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Avanti OCRB34W 1.3 Cubic Foot Convection Oven with 2 Cooktop Burners | | |
| Features:
| • | Color: White | | • | 1 | | • | Multiple Cooking Functions | | • | 60 min | | • | Full Range Thermostat |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Features: 1.3 cubic foot capacity. Multiple cooking functions. Removeable crumb tray. Power on light indicator. 60 minute timer control. Full range thermostat. 2 cooktop burners.
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| Customer Reviews:
 another day, another toaster oven February 9, 2008
K. P. Coffaro (Cali)
I bought this for the motel room where I live, which is too small for an all-in-one kitchenette. The oven's a rather attractive appliance loaded with features: 2-burner cooktop, and a large-capacity oven with rotisserie, convection fan, and time-bake. Very inexpensive for what you get, so I hate to criticize it severely. The burners are easy-clean, cast iron plates. They're preset at one temperature, approx medium-low, a compromise, and are best used for reheating and simmering as the pkg photo suggests. The larger element, tho a higher wattage, is no hotter. It takes over 10 minutes to boil one inch of water, but I discovered this can be speeded up quite a bit by adding pasta or other ingredients at the outset, cold; thus soups, chili, and similar dishes heat up faster. The range appears to have some sort of thermostatic feedback that keeps water from over-boiling, that isn't as effective with other ingredients. The relatively weak heat is necessary for safety purposes, as someone might place unit under a cabinet, causing a fire hazard. Some heat-sensitive foods, particularly eggs, however, require turning OFF the stove midstream to avoid scorching; the iron plates stay hot enough to continue cooking several more minutes. Nevertheless, using quality cookware with good heat conductivity still improves cooktop performance substantially. The cooktop likewise cannot be used simultaneously with oven on to prevent short-circuiting your 120 V. wall outlet. The oven, unfortunately, is not continuous clean. There is one wire rack, and one crumb tray that doubles as another rack, but tends to block heat somewhat in standard bake mode. There are only 2 rack positions; it would be a great improvement if there were more, especially in the middle. The oven doesn't maintain temperature well unless in convection mode, indicating poor insulation (perhaps in my particular unit). Contrary to consumer research, convection in this model lives up to its claims, baking much faster and at a lower temperature, but tends to scorch things unless you set it at about 250 degrees F. All oven functions are time-bake, again for safety. The oven door handle's metal posts get very hot, though, so one must be careful not to grab it from the side or lean against it without an apron on. I, too, had a knob break immediately like another reviewer. It was the timer knob. The seller replaced it, only to have it break AGAIN several months later.
Serviceable, but a few drawbacks December 30, 2007
Sparrow28 (Pennsylvania)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
The amount of space inside the oven was my main criteria for picking this product over others; most only boast enough room for a 12" pizza, but the standard casserole and baking pans are 9"x13". I have been quite pleased with how quickly it cooks food on the "Convection" setting. The "Toast" feature browns things on the top VERY quickly, so be prepared to flip your food after only a short amount of time. Also, it smells a little funny the first few times you use it.
The burners on the top are a pain. They have only one temperature, high, but they take a very long time to heat up. My advice is to get independent burners with more options if you want to cook on a stove.
The plastic knobs break off very easily, but a little Gorilla Glue fixes them well with no adverse side effects.
Last complaint is that you cannot set the oven for more than 60 minutes.
Great for makeshift kitchen, but poor quality construction November 5, 2007
Small Business Owner (MD)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
Purchased this to use during a kitchen remodel - the oven & 2 burners came in very handy and I could actually cook without relying exclusively on the microwave. Don't expect the same performance as from a conventional full-sized oven or stove, but it works fine. (I wouldn't use it to toast as it takes a while to heat up). Downside - the oven knob broke off unexpectedly - apparently cheap quality knobs. Overall it has served its purchase, but a knob breaking within the first few weeks of use is not indicitive of high quality.
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