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Cuisinart TOB-175BC

Discontinued

Reviewed

December 2008

by ConsumerSearch

Pros

Excellent overall performance
Large size with two racks
Convection for even browning and baking

Cons

Expensive
Timer beeps but doesn't turn off oven
Inconvenient crumb tray

Our Analysis
Specs

The Cuisinart TOB-175BC Toaster Oven is the clear winner among reviewers and consumers, even though it costs more than many toaster ovens. It earns praise for its overall excellent performance across a variety of cooking tasks, from reheating pizza and leftovers, to roasting chicken and baking cookies. Reviewers like its generous interior yet compact footprint, and say the convection heating makes for even baking and browning of foods. Reviewers had a few minor quibbles, including some design flaws: the timer beeps, but the oven doesn't turn off, which could be a safety consideration, and the crumb tray must be emptied from the rear, which some owners find inconvenient. Professional testing also yielded somewhat uneven browning of toast.

We found thorough professional testing of the Cuisinart TOB-175BC Toaster Oven at one foodie magazine, where editors put a number of toaster ovens through rigorous testing with a variety of cooking tasks and compared results. Another professional review includes the Cuisinart toaster oven in its rigorous testing procedures and in its ranking chart. Melissa Clark of The New York Times also tests the Cuisinart TOB-175BC. Finally, we included reviews from owners posting to Amazon.com and Epinions.com.

Our Sources

1. Cook's Illustrated Magazine

Editors review eight high-end toaster ovens, putting them through their paces by baking cookies, broiling steak and baking potatoes. Most models are criticized, and only one toaster oven get an unequivocal recommendation.

Review: Toaster Ovens, Editors of Cook's Illustrated, May 2007

2. ConsumerReports.org

ConsumerReports.org ranks 17 toaster ovens/broilers on their ease of use and performance in toasting, baking and broiling.

Review: Toasters & Toaster Ovens, Editors of ConsumerReports.org, Nov. 2007

3. The New York Times

Melissa Clark tests three toaster ovens and concludes that the Cuisinart TOB-175BC is a good choice for tech lovers because it's programmable. However, the controls could be confusing. This article also includes lots of good information about adapting recipes for toaster ovens.

Review: No One Ever Slaved Over a Hot Toaster Oven, Melissa Clark, Aug. 2005

4. Amazon.com

More than 500 owners posting to Amazon.com give the Cuisinart TOB-175BC Toaster Oven 4.5 out of five stars, with mostly praise for its features and performance. Owners appreciate the accurate thermostat, well-thought-out controls, and generous size. Some complain of oven failure or a defective unit, which is a common refrain among all toaster ovens. Some owners also dislike the timer, which beeps but does not shut the oven heat off, and the crumb tray, which must be emptied from the back of the oven.

Review: Cuisinart Convection Toaster Oven Broiler, Contributors to Amazon.com

5. Epinions.com

Over 50 reviews to Epinions.com praise the Cuisinart TOB-175BC Toaster Oven highly, resulting in a 4.5 out of five star rating. Most owners especially like the accuracy of heating and the convection oven, which performs well. Some complain that it toasts unevenly and dislike the way the timer is designed.

Review: Cuisinart TOB-175 1500 Watts Toaster Oven with Convection Cooking, Contributors to Epinions.com

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