We had not had a toaster oven before this one. It replaced a toaster that finally annoyed us enough to replace it. The toaster we replaced like other toasters, would burn thin spots in english muffins before the rest of the muffin was toasted and THIS toaster oven toasts more slowly and we are getting very few burned spots in english muffins than we got before. The oven feature works well and is flexible with both bake and broil capability. But the TOASTER part of this oven could be MUCH better. The fingers in the bottom of the slot that drop and lift the bread/toast are too short and thinner sliced breads or edges of english muffins can catch on the tips of the lift bar and shag against the guide bars that make the vertical slot for toast. AND, the vertical guide bars for the toaster feature never get close enough to thinner breads to keep the bread from partially folding while being toasted. I had this problem with thin sliced sourdough bread and thin sliced dark rye. For this to get 5 stars from me, the toaster function needs some design changes... wider lift mech at the bottom of the slot (and the lift mech should be able to raise the toasted item well above the top of the slot... english muffins barely reach the top of the slot in the "up" position) and vertical guide bars that close up against even thin-sliced breads to hold them snugly so the bread doesn't bend/fold while toasting. But even with the problems it has, it still toasts engilsh muffins better than any conventional toaster we have had.

This *would* be a perfect toaster oven + slot toaster. The slot function works good enough for me (I'm not obsessive about uniform toasting). I like the analog dials for ease of use and it heats up quick. It's not small by any means, there are for more compact toaster ovens out there if you're limited on counterspace, though it's probably got a similar footprint, if not smaller, than a two slice toaster plus a small toaster oven.

The reason for 2 stars is that i realized, about 45 days in (aka past the return window) that the back bottom element does not go on. If you search other reviews you'll see that too. It's under warranty, so Hamilton Beach is sending me a new one, but only after shelling out $12 for shipping. There's clearly a systematic problem that is known because there are plenty of other users with the same issue, so HB should fix that problem before selling more units.

My advice to you if you buy this: check the back bottom heating element first thing, so if it's busted you can go through Amazon for free.

We LOVE this oven and toaster combo. We've had toaster ovens for years, and I didn't realize how badly those all in one units really made dry, unevenly toasted bread. The bread is perfectly toasted every time! We are getting used to the oven as it cooks very efficiently and does quickly heat to a true oven temperature better than other units we've owned.

It is a smaller unit than other ovens, so it won't be able to cook more than one Thanksgiving side dish when the holidays roll around, but we appreciate that it is excellent at what it was designed to do: toast and be an alternative to cooking up some french fries or heating a small casserole when we don't want to turn on the big oven.

The controls are super simple and easy to use. We aren't bothered at all by the ding when the timer ends and the timer ticking doesn't bother us at all. Our old oven had an annoying digital beep every time we accidentally bumped the controls and this unit is such a refreshing change. A true testament to the KISS principle (Keep It Simple Stupid!)

We covered the slide out tray in foil to easily clean up drips and crumbs. And, the tray truly does slide out easily. There is enough clearance between the tray and its oven slot that fairly large crumbs or pieces don't get scraped back off into the oven as you pull the tray out. We also like that the tray does not have to be tilted or angled to get it out of the oven like our old one.

It's almost too good to be true! We hope to have this oven for a very long time.

As a family we really use our toaster oven allot. My father in-law likes to have toast and jam at every meal and snacks during the night. I got this toaster oven mainly for him, so he had the use of an actually toaster and the rest of us had the oven. This has been a good feature except for two problems: 1. He has trouble getting the adjustment right and he is constantly scraping his toast. 2. When my son uses it for frozen waffles of french toast sticks they get stuck between the metal racks that are supposed to hold the toast in place and some times fall through to the oven area. We almost had a fire as one got stuck and we didn't know it until it started smoking. I still like the separate features of toast and oven and would recommend it. Just beware of the wire racks for the toast.

I am going to return it.....one of the lower heating elements doesn't work.....and the cord is super short, not really practical, but I would have kept it despite that had all the elements been working.....such an inconvenience....pretty bummed. UPDATE: went through the huge hassel of returning this item....they sent a replacement, and it ALSO has an element that doesn't work.....what are the odds?.....super disappointed in Hamilton Beach.....probably will return this one too....I mean, for seventy bucks, ALL the elements should function properly, don't you think?........UPDATE 2: doesn't cook evenly with only one lower heating element working...soggy bottom pizza :(. This purchase was a huge mistake.