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Breville Mini Smart Oven BOV450XL, Brushed Stainess Steel
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Purchase options and add-ons
Brand | Breville |
Color | BOV450XL |
Product Dimensions | 12.9"D x 17.7"W x 10.5"H |
Special Feature | Automatic Shut-Off |
Control Type | Knob Control |
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About this item
- The Breville Mini Smart Oven with Element iQ System is for the cook who desires a compact size countertop oven that bakes the perfect pizza, delicious cookies and toasts evenly; Don't let Mini fool you as this space saving oven offers 8 cooking functions
- ELEMENT iQ SYSTEM: Using 4 independent quartz elements, smart algorithms steer power to where and when it's needed to create the ideal cooking environment for perfect results every time; Fast 1800 Watt preheat gets your meals on the table more quickly
- 8 COOKING FUNCTIONS: Super versatile mini smart oven with 8 cooking functions to guide you to perfection: Toast, Bagel, Bake, Broil, Pizza, Roast, Cookies and Reheat
- SMALL CAPACITY: The 16.1 x 14.2 x 10.4 inch interior fits 4 slices of toast, bagels, cookies, tuna melts, 6 cup muffin tray and 11 inch pizzas; Complete with 3 rack positions, pull out crumb tray and auto shut off
- LCD DISPLAY: LCD display to more easily access the built in smart functionality, choose from 8 cooking functions
- NON STICK CAVITY COATING: The walls on the inside of the oven feature a non stick coating for easy cleaning
- INCLUDED ACCESSORIES: 10 x 10 inch Enamel Baking Pan
- WARRANTY: 1 Year Limited Product Warranty; Power: 1800 Watts; Voltage 110 to 120 Volts
- 4 Quartz 1800 Watt Elements with Element IQ Technology
- Function dial with 8 pre set cooking functions and each element adjusts automatically for the setting you choose, to deliver the right cooking temperature at the right time for the meal you are creating
- This is not an under the cabinet toaster oven it needs some clearance on top due to the product producing heat. Voltage : 110 120 Volts
- 4 Slice capacity, 11" pizza, 0.45 cu ft. interior with 3 rack positions, pull out crumb tray and auto shut off
- Powder coated steel housing and Non stick interior cavity coating. Dimensions : 14.25 x 16 x 8.5 inches
Customer ratings by feature
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From the manufacturer
-
To Steer Power Where It's Needed
Smart algorithms create the ideal cooking environment, for perfect, crispy golden results
-
To Guide You to Great Cooking
Toast, Bagel, Bake, Roast, Broil, Pizza, Cookies and Reheat
-
All the Room for Delicious
4-Slice Toaster, 12" Pizza, roast chicken and anything else you’ve got for it
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Calculates Correct Time and Temperature
Illuminating orange during preheating and cooking, and blue once cycle is complete
Choose your oven
8 cooking functions | Settings | 8 cooking functions |
4 Slices; 11" Pizza | Capacity | 4 Slices; 12" Pizza |
Convection Powered | ||
| Element IQ System | |
| LCD Display | |
8 cooking functions | Settings | 9 cooking functions |
4 Slices; 11" Pizza | Capacity | 6 Slices; 13" Pizza |
Convection Powered | | |
| Element IQ System | |
| LCD Display | |
8 cooking functions | Settings | 10 cooking functions |
4 Slices; 11" Pizza | Capacity | 6 Slices; 13" Pizza |
Convection Powered | | |
| Element IQ System | |
| LCD Display | |
Videos
Videos for this product
1:13
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Honest customer review of Breville Toaster Oven
Is it worth it?
Videos for this product
1:45
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WATCH THIS BEFORE USING Or You'll Burn Your Toast!
Teressa & Corey
Videos for this product
1:33
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Breville Mini Smart Toaster Oven - Before You Buy
Stubb Family
Videos for this product
0:32
Click to play video
Customer Review: Too High-Maintenance...
Rob DeGutis
Product information
Brand | Breville |
---|---|
Color | BOV450XL |
Product Dimensions | 12.9"D x 17.7"W x 10.5"H |
Special Feature | Automatic Shut-Off |
Control Type | Knob Control |
Door Style | Dropdown Door |
Included Components | Breville Bov450Xl Mini Smart Oven With Element Iq, Pizza Pan, Baking Pan, Broil Rack |
Model Name | BOV450XL |
Finish Type | Silver |
Cable Length | 36 Inches |
Global Trade Identification Number | 00021614054050 |
UPC | 021614054050 |
Manufacturer | HWI/Breville USA |
Item Weight | 10.7 pounds |
Department | unisex-adult |
ASIN | B006CVVA7I |
Item model number | BOV450XL |
Customer Reviews |
4.5 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #4,337 in Kitchen & Dining (See Top 100 in Kitchen & Dining) #12 in Toaster Ovens |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Date First Available | November 23, 2011 |
Warranty & Support
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Breville Mini Smart Oven BOV450XL, Brushed Stainess Steel
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Product Description
Breville Mini Smart Oven BOV450XL, Brushed Stainess Steel
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This Item Breville Mini Smart Oven BOV450XL, Brushed Stainess Steel | Recommendations | dummy | dummy | dummy | dummy | |
Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | |
Price | $159.95$159.95 | $96.32$96.32 | $269.95$269.95 | $999.95$999.95 | $189.95$189.95 | $29.95$29.95 |
Delivery | Get it as soon as Monday, Jul 29 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Jul 30 | Get it as soon as Monday, Jul 29 | Get it as soon as Monday, Jul 29 | Get it as soon as Monday, Jul 29 | Get it as soon as Monday, Jul 29 |
Customer Ratings | ||||||
Easy to clean | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 3.6 | 4.5 | 4.7 |
Temperature Control | 4.5 | 4.2 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.5 | — |
Heat distribution | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.5 | — | 4.3 | — |
Easy to use | — | 4.8 | — | 4.4 | 4.5 | 5.0 |
Versatility | 4.5 | — | 4.6 | 4.5 | — | — |
Sold By | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Umilife |
capacity | 0.45 cubic feet | 0.5 cubic feet | 0.8 cubic feet | 12 cubic inches | 0.6 cubic feet | — |
material | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Bamboo |
finish type | Silver | Stainless Steel | Brushed | Painted | Silver | Painted |
wattage | — | 1800 watts | 1800 watts | 1800 watts | 1800 watts | — |
weight | 10.7 pounds | — | 18.7 pounds | 32.3 pounds | 14.1 pounds | 2.65 pounds |
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the ease of cleaning, quality, and ease of use of the countertop oven. They mention that it bakes and toasts well, and is great for toast and small baking jobs. They appreciate the variable settings and the sleek, modern design. Customers also like the appearance, saying that it's well designed and sleek.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers like the quality of the countertop oven. They say it bakes and toasts well, is great for toast and small baking jobs, and is easy to use. Some mention that it roasts and bakes potatoes without having to use the larger oven in their stove. They also say that it heats up super quickly and cooks evenly.
"...WONDERFULLY....adds counter space, looks great, and it prevents the problems involved with my children turning the oven on when they've left..." Read more
"...It was perfectly golden and flaky. Also, the controls on the front of the oven are simple and easy to understand...." Read more
"...use it as a replacement for my full size oven, but it toasts and broils and reheat very well and very quickly. And predictably!..." Read more
"...There just simply handy for small baking/broiling without heating your large oven. Especially great for kids toasting small baked goods...." Read more
Customers like the performance of the countertop oven. They mention that it does its job very well, is easy to use, and is reliable. Some are impressed with the efficiency and consistency of the toaster. They say that it works well to make open-faced sandwiches and that the control knob works well.
"...That caveat aside, I ran some tests and have been impressed with the efficiency and consistency of this toaster...." Read more
"...Works WONDERFULLY....adds counter space, looks great, and it prevents the problems involved with my children turning the oven on when they've left..." Read more
"...It works perfectly with this oven. Or just use an oven mitt...." Read more
"...me which shelf position to use to cook various things, I think it is useless and the painted on labels detract from the look of the device and of my..." Read more
Customers like the size of the countertop oven. For example, they say it's perfect, doesn't take up much space, and is very compact. Some mention that it fits perfectly inside the baking pan and leaves a lot of countertop space in front of it. Overall, most are happy with the size and functionality of the product.
"...Works WONDERFULLY....adds counter space, looks great, and it prevents the problems involved with my children turning the oven on when they've left..." Read more
"...It is a perfect countertop size and I do not use it as a replacement for my full size oven, but it toasts and broils and reheat very well and very..." Read more
"...This oven is the perfect size for 1-2 person household. Easy to use, temperatures are true, toasts bagels an toast to perfection...." Read more
"...I'm so happy with this. It's small but just the right size for my needs...." Read more
Customers like the heat of the countertop oven. They say it heats up quickly, delivers the heat, and starts heating up to temperature without doing the whole preheat thing. They also say it bakes cookies, heats pizza, toasts nicely, and has good temperature control. Some like that it has four heating elements and a ceramic lining.
"...The outside is well toasted and the center is warmed and steaming but not even with the outside...." Read more
"...full size oven, but it toasts and broils and reheat very well and very quickly. And predictably!..." Read more
"...than most of the others but I liked the fact that it had four heating elements and a ceramic lining for easy cleaning...." Read more
"...1. “It gets hot on the outside”… yes, and so does your slow cooker, your coffee pot, or a pan on the stove...." Read more
Customers find the countertop oven intuitive, user-friendly, and simple to set up. They also appreciate the idiot-proof buttons and the thoroughness of the instruction booklet. Overall, customers say it's an absolute joy to use and an absolute delight to clean.
"...The dial makes changing between settings efficient and the buttons all have a positive feel but will little travel giving good tactile feedback that..." Read more
"...We've had no issues, clean up is a breeze and it's simple enough that my two daughters (8 and 11) can both use it with no issues...." Read more
"...Also, the controls on the front of the oven are simple and easy to understand...." Read more
"...roughly a month but so far I'm very happy with the function and ease of operation...." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the appearance of the countertop oven. They mention that it has a sleek, modern design, and is super well designed. They also appreciate the door handle design, the LCD display, and the streamlined look. The product goes well with their copper kitchen and has s a nice tray inside.
"...The toasting color is consistent across the piece of bread and was consistent from test to test for the same setting assuming the toaster had a..." Read more
"...Works WONDERFULLY....adds counter space, looks great, and it prevents the problems involved with my children turning the oven on when they've left..." Read more
"...It was perfectly golden and flaky. Also, the controls on the front of the oven are simple and easy to understand...." Read more
"...It looks nice and the controls work well, and as noted in the instructions, it lights up and quietly beeps when first powered up and then goes to..." Read more
Customers like the adjustability of the countertop oven. They mention that it offers multiple settings, has a modern appearance, and has highly adjustable heating and cooking controls. They like that each setting has an automatic temperature and time, making it easy to adjust time and temperature with simple push buttons. The settings allow for precise toasting and reheating, and the digital toast settings are great. They also appreciate the intuitively adjust the time depending on the settings.
"...Nice! The dial makes changing between settings efficient and the buttons all have a positive feel but will little travel giving good tactile..." Read more
"...The heating, timer and ease of use is just perfect...." Read more
"...able to choose a setting with one simple dial, adjust time and temperature with simple push buttons, having a large clearly marked on/off button,..." Read more
"...in toast browning between top and bottom, its extra flexibility made the difference. I’ll update this review as we learn more about the Breville." Read more
Customers find the countertop oven easy to clean. They mention that the door slides in and out easily for cleaning.
"...We've had no issues, clean up is a breeze and it's simple enough that my two daughters (8 and 11) can both use it with no issues...." Read more
"...I liked the fact that it had four heating elements and a ceramic lining for easy cleaning...." Read more
"...the tray to clean the bottom comes out beneath the door - super easy to remove clean, and insert. Very satisfied." Read more
"...Even heating, easy to clean and use." Read more
Reviews with images
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Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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One of the best features of this toaster is that it remembers your last setting for a given function. If you always want #2 toast, you don't have to hit the down arrow every time. You turn the dial to toast and hit the start button. Nice. If you like to warm plates for dinner, you can dedicate the ROAST setting to 120°F and have the bake setting default to something like 350°F. Nice! The dial makes changing between settings efficient and the buttons all have a positive feel but will little travel giving good tactile feedback that the input has been registered with a sense of durability.
Because the unit is small, the 1800W coils are able to heat it rapidly. The toasting color is consistent across the piece of bread and was consistent from test to test for the same setting assuming the toaster had a chance to cool fully (more on this later). The outside is well toasted and the center is warmed and steaming but not even with the outside. This is in contrast to my last toaster that seemed to desiccate the bread as it slowly came up to temperature (again, I suspect the large toaster ovens sacrifice toasting ability to include other features).
I have included pictures of toasted bread for reference as I was frustrated in my own search that this was very hard to find. The bread is Kroger brand white bread. In the first series, I have displayed all settings on plain bread from un-toasted to #7 setting (360 sec). The toaster was allowed to cool fully between each piece of bread. The default setting is #4 (160 sec), but my personal preference is a bit darker (#5, 180 sec). The underside of the bread does not get as toasted as can be seen in the photos but this is understandable given the rack.
The second set of photos is for bread that had been pre-buttered with about 1/2 tsp of butter per slice on one side only. Here, my decided preference is #5 again. It is interesting to note that adding butter slows the browning of the top side without affecting the underside making the overall toast more even.
Following are pictures of my one gripe about the unit. The Element IQ (mislabeled SmartIQ in the picture) does not work perfectly. I toasted three pieces of bread on #5 (180 sec) consecutively, taking the first out, immediately putting a second in and hitting start again. The toaster is programed to account for the fact that it is already warmed. As a result, the duration of toasting for the second slice on #5 was 152 sec and for the third, 146 sec. As you can see, the second and third are consistent with each other but lighter than the first slice, matching closer to #3 from earlier tests. Again, I found that if the unit cools fully and resets to the full time duration, the color is consistent from round to round. Therefore, if you are only using it once every morning, you will consistently have the same toast each time, if you have one day where you are feeding a crowd, maybe up the toasting on the following slices to keep color consistent. This is a small deficiency.
The final set of pictures shows what happens when the #4 setting is used and the "a bit more" button is pressed at the end of the toast cycle (brings it closer to a #5). Also shown is what happens if you "forget about the toast" and leave it in the oven after the cycle is complete until the unit cools down (Does not appreciably darken the bread).
Hopefully this review is helpful. If I gain more insights regarding baking/broiling ability or consistency or if I have any mechanical issues I will update the review. (current version May 2020)
Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2020
One of the best features of this toaster is that it remembers your last setting for a given function. If you always want #2 toast, you don't have to hit the down arrow every time. You turn the dial to toast and hit the start button. Nice. If you like to warm plates for dinner, you can dedicate the ROAST setting to 120°F and have the bake setting default to something like 350°F. Nice! The dial makes changing between settings efficient and the buttons all have a positive feel but will little travel giving good tactile feedback that the input has been registered with a sense of durability.
Because the unit is small, the 1800W coils are able to heat it rapidly. The toasting color is consistent across the piece of bread and was consistent from test to test for the same setting assuming the toaster had a chance to cool fully (more on this later). The outside is well toasted and the center is warmed and steaming but not even with the outside. This is in contrast to my last toaster that seemed to desiccate the bread as it slowly came up to temperature (again, I suspect the large toaster ovens sacrifice toasting ability to include other features).
I have included pictures of toasted bread for reference as I was frustrated in my own search that this was very hard to find. The bread is Kroger brand white bread. In the first series, I have displayed all settings on plain bread from un-toasted to #7 setting (360 sec). The toaster was allowed to cool fully between each piece of bread. The default setting is #4 (160 sec), but my personal preference is a bit darker (#5, 180 sec). The underside of the bread does not get as toasted as can be seen in the photos but this is understandable given the rack.
The second set of photos is for bread that had been pre-buttered with about 1/2 tsp of butter per slice on one side only. Here, my decided preference is #5 again. It is interesting to note that adding butter slows the browning of the top side without affecting the underside making the overall toast more even.
Following are pictures of my one gripe about the unit. The Element IQ (mislabeled SmartIQ in the picture) does not work perfectly. I toasted three pieces of bread on #5 (180 sec) consecutively, taking the first out, immediately putting a second in and hitting start again. The toaster is programed to account for the fact that it is already warmed. As a result, the duration of toasting for the second slice on #5 was 152 sec and for the third, 146 sec. As you can see, the second and third are consistent with each other but lighter than the first slice, matching closer to #3 from earlier tests. Again, I found that if the unit cools fully and resets to the full time duration, the color is consistent from round to round. Therefore, if you are only using it once every morning, you will consistently have the same toast each time, if you have one day where you are feeding a crowd, maybe up the toasting on the following slices to keep color consistent. This is a small deficiency.
The final set of pictures shows what happens when the #4 setting is used and the "a bit more" button is pressed at the end of the toast cycle (brings it closer to a #5). Also shown is what happens if you "forget about the toast" and leave it in the oven after the cycle is complete until the unit cools down (Does not appreciably darken the bread).
Hopefully this review is helpful. If I gain more insights regarding baking/broiling ability or consistency or if I have any mechanical issues I will update the review. (current version May 2020)
Will be 2 years owning this in just a few months and we still use it multiple times a day and have had no issues at all with it! Set up remains the same, too, with the board and mats! We actually keep our bread box on top now :)
We have had this for about 9 months now and have been very happy with it! We've had no issues, clean up is a breeze and it's simple enough that my two daughters (8 and 11) can both use it with no issues. The pan that came with it is fine but I bought a set of pans separately that I like much better that included a sheet tray, rack, muffin pan, pizza stone, and roasting pan. We have toasted, baked, reheated, broiled and roasted all with great success. I love not having to run the "big oven" for small things and what a help at Thanksgiving!
I personally do not find the beep overly annoying or too loud as other reviewers have stated and I am actually sensitive to loud or high pitched noises (I have retracted eardrums making some sounds painful). In my opinion it's better to be loud than too quiet for this application anyway. Maybe it's because I have two young girls or a barky chihuahua...but it's better to hear it than not...and really, it's not like it beeps for a long time...a second or two and it's over...not worth complaining about it in my opinion.
I also don't have an issue with the handle sticking out too far. It certainly doesn't stick out past the edge of the counter or get snagged on anything and I'd rather there be room enough that my children (or me) don't accidentally hit the door with our fingers and get burned. There is room enough that that is not a concern.
The rack not coming out automatically when you open the door is actually a feature I prefer. I am not incapable or lazy enough that I can't slide the rack out on my own when necessary and it only takes a second to accomplish. I find it annoying when you just want to pop the oven open to check what you are cooking that the whole thing slides out...and in my experience in the past it would sometimes catch and the door wouldn't close nicely when you wanted to close it back up...esp with a pan of food on it. You'd have to wiggle and jiggle it to get the process started....granted that was a long time ago, maybe they make em differently now, but either way I prefer my rack to stay in place until I pull it out. I actually bought a little red silicone tool made to push and pull the hot oven rack in and out with and I store it in a small metal magnetic basket that is stuck to the side of the oven. Handy and ready whenever I need it.
The only thing I would want to make this better would be that Breville made one of their bamboo boards that fit the top of this oven. Since they don't I found my own solution. I bought a board that fits PERFECTLY on top of this little oven...the Architec Gripperwood Gourmet Sheesham Cutting Board, 10 by 15-Inch (http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007ZGN8Q/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1) and a set of 2 Silicone Baking Sheet Mat Liners 8½" X 11" (http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F2LRL3Q/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1) that I placed underneath the board for heat protection. Works WONDERFULLY....adds counter space, looks great, and it prevents the problems involved with my children turning the oven on when they've left something on the top of the oven...like the book my oldest was reading while making herself some toast a while back!
Overall, I am happy we chose this unit. We are a family of four and it's a great size for us! I do wish the price were lower but I wish that about lots of things, LOL.
Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2015
Will be 2 years owning this in just a few months and we still use it multiple times a day and have had no issues at all with it! Set up remains the same, too, with the board and mats! We actually keep our bread box on top now :)
We have had this for about 9 months now and have been very happy with it! We've had no issues, clean up is a breeze and it's simple enough that my two daughters (8 and 11) can both use it with no issues. The pan that came with it is fine but I bought a set of pans separately that I like much better that included a sheet tray, rack, muffin pan, pizza stone, and roasting pan. We have toasted, baked, reheated, broiled and roasted all with great success. I love not having to run the "big oven" for small things and what a help at Thanksgiving!
I personally do not find the beep overly annoying or too loud as other reviewers have stated and I am actually sensitive to loud or high pitched noises (I have retracted eardrums making some sounds painful). In my opinion it's better to be loud than too quiet for this application anyway. Maybe it's because I have two young girls or a barky chihuahua...but it's better to hear it than not...and really, it's not like it beeps for a long time...a second or two and it's over...not worth complaining about it in my opinion.
I also don't have an issue with the handle sticking out too far. It certainly doesn't stick out past the edge of the counter or get snagged on anything and I'd rather there be room enough that my children (or me) don't accidentally hit the door with our fingers and get burned. There is room enough that that is not a concern.
The rack not coming out automatically when you open the door is actually a feature I prefer. I am not incapable or lazy enough that I can't slide the rack out on my own when necessary and it only takes a second to accomplish. I find it annoying when you just want to pop the oven open to check what you are cooking that the whole thing slides out...and in my experience in the past it would sometimes catch and the door wouldn't close nicely when you wanted to close it back up...esp with a pan of food on it. You'd have to wiggle and jiggle it to get the process started....granted that was a long time ago, maybe they make em differently now, but either way I prefer my rack to stay in place until I pull it out. I actually bought a little red silicone tool made to push and pull the hot oven rack in and out with and I store it in a small metal magnetic basket that is stuck to the side of the oven. Handy and ready whenever I need it.
The only thing I would want to make this better would be that Breville made one of their bamboo boards that fit the top of this oven. Since they don't I found my own solution. I bought a board that fits PERFECTLY on top of this little oven...the Architec Gripperwood Gourmet Sheesham Cutting Board, 10 by 15-Inch (http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007ZGN8Q/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1) and a set of 2 Silicone Baking Sheet Mat Liners 8½" X 11" (http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F2LRL3Q/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1) that I placed underneath the board for heat protection. Works WONDERFULLY....adds counter space, looks great, and it prevents the problems involved with my children turning the oven on when they've left something on the top of the oven...like the book my oldest was reading while making herself some toast a while back!
Overall, I am happy we chose this unit. We are a family of four and it's a great size for us! I do wish the price were lower but I wish that about lots of things, LOL.
Top reviews from other countries
Price: I did considerable research before I made the purchase. At the time of my purchase, Amazon offered the best price which was at least CAD$20 cheaper than any online stores or retailers in Vancouver.
Design: It has a sleek and clean design in matt stainless steel which, I think, will go with any classic or contemporary kitchen design. The interior matt stainless steel and the sliding crumb tray make cleaning easy and convenient. The control panel has a user-friendly design, and the function dial, LCD screen and buttons for various settings are all large and easy to read and use. The LCD screen indicates if the oven is preheating, and when it reaches the pre-set temperature, the cooking time will start counting down automatically throughout the cooking cycle. It is almost a fool-proof design!
Functions: We use the Toast function almost every day. It can toast up to 4 slices of bread at a time and the browning settings range from 1 to 7 (the darkest). However, I have never made a toast with browning setting higher than 3 and it usually takes no more than 2 minutes to brown a toast to my desired crispiness. The Bagel function is good for toasting bagel, or reheating a pizza or open sandwich as it gives out higher temperature to the top without burning the bottom of the toast.
Before the Bake, Roast, Reheat and Pizza functions operate, it first starts at the pre-heating mode. This mini oven takes quite a short time to preheat and can reach a temperature of 425F within just 3 minutes. This saves a lot of energy compared to my conventional oven.
The Broil function does not require preheating and therefore makes it a great helper in my cooking. This is particular helpful when you do stir-frying and want to sear certain ingredients, such as fish or meat slices, before mixing them with other ingredients which require just quick stir-frying. I never use my conventional oven for searing because it will cost so much time and energy for preheating.
My limited experience with the Pizza function is not particularly good because it tends to make the pizza crust too dry and hard. Perhaps I just need more practice. This oven is large enough for a 10 inch pizza.
Special notes:
The 'A Bit More' button is a super design and we use it all the time! If the food is not yet cooked to our desired liking at the end of the cooking cycle, we press this button to add just a bit more time to continue the cooking cycle. For example, by pressing the button once, it adds 30 seconds to Toast, 2 minutes to Broil, and 5 minutes to Bake, etc. I can use this button anytime during the cooking cycle or immediately after.
This oven has three rack positions where you can place the wire rack. In the manual, it suggests the top position for Broil. I must say that I have never used the top position for any function because this will leave your food very close to the top heating element and you will get it burnt easily for whatever function you use. Similarly, when I use the bottom rack position for Bake or Roast, I sometimes find the bottom of the food a bit too dark. I cannot use the middle rack position for Bake or Roast because the overall interior height is just about 4.5 inches and there is not enough 'height' to move around some food, such as a medium-sized potato or yam. If I were to redesign it, I would just spread the interior height of the oven evenly into two rack positions so that in either rack position, the food will not be too close to the heating element.
This mini oven has quite a loud and sharp beeper and it sounds once every time you press any button and three times at the end of the preheating or cooking cycle. I find it a bit annoying, but over time have got used to it. I mentioned it because it might be a nuisance to other members of your household if your kitchen is near a study room or bedroom.
Finally, I need to mention that the top of the oven can get very hot during its operation and it sometimes warm up my upper kitchen cabinet a bit. Therefore you need to make sure that there is sufficient clearance between the top of the oven and your upper cabinets. Also, when I Bake or Roast, I would pull the oven a bit away from the backsplash so that the oven is not directly under the upper cabinets. I can also 're-direct' the heat by placing a plate or a cooked dish on the top of the oven and use it as a warming tray.
Conclusion: My husband and I both agreed that this was one of the best small appliances we had purchased. What we thought would be used primarily for making toasts or reheating leftovers has turned out to be a great helper in my everyday cooking. I gave it 5 stars even though there is room for improvement. If there was the choice, I would have given it four and a half stars. This Breville Mini Smart Oven is the smallest one in its series and it also comes in two other sizes. I highly recommend this mini oven to small households and would advise bigger households to consider the larger ones. By coincidence, my sister-in-law has been using the largest one for more than two years for her growing family.