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Cuisinart TOB-40N Classic vs Oster French Door Toaster Oven Side-by-Side Comparison

Alan Nguyen
Reviewer
Nguyen Ntk
Visual Specialist
Updated

Cuisinart TOB-40N Classic Toaster Oven Broiler

Oster French Door Toaster Oven

Tested Using Methodology v1.0
Updated Mar 19, 2023
Tested Using Methodology v1.0
Updated Apr 3, 2023
The front of a closed stainless steel Cuisinart TOB-40N Custom Classic Toaster Oven Broiler on a white background.
The front of a closed Oster TSSTTVFDDG XL Digital French Door Convection Toaster Oven. The control panel is positioned vertically on the right. Inside the oven are a shining light, two baking racks, and one baking pan.

Our Verdict

6.4
Overall Score
  • Performance (50%)
    6.8/10
  • Design (25%)
    6.2/10
  • Usability (25%)
    5.8/10
6.5
Overall Score
  • Performance (50%)
    6.4/10
  • Design (25%)
    6.7/10
  • Usability (25%)
    6.4/10

The match between the Cuisinart TOB-40N Custom Classic Toaster Oven and the Oster French Door Digital Convection Toaster Oven (TSSTTVFDDG) was too close to comfort for the second contender. Considering the first product is cheaper, it’s not entirely apparent who’s the winner based on scores alone.

The Cuisinart has a large cooking chamber for its medium size category but not as much as the extra large Oster. Moreover, it lacks the features that the Oster has, like a single-pull French door, an LCD, a convection system, and an interior light.

However, the Oster’s buttons usually require a bit of force to register. The Cuisinart’s dials are quite precise but they are also quite flimsy. Moreover, the Cuisinart had many tricky nooks and crannies that made it more difficult to clean than the Oster.

Performance evaluation was where the interesting upset happened. Both ovens produced good results, but the Oster only scored higher than the Cuisinart in roasting whole chicken.

Although the Cuisnart doesn’t have a convection system, its higher power draw allowed it to score higher in most of the tests, including toasting bread, baking pizza, and fries. We assumed its smaller cooking chamber also allowed it to get hot quicker and get better colors on foods.

Could Be Improved

Cuisinart TOB-40N Classic Toaster Oven Performance

Oster French Door Toaster Oven Performance: Medium Heat Only
6.8
Performance Scores
  • Toast (40%)7.1/10
  • Pizza (25%)6.5/10
  • Whole Roasted Chicken (25%)7.4/10
  • Baked French Fries (10%)5.1/10
6.4
Performance Scores
  • Toast (40%)6.0/10
  • Pizza (25%)6.3/10
  • Whole Roasted Chicken (25%)8.1/10
  • Baked French Fries (10%)4.1/10
7.1

Toast

6.0
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: 3m 25s; In the middle: 3m 40s; 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 Cuisinart TOB-40N Custom Classic Toaster Oven Broiler.
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: 7
50% * 7 = 3.5
Even Surface Color: 7.5
20% * 7.5 = 1.5
Consecutive Usability: 7
30% * 7 = 2.1
  • Function: Toast
  • Number Of Slices: 4
  • Toast Level: Medium
  • Cooking Time: 3m 40s
  • Second Batch: 3m 40s
  • Convection: No

During our Toast test, the Medium level — 3 minutes 40 seconds on the timer — on the Toast knob was the best option, scoring a 7.1/10. Decreasing the time to 3 minutes 25 seconds resulted in a very light color, whereas increasing it to 4 minutes 15 seconds resulted in a significantly dark — although more even — color.

The Medium toast level of the Cuisinart produced 4 pieces with a light golden-brown color. However, without the convection fan, there were some brown areas on the top and dark brown spots on the bottom. Thus, we gave it a 7.5/10.

The first batch of toast was slightly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, so we gave it a 7/10 for taste. Our head chef, Tuyet Pham, determined they would be great for sandwiches. They may not be ideal to have with soups, egg benedict and omelet, but can be served with these foods as well.

With the same toasting time as the first, the second batch had a brown color and some dark spots on the bottom. Interestingly, this was one of the few ovens where our chef preferred the second batch, thanks to its crispiness being on point.

In the end, it got a 7/10 for consecutive usability. If you want the second batch to be the same as the first, remember to only turn the knob ¾ of the way to Medium which is around 3 minutes 25 seconds.

Oster French Door Toaster Oven Toast Test
From left to right, 24 pieces of toast for three toast levels including lighter, medium, and darker. On the upper row are the top sides, and on the lower row are the bottom sides of the toast.
The best four pieces of toast from the Oster TSSTTVFDDG XL Digital French Door Convection Toaster Oven. On the left are the top sides, and on the right are the bottom sides of the toast.
On the left are four pieces of toast from the first batch, and on the right are from the second batch. On the upper row are the top sides, and on the lower row are the bottom sides.
Taste: 6
50% * 6 = 3.0
Even Surface Color: 6
20% * 6 = 1.2
Consecutive Usability: 6
30% * 6 = 1.8
  • Function: Toast
  • Number Of Slices: 4
  • Toast Level: 4/6
  • Cooking Time: 7m 25s
  • Second Batch: 5m 31s
  • Convection: No

We began our Toast test on the Oster with the default toast level 4 and got pretty good results right off the bat. For good measure, we continued to try the toast level 3, which failed to color evenly within the stipulated time.

We then tried level 5 only to end up with burnt toast and not the expected deep brown shade. Regretfully, while level 4 was the best toast level, it didn’t score high on our benchmark scale—only 6/10.

On this setting—7 minutes 25 seconds on the timer—the four pieces of bread on the upper tray were toasted to a nice golden brown color. However, the color became dark towards the edges, especially where the bread was less dense.

Additionally, a large portion of the bottom right piece of toast was significantly lighter, possibly indicating a cold spot in the cooking chamber. With such unevenness, we could only score the surface color a 6/10 despite the overall golden brown hue.

Moreover, due to the lengthy toasting time, the toast became very crispy but dry on the inside. Our head chef, Tuyet Pham, said this crispiness would be great for eggs benedict and especially soup, but maybe not omelets and sandwiches. Unfortunately, the dark edges produced a bitter taste, preventing it from getting higher than a 6/10 from our chef.

We toasted the second batch of four slices immediately after the first. We chose level 4 again whereupon the oven automatically calibrated the timer to 5 minutes 31 seconds.

Since the oven was already hot, the aforementioned cold spot became less apparent. The toast was not as crispy nor dry as the first batch, which made it more suitable for sandwiches and omelets.

However, the burnt edges were still a problem, so the oven received one final 6/10 for consecutive usability. If you want better results for the second batch, we recommend decreasing the toast level by one.

6.5

Pizza

6.3
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.
The cross surface of a slice of toast oven baked 9-inch thick-crust meat pizza with cheese, onions, and green bell peppers.
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: 6
20% * 6 = 1.2
Crust: 6.5
20% * 6.5 = 1.3
Toppings: 7
30% * 7 = 2.1
Taste: 6.5
30% * 6.5 = 1.9
  • Function: Bake
  • Temperature: 450°F
  • Cooking Time: 9m
  • Convection: No

The Cuisinart did an acceptable job of baking a 9-inch thick-crust meat pizza with a score of 6.6/10.

Compared to the recommended 10 minutes on the label, this oven was able to bake the pizza slightly faster at 9 minutes. However, that result only scored a 6/10 among the ovens in our Pizza test.

The crust had some charred spots and a little bit of crispiness but was still soft overall, so it got a 6.5/10.

The toppings caramelized unevenly and some areas of the cheese got darkened. Nonetheless, they weren’t dry, so we were able to give them a 7/10.

After tasting the pizza, our chef gave it a 6.5/10.

Oster French Door Toaster Oven Pizza Test
A toaster oven baked 9-inch thick-crust meat pizza with cheese, onions, and green bell peppers on top. The pizza is inside a grooved silver baking pan on a white background.
Two slices of toaster oven baked pizza on top of one another. It’s a 9-inch thick-crust meat pizza with cheese, onions, and green bell peppers on top. The pizza is inside a grooved silver baking pan.
On a white background, two hands break apart a slice of baked pizza using a toaster oven with cheese, meat, and green bell peppers on top.
Cooking Time: 9
20% * 9 = 1.8
Crust: 5.5
20% * 5.5 = 1.1
Toppings: 6
30% * 6 = 1.8
Taste: 5.5
30% * 5.5 = 1.6
  • Function: Turbo Convection
  • Temperature: 450°F
  • Cooking Time: 6m
  • Convection: Yes

For this pizza test, we didn’t choose the oven’s 400°F pizza preset because it didn’t match our Pizza test requirement of 450°F. Instead, we chose Turbo Convection as a suitable setting for baking pizza. Nonetheless, the results were not so favorable scoring only 6.4/10 on our testing scale.

We were, however, impressed that the oven only took 9 minutes to bake a 9-inch thick-crust meat pizza placed on the upper rack level. According to our accumulated data on average toaster oven performance, this deserved a 9/10.

Unfortunately, the oven lacks the high-intensity heating capability needed to crisp a crust effectively in such a short period of time, which the Toshiba AC25CEW-BS has. Consequently, parts of the crust bottom stuck to the grooves of the baking tray and the surface had a light golden color - so the score was only 5.5/10.

We had to stop baking because some of the meat and parts of the cheese started charring. It was a shame that the cheese didn’t completely melt before this, so we could only give the toppings a 6/10.

We were able to prevent the toppings from burning and the potential bitter taste. However, the crust and the topping weren’t good enough for the taste of the pizza to get a score higher than 5.5/10 from our chef.

7.4

Whole Roasted Chicken

8.1
A whole roasted chicken using the Cuisinart TOB-40N Custom Classic Toaster Oven on a silver baking pan on a white background.
A whole roasted chicken using the Cuisinart TOB-40N Custom Classic 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 181°F and 183°F.
Seven pieces of a carved chicken including a carcass, two breasts, two wings, and two thighs on a silver baking pan.
Two hands pulling apart a roasted chicken thigh. In the white background is the rest of the roasted chicken on a baking pan.
Cooking Time: 6.3
20% * 6.3 = 1.3
Skin: 6
20% * 6 = 1.2
Doneness: 9.7
20% * 9.7 = 1.9
Taste: 7.5
40% * 7.5 = 3.0
  • Function: Bake
  • Temperature: 350°F
  • Cooking Time: 1h 17m
  • Convection: No

The Cuisinart was able to comfortably fit a 3 lb chicken for our Whole Roasted Chicken test and scored a 7.4/10.

The oven took 1h 17m to cook the chicken; this was 17 minutes longer than the standard amount of time so it got a 6.3/10.

The skin had an uneven color, ranging from light golden to golden at the ends, and was soft throughout. This was most likely the result of the absence of a convection system; we gave it a 6/10.

The chicken was thoroughly cooked and the internal temperature was 181°F-183°F, which was only a little higher than recommended by the USDA, so we gave it a 9.7/10.

The meat was soft and juicy, deserving a 7.5/10 for taste from our chef.

Oster French Door Toaster Whole Roasted Chicken Test
A whole roasted chicken using a toaster oven on a white background. The chicken is belly up on a baking rack with a silver baking pan below.
A whole chicken roasted using a toaster oven on a baking rack with a silver baking pan below. The thermometer displays the same temperature of 181°F from two probes inserted into the right and left thighs of the chicken.
The roasted chicken is carved into ten pieces on a baking rack with a silver baking pan below. There are three pieces of the carcass, two wings, two thighs, two breast pieces, one drumstick, and two fallen leg bones.
Two hands pulling apart a juicy chicken thigh roasted in a toaster oven. In the white background is the rest of the roasted chicken on a baking rack with a silver baking pan below.
Cooking Time: 7
20% * 7 = 1.4
Skin: 7.5
20% * 7.5 = 1.5
Doneness: 9.8
20% * 9.8 = 2.0
Taste: 8
40% * 8 = 3.2
  • Function: Turbo Convection
  • Temperature: 350°F
  • Cooking Time: 1h 10m
  • Convection: Yes

The spacious interior of the Oster seemed a key factor in our Whole Roasted Chicken test, scoring an impressive 8.1/10. We placed a 3 lb chicken belly-up on the upper rack level and flipped it after the first 40 minutes.

After 1 hour and 10 minutes, the skin reached an acceptable roasted color scoring a 7/10 for cooking time. Our chef surmised that further roasting wouldn’t result in better skin caramelization. Thus, we stopped roasting to avoid overcooking the meat and inadvertently lowering the total score.

The skin had an appetizing golden color, except for the sides of the two drumsticks which were a little lighter in color. Compared to other benchmark tests, the skin only crisped slightly indicating the heating elements and convection system to be less than ideal/top-of-the-range. The results were good, enough for a 7.5/10.

In conclusion, the oven maintained an ideal temperature long enough to evenly cook an entire chicken throughout. We measured the internal temperature of the chicken and it was 181°F. This was very surprising and almost spot-on with the recommended 165°F - 180°F by the USDA—thus earning a whopping 9.8/10 for doneness.

Interestingly, the meat came out so tender that the bone simply fell off as we tried to carve the chicken. If the skin was crispier, the chicken would have received a higher than 8/10 for taste.

5.1

Baked French Fries

4.1
Pieces of baked french fries using the Cuisinart TOB-40N Toaster Oven Broiler on a silver baking pan on a white background.
Pieces of baked french fries using the Cuisinart TOB-40N Toaster Oven Broiler on a silver baking pan on a white background.
A close-up of pieces of baked french fries using the Cuisinart TOB-40N Oven on a silver baking pan on a white background.
Six 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: 31 m
  • Convection: No

The Cuisinart left a lot to be desired in baking french fries and scored a 5.1/10.

The oven took 31 minutes to bake 12 oz of french fries to an acceptable color and doneness. With our time limit being 25 minutes, it failed the cooking time criterion of our Baked French Fries test.

The fries gained an acceptable color, enough for a 6.5/10. Even though the baking pan was large enough to spread the fries, they still weren’t able to crisp up much and got a 6/10. After tasting the fries, our chef gave them a 6.5/10.

Oster French Door Toaster Baked French Fries Test
Pieces of baked french fries using a toaster oven inside a silver grooved baking pan on a white background.
A closeup of pieces of baked french fries using a toaster oven inside a silver grooved baking pan.
Pieces of baked french fries using a toaster oven. Eight pieces of broken-up fries are stacked on top of pieces of whole fries inside a silver grooved baking pan.
Cooking Time: 0
20% * 0 = 0.0
Color: 5
20% * 5 = 1.0
Texture: 5.5
20% * 5.5 = 1.1
Taste: 5
40% * 5 = 2.0
  • Function: Turbo Convection
  • Temperature: 400°F
  • Cooking Time: 30 m
  • Convection: Yes

For our Baked French Fries test, the Oster was disappointing, scoring only 4.1/10. Our reasoning was the poor size ratio of the cooking chamber to the oven’s power output. The oven wasn’t able to maintain a high enough temperature for baking frozen fries, as opposed to the Ninja DT201.

After 30 minutes the fries showed no significant change in color—where the test time limit was 25 minutes! Therefore, we had no choice but to stop baking and give the fries a 0/10 for cooking time.

Most fries had a pale color as if they were air-dried instead of air-fried. Some small pieces had a light golden color, but that wasn’t enough to score higher than 5/10.

Texture-wise, the fries were soft but dry on the outside, barely enough for a 5.5/10. All things considered, the only silver lining was that the fries were cooked, so our chef gave them a 5/10 for taste.

Simple and Spacious

Cuisinart TOB-40N Design Review

Oster XL French Door Countertop Toaster Oven Design Review: Aesthetic Only
6.2
design Scores
  • Exterior (20%)7.0/10
  • Interior (30%)6.0/10
  • Build Quality (50%)6.0/10
6.7
design Scores
  • Exterior (20%)8.0/10
  • Interior (30%)7.0/10
  • Build Quality (50%)6.0/10

In the Cuisinart TOB-40N Custom Classic Toaster Oven Box

In the Oster TSSTTVFDDG Double-Door Convection Toaster Oven Box
An oven rack, 3 pieces of documents, the Cuisinart TOB-40N Custom Classic Toaster Oven Broiler, a box, and a baking pan.
  • Model: TOB-40N
  • Warranty: 3-year limited
  • User Manual
  • Baking Rack
  • Baking Pan

The packaging keeps the oven as well as its two accessories in place. The accessories are also wrapped in carton pads to avoid scratches during transportation. The oven comes with a user manual with recipes and a simple instruction to register your Cuisinart for premium customer service, special offers, and more.

Top to bottom and left to right are a blue box, the Oster TSSTTVFDDG Toaster Oven, one baking rack, one baking rack with supports, a user manual, and a silver grooved baking pan on a white background.
  • Model: TSSTTVFDDG
  • Warranty: 1 year (US and Canada only)
  • User Manual
  • Baking Rack x 2
  • Baking Pan
  • Removable Crumb Tray

The Oster TSSTTVFDDG arrived boxed between two styrofoam brackets. The four accessories were packaged inside carton boxes and taped to the oven. While the box only has some basic information,  a complete user manual was inside.

7.0

Exterior

8.0
A closed front of the Cuisinart TOB-40N Custom Classic Toaster Oven Broiler with exterior measurements on a white background.
A closed front of the Cuisinart TOB-40N Custom Classic Toaster Oven Broiler with exterior measurements on a white background.
The front of a closed Cuisinart TOB-40N Custom Classic Toaster Oven Broiler has a control panel and the right has holes.
The back and left sides of the Cuisinart TOB-40N have air ventilation holes. The back has a power cord and two buffers.
On a grey background, the top of the stainless steel Cuisinart TOB-40N Custom Classic Toaster Oven Broiler has holes.
On a grey background, the bottom of the Cuisinart TOB-40N Custom Classic Toaster Oven Broiler has four stands and holes.
  • Weight:
    10.0 lbs (4.5 kg)
  • Length:
    15.9" (40.5 cm)
  • Width:
    14.8" (37.7 cm)
  • Height:
    9.0" (22.9 cm)
  • Material:
    Stainless steel
  • Color:
    Black
  • Door Handle:
    cool-touch
  • Tray Indicators:
    No
  • Crumb Tray:
    Slide-out

The Cuisinart has a stainless steel exterior with a cool-touch door handle. What stands out in this simple design is the slide-out crumb tray. The oven has two buffers at the back to prevent it from being placed too close to the wall. Due to their small size, the carrying handles built-in to the bottom stands are a bit awkward to use when the oven is hot.

Our measurements of the oven’s footprint were 15.94" x 14.84" x 9" which was quite different in terms of width compared to the manufacturer’s 17" x 11.74" x 8.35". This could be because we took the door handle and back buffers into account when measuring the oven’s width while the manufacturer didn’t.

An closed front of the Oster TSSTTVFDDG XL Digital French Door Convection Toaster Oven on a white background. The exterior is 16.75 inches long, 21.53 inches wide, and 12.79 inches high.
An closed front of the Oster TSSTTVFDDG XL Digital French Door Convection Toaster Oven on a white background. The exterior is 16.75 inches long, 21.53 inches wide, and 12.79 inches high.
The front and the right sides of a closed Oster TSSTTVFDDG XL Digital French Door Convection Toaster Oven on a white background. The control panel is in the front. The right side has air ventilation holes.
On a white background, the back and the left sides of a closed stainless steel Oster TSSTTVFDDG XL Digital French Door Convection Toaster Oven both have air ventilation holes. The back side has a black buffer.
On a white background, the top and the right sides of a closed stainless steel Oster TSSTTVFDDG XL Digital French Door Convection Toaster Oven both have air ventilation holes. The control panel is in the front.
On a white background, the bottom of a closed stainless steel Oster TSSTTVFDDG XL Digital French Door Convection Toaster Oven has four base stands and ventilation holes. The control panel is in the front.
  • Weight:
    16.8 lbs (7.6 kg)
  • Length:
    21.5" (54.7 cm)
  • Width:
    20.0" (50.7 cm)
  • Height:
    12.8" (32.5 cm)
  • Material:
    Stainless steel
  • Color:
    Silver
  • Door Handle:
    Cool-touch
  • Tray Indicators:
    No
  • Crumb Tray:
    Removable

Considering the Oster’s large size, ventilation slats on all sides are a big plus. (+3). At first glance, the most stand-out feature was the tempered glass french door with cool-touch door handles (+3).

It has a rear buffer to maintain a cool distance from the wall, but we thought it could be greater(+2). Additionally, while the oven’s leg stoppers are sturdy, they are rather small.

Our measurements of the oven’s footprints were 21.53" x 19.96" x 12.79" which matched closely with the manufacturer’s 22" x 19.5" x 13". On a side note, we weighed the oven and it was 16.75 lbs while the manufacturer stated the entire package to be 13.87 lbs.

Control Panel of the Cuisinart TOB-40N

Control Panel
The Cuisinart TOB-40N’s control panel has 1 start/stop button and 3 control dials for function, temperature, and toast shade.
  • Type:
    3 control knobs + Stop/Start button
  • Temperature:
    100°F - 450°F
  • Timer:
    Not available
  • Indicator Light:
    Yes
  • Status Bar:
    No
  • Light Toggle:
    No
  • Convection Toggle:
    No
  • Rotation Toggle:
    No
  • Automatic Preheat:
    No
  • Audio Cues:
    No

The Cuisinart has 3 control knobs for functions, temperature, and toast/bagel level. The Stop/Start button is only for Toast and Bagel functions.

The control panel of the Oster TSSTTVFDDG Toaster Oven has an LCD and 15 flat buttons for Toast, Bake, Broil, Turbo Convection, Pizza, Warm, Defrost, Dehydrate, Timer, Temp, Clock, Stop/Cancel, and Start.
  • Type:
    LCD + 15 buttons
  • Temperature:
    150°F - 450°F
  • Timer:
    1 minute - 6 hours
  • Indicator Light:
    No
  • Status Bar:
    No
  • Light Toggle:
    No
  • Convection Toggle:
    No
  • Rotation Toggle:
    No
  • Automatic Preheat:
    Yes
  • Audio Cues:
    No

The Oster has an LCD and 15 flat buttons including 8 for functions, 2 for timer adjustment, 2 for temperature adjustment, a Clock button, a Stop/Cancel button, and a Start button. The oven has an automatic interior light with no toggle button.

Cooking Functions

Cooking Functions of the Oster XL Digital Convection Toaster Oven
The Cuisinart TOB-40N Toaster Oven’s function dial has 5 cooking functions including Toast, Bagel, Bake, Broil, and Warm.
  • Toast
  • Bagel
  • Bake
  • Broil
  • Warm (100°F)

Besides the standard Bake and Broil functions, the Cuisinart has the Warm function which maintains the oven at around 100°F. In addition to a Toast function, this oven has a Bagel function which can be useful for fans of this type of bread.

The eight cooking functions of the Oster TSSTTVFDDG Toaster Oven are in the center of the control panel. They include Toast, Bake, Broil, Turbo Convection, Pizza, Warm, Defrost, and Dehydrate. The oven’s right side has air ventilation holes.
  • Toast (level 1-6)
  • Bake (150°F-450°F)
  • Turbo Convection (150°F-450°F)
  • Broil (450°F)
  • Pizza (400°F)
  • Warm (150°F)
  • Defrost (150°F)
  • Dehydrate (150°F)

The Oster has eight cooking functions including Toast, Bake, Broil, Pizza, Warm, Defrost, Dehydrate, and Turbo Convection. Despite the name, Turbo Convection is basically Convection Bake—meaning this oven only has one convection level.

The standard Bake function and ‘Turbo’ Convection operate in the oven’s maximum temperature range, between 150°F to 450°F. The Toast function has 6 preset levels from Light to Dark, Meanwhile, the Pizza function is set to 400°F and Broil to 450°F—meaning neither can be adjusted.

The user manual recommends not to preheat the oven when using Defrost and Dehydrate. These two functions are set to 150°F—the lowest possible temperature —and cannot be adjusted. However, 150°F is a bit high compared to common dehydrators which operate at around 100°F.

For some reason, we couldn’t find the set temperature for Warm in the manual, but we measured the temperature to be 150°F.

6.0

Interior

7.0
The Cuisinart TOB-40N Toaster Oven’s cooking chamber has 4 nichrome heating elements, 2 guide rails, and a safety hook.
The Cuisinart TOB-40N Toaster Oven’s cooking chamber has 4 nichrome heating elements, 2 guide rails, and a safety hook.
The cooking chamber’s left wall of the Cuisinart TOB-40N Custom Classic Toaster Oven has 2 guide rails and a safety hook.
  • Heating Elements:
    4 nichrome
  • Convection Fan:
    No
  • Lighting:
    No
  • Tray Levels:
    2
  • Rotisserie:
    No
  • Safety Hook:
    Yes

Although the TOB-40N has only two tray levels, you can make use of the rack-up and down positions. Interestingly, the door has a hook to automatically pull out the baking tray only on the upper level.

Although the pull-out hook doesn’t work with the baking pan, the interior safety hook does. Unfortunately, the oven doesn’t have internal lighting or a convection system that the same-sized Toshiba AC25CEW does.

The cooking chamber of the Oster TSSTTVFDDG Toaster Oven has one nichrome heating element on top and two on the bottom, two rack levels, a shining light, and a fan cavity on the right wall.
The cooking chamber of the Oster TSSTTVFDDG Toaster Oven has one nichrome heating element on top and two on the bottom, two rack levels, a shining light, and a fan cavity on the right wall.
The cooking chamber of the Oster TSSTTVFDDG Toaster Oven has one bent nichrome heating element on top and two straight ones on the bottom, two rack levels, a light, and a fan cavity on the right wall.
Two assembled guide rails on the right side of the Oster TSSTTVFDDG XL Digital French Door Convection Toaster Oven’s cooking chamber. A fan cavity is in between the two rails.
  • Heating Elements:
    3 nichrome
  • Convection Fan:
    Yes
  • Lighting:
    Yes
  • Tray Levels:
    2
  • Rotisserie:
    No
  • Safety Hook:
    No

The Oster uses three nichrome heating elements with an unusual looped design for the upper heating element (+3). Most similar large-capacity ovens we have examined have four upper heating elements, two bottom heating elements, and a combined power draw of 1800 W.

However, the Oster has only one upper heating element which bends across and around the cooking chamber’s ceiling to cover the same area as would four. Since the power draw is divided equally between working heating elements, we speculated this design choice was to accommodate the oven’s lower power draw of 1500 W.

The TSSTTVFDDG claims to have ‘easy clean interior walls’. While they are not grease-proof, our cleaning test showed that the oven was, indeed, easy to clean (+1).

The convection fan is situated on the right side of the cooking chamber (+2). While the oven has an interior light, it’s fully automatic with no manual operation (+2).

Having only two rack levels, the oven doesn’t really require guides on the glass door (-1). The manual recommends using the upper rack position for toast and pizza, and the lower one for other foods. It’s worth noting that the rack guide rails are assembled parts and not hollowed out of the cooking chamber’s walls like many other toaster ovens.

The baking rack should not be slid into the lower rack slot with the baking tray attached to the bottom. This will result in direct contact with the bottom heating elements.

Capacity of the Cuisinart Classic Toaster Oven Broiler

Capacity of the Oster Double Door Oven
An opened front of the Cuisinart TOB-40N Custom Classic Toaster Oven with interior measurements on a white background.
  • Length:
    11.8" (30.0 cm)
  • Width:
    11.5" (29.3 cm)
  • Height:
    7.1" (18.0 cm)

The Cuisinart has a spacious interior compared to the same-sized Hamilton Beach 31127D. It’s capable of fitting 6 slices of toast in addition to all our test dishes including an 11-inch pizza and a 3 lb whole chicken.

We measured the cooking chamber’s volume to be around 15.8 liters which was different from the manufacturer’s provided 14.15 liters. However, it could just be a difference in measuring standards.

An opened front of the Oster TSSTTVFDDG XL Digital French Door Convection Toaster Oven on a white background. The cooking chamber is 15.75 inches long, 16.53 inches wide, and 10.04 inches high.
  • Length:
    15.8" (40.0 cm)
  • Width:
    16.5" (42.0 cm)
  • Height:
    10.0" (25.5 cm)

According to the manufacturer, the TSSTTVFDDG can take 14 slices of toast and two 16-inch pizzas on its two racks. However, our hands-on testing proved it fits only 12 slices (6 per rack, each requiring at least 4.5 x 4.5 inches of space)  or a 15-inch pizza. While it wasn’t clear what the maximum size for a whole chicken was, our tests indicated plenty of room for a 3 lb bird.

The manufacturer doesn’t state the interior capacity, but we measured the cooking chamber volume to be around 42.83 liters—our biggest number to date. However, we felt only two rack slots didn’t do justice to the oven’s capacity.

Power Cord

A two-pronged plug power cord. In the background is the stainless steel Cuisinart TOB-40N Custom Classic Toaster Oven.
  • Length:
    31.1" (79.0 cm)
  • Type:
    2-prong plug
  • Power:
    1800 W
  • Rated Output:
    120 V ~ 60 Hz

The power cord is roughly 31.1"—plenty long enough for household use—and can be wrapped around the back buffers to save space. It also comes with a plastic lock to keep the cord in place.

A two-pronged plug power cord. In the background is the Oster TSSTTVFDDG XL Digital French Door Convection Toaster Oven.
  • Length:
    25.8" (65.5 cm)
  • Type:
    2-prong plug
  • Power:
    1500 W
  • Rated Output:
    120 V ~ 60 Hz

The power cord is 25.79" long which is enough for household use. However, it could be a bit longer since a toaster oven as large as the Oster requires at least 5 inches of clear space on all sides. The oven doesn’t have storage space for the cord like some ovens do.

Baking Rack

Accessories

Baking Rack x 2
A stainless steel baking rack of the Cuisinart TOB-40N Custom Classic Toaster Oven Broiler on a grey background.
  • Length:
    11.8" (30.0 cm)
  • Width:
    11.3" (28.6 cm)
  • Height:
    0.8" (2.0 cm)
  • Material:
    Stainless steel
  • Dishwasher Safe:
    Yes

The rack fits perfectly with the guide, which helps prevent accidents when placing your food in the oven.

A stainless steel baking rack with two supports below of the Oster TSSTTVFDDG XL Digital French Door Convection Toaster Oven on a white background.
A stainless steel baking rack with two supports below of the Oster TSSTTVFDDG XL Digital French Door Convection Toaster Oven on a white background.
A stainless steel baking rack of the Oster TSSTTVFDDG XL Digital French Door Convection Toaster Oven on a white background.
  • Length:
    15.7" (39.8 cm)
  • Width:
    16.1" (41.0 cm)
  • Height:
    0.7" (1.8 cm)
  • Material:
    Stainless steel
  • Dishwasher Safe:
    Yes

The Oster has two slightly different baking racks. One is the standard rack type, while the other has two supports below to slide the baking pan under.

Baking Pan

Accessories

Baking Pan
A silver baking pan of the stainless steel Cuisinart TOB-40N Custom Classic Toaster Oven Broiler on a grey background.
  • Length:
    11.7" (29.8 cm)
  • Width:
    11.2" (28.4 cm)
  • Height:
    0.8" (2.0 cm)
  • Material:
    Stainless steel
  • Dishwasher Safe:
    Yes

The baking pan does the job of catching any drippings to prevent any mess and fire danger from dirty heating elements. It has a coating but is not completely non-stick so it can be prone to some stubborn stains after a hefty roast.

A silver baking pan of the Oster TSSTTVFDDG XL Digital French Door Convection Toaster Oven on a white background.
  • Length:
    14.13
  • Width:
    11.8" (30.0 cm)
  • Height:
    1.1" (2.9 cm)
  • Material:
    Stainless steel
  • Dishwasher Safe:
    Not advisable

The baking pan has ridges and grooves for creating attractive roast markings and catching drippings. It also has wide edges for a firm fit on the baking rack supports, unlike some other designs we’ve seen.

However, it’s not big enough to fit into the rack rail guides and can only go on top of a rack or attached beneath. This means it doesn’t make full use of the oven’s capacity. In addition, the tray is coated, but not completely non-stick so prone to stubborn stains.

6.0

Build Quality

6.0
The front of an opened Cuisinart TOB-40N Custom Classic Toaster Oven Broiler with an oven rack and a silver baking pan.

The Cuisinart has a sturdy construction and durable material. Its auto-slide rack and slide-out crumb tray show attention to convenience in a simple design. Although the easy-grip dials are a nice touch, they feel flimsy at times.

An opened Oster TSSTTVFDDG XL Digital French Door Toaster Oven on a white background. Inside the cooking chamber, from the bottom up are one removable crumb tray, one baking rack, and one baking pan under another baking rack.

The TSSTTVFDDG is light for its size and has a graspable rectangular shape making it easy to carry or position on a counter (+2). It also has a sturdy build and durable stainless steel casing (+4). The LCD is black while the numbers are yellow and the settings are red, making everything easy to see (+1).

Unfortunately,  we found that the flat buttons often required some force to register (-1). Moreover, the door hinge could be firmer thus preventing the door from slamming shut.

Only Standard Features

Cuisinart Custom Classic Toaster Oven Usability

Oster TSSTTVFDDG Digital French Door Toaster Oven Usability: Could Be Improved
5.8
usability Scores
  • User Control (30%)7.0/10
  • Ease of Use (50%)5.0/10
  • Cleanability (20%)6.0/10
6.4
usability Scores
  • User Control (30%)8.0/10
  • Oster French Door Toaster Oven Ease of Use (50%)5.0/10
  • Cleanability (20%)7.5/10
7.0

User Control

8.0

The Cuisinart doesn’t have a timer. You simply choose a temperature setting and turn the Function knob from Off to a specific function for the oven to start running. In other words, this oven has a built-in stay-on timer for every function except for Toast and Bagel.

The Oster’s controls are easy to understand since what you see is what you get (+2). Therefore, the LCD doesn’t provide any extra information but it’s easy to read (+2).

The buttons have only a single function and are easy to tell apart(+2). Although the manual says you can press the Stop/Cancel button twice to turn off the oven, we weren’t able to do so (-1).

The temperature can be adjusted in increments of 5°F and the timer runs from one minute to six hours, which is quite impressive (+1). Time can be adjusted in increments of 1 minute up to  2 hours and in increments of 0.5 hours above 2 hours (+1).

To set up the clock, press the clock button once and the clock will flash. Then, use the arrow keys to set the hour and press the clock button again to likewise set the minutes. Finally, push the clock button or the start button to set the time (+1).

5.0

Ease of Use

Oster French Door Toaster Oven Ease of Use
Cuisinart TOB-40N Ease of Use Video
Cuisinart TOB-40N Ease of Use Video 1

When the toasting cycle finishes, the oven will beep 5 times and turn off. After you finish using the oven, remember to turn the Function knob to Off. As there is no digital display, you can freely leave this oven plugged in and not worry about power consumption.

Thanks to the safety hook for tray level 2, you can partially slide out the baking tray or rack to reposition the food during cooking. However, this feature makes it quite tricky to remove the tray or rack. Be careful, as the oven can be quite hot to the touch after a long cooking time on high heat.

According to the manufacturer, the Cuisinart has an Always Even Shade Control to monitor the temperature and adjust the timing to consistently toast to the shade selected every time. However, our test result showed no significant improvement even when compared to the Cuisinart TOA-60 of the same brand.

As you select a function, the corresponding icons will illuminate in the LCD screen. The TSSTTVFDDG has an automatic preheat phase which is only applicable for the Bake and Turbo Convection Bake functions (+1).

After setting the time and temperature, you then push start and the display will show PrE indicating the oven is in the preheating phase. You can bypass this phase by pressing the start button a second time.

Preheating takes roughly 5 minutes to around 300°F regardless of the  temperature you set. You can readjust the time and temperature only after the preheating phase.

Interestingly, we found that the oven would return to preheat mode after adjusting the temperature until the new input temperature was reached and not just 300°F. This is also stated in the user manual.

The racks fit perfectly into the rail guides thus preventing accidents when placing food in the oven (+3). When the cooking cycle begins, the interior light will turn on automatically and then off when the cooking cycle ends (+2).

The french door and its cool-touch handle allow you to stay away from the heat wave when opening after cooking (+4). The doors are also single-pull which is very convenient. However, the doors cannot open partially and can slam shut if your hand slips (-2).

Unlike some ovens, opening the door doesn’t stop the oven or the interior light (-2). The oven casing can get very hot after long cooking times at high temperatures, so you should take care (-1).

When the cooking cycle finishes, the oven will beep once, switch off the heat, and return to the clock screen. It’s advised to unplug the oven after use.

6.0

Cleanability

7.5
Grease on the glass door of a closed stainless steel Cuisinart TOB-40N Custom Classic Toaster Oven Broiler.
Grease on the glass door of a closed stainless steel Cuisinart TOB-40N Custom Classic Toaster Oven Broiler.
Grease on the right wall of the stainless steel Cuisinart TOB-40N Custom Classic Toaster Oven Broiler’s cooking chamber.
Grease and chicken skin stuck to the silver baking pan of the Cuisinart TOB-40N Custom Classic Toaster Oven Broiler.
The cleaned silver baking pan of the stainless steel Cuisinart TOB-40N Custom Classic Toaster Oven Broiler.

We cleaned the Cuisinart following our toaster oven cleaning guide. The oven has an internal and external coating plus no tricky nooks and crannies so it was easy to clean.

During the roasting of a whole chicken, fat splattered everywhere inside the oven. Nonetheless, we were able to clean it all off, even on the gaps between the heating elements and internal walls. The slide-out crumb tray made it easy to clean up the crumbs but we still had to tilt the oven to remove them all.

A silver baking pan of the Oster TSSTTVFDDG XL Digital French Door Convection Toaster Oven with some stains on it on a white background.

The stainless steel exterior of the Oster was very easy to clean (+2). Even though the interior doesn’t have a non-stick coating, there are no tricky nooks and crannies, so cleaning didn’t require much labor (+4).

After roasting a chicken, the baking pan accumulated some stubborn stains which we were able to remove even with a baking soda paste and water (+1.5). We were worried the grease could splash inside the fan cavity while cooking, but this was not the case.