time using the convection setting.
The only drawbacks that I can see with the Hamilton Beach Countertop Convection Oven are if you have a larger family, then it would definitely be impractical. You also need to have plenty of counter space because even though it is a small oven, it is still has a slightly larger footprint than most. It is not a toaster oven. It takes up as much space as a large microwave and you need to be able to allow for plenty of space surrounding it as it does put off a lot of heat.
In short, if you are only cooking for yourself or one other person and you have plenty of available counter space, then the Hamilton Beach Countertop Convection Oven may be just what you need.
