Black & Decker TO1332SBD Toaster Oven Review

Functions and Specifications

Aesthetics & Size

The Black & Decker TO1332SBD  is a two toned toaster oven with a black metal exterior and a stainless steel front panel.   The front panel is not as shiny as other stainless steel appliances out there, but the unit looks clean and should fit in nicely with most kitchens.

If you like the look of classic turn dial appliances, then the TO1332SBD should fit the bill.  It’s your basic no frills countertop oven without any fancy digital controls or confusing control panel.

Additionally, the size is large enough to fit multiple items, like a couple of baked potatoes or two slices of pizza, but not so bulky that it will hog your counter space.

Toasting and Cooking

When looking at toaster ovens under $50, it is not an easy task to find one that does what it is supposed to.  The majority of countertop ovens in this price range quite frankly are not worth purchasing.  The Black and Decker TO1332SBD, however, is one of the few that can be considered a good “bang for your buck.”  It toasts, bakes, and broils as you would expect.

This unit is perfect for cooking small items.  Its small size allows it to heat up quickly and is great for cooking frozen foods like waffles, chicken nuggets, fish sticks, etc. It is too small to cook a whole chicken, but is a good size when cooking for one or two people.  In addition, the oven does a good job of keeping true to the temperature.

It can fit up to four slices of toast (depends on size) and does a better job of evenly toasting the bread than other ovens in this price range.  Both the top and bottom of the bread get toasted with the top of the bread receiving the best toasting.

The broil and keep warm functions are equally good and offer more cooking options. For example, the broil feature works great for melting cheese on bagels or toast and the keep warm feature works well for keeping items warm until you are ready to serve them.

Overall, this is a great little unit for the price that should appeal to the masses that just want to toast and heat up some quick and easy snacks.  If you are a cook or chef, however, then you would probably prefer something a little more sophisticated with more control and cooking options, like a Breville or Cuisinart.

Using the Black & Decker TO1332SBD

With only two control dials, the oven is not difficult to use. The top dial controls the temperature while the bottom controls the time.

The timer goes up to 30 minutes, however, if you would like to cook for a longer period of time or want to control the time yourself, then you may choose the STAY ON mode.  Be careful, though. You may go too far when turning the timer off and accidentally select the STAY ON feature.

To toast something, you will need to first turn the top dial to the toast position, which is indicated by a toast icon (not written).  Then you will need to turn the bottom dial past the 10 minute mark and then back to the desired toast shade that you want.  When the cycle is complete, you will hear an audible signal (not too loud to be annoying) and the oven and light will automatically turn off.

To bake, simply turn the top dial to the desired temperature and then turn the bottom one to the time that you want.  As with the toast cycle, when the oven has finished, it will turn off automatically.

If you wish to broil an item, turn the top dial to the broil icon next to the 450° mark.   Then choose the time that you want by turning the bottom dial.

To keep something warm, turn the top dial to the three squiggly lines next to the 200° mark and then turn the bottom dial to the time that you want.

One of the benefits of using a small appliance such as this, is that it doesn’t use a lot of energy.  It preheats within minutes and will cook faster so you will spend much less money than a large wall oven.

Customer Wishes & Complaints

The biggest complaint customers have with the Black and Decker TO1332SBD is that it is prone to smoke.  However, per the instruction manual, it says “During first few minutes of use you may notice smoke and a slight odor. This is normal and should cause no concern.”  That being said, nobody wants to see or smell smoke as it is disconcerting and a potential fire hazard.

Another complaint or concern people have is the way the timer and STAY ON feature work.   There is the possibility of selecting the STAY ON mode by accident when turning off the timer.

Pros

Cons

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