Cuisinart toaster ovens tend to be overpriced and this one is no exception. While it does offer 1800 watts of power, making it one of the most powerful device in our comparison, it doesn't offer any additional features to warrant the high cost. In fact, it doesn't even have a timer. It performed really well in our cooking tests, but you could pay less and get similar results with another machine, or many of the best toasters.
When we first started cooking, we were surprised to find that this toaster oven didn't include a timer nor could we adjust the rack to another position. We had to set a separate timer whenever we used it, which turned out to be a bit of nuisance. You'll want to make sure that you turn the device off after using it to prevent overheating.
During our bread slice and bagel test the unit provided even coloration across all of the individual pieces. The undersides were also warmed, if not as thoroughly toasted as the topsides. When we undertook the frozen burrito test, we found the tortillas came out perfectly cooked and the insides were heated through with no cold spots.
Following the instructions in the manual, we preheated the toaster oven for 10 minutes before placing the cookie dough inside. Following the cooking instructions, we pulled the cookies out to find them fairly burned on top and crisp on the sides. The insides had been cooked through but the overall burnt flavor made them hard to get down. The pizza slices burned slightly on the underside as they were very close to the heating element. The bread turned out crisp and hard while the cheese and pepperoni were decently heated through. Definitely not our best cooking experience.
This is a relatively small toaster oven, only able to fit four slices of bread on the rack. It doesn't include a convection fan to help with the heating process, but it does offer a non-stick interior for easier cleaning. If you'd prefer a convection fan, you might be interested in Hamilton Beach 31126. It also comes with a baking pan, but there is no broiling rack included. This toaster has an above average warranty, two-years of coverage. The exterior does get pretty hot when in use, so you'll want to be careful not to have anything touching it. The backside got up to 145 degrees and the sides and top got up to 164 degrees. This wasn't the hottest we've seen but it isn't finger-friendly either. The handle did get somewhat warm, but it won't be hot enough to hurt you.
The Cuisinart TOB-40N is overpriced and lacks some of the most basic convenience features, making it a hassle to use. You can easily find a less expensive toaster oven that produces better cooking results and gives you the settings and features you want. That being said, it isn't a horrible appliance and did perform better than some other toaster ovens we tested. But it isn't a good choice for the bargain shopper.
