Toaster Oven Thread ... what's on your counter?
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philr
Well-known member
I have a Canadian GE toaster oven from the mid-1960s and a newer Canadian Versatron which is the equivalent of the US Versatron 1000 for when I need a bigger one also have the open toaster and a few more.
passatdoc
Well-known member
Breville 800 Smart Oven. Makes six slices of toast at once. Can bake pies or pizza up to 13". Accommodates a 13 x 9 roaster/dish or quarter sheet baking pan. I've done two large loaves of banana bread at once, thanks to the convection fan. Just as good as in the big oven, with five minutes preheating (vs 15-20 in big oven). Will keep warm, reheat, broil, bake, roast, do cookies, do bagels, etc. Footprint is 20 x 16, so not good where space is limited.
My unit is 6-7 years old and thus the basic model, still sold today. There is a "Pro" model with two upgraded features:
1. Ability to slow cook at low temps for up to 12 hours; my model's max cook time is two hours (you could slow cook if you restarted the oven every two hours....)
2. Interior light.
The Pro model sells for $15-20, not a large mark up for these two features, which many might like and which others might find unnecessary.
Sold in UK by Amazon and John Lewis under the "Sage" brand name (basic model).
My unit is 6-7 years old and thus the basic model, still sold today. There is a "Pro" model with two upgraded features:
1. Ability to slow cook at low temps for up to 12 hours; my model's max cook time is two hours (you could slow cook if you restarted the oven every two hours....)
2. Interior light.
The Pro model sells for $15-20, not a large mark up for these two features, which many might like and which others might find unnecessary.
Sold in UK by Amazon and John Lewis under the "Sage" brand name (basic model).
mixguy
Well-known member
GE Versatronic Toaster Over
I have a GE Versatronic-the model you can dismantle for washing in the dishwasher. After taking this picture, it sure needs a cleaning again! The inside liners, glass door and rear panels are removable and there are sensors that prevent heating if not re-assembled correctly. It has a two position shelf for broiling. There is a sensor in the chrome wire shelf. The instructions are explicit about food placement to insure best results. It preheats very fast usually at 350 in 3 min. Rarely make pizza at home and when I do it is on the pizza stone in the big oven. The one fault it has is sometimes browning the top of food too quickly. Like that it can accommodate a 9" x 13" pan. I have never used it to broil, knowing it will be a PITA to clean and will shorten the life of the heating elements that are not replaceable. GE is famous for making parts NLA when a model is discontinued! Like how is toasts oversized as well as sliced bread, I seldom have 6 slices toasting at any one time and know the lower calrod heating elements don't deliver the radiant heat as well as the upper glass enclosed nichrome wire elements. I like the timer. Use it lots in the summer to bake biscuits, muffins and single layer cakes. A standard Bundt pan fits but I advise against its use with the risk of burning the top of the finish cake, foil can be used as a heat shield but it can become a messy ordeal as the cake rises close to the top of the pan. When they first appeared 1978 they sold for $99.95 and were not selling, I checked the store weekly price reductions when the price was on clearance at 50% off they were selling and I got the second to last one in the store! The toaster oven is still going strong except it does not work in the timed broil position or in the upper rack position. It is seldon to have a GE product last this long and hope that writing the entry does not "jinx" my oven. However I do have my eyes on a larger Brevelle and Oster which have convection modes and two shelves that would allow me to bake two cake layers at one time.
GE made a touch panel model but they were not durable most were returned within 90 days GE offered different model as a replacement without the electronic controls.
I have a GE Versatronic-the model you can dismantle for washing in the dishwasher. After taking this picture, it sure needs a cleaning again! The inside liners, glass door and rear panels are removable and there are sensors that prevent heating if not re-assembled correctly. It has a two position shelf for broiling. There is a sensor in the chrome wire shelf. The instructions are explicit about food placement to insure best results. It preheats very fast usually at 350 in 3 min. Rarely make pizza at home and when I do it is on the pizza stone in the big oven. The one fault it has is sometimes browning the top of food too quickly. Like that it can accommodate a 9" x 13" pan. I have never used it to broil, knowing it will be a PITA to clean and will shorten the life of the heating elements that are not replaceable. GE is famous for making parts NLA when a model is discontinued! Like how is toasts oversized as well as sliced bread, I seldom have 6 slices toasting at any one time and know the lower calrod heating elements don't deliver the radiant heat as well as the upper glass enclosed nichrome wire elements. I like the timer. Use it lots in the summer to bake biscuits, muffins and single layer cakes. A standard Bundt pan fits but I advise against its use with the risk of burning the top of the finish cake, foil can be used as a heat shield but it can become a messy ordeal as the cake rises close to the top of the pan. When they first appeared 1978 they sold for $99.95 and were not selling, I checked the store weekly price reductions when the price was on clearance at 50% off they were selling and I got the second to last one in the store! The toaster oven is still going strong except it does not work in the timed broil position or in the upper rack position. It is seldon to have a GE product last this long and hope that writing the entry does not "jinx" my oven. However I do have my eyes on a larger Brevelle and Oster which have convection modes and two shelves that would allow me to bake two cake layers at one time.
GE made a touch panel model but they were not durable most were returned within 90 days GE offered different model as a replacement without the electronic controls.
philr
Well-known member
Your Versatron toaster has more features than mine. I don't think this model was available here in Canada, at least, I've never seen one of these for sale here.
There was also another model with a digital display that I have seen only in ads. I wish I could find one with the digital display!
There was also another model with a digital display that I have seen only in ads. I wish I could find one with the digital display!
I have the exact same unit as PassatDoc I purchased October/November 2009. Love it!! Breville has a new Breville Smart Oven Air that's a whole 1.0 cu. ft. Drool.
[this post was last edited: 2/6/2017-13:29]
[this post was last edited: 2/6/2017-13:29]
Simple/modern specimen.
Meanwhile, in St-Liboire...
Here's the current daily driver, a 70s GE A6T94 4-slice model without the broil option.
I am using it as backup now, but the late 70s continuous-clean model in the second photo has served us well for years. Funnily enough, when we bought our first country house in Mountain Lakes, hubby and I went to a huge garage sale and I told him to grab a decent-looking toaster oven and this is what he found!
Here's the current daily driver, a 70s GE A6T94 4-slice model without the broil option.
I am using it as backup now, but the late 70s continuous-clean model in the second photo has served us well for years. Funnily enough, when we bought our first country house in Mountain Lakes, hubby and I went to a huge garage sale and I told him to grab a decent-looking toaster oven and this is what he found!
Dating
Louie, I have the exact Toast-R-Oven as you (reply#20). FWIW I bought it new from Woolworth's in 1986. This was a couple of years after GE sold their small appliance division to Black & Decker, so I was excited to see this one still languishing on the shelf.
So, I assume it is from the tail end of GE production in the Eighties. Unless it got lost somewhere in the Woolworth distribution system for 15 or 20 years?
It still works fine! I love it.
Louie, I have the exact Toast-R-Oven as you (reply#20). FWIW I bought it new from Woolworth's in 1986. This was a couple of years after GE sold their small appliance division to Black & Decker, so I was excited to see this one still languishing on the shelf.
So, I assume it is from the tail end of GE production in the Eighties. Unless it got lost somewhere in the Woolworth distribution system for 15 or 20 years?
It still works fine! I love it.
I have a Black & Decker toaster-oven, but it's packed up, and out in the garage. I bought it about 20 yrs. ago. I used it for about 8 or 10 yrs., but not often, so put it away.
Always like the Panasonic Flash Xpress oven, but the price has always put me off.
As an aside, I've made a number of TV dinners successfully in my Cuisnart. I'm not at all sure why so many TV dinner instructions say not to use a toaster oven. For a Swanson's Hungry Man Chicken dinner, microwave usually falls short; a toaster oven of sufficient size and quality does a much better job.
Also use the toaster oven for smallish stuff like hor d'oeuvres.
Another aside: I give extra points for toaster ovens with interior lights. The spare Oster has one, I just prefer the Cuisinart for the way it cooks. I see that the Flash Xpress has a "Light" button which I'm assuming is for an interior light as well.
Final question: Are there any toaster ovens with real insulation? Although they can be more energy efficient than a range or wall oven, seems to me they'd be even better with some fiberglass stuffed between the walls. And they'd heat up a kitchen less on a hot summer night.
As an aside, I've made a number of TV dinners successfully in my Cuisnart. I'm not at all sure why so many TV dinner instructions say not to use a toaster oven. For a Swanson's Hungry Man Chicken dinner, microwave usually falls short; a toaster oven of sufficient size and quality does a much better job.
Also use the toaster oven for smallish stuff like hor d'oeuvres.
Another aside: I give extra points for toaster ovens with interior lights. The spare Oster has one, I just prefer the Cuisinart for the way it cooks. I see that the Flash Xpress has a "Light" button which I'm assuming is for an interior light as well.
Final question: Are there any toaster ovens with real insulation? Although they can be more energy efficient than a range or wall oven, seems to me they'd be even better with some fiberglass stuffed between the walls. And they'd heat up a kitchen less on a hot summer night.
TV dinners warn against heating in a toaster oven due to the close proximity of the heat source to the plastic or paper tray (as compared to a conventional oven) possibly causing warping, melting, or fire.
Geez, TV dinners still came in foil trays when that ol' Proctor-Silex of mine was on the market - it has a second oven rack meant to allow you to cook two dinners at a time...
Mmmm. Nothing like a plastic fire to add that 21st century smoke flavor...
No, really, never had a problem putting a TV dinner in plastic tray in the Cuisinart or Oster. But then these are larger cavities than the older designs pictured in this thread, or even the B&D's that are still probably sold. I think I also use the convection mode, which allows for lower overall temps.
Now I'm craving some of that nasty Swanson's "fried" chicken, LOL.
No, really, never had a problem putting a TV dinner in plastic tray in the Cuisinart or Oster. But then these are larger cavities than the older designs pictured in this thread, or even the B&D's that are still probably sold. I think I also use the convection mode, which allows for lower overall temps.
Now I'm craving some of that nasty Swanson's "fried" chicken, LOL.
Ge Toaster Ovens
Have always been good performers.
Be careful however with the design at the top of this thread [ I would always unplug it when it is not being used ] we had a customer that got a whole new kitchen from the fire that started from something placed on the counter that held the start lever down. They had brought a lot of food etc home and placed them on the counter and went over to a neighbors house and saw the blase from the neighbors in their kitchen and hour or so later.
You will notice that the GE TRO that Paul C has , has the safer start button that is s rounded by a plastic frame so it can not be pushed by something falling against it. Our customers insurance company found out GE had had many fires with the earlier design.
Have always been good performers.
Be careful however with the design at the top of this thread [ I would always unplug it when it is not being used ] we had a customer that got a whole new kitchen from the fire that started from something placed on the counter that held the start lever down. They had brought a lot of food etc home and placed them on the counter and went over to a neighbors house and saw the blase from the neighbors in their kitchen and hour or so later.
You will notice that the GE TRO that Paul C has , has the safer start button that is s rounded by a plastic frame so it can not be pushed by something falling against it. Our customers insurance company found out GE had had many fires with the earlier design.
Daily driver...
Currently on the kitchen counter
Currently on the kitchen counter
ovrphil
Well-known member
I've never heard of a GE Versatronic.. handsome-looking little toaster oven.
Paul/PhilR/Whiskybil/Louie..and others.. I do like your toaster ovens. Have a feeling I might be looking at more toaster ovens after seeing these other units. We almost bought a Breville, convection oven. It has great reviews.
I would love an interior light feature... you don't see that too often. If you are asking for insulation I'm sure it would add a big premium. That's one to research.
Combo52... thanks for the tip, John. Fortunately nothing like that would ever happen but it's good to know. I always unplug the appliances except for the microwave. That includes my recent Whirlpool Calypso washer(not dryer). When I lived alone many moons and comet visits ago, I unplugged every single appliance. I had a buddy in California whose dad was a fireman. He told me a story and suggested that the safest thing to do is unplug everything when I leave the apartment everyday. Then he laughed and said,"Yeah...but how many people wiil do that?" I did, even before he told me. It was just an efficiency apartment- not a problem. Well someone else could cause a fire for sure.
It seems the aluminum cover on TV dinners has gone away? I haven't bought TV dinners for myself in a long long time. So I don't know. But surely if it was not flameproof, why would you want to start a Weenie Roast bonfire? LOL
I'm enjoying the thread ..thank you guys!
Paul/PhilR/Whiskybil/Louie..and others.. I do like your toaster ovens. Have a feeling I might be looking at more toaster ovens after seeing these other units. We almost bought a Breville, convection oven. It has great reviews.
I would love an interior light feature... you don't see that too often. If you are asking for insulation I'm sure it would add a big premium. That's one to research.
Combo52... thanks for the tip, John. Fortunately nothing like that would ever happen but it's good to know. I always unplug the appliances except for the microwave. That includes my recent Whirlpool Calypso washer(not dryer). When I lived alone many moons and comet visits ago, I unplugged every single appliance. I had a buddy in California whose dad was a fireman. He told me a story and suggested that the safest thing to do is unplug everything when I leave the apartment everyday. Then he laughed and said,"Yeah...but how many people wiil do that?" I did, even before he told me. It was just an efficiency apartment- not a problem. Well someone else could cause a fire for sure.
It seems the aluminum cover on TV dinners has gone away? I haven't bought TV dinners for myself in a long long time. So I don't know. But surely if it was not flameproof, why would you want to start a Weenie Roast bonfire? LOL
I'm enjoying the thread ..thank you guys!
My daily driver...
Circa 1984 Toastmaster System 4 Toaster-Slow Cooker (Dehydrator)-Convection Oven. MOD. 7060A, 1320 Watts. My folks had one of these. Lasted for decades until the timer failed. I got this one 6 months ago while thrifting. I was lucky it came with the paperwork. I have the manual/recipe booklet as well. The door is easily lifted off for cleaning. It's also insulated, but the door is not of course. I'm not sure the pans and handle are original though, but glad I have them.
Circa 1984 Toastmaster System 4 Toaster-Slow Cooker (Dehydrator)-Convection Oven. MOD. 7060A, 1320 Watts. My folks had one of these. Lasted for decades until the timer failed. I got this one 6 months ago while thrifting. I was lucky it came with the paperwork. I have the manual/recipe booklet as well. The door is easily lifted off for cleaning. It's also insulated, but the door is not of course. I'm not sure the pans and handle are original though, but glad I have them.
ovrphil
Well-known member
Reply #37
Toastmaster system 4
...What a nice thrift find, Louie.
It looks huuuge.
Toastmaster system 4
...What a nice thrift find, Louie.
It looks huuuge.
Yup, It's big, and heavy. Works well, even cakes come out fine. When the Caloric's oven is busy, this comes in handy when making secondary dishes.
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