Saturday, July 23, 2011

Black & Decker CTO7100B Toast-R-Oven Digital Rotisserie Convection Oven


This B & D oven makes excellent rotisserie meats and is a major step in value over a traditional toaster oven, with one major drawback: it's a very mediocre toaster. In fairness, the package Nowhere this product says "toaster" - it is simply described as a convection rotisserie oven. But if you're considering an upgrade over a standard toaster oven, as I was, you hope, probably the best of all worlds: rotisserie, convection oven and toaster. It nails the first two, but is only acceptable in the third.

Rotisserie: It takes a few tries to get a sense of timing, but once you do, you really excellent chef and restaurant-grade rotisserie chicken. The Rotisserie is juice circulates inside, so that the meat from drying out as when you bake it in the usual way. Some have noted that it is not really big enough for the chicken and it may be a squeeze. But if you tie the legs with kitchen string (which you should do anyway, to prevent burning), you can cook a 4-1/2 to 5 pounds birds, and anything less is easy (manual suggests that a 3-1 / 2 limit, but you can push it a bit). Pork and beef steaks are ridiculously simple - just stick it through with spears and put them in - and absolutely delicious. I am amazed at those who say that the rotisserie is not worth it, because for me it's the best thing about this device. Good to upgrade over a non-rotisserie oven.

Convection oven: If you are not interested in the rotisserie, you can get a good non-rotisserie convection oven for $ 30 - $ 40 less. There is still $ 30 - $ 40 more than an ordinary toaster oven, but it's worth it. An ordinary toaster is really not for baking. It is good for heating or melting cheese on anything, but that's all. A good oven as this can be used for everything you do in a conventional oven. Lasagna (in an 9x9 pan), breads, pizzas (up to 12-inches), desserts, etc. - all these can happen here because the stove regulates the temperature reliably. In addition, the smaller size and the convection fan (which circulates air to regulate temperature and velocity cooking a little) less energy. Why use a big oven to cook a small bowl? Preheating is faster cooking time is shorter, and the food is just as good. The broiler works well.

Toaster: Again, not B & D does not promote this as a toaster, but it has a toaster setting. It toasts very evenly (no worse than an ordinary toaster oven in front), but the larger size of the kiln (compared to a toaster), means that it takes a long time, and toasted bread tends to dry out. You can play with the settings a bit, and if you place the rack near the heating element, it turns out good, but expect that it will take a few minutes longer than an ordinary toaster or toaster oven. This may also mean that you give something of the energy you save by using it as an oven.

Two other disadvantages to be aware of: (1) it takes a lot of cabinet space, as there are a couple of inches wider, deeper and taller than most toaster ovens, and (2) the glass on the front is double layer, and thus becomes very hot - be careful if you use it with small children around.

Besides this, it is a solid product. After six months of use, I am glad I bought it, and I'm really happy to have another way to cook good meat for the winter months when it's too cold to grill.

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