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Breville Smart Oven Pro vs Hamilton Beach 31127D Toaster Oven Side-by-Side Comparison

Alan Nguyen
Reviewer
Nguyen Ntk
Visual Specialist
Updated
Tested Using Methodology v1.0
Updated Apr 3, 2023
Tested Using Methodology v1.0
Updated Mar 19, 2023
The front of a closed stainless steel Breville BOV845BSS Smart Oven Pro Convection Toaster Oven on a white background.
The front of a closed stainless steel Hamilton Beach 31127D 6-Slice Easy Reach Roll Top Toaster Oven on a white background.

Our Verdict

7.8
Overall Score
  • Performance (50%)
    6.9/10
  • Design (25%)
    9.3/10
  • Usability (25%)
    8.0/10
6.2
Overall Score
  • Performance (50%)
    6.6/10
  • Design (25%)
    5.2/10
  • Usability (25%)
    6.4/10

The Breville Smart Oven Pro (BOV845BSS) and the Hamilton Beach 31127D have similar scores, but the latter is clearly still the winner.

The Smart Oven Pro, with larger footprint and higher price, has all the fancy extras you can think of. On the other hand, the Hamilton is a standard medium-sized unit with only the basic features plus a roll-top door.

The Breville has various cooking presets and additional toggle switches including frozen foods, temperature conversion, convection, and internal lighting. It also has a non-stick interior for easy cleaning which is a rare feature.

Surprisingly, however, their performance scores don’t differ much. From a value standpoint, the Hamilton’s ratings are quite high while the Breville’s are the opposite.

The Hamilton was better in toasting bread thanks to its nichrome heating elements being better for getting the right color and texture. However, the machine lacks the ability to automatically deduct the timer that the Breville has, resulting in a less desirable second batch right after.

Nonetheless, the Breville is still better overall, scoring higher in baking pizza, whole chicken, and fries. This is simply by having a convection system and a higher power output.

Not As Expected

Breville Smart Oven Pro Performance

Hamilton Beach 6-Slice Toaster Oven Performance: Needs More Power
6.9
Performance Scores
  • Toast (40%)6.8/10
  • Pizza (25%)6.8/10
  • Whole Roasted Chicken (25%)7.5/10
  • Baked French Fries (10%)6.1/10
6.6
Performance Scores
  • Toast (40%)7.3/10
  • Pizza (25%)6.6/10
  • Whole Roasted Chicken (25%)6.3/10
  • Baked French Fries (10%)5.1/10
6.8

Toast

7.3
Breville Smart Oven Pro Toaster Oven Toast Test
From left to right, 24 pieces of toast for the top and bottom of three toast levels including lighter, medium, and darker.
The top and bottom of the best four pieces of toast from the Breville BOV845BSS Smart Oven Pro Convection Toaster Oven.
On the left are the top and bottom of four pieces of toast from the first batch, and on the right are from the second batch.
Taste: 6.5
50% * 6.5 = 3.3
Even Surface Color: 7
20% * 7 = 1.4
Consecutive Usability: 7
30% * 7 = 2.1
  • Function: Toast
  • Number Of Slices: 4
  • Toast Level: 5/7
  • Cooking Time: 5m 13s
  • Second Batch: 3m 42s
  • Convection: No

We began our Toast test by choosing toast level 4—the middle one out of the 7 options—for 4 pieces which we placed on tray level 2. The four pieces of bread came out only slightly toasted on top. We then chose level 5 and the surface color was more appetizing but less even.

So, we tried again one last time at level 6 but it produced four completely brown pieces of toast which were also a bit dry. In the end, we settled for level 5—5 minutes 13 seconds on the timer—as the best possible option with a score of 6.8/10.

At this level, the toast had a perfect golden brown color around the center of the oven. However, it was lighter the further it got to the rear, so we could only give it a 7/10 for even surface color.

The unevenness also translated to the texture where the toast achieved great crispiness in the golden brown areas but got softer in the lighter areas. This resulted in a 6.5/10 for taste from our chef.

Our head chef, Tuyet Pham, determined they would be good to have with omelets and sandwiches. They could be served with soups or eggs benedict but wouldn't make a perfect pairing.

We placed the second batch of four in immediately after the first one. We chose level 5 again whereupon the oven automatically deducted the timer to 3 minutes 42 seconds.

Because the oven was already hot, the second batch showed an increase in evenness for both surface color and crispiness deserving a 7/10. This batch would be more suitable for soups.

From left to right, 24 pieces of toast for the top and bottom of three toast levels including lighter, medium, and darker.
On the left: 1m 55s; In the middle: 3m 30s; On the right: 4m 15s
From left to right, 24 pieces of toast for the top and bottom of three toast levels including lighter, medium, and darker.
The top and bottom of the best four pieces of toast from the Hamilton Beach 31127D 6-Slice Easy Reach Roll Top Toaster Oven.
On the left are the top and bottom of four pieces of toast from the first batch, and on the right are from the second batch.
Taste: 8
50% * 8 = 4.0
Even Surface Color: 8
20% * 8 = 1.6
Consecutive Usability: 5.5
30% * 5.5 = 1.6
  • Function: Toast
  • Number Of Slices: 4
  • Toast Level: 3/4 to Medium
  • Cooking Time: 3m 30s
  • Second Batch: 3m 30s
  • Convection: No

We initially set the toast knob to Medium—right at the Toast icon—for our Toast test. The bread came away very dark on the bottom but barely toasted on top. Then, the halfway point to Medium gave the toast no color.

Eventually, we settled on a point 3/4 the way to Medium—around 3 minutes 30 seconds on the timer—as the best option, and awarded it a score of 7.3/10.

At our optimal toasting setting, the Hamilton Beach produced 4 pieces with a great, slightly golden-brown color. Though the oven doesn’t have a convection fan, the color distribution was about 80% even so we gave the toast an 8/10.

The first batch of toast was crispy on the outside while still soft and moist on the inside, so we gave it an 8/10 for taste. Our head chef, Tuyet Pham, said it would go very well with everything including sandwiches, soup, omelets, and eggs benedict.

The second batch represented a significant decrease in performance, scoring only 5.5/10 for consecutive usability. The toast had an uneven, dark brown color plus a burnt flavor. If you want the second batch to be the same as the first, remember to only turn the knob halfway to Medium—around 1 minute 55 seconds on the timer.

6.8

Pizza

6.6
Breville Smart Oven Pro Toaster Oven Pizza
A toaster oven baked 9-inch thick-crust meat pizza with cheese, onions, and green bell peppers on top inside a baking pan.
Two hands break apart a slice of pizza with cheese, meat, onions, and green bell peppers on top baked using a toaster oven.
Two slices of oven baked 9-inch thick-crust meat pizza with cheese, onions, and green bell peppers on top of one another.
Cooking Time: 10
20% * 10 = 2.0
Crust: 6
20% * 6 = 1.2
Toppings: 6
30% * 6 = 1.8
Taste: 6
30% * 6 = 1.8
  • Function: Bake
  • Temperature: 450°F
  • Cooking Time: 4m
  • Convection: Yes

For our Pizza test, we didn’t use the pizza presets because they didn’t include the correct size for our choice of pizza. This was also a good chance to test out the Breville pizza pan, but we were surprised to find the overall score ended up at 6.8/10.

Thanks to the oven’s strong power output and convection setting, it only took 4 minutes to bake a 9-inch thick-crust meat pizza placed on tray level 2. This was extremely fast and deserved a 10/10 according to our data on average toaster oven performance.

However, the pizza still had a problem with cooking evenness. A quarter of the entire crust was golden brown but the rest of it lacked color. As you can imagine, the golden brown part was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside while the lighter part was simply soft throughout. Thus, we could only give the crust a 6/10.

The same issue applied to the toppings which had a nice caramelization where the crust was golden but not much in the substandard area. The cheese was also not quite melty so the toppings also got a 6/10.

Altogether, our chef gave the pizza another 6/10 after tasting it. We chose not to increase the cooking time of the pizza as it could result in burning the part of the crust and toppings that were already properly baked.

A toaster oven baked 9-inch thick-crust meat pizza with cheese, onions, and green bell peppers on top inside a baking pan.
A toaster oven baked 9-inch thick-crust meat pizza with cheese, onions, and green bell peppers on top inside a baking pan.
Two slices of oven baked 9-inch thick-crust meat pizza with cheese, onions, and green bell peppers on top of one another.
Two hands break apart a slice of pizza with melty cheese, meat, and green bell peppers on top baked using a toaster oven.
Cooking Time: 5.8
20% * 5.8 = 1.2
Crust: 7
20% * 7 = 1.4
Toppings: 7
30% * 7 = 2.1
Taste: 6.5
30% * 6.5 = 1.9
  • Function: Bake
  • Temperature: 450°F
  • Cooking Time: 9m 10s
  • Convection: No

This oven left a bit to be desired when we tried baking a 9-inch thick-crust meat pizza. We gave it a score of 6.6/10.

It took 9 minutes and 10 seconds to bake a pizza which was slightly faster than the recommended 10 minutes on the label. It only garnered a score of 5.8/10 after being compared to other toaster ovens in our Pizza test, though.

The crust had a good golden brown color but was soft, so we could only give it a 7/10. The toppings were caramelized unevenly and some areas of cheese got darkened. On the bright side, the toppings weren’t dry, so they got a 7/10. After tasting, our chef gave it a 6.5/10.

7.5

Whole Roasted Chicken

6.3
Breville Smart Oven Pro Toaster Oven Whole Roasted Chicken Test
Breville Smart Oven Pro Toaster Oven Whole Roasted ChickenA whole roasted chicken using the Breville BOV845BSSUSC Toaster Oven backside up on an enamel broiling rack and baking pan.
A whole roasted chicken using the Breville BOV845BSSUSC Toaster Oven belly up on an enamel broiling rack and baking pan.
A tray of whole toaster oven roasted chicken. The thermometer has two probes inside the chicken and both display 198°F.
Eight pieces of a carved chicken including two carcass halves, two breasts, two wings, and two thighs on a baking pan.
Two hands pulling apart a roasted chicken thigh from the carcass. In the white background is the rest of the roasted chicken.
Cooking Time: 8
20% * 8 = 1.6
Skin: 7
20% * 7 = 1.4
Doneness: 8.6
20% * 8.6 = 1.7
Taste: 7
40% * 7 = 2.8
  • Function: Bake
  • Temperature: 350°F
  • Cooking Time: 1h
  • Convection: Yes

For our Whole Roasted Chicken test, we placed a 3 lb chicken in a belly-up position onto the broiling rack and baking pan combo on tray level 1. The outcome was pretty satisfactory, scoring a 7.5/10.

The Breville took 1 hour to roast the chicken to a desirable color which was our standard for an 8/10. The skin overall had a golden color, especially at the wings and the tips. However, it still had some very light areas.

In addition, when we flipped the chicken after the first 40 minutes, some of the skin on the back of the chicken got stuck to the broiling rack. This was an indication that the skin was soft and didn’t crisp up much despite having the convection fan deployed. Thus, we gave the skin a 7/10.

The oven was able to maintain a good internal temperature so the chicken was cooked all the way through leaving behind no pink spots. However, the cooking time was a little long, so the chicken’s internal temperature ended up at 198°F which was higher than the recommended 180°F by the USDA. We gave the doneness of this chicken an 8.6/10.

Nonetheless, the meat wasn’t dry and combined with the skin it was enough to get a 7/10 for taste from our chef.

A whole roasted chicken using the Hamilton Beach 31127D 6-Slice Toaster Oven on a silver baking pan on a white background.
A whole roasted chicken using the Hamilton Beach 31127D 6-Slice Toaster Oven on a silver baking pan on a white background.
A tray of whole toaster oven roasted chicken. The thermometer has two probes inside the chicken and displays 165°F and 176°F.
Seven pieces of a carved chicken including a carcass, two breasts, two wings, and two thighs on a silver baking pan.
The pink spots near the bone of the chicken. In the white background is the rest of the roasted chicken on a baking pan.
Cooking Time: 8
20% * 8 = 1.6
Skin: 5.5
20% * 5.5 = 1.1
Doneness: 6
20% * 6 = 1.2
Taste: 6
40% * 6 = 2.4
  • Function: Bake
  • Temperature: 350°F
  • Cooking Time: 1h
  • Convection: No

Even though the Hamilton Beach could comfortably fit a 3 lb chicken for our Whole Roasted Chicken test, its performance was far from perfect, scoring only 6.3/10.

The oven took 1 hour—our standard for this test—to cook the chicken to a desirable color, so we gave it an 8/10.

After roasting, the skin took on an even golden color on top but only a very light caramelization on the bottom — although that was also even. Unfortunately, the skin was very soft, so we could only give it a 5.5/10.

The chicken reached an internal temperature of 165-176°F which was very close to the USDA recommendation. However, there were pink spots near the bone so we could only give it a 6/10.

The meat was acceptable in terms of texture and juiciness, but didn’t stand out as remarkable. Our chef gave the chicken a 6/10 for taste.

6.1

Baked French Fries

5.1
Breville Smart Oven Pro Toaster Oven Baked French Fries
Breville Smart Oven Pro Toaster Oven Baked French FriesPieces of baked french fries using the Breville BOV845BSSUSC Toaster Oven on an enamel baking pan on a white background.
A close-up of pieces of baked french fries using the Breville BOV845BSSUSC on an enamel baking pan on a white background.
Eight pieces of broken-up baked french fries are stacked on top of pieces of whole fries on an enamel baking pan.
Cooking Time: 6
20% * 6 = 1.2
Color: 6.5
20% * 6.5 = 1.3
Texture: 6
20% * 6 = 1.2
Taste: 6
40% * 6 = 2.4
  • Function: Bake
  • Temperature: 400°F
  • Cooking Time: 24m
  • Convection: Yes

Despite the power draw of 1800 W, the Breville didn’t perform as well in baking french fries as many toaster ovens with the same output earning a 6.1/10. Looking at the results from the Ninja DT201, our assumption was that the broiling rack wasn’t as efficient for this purpose as an air fryer basket.

For our Baked French Fries test, we didn’t turn on the Frozen Foods toggle because we needed to keep track of the exact cooking time. The oven took 24 minutes to bake 12 oz of frozen fries on tray level 2 which wasn’t very fast. Compared to many other toaster ovens we’ve tested, it could only get a 6/10 for cooking time.

Even though we gave the fries a toss after the first 10 minutes, they still came out with uneven coloring scoring a 6.5/10. Most of the thinner fries had a pretty good golden color while most of the thicker ones had a much lighter color.

To the same degree, the fries had different textures throughout earning it a 6/10 for this testing component. The pieces with a golden color were crispy outside and soft inside while the lighter ones were mostly just soft all the way through.

With all of that in mind, our chef couldn’t give a score higher than 6/10 after tasting the fries.

Pieces of baked french fries using the Hamilton Beach 31127D Toaster Oven on a silver baking pan on a white background.
Pieces of baked french fries using the Hamilton Beach 31127D Toaster Oven on a silver baking pan on a white background.
A close-up of pieces of baked french fries using the Hamilton Beach 31127D 6-Slice Toaster Oven on a silver baking pan.
Eight pieces of broken-up baked french fries are stacked on top of pieces of whole fries on a silver baking pan.
Cooking Time: 0
20% * 0 = 0.0
Color: 6.5
20% * 6.5 = 1.3
Texture: 6
20% * 6 = 1.2
Taste: 6.5
40% * 6.5 = 2.6
  • Function: Bake
  • Temperature: 400°F.
  • Cooking Time: 27m 15s
  • Convection: No

Baking 12 oz of french fries clearly wasn’t the Hamilton Beach oven’s forte, and it came away with a score of 5.1/10.

This oven took 27 minutes and 15 seconds to put some color into the french fries. That exceeded our time limit of 25 minutes, though, so it failed the cooking time criterion of our Baked French Fries test.

Even though the fries had some golden ends, most of them basically had no color. We gave them a 6.5/10.

Despite being spread out on the baking pan, the fries didn’t crisp up, so they got a 6/10. Our chef gave the fries a 6.5/10 for taste.

High-Quality Features

Breville BOV845BSS Stainless Steel Toaster Oven Design

Hamilton Beach Easy-Reach Toaster Oven Design: No Lighting or Convection
9.3
design Scores
  • Exterior (20%)9.5/10
  • Interior (30%)9.5/10
  • Build Quality (50%)9.0/10
5.2
design Scores
  • Exterior (20%)7.0/10
  • Interior (30%)1.0/10
  • Build Quality (50%)7.0/10

In the Breville Smart Convection Toaster Oven Box

In the Hamilton Beach 6-Slice Easy-Reach Toaster Oven Box
A box, the Breville BOV845BSSUSC, a pizza pan, a broiling rack, a warranty, a user manual, an oven rack, and a baking pan.
  • Model: BOV845BSSUSC
  • Warranty: 1 year (US only)
  • User Manual
  • Baking Rack
  • Baking Pan
  • Broiling Rack
  • Pizza Pan

The Breville toaster oven came in an eye-catching box but it was only secured with two foam pads. On the bright side, its accessories including a baking rack, baking pan, broiling rack, and pizza pan were neatly placed in a fitted carton box.

The oven’s user manual explains in detail how each oven function works and includes a number of recipes. To elevate your pizza party, you can opt for the optional pizza crisper, pizza stone, and bamboo cutting board.

An oven rack, a user manual, the Hamilton Beach 31127D 6-Slice Easy Reach Roll Top Toaster Oven, a box, and a baking pan.
  • Model: 31127D
  • Warranty: 1-year limited in the US and 5-year limited in Canada
  • User Manual
  • Baking Rack
  • Baking Pan
  • Removable Crumb Tray

Aside from the Hamilton Beach oven itself, the box also contained a baking pan, a baking rack, a removable crumb tray, and a basic user manual.

9.5

Exterior

7.0
A closed front of the Breville BOV845BSSUSC Smart Convection Toaster Oven with exterior measurements on a white background.
A closed front of the Breville BOV845BSSUSC Smart Convection Toaster Oven with exterior measurements on a white background.
Breville Smart Oven Pro Toaster Oven ExteriorThe front of a closed Breville BOV845BSSUSC Convection Toaster Oven has a control panel and the right has ventilation holes.
The back and left sides of the Breville BOV845BSSUSC Toaster Oven have air ventilation holes. The back has two buffers.
The top, front, and right sides of the Breville BOV845BSSUSC Smart Oven Pro Convection Toaster Oven on a white background.
On a white background, the Breville BOV845BSSUSC’s bottom has four stands and two carrying handles with ventilation holes.
  • Weight:
    18.1 lbs (8.2 kg)
  • Length:
    18.4" (46.7 cm)
  • Width:
    15.9" (40.5 cm)
  • Height:
    10.8" (27.4 cm)
  • Material:
    Stainless steel
  • Color:
    Silver
  • Door Handle:
    Cool-touch
  • Tray Indicators:
    Yes
  • Crumb Tray:
    Slide-out

An exterior feature that stood out to us on the Breville is its side-positioned carrying handles which double up as air ventilation holes for the convection system. We were also impressed by the indicators on the glass door that direct you to its three tray levels and many cooking functions.

The Breville has an interesting automatic eject feature for when the oven rack is in the middle guide rail. This is achieved thanks to a magnet in the corresponding position on the oven door.

Further attention to the design shows in the convenient slide-out crumb tray and strong base stands. The oven’s door handle is cool-touch and provides a good grip. Unfortunately, the back buffers are not long enough to create ample space between the back of the oven and the wall.

Our measurements of 18.39" x 15.94" x 10.78" for the oven pretty much coincided with the dimensions provided by the manufacturer—18.5" x 14.5" x 11". The 1.5-inch difference in width is probably because we took the door handle into account.

A closed front of the Hamilton Beach 31127D 6-Slice Roll Top Toaster Oven with exterior measurements on a white background.
A closed front of the Hamilton Beach 31127D 6-Slice Roll Top Toaster Oven with exterior measurements on a white background.
The front of an opened Hamilton Beach 31127D 6-Slice Roll Top Toaster Oven has a control panel and the right side has holes.
The back and left sides of the Hamilton Beach 31127D 6-Slice Toaster Oven have holes. The back has a power cord and a buffer.
The top of the stainless steel Hamilton Beach 31127D 6-Slice Easy Reach Roll Top Door Toaster Oven on a grey background.
On a grey background, the bottom of the Hamilton Beach 31127D 6-Slice Easy Reach Toaster Oven has four stands and holes.
  • Weight:
    9.3 lbs (4.2 kg)
  • Length:
    18.5" (47.0 cm)
  • Width:
    14.6" (37.0 cm)
  • Height:
    9.4" (24.0 cm)
  • Material:
    Stainless steel
  • Color:
    Silver
  • Door Handle:
    cool-touch
  • Tray Indicators:
    No
  • Crumb Tray:
    Removable

The Hamilton Beach has a stainless steel exterior. Our measurements of the oven’s footprint were 18.5" x 15.56" x 9.41"—marginally different from the manufacturer’s provided 18.74" x 15.24" x 9.41".

What stands out most is the roll-top door with a cool-touch handle. It moves up and out of the way, giving you safe and easy access to your food before, during, and after cooking.

The oven has a back buffer to prevent it from being pushed too close to the wall. Unlike many other toaster ovens, though, you can’t wrap the power cord around the buffer.

Control Panel

Control Panel of the Hamilton Beach 31127D
The Breville BOV845BSSUSC’s control panel has an LCD, 5 buttons, and 3 control knobs for function, temperature, and time.
  • Type:
    LCD + 3 control knobs + 5 buttons
  • Temperature:
    120°F - 450°F
  • Timer:
    1 minute - 10 hours
  • Indicator Light:
    Yes
  • Status Bar:
    Yes
  • Light Toggle:
    Yes
  • Convection Toggle:
    Yes
  • Rotation Toggle:
    No
  • Automatic Preheat:
    Yes
  • Audio Cues:
    No

The Breville has 3 control knobs for function, temperature, and timer. Its five buttons include four toggles for temperature conversion, interior light, convection fan, and Defrost feature. The Start/Cancel button and the digital display both shine red when the oven’s cooking.

The LCD screen will display ‘E01’, ‘E02’, or ‘E05’ when there is a non-resettable issue with the appliance. When this happens, immediately unplug the cord from the wall outlet and call the Breville Customer Service Center.

The ‘E03’ shows up when the oven temperature exceeds its design limit. Should this occur, unplug your oven, allow it to cool for 15 minutes, then plug it back in.

The ‘E04’ appears when the room temperature is below the set minimum. If this happens, unplug the oven and move it to a warmer area.

The control panel of the Hamilton Beach 31127D 6-Slice Toaster Oven has 3 control knobs for temperature, function, and timer.
  • Type:
    3 control knobs
  • Temperature:
    100°F - 450°F
  • Timer:
    1 minute - 30 minutes + stay-on
  • Indicator Light:
    Yes
  • Status Bar:
    No
  • Light Toggle:
    No
  • Convection Toggle:
    No
  • Rotation Toggle:
    No
  • Automatic Preheat:
    No
  • Audio Cues:
    No

The Hamilton beach has three contoured control knobs labeled Temperature, Function, and Timer which are durable and easy to grip. While the timer only runs from 1 minute to 30 minutes, the knob has a stay-on position as well.

Cooking Functions of the Breville BOV845BSS Smart Oven Pro

Cooking Functions
Breville BOV845BSSUSC has 10 cooking functions: Toast, Bagel, Bake, Roast, Broil, Pizza, Cookies, Reheat, Warm, Slow Cook.
  • Toast (level 1-7)
  • Bagel (level 1-7)
  • Bake (1 minute - 10 hours)
  • Roast (1 minute - 2 hours)
  • Broil (300°F, 400°F, 500°F; 1 minute - 20 minutes)
  • Pizza (6″-13″; Fresh/Frozen)
  • Cookies (1 minute - 1 hour)
  • Reheat (1 minute - 2 hours)
  • Warm (1 minute - 2 hours)
  • Slow Cook (2 hours - 10 hours)

The Breville has 10 cooking functions which make full use of its wide timer and temperature ranges. Functions that allow for the full adjustment of temperature (120°F - 450°F) include Bake, Roast, Cookies, Reheat, and Warm.

The Toast and Bagel functions have 1-7 levels which include predetermined timers for 1-6 slices. This toaster oven went the extra mile as most others don’t take the number of slices into account.

Meanwhile, the pizza function includes presets for sizes ranging from 6" to 13" along with fresh or frozen pizzas. The Broil function has three preset temperatures including 500°F, 400°F, and 300°F for up to 20 minutes.

The Slow Cook function has two settings: ‘LO’ with a timer of 4-10 hours and ‘HI’ with 2-8 hours; and you can further adjust the timer up and down while cooking. After the Slow Cook cycle finishes, this function automatically turns to Keep Warm at 175°F for up to another 2 hours.

The function knob of the Hamilton Beach 31127D 6-Slice Toaster Oven has 3 cooking functions including Bake, Broil, and Toast.
  • Toast
  • Bake
  • Broil

The bake and broil functions will be all you need if you know your way around the kitchen. The temperature knob also includes a Min setting which, at 100°F, can act as a ‘keep warm’ option.

9.5

Interior

1.0
Breville Smart Oven Pro Toaster Oven InteriorBreville BOV845BSSUSC has 4 quartz heating elements with guards, 3 guide rails with safety hooks, a light, and a fan cavity.
Breville Smart Oven Pro Toaster Oven InteriorBreville BOV845BSSUSC has 4 quartz heating elements with guards, 3 guide rails with safety hooks, a light, and a fan cavity.
The Breville BOV845BSSUSC has 2 upper heating elements, a shining light, and 3 guide rails on its left cooking chamber wall.
The Breville BOV845BSSUSC has 4 quartz heating elements, a fan cavity, and 3 guide rails on its right cooking chamber wall.
  • Heating Elements:
    5 quartz
  • Convection Fan:
    Yes
  • Lighting:
    Yes
  • Tray Levels:
    3
  • Rotisserie:
    No
  • Safety Hook:
    All three levels

The BOV845BSS has a non-stick interior coating which explains the black color. The black interior isn’t a problem though thanks to the oven’s interior light. When necessary, you can remove the glass cover to change the interior light bulb which is a G9 type, 25 W, 120 V.

Each of the three tray levels has a safety hook to prevent the oven rack from accidently sliding all the way out. However, only the bottom one is positioned further in, specifically for this purpose. The convection system, while quite powerful, is pleasantly quiet.

The Breville has five quartz heating elements that use infrared light to cook. Compared to the more common nichrome heating elements, these heat up and cool down faster while also being easier to clean and more energy-efficient but don’t last as long in terms of durability.

For this unit, each heating element has a safety guard to prevent direct contact with baking pans and trays. However, if grease splashes onto the heating elements while cooking, it’ll leave permanent stains.

The Hamilton Beach 31127D 6-Slice Roll Top Toaster Oven’s cooking chamber has 4 nichrome heating elements and 2 guide rails.
  • Heating Elements:
    4 nichrome
  • Convection Fan:
    No
  • Lighting:
    No
  • Tray Levels:
    2
  • Rotisserie:
    No
  • Safety Hook:
    No

Unfortunately, the 31127D doesn’t have any interior features worth mentioning, not even internal lighting or a convection system like the Cuisinart TOA-60. The only thing it has is four nichrome heating elements.

Capacity of the Breville BOV845BSS Smart Oven Pro Convection Toaster Oven

Capacity of the Stainless Steel Hamilton Beach 6-Slice Toaster Oven
An opened front of the Breville BOV845BSSUSC Smart Oven Pro Toaster Oven with interior measurements on a white background.
  • Length:
    14.2" (36.0 cm)
  • Width:
    13.0" (33.0 cm)
  • Height:
    8.3" (21.0 cm)

The Breville’s cooking chamber has a capacity of 25 liters which is quite common among large toaster ovens. This was one of the rare occasions where the cooking chamber’s volume that we measured matched the manufacturer’s stated capacity.

Many large units can also fit 6 slices of toast but not all can fit a 13-inch pizza like the Breville. This oven can also fit a 9-cup muffin tray or a 4.16-liter Dutch oven.

An opened front of the Hamilton Beach 31127D 6-Slice Roll Top Toaster Oven with interior measurements on a white background.
  • Length:
    13.0" (33.0 cm)
  • Width:
    12.2" (31.0 cm)
  • Height:
    7.7" (19.5 cm)

The Hamilton Beach has enough capacity for 6 slices of toast, a 3 lb chicken, or a 12-inch pizza.

We measured the cooking chamber’s volume to be around 19.92 liters which was vastly different from the manufacturer’s stated capacity of 10 liters. However, this could be because we measured from the cooking chamber’s walls to walls whereas the manufacturer stopped before reaching the heating elements.

Power Cord

A three-pronged plug power cord. In the background is the Breville BOV845BSSUSC Smart Oven Pro Convection Toaster Oven.
  • Length:
    3.3 ft (1.0 m)
  • Type:
    3-prong plug
  • Power:
    1800 W
  • Rated Output:
    110 V - 120 V ~ 60 Hz

The power cord is roughly 39.37"—plenty of length for household use. It does protrude from the bottom of the oven though, which may create inconvenient bends.

A two-pronged plug power cord. In the background is the Hamilton Beach 31127D 6-Slice Easy Reach Roll Top Door Toaster Oven.
  • Length:
    35.0" (88.9 cm)
  • Type:
    2-prong plug
  • Power:
    1400 W
  • Rated Output:
    120 V ~ 60 Hz

The power cord protrudes from the bottom of the oven which can create some inconvenient bends. Nonetheless, roughly 35" is plenty of cord length for household use. However, the oven doesn’t have a storage place for the cord.

Baking Rack

Accessories

Baking Rack
A stainless steel baking rack of the Breville BOV845BSSUSC Smart Oven Pro Convection Toaster Oven on a white background.
  • Length:
    14.1" (35.8 cm)
  • Width:
    11.6" (29.5 cm)
  • Height:
    0.3" (0.7 cm)
  • Material:
    Stainless steel
  • Dishwasher Safe:
    Yes

The baking rack fits perfectly with the guide to prevent accidents when placing food in the oven and has a pattern to keep the baking pan on top of it in place.

A stainless steel baking rack of the Hamilton Beach 31127D 6-Slice Easy Reach Roll Top Toaster Oven on a grey background.
  • Length:
    13.0" (33.0 cm)
  • Width:
    11.9" (30.2 cm)
  • Height:
    1.0" (2.5 cm)
  • Material:
    Stainless steel
  • Dishwasher Safe:
    Yes

The rack fits perfectly into the guide rails, reducing the chance of an accident when placing your food in the oven.

Baking Pan

Accessories

Baking Pan
A square enamel baking pan of the Breville BOV845BSSUSC Smart Oven Pro Convection Toaster Oven on a white background.
  • Length:
    11.8" (30.0 cm)
  • Width:
    11.8" (30.0 cm)
  • Height:
    1.2" (3.0 cm)
  • Material:
    Stainless steel
  • Dishwasher Safe:
    Not advisable

The baking pan has a non-stick enamel coating. However, it’s not big enough to fit into the guide rails which means it can’t fully utilize the capacity of the cooking chamber.

A silver baking pan of the stainless steel Hamilton Beach 31127D 6-Slice Easy Reach Toaster Oven on a grey background.
  • Length:
    11.3" (28.8 cm)
  • Width:
    9.4" (23.8 cm)
  • Height:
    0.7" (1.8 cm)
  • Material:
    Stainless steel
  • Dishwasher Safe:
    Yes

The baking pan is correctly sized to keep messy food from dripping directly onto the heating elements. It slides into the brackets on the baking rack’s underside, so it’s a perfect fit. Unfortunately, though it has a coating, it isn’t completely non-stick so it can accumulate some stains after a tough roasting mission.

Broiling Rack

Accessories

Removable Crumb Tray
A square enamel broiling rack of the Breville BOV845BSSUSC Smart Oven Pro Convection Toaster Oven on a white background.
  • Length:
    11.8" (30.0 cm)
  • Width:
    11.8" (30.0 cm)
  • Height:
    0.9" (2.4 cm)
  • Material:
    Stainless steel
  • Dishwasher Safe:
    Not advisable

The broiling rack fits perfectly on top of the baking pan and shares the same enamel coating. It has grooves and ridges to allow for air circulation around the food as well as holes to allow the grease from the food to drip onto the pan below.

A silver removable crumb tray of the stainless steel Hamilton Beach 31127D Easy Reach Toaster Oven on a grey background.
  • Length:
    12.9" (32.8 cm)
  • Width:
    10.0" (25.4 cm)
  • Height:
    0.7" (1.8 cm)
  • Material:
    Stainless steel
  • Dishwasher Safe:
    Not advisable

The removable crumb tray makes it easier to remove crumbs and other debris from the oven’s floor. However, some may still fall to the bottom of the oven as you take out the tray.

Pizza Pan

Accessories

A circular enamel pizza pan of the Breville BOV845BSSUSC Smart Oven Pro Convection Toaster Oven on a white background.
  • Length:
    13.0" (33.0 cm)
  • Width:
    13.0" (33.0 cm)
  • Height:
    0.3" (0.7 cm)
  • Material:
    Stainless steel
  • Dishwasher Safe:
    Not advisable

Similar to the two above, the pizza pan has an enamel coating and can accommodate a pizza of up to 13 inches. It won’t be as effective as a proper pizza stone (which you can purchase) but is still a nice included accessory.

9.0

Build Quality

7.0
The front of an opened Breville BOV845BSSUSC Toaster Oven with a pizza pan, oven rack, enamel baking pan, and broiling rack.

The Breville has a sturdy build and is made from durable stainless steel. The oven has good heat insulation and a good convection system so the casing rarely gets hot to the touch—only after a long cooking time at a high temperature (>400°F).

Its LCD has a good color contrast, the control dials turn smoothly, and the buttons have good responsiveness. On another note, this unit doesn’t provide enough oven racks to make full use of the three tray levels and additional accessories.

Note: This product adheres to the California Proposition 65.

The front of an opened Hamilton Beach 31127D 6-Slice Toaster Oven with a removable crumb tray, baking pan, and oven rack.

The Hamilton Beach is well-constructed out of durable stainless steel. Its contoured knobs turn smoothly and are a nice simple touch.

A Few Things to Be Desired

Breville Smart Oven Pro Usability Review

Hamilton Beach 6-Slice Toaster Oven Usability Review: No Noticable Problems
8.0
usability Scores
  • User Control (30%)9.5/10
  • Ease of Use (50%)7.0/10
  • Cleanability (20%)8.0/10
6.4
usability Scores
  • User Control (30%)6.0/10
  • Ease of Use (50%)6.0/10
  • Cleanability (20%)8.0/10
9.5

User Control

6.0

The timer of the Breville is specified by the minute. The temperature can be adjusted in 5°F/5°C increments by turning the knob slowly and in 10°F/10°C increments by turning the knob fast.

You can freely adjust the time and temperature while the oven is running but will need to press Cancel to change the cooking function. Keep in mind that this may repeat the automatic preheat phase if the temperature is lower than the manufacturer’s set point.

Regarding the extra unique features, the Temperature Conversion button is a nice touch for international users. The convection setting can be applied to almost all cooking functions except for Toast, Bagel, and Broil.

The Frozen Foods button adds a predetermined amount of time but only to the Toast, Bagel, Pizza, and Cookies functions. However, we didn’t find it very helpful since cooking time depends heavily on the food quantity and personal preference.

As for the extra cooking functions, the Pizza presets, with predetermined timers, aren’t very useful as they allow for temperature adjustment but don’t take the current temperature into account. The same goes for the Slow Cook function which has a predetermined temperature that isn’t stated in the manual.

According to our observation, the oven reaches and maintains at 325°F on both Low and High so we didn’t get the point of having two settings. In addition, these temperatures are quite high compared to more common slow cookers’ which are around 200°F on low and 300°F on high.

If you want to adjust the temperature for slow cooking in this oven, you can choose the Bake function for which the timer also reaches ten hours.

The Hamilton Beach only has three simple control knobs but there are a few things to pay attention to. If you wish to set the timer knob for less than 10 minutes, you must first turn it beyond the 10-minute mark (to start the heating) and then roll it back to the setting you want.

Precisely adjusting time and temperature can be a bit difficult but it’s not a major problem. If you’re concerned, use an external timer and an oven thermometer for more accurate measurements.

7.0

Ease of Use

6.0

The Breville has an automatic preheat phase for functions that allow for temperature adjustment as mentioned above. According to the manufacturer, this feature will preheat the oven to 75% of the input temperature before sounding an alert. However, our observation showed that it would always preheat to around 300°F taking about 4m 55s regardless of the input temperature.

Due to the eject feature mentioned above, keep in mind to open the door slowly to prevent the rack from sliding too far outward. The door can be kept partially open at an 80° angle to let food cool inside the oven. Doing this doesn’t stop the oven, unlike some others. Be careful as the door can slam shut if you slip while closing.

When the automatic preheat phase or the cooking cycle ends, the interior light will turn on and then turn off after 30 seconds, similar to when you press the light switch. Unfortunately, there’s no way to keep the light on indefinitely.

If not used for 10 minutes, the oven goes into standby mode until you press Start again. Nonetheless, it’s still advised to unplug the oven after use. Your customized setting will remain in the memory of the oven until changed or the oven is unplugged from the power outlet.

The simple analog control panel makes it very easy to adjust settings on the fly. Once the timer counts down to the Off position, you’ll hear a chime and the oven will shut itself off. Since there’s no digital display, the oven won’t draw any more power even if you leave it plugged in.

The oven’s exterior only gets hot to the touch after a long cooking time at a high temperature. The door can be kept partially open at many degrees but keep in mind that it doesn’t switch the oven off.

8.0

Cleanability

8.0
The cleaned enamel broiling rack of the stainless steel Breville BOV845BSS Smart Oven Pro Convection Toaster Oven.
The cleaned enamel broiling rack of the stainless steel Breville BOV845BSS Smart Oven Pro Convection Toaster Oven.
The cleaned enamel baking pan of the stainless steel Breville BOV845BSS Smart Oven Pro Convection Toaster Oven.

Cleaning the Breville was extremely easy thanks to its stainless steel exterior and non-stick interior. There were some tricky nooks and crannies in the cooking chamber but luckily, there was minimal grease splashing after all of our tests.

The enamel baking pan and broiling rack sported some stubborn stains from the roasted chicken even after we washed them with dish soap. Nonetheless, we took care of them quite easily by brushing them with a paste of baking soda and water. 

The slide-out crumb tray was also helpful for cleaning up the crumbs but we still had to tilt the oven to get all of the crumbs out.

Grease on the glass door of a closed stainless steel Hamilton Beach 31127D 6-Slice Easy Reach Roll Top Door Toaster Oven.
Grease on the glass door of a closed stainless steel Hamilton Beach 31127D 6-Slice Easy Reach Roll Top Door Toaster Oven.
Grease on the left wall of the stainless steel Hamilton Beach 31127D 6-Slice Easy Reach Toaster Oven’s cooking chamber.
Caramelized meat juice and grease on the silver baking pan of the Hamilton Beach 31127D 6-Slice Easy Reach Toaster Oven.
The cleaned silver baking pan of the Hamilton Beach 31127D 6-Slice Easy Reach Roll Top Toaster Oven with some discoloration.

We cleaned the Hamilton Beach in accordance with our toaster oven cleaning guide. The oven was easy to clean thanks to its surface coatings and the fact that it has no tricky nooks and crannies.

The removable crumb tray made it easy to clean up the crumbs, though we still had to tilt the oven to get the last of them. Unfortunately, after our Whole Roasted Chicken test, the baking pan accumulated some discoloration that we weren’t able to remove even with a paste of baking soda and water.