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Cuisinart TOB-40N Classic vs Panasonic FlashXpress Digital Toaster Oven Side-by-Side Comparison

Alan Nguyen
Reviewer
Nguyen Ntk
Visual Specialist
Updated
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 silver stainless steel Panasonic NB-G110P FlashXpress Compact Toaster Oven on a white background.

Our Verdict

6.4
Overall Score
  • Performance (50%)
    6.8/10
  • Design (25%)
    6.2/10
  • Usability (25%)
    5.8/10
6.0
Overall Score
  • Performance (50%)
    6.6/10
  • Design (25%)
    6.0/10
  • Usability (25%)
    4.9/10

The medium-sized Cuisinart TOB-40N Classic Custom Toaster Oven and the small Panasonic FlashXpress Digital Toaster Oven (NB-G110P) make for an interesting matchup. Although the first one has higher scores in every aspect, comparing them brings out their strengths and weaknesses in unexpected ways.

Although the Cuisinart is analog and the Panasonic is digital, both toaster ovens have similar design scores. While the Cuisinart’s dials could be firmer, they are quite accurate. The Panasonic has a few distinct cooking presets that are typical in a Japanese appliance but its timer and temperature range aren’t very detailed and expansive.

The Cuisinart has a higher usability score because its auto-pull rack actually makes maneuvering the oven easier. On the other hand, the Panasonic’s auto-pull racks limits the space of its already-small cooking chamber.

Performance-wise, the two products are quite even as well. The Cuisinart has a higher power output and a larger cooking chamber, allowing for better heat distribution while toasting bread and roasting a whole chicken. However, the Panasonic’s ability to reach and maintain high temperatures allowed it to do better in baking pizza and fries.

All things considered, the Cuisinart is the better choice for your immediate budget, while the Panasonic can save more energy in the long run.

Could Be Improved

Cuisinart TOB-40N Classic Toaster Oven Performance

Panasonic FlashXpress Toaster Oven Performance: Short Cooking Times
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
6.6
Performance Scores
  • Toast (40%)6.0/10
  • Pizza (25%)7.3/10
  • Whole Roasted Chicken (25%)7.1/10
  • Baked French Fries (10%)6.1/10
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.

Panasonic FlashXpress Digital Small Toaster Oven Toast Test
Panasonic FlashXpress Digital Small Toaster Oven ToastFrom left to right, 16 pieces of toast for the top and bottom of two toast levels including medium and darker.
The top and bottom of the best four pieces of toast from the Panasonic NB-G110P FlashXpress Compact 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
50% * 6 = 3.0
Even Surface Color: 7
20% * 7 = 1.4
Consecutive Usability: 5.5
30% * 5.5 = 1.6
  • Function: Toast
  • Number Of Slices: 4
  • Toast Level: 1/5
  • Cooking Time: 2m 20s
  • Second Batch: 2m 11s
  • Convection: No

There were a few interesting things, though not necessarily good, about our Toast test for the NB-G110P. We first tried the middle toasting level—level 3—and the results were all burnt. Then, we decreased the setting to level 2 and the toast was no longer burnt. However, it was still dark for our standard.

Finally, we cranked it down all the way to level 1—around 2 minutes 20 seconds on the timer. This setting allowed us to achieve an acceptable outcome scoring a 6.1/10 in total. Of course, this meant that we only had a reference for the darker setting and not the lighter one.

On the toasting level 1, the four pieces of toast had a nice golden brown color around the center of the oven. However, the color got significantly lighter as it got to the edges. This unevenness was all the more apparent on the bottom side of the toast, so we gave it a 7/10 for even surface color.

Unfortunately, such a short cooking time wasn’t able to crisp up the toast, even the golden brown areas. Our head chef Tuyet Pham deemed the toast, at best, passable to go with sandwiches, omelets, and eggs benedict and awarded it a 6/10 for taste.

All the existing problems of the first batch became slightly worse in the second batch. The cooking time for the second batch at toasting level 1 was automatically adjusted to be slightly shorter—2 minutes 11 seconds.

For some reason, the color was less even on top—one piece of toast was only lightly toasted, one was golden, one was golden brown, and one was brown. Nonetheless, the bottom of the second batch was similar to the first.

While the golden brown and brown pieces were a bit crispier than the first four, they weren’t enough to get the consecutive usability score to higher than 5.5/10.

6.5

Pizza

7.3
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.

Panasonic FlashXpress Digital Small Toaster Oven Pizza Test
Panasonic FlashXpress Digital Small Toaster Oven PizzaA 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 cheese, meat, onions, and green bell peppers on top baked using a toaster oven.
Cooking Time: 10
20% * 10 = 2.0
Crust: 6.5
20% * 6.5 = 1.3
Toppings: 7.5
30% * 7.5 = 2.3
Taste: 6
30% * 6 = 1.8
  • Function: None
  • Temperature: 460°F
  • Cooking Time: 3m
  • Convection: No

Through our Pizza test, we noticed that the heating elements of the Panasonic NB-G110P seem to be very powerful. However, it wasn’t coupled with even heat distribution, which resulted in a 7.4/10 pizza score.

The toaster oven was able to bake a 9-inch thick-crust meat pizza in only 3 minutes. This was one of our fastest recorded cooking times, even faster than the powerful medium-sized Cuisinart TOA-60, and deserving a whopping 10/10.

However, such a short cooking time was only enough to cook the crust while not giving it any color at all. The silver lining in this was that the crust wasn’t dry, enough for a 6.5/10.

The toppings would have been quite appetizing if not for the burnt onions, bell peppers, and meat tips. Luckily, the high heat meant that the cheese was melty which garnered the toppings a 7.5/10.

Unfortunately, the burnt parts affected the taste quite badly with their bitterness. Thus, our chef could only give the pizza a 6/10 after tasting it.

7.4

Whole Roasted Chicken

7.1
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.

Panasonic FlashXpress Digital Small Toaster Oven Whole Roasted Chicken Test
Panasonic FlashXpress Digital Small Toaster Oven Whole Roasted ChickenA whole roasted chicken using the Panasonic NB-G110P Oven backside up on a grooved silver baking pan on a white background.
A whole roasted chicken using the Panasonic NB-G110P Oven belly up on a grooved 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 196°F and 198°F.
A hand holding a pulled-apart roasted chicken thigh. In the background is the chicken on a grooved silver baking pan.
Eight pieces of a carved chicken including two carcass halves, two breasts, two wings, and two thighs on a baking pan.
Cooking Time: 7
20% * 7 = 1.4
Skin: 6
20% * 6 = 1.2
Doneness: 8.3
20% * 8.3 = 1.7
Taste: 7
40% * 7 = 2.8
  • Function: None
  • Temperature: 355°F
  • Cooking Time: 1h 10m
  • Convection: No

As we tried to fit a 3-pound whole chicken inside the Panasonic for our Whole Roasted Chicken test, the chicken grazed the hot upper heating element. This resulted in quite an impressive caramelization on the skin but also permanent stains on the heating element.

The lack of space for heat circulation was one of the main reasons behind the subpar score of 7.1/10. If you were to roast a chicken in this oven, we recommend cutting open the chicken or chopping it into pieces beforehand.

The Panasonic took 1 hour 10 minutes to roast the chicken, compared to the standard one hour, so it got a 7/10. We decided to stop the cooking at this point because our chef suggested that the skin wasn’t getting any more color and we didn’t want to overcook the chicken.

While the skin close to the upper heating element was nicely caramelized, the rest of it lacked color. It was also really soft, similar to being steamed, so we gave it a 6/10.

Checking with a meat thermometer, we found the chicken’s internal temperature to be 196°F-198°F which was quite high compared to the USDA’s recommended 165°F-180°F. Of course, the meat had no pink spots, so we gave it an 8.3/10.

As a result of the long cooking time, the meat was a bit dry. Interestingly, the soft skin was able to make up for the dry meat, enough for a 7/10 for taste from our chef.

5.1

Baked French Fries

6.1
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.

Panasonic FlashXpress Digital Small Toaster Oven Baked French Fries Test
Panasonic FlashXpress Digital Small Toaster Oven Baked French FriesPieces of baked french fries using the Panasonic NB-G110P Toaster Oven on a silver baking pan on a white background.
A close-up of pieces of baked french fries using the Panasonic NB-G110P Oven on a silver baking pan on a white background.
Twelve pieces of broken-up baked french fries are stacked on top of pieces of whole fries on a grooved silver baking pan.
Cooking Time: 5
20% * 5 = 1.0
Color: 6
20% * 6 = 1.2
Texture: 6.5
20% * 6.5 = 1.3
Taste: 6.5
40% * 6.5 = 2.6
  • Function: None
  • Temperature: 425°F
  • Cooking Time: 25 m
  • Convection: No

The problem of powerful heating elements and uneven heat distribution in baking pizza repeated here in our Baked French Fries test. However, the score for the Panasonic’s baked french fries was lower, at 6.1/10.

We tried to give the oven the benefit of the doubt and stop the cooking at 25 minutes. This was the time limit of our test and equaled a 5/10. We decided to stop the cooking so as to not decrease the cooking time score any further despite the fries’ lack of color.

Even after baking for 25 minutes, only the smaller fries had a light golden color. The bigger and longer ones were only golden at the tips while the rest of them was basically white. Thus, we gave the fries a 6/10 for color.

The smaller fries had a bit of crispiness to them while the bigger and longer ones were just plain soft. Nonetheless, they weren’t dry, so we could still give them a 6.5/10 for texture.

With such subpar colors and textures, our chef could only give the fries a 6.5/10 for taste.

Simple and Spacious

Cuisinart TOB-40N Design Review

Panasonic NB-G110P FlashXpress Design Review: High Build Quality Only
6.2
design Scores
  • Exterior (20%)7.0/10
  • Interior (30%)6.0/10
  • Build Quality (50%)6.0/10
6.0
design Scores
  • Exterior (20%)5.0/10
  • Interior (30%)5.0/10
  • Build Quality (50%)7.0/10

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

In the Panasonic NB-G110P FlashXpress 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.

A box, the silver Panasonic NB-G110P FlashXpress Compact Toaster Oven, a user manual, an oven rack, and a baking pan.
  • Model: NB-G110P
  • Warranty: 1 year (US, Puerto Rico, and Canada only)
  • User Manual
  • Baking Rack
  • Baking Pan

The Panasonic NB-G110P was positioned firmly inside its box with four foam pads upon delivery. The baking rack and baking pan are wrapped in carton sheets and taped to the oven. Besides some basic information on the box, the oven also came with a user manual.

7.0

Exterior

5.0
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.

A closed front of the Panasonic NB-G110P FlashXpress Compact Toaster Oven with exterior measurements on a white background.
A closed front of the Panasonic NB-G110P FlashXpress Compact Toaster Oven with exterior measurements on a white background.
The front of a closed silver Panasonic NB-G110P FlashXpress Compact Toaster Oven has a control panel and the left has holes.
The back and right sides of the Panasonic NB-G110P FlashXpress Compact Toaster Oven have holes. The back has two buffers.
The top, front, and right sides of the Panasonic NB-G110P FlashXpress Compact Toaster Oven on a white background.
On a white background, the bottom of the Panasonic NB-G110P FlashXpress Toaster Oven has a slide-out crumb tray and 4 stands.
  • Weight:
    6.9 lbs (3.1 kg)
  • Length:
    12.6" (32.0 cm)
  • Width:
    11.8" (30.0 cm)
  • Height:
    10.2" (26.0 cm)
  • Material:
    Stainless steel
  • Color:
    Silver
  • Door Handle:
    Cool-touch
  • Tray Indicators:
    No
  • Crumb Tray:
    Slide-out

Our measurements of 12.6" x 11.81" x 10.24" were marginally different from the manufacturer’s 13" x 12" x 10.25". Despite its high price, the NB-G110P only has the basic exterior features of a small toaster oven which tallies to a score of 5/10.

The only thing standing out from the stainless steel casing is the slide-out crumb tray on the bottom to help with cleaning (+1). Keep in mind to push the crumb tray all the way in or there’ll be gaps.

The oven has two bumps on the back which act as back buffers but we think they could be longer (+2). The shape of the cool-touch door handle makes it easy to grab (+2).

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 Panasonic NB-G110P’s control has an LCD and 14 buttons for temperature, timer, shade, 6 functions, light, and power.
  • Type:
    LCD + 14 buttons
  • Temperature:
    250°F - 500°F
  • Timer:
    1 minute - 25 minutes
  • Indicator Light:
    Yes
  • Status Bar:
    No
  • Light Toggle:
    Yes
  • Convection Toggle:
    No
  • Rotation Toggle:
    No
  • Automatic Preheat:
    No
  • Audio Cues:
    No

The Panasonic has an LCD and 14 control buttons in total. We have the standard buttons which are the power button, light toggle, two buttons to adjust the temperature, and two more to adjust the timer.

Then, we have six buttons for the six preset cooking functions and their two shade control buttons which are unique to this model. When you turn the oven on by pushing the power button, the indicator light will glow red.

Cooking Functions

Cooking Functions of the Panasonic NB-G110P FlashXpress 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.

Panasonic NB-G110P has 6 functions: Toast, Frozen Waffle, Reheat Roll, Frozen Pizza, Quick Reheat, and Frozen Hash Brown.
  • Toast
  • Frozen Waffle
  • Reheat Rolls
  • Frozen Pizza
  • Quick Reheat
  • Frozen Hash Brown

You can simply operate the oven by selecting a temperature and adjusting the timer which was what we did with our performance tests. Also, you can choose one of the six preset cooking functions including Toast, Frozen Waffle, Reheat Roll, Frozen Pizza, Quick Reheat, and Frozen Hash Brown.

The Shade Control includes five levels that are applicable to all the preset cooking functions. It’s quite common for Japanese models to have very specific cooking functions like these. How useful they are, however, is up to the user to decide.

6.0

Interior

5.0
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 upper quartz ceramic heating element inside the Panasonic NB-G110P Flash Express Compact Toaster Oven’s cooking chamber.
The upper quartz ceramic heating element inside the Panasonic NB-G110P Flash Express Compact Toaster Oven’s cooking chamber.
Panasonic FlashXpress Digital Small Toaster Oven InteriorThe shining interior light on the cooking chamber ceiling of the Panasonic NB-G110P Flash Express Compact Toaster Oven.
The rack-pulling mechanism and bottom quartz ceramic heating element inside the Panasonic NB-G110P Oven’s cooking chamber.
  • Heating Elements:
    2 quartz
  • Convection Fan:
    No
  • Lighting:
    Yes
  • Tray Levels:
    1
  • Rotisserie:
    No
  • Safety Hook:
    Yes

Despite having some uncommon interior features, the NB-G110P still suffers from common limitations of a small toaster oven. Its interior score ended up at 5/10.

The oven has two quartz and ceramic heating elements, one upper and one lower (+1). They use infrared light to cook which makes the process faster and more energy-efficient. Nonetheless, two heating elements may not distribute heat as evenly as four or more will do.

While not as durable, they cool down faster and are easier to clean. However, if grease splashes onto the heating elements while cooking, it’ll leave permanent stains.

The upper heating element is closer to the front of the cooking chamber while the interior light is closer to the back (+2). During cooking, the light automatically cycles on and off in sync with the heating elements which means you can manually turn it on but not off.

The oven has a mechanism to smoothly pull the rack halfway toward you as the door is opened (+1). However, this design choice meant that the cooking chamber only has one tray level instead of two which is more common in small toaster ovens (+1).

The cooking chamber has a coating for easy cleaning but it’s not 100% non-stick (+1). The oven doesn’t have a convection system to help with heat distribution, similar to many other small units (-1).

Capacity of the Cuisinart Classic Toaster Oven Broiler

Capacity
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 Panasonic NB-G110P FlashXpress Compact Toaster Oven with interior measurements on a white background.
  • Length:
    11.0" (28.0 cm)
  • Width:
    9.8" (25.0 cm)
  • Height:
    9.1" (23.0 cm)

We could fit 4 slices of toast, a 9-inch pizza but we could barely fit a 3 lb chicken inside the Panasonic. We measured the cooking chamber volume to be around 16.08 liters, slightly different from the manufacturer’s provided capacity of 15.52 liters.

Looking at our measurements of 11.2" x 9.84" x 9.05" compared to the manufacturer’s 10.2" x 9.8" x 4.1", we speculated they measured the height only from the baking rack to the upper heating element.

Power Cord

Power Cord of the Panasonic FlashXpress Toaster Oven
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 of the silver stainless steel Panasonic NB-G110P FlashXpress Compact Toaster Oven.
  • Length:
    3.1 ft (0.9 m)
  • Type:
    2-prong plug
  • Power:
    1300
  • Rated Output:
    120

The power cord is 37.6 inches long, suitable for household use. However, the oven doesn’t have any storage space for it.

Baking Rack

Accessories

Baking Rack
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 of the silver Panasonic NB-G110P FlashXpress Compact Toaster Oven on a white background.
  • Length:
    10.6" (27.0 cm)
  • Width:
    9.4" (24.0 cm)
  • Height:
    1.2" (3.0 cm)
  • Material:
    Stainless steel
  • Dishwasher Safe:
    Yes

The baking rack has two hooks in the back to latch onto a horizontal rod in the middle of the cooking chamber and two hooks in the front to connect to the door. Opening the door will pull the baking rack and the baking pan on top of it halfway toward you to help keep your hands and fingers safe from the heat. Keep in mind that when the rack is removed, the door won’t be able to close tightly.

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 grooved silver baking pan of the stainless steel Panasonic NB-G110P FlashXpress Compact Toaster Oven on a white background.
  • Length:
    9.8" (24.9 cm)
  • Width:
    9.8" (24.9 cm)
  • Height:
    0.8" (2.0 cm)
  • Material:
    Stainless steel
  • Dishwasher Safe:
    Not advisable

The baking pan fits nicely on top of the baking rack to prevent accidents. It has a grooved surface which can give your food attractive roasting marks and catch the dripping better. It also has a coating but it’s not completely non-stick so you may need to watch out for some stubborn stains after a heavy roasting session.

6.0

Build Quality

7.0
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.

The front of an opened Panasonic NB-G110P FlashXpress Toaster Oven with a slide-out crumb tray, oven rack, and baking pan.

The price of the Panasonic is partially reflected in its build quality score of 7/10. A small footprint doesn’t stop the oven from having a sturdy construction (+2). Its casing is made from thick durable stainless steel so the oven only gets hot to the touch after a long cooking time at a high temperature (>400°F) (+2).

With the way the control panel is positioned, the NB-G110P has less length and more height than most toaster ovens of the same size category. The entire oven is shaped like a square which could be beneficial for some kitchen space (+2).

The LCD is black and glows red creating good color contrast and the analog buttons are responsive and can last a long time (+2). One thing to be nitpicky about is that you need to pay attention to push the crumb tray all the way in or else the oven won’t be tightly sealed (-1).

Only Standard Features

Cuisinart Custom Classic Toaster Oven Usability

Panasonic FlashXpress Compact Toaster Oven Usability: Lacking Premium Features
5.8
usability Scores
  • User Control (30%)7.0/10
  • Ease of Use (50%)5.0/10
  • Cleanability (20%)6.0/10
4.9
usability Scores
  • User Control (30%)7.0/10
  • Ease of Use (50%)3.0/10
  • Cleanability (20%)6.5/10
7.0

User Control

7.0

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 control panel of the Panasonic wasn’t the easiest to use but it also didn’t cause any problem, so it earned a 7/10.

The current setting on the LCD is indicated by a red light which makes it easy to see (+2). Thanks to the light toggle, you can turn on the light even when the oven is not running (+2).

The preset cooking functions seem to be designed for worry-free cooking (+2). However, because they don’t allow for the adjustment of time and temperature, they weren’t applicable to our test.

Moreover, we couldn’t find the exact preset temperature and cooking time in the manual (-2). Thus, we simply chose to operate the oven by adjusting the temperature and timer on the control panel (+2).

The temperature is displayed in both °F and °C. It can be adjusted in increments of 35°F/20°C from 250°F to 500°F / from 120°C to 260°C, which is quite uncommon (+1). The timer can be adjusted in 0.5-minute increments below 10 minutes and 1-minute increments after 10 minutes (+1).

In addition to not having a stay-on feature, the timer only lasts from one to 25 minutes which is very short. It’s also worth noting that the timer is displayed in a 0.5-minute multiplier and not by the minute and second, unlike most other toaster ovens.

The cooking starts as soon as a timer adjustment key is pressed which makes it a bit tricky to get right. In addition, if you want to switch cooking functions, you’ll need to turn the oven off and on again (-1).

5.0

Ease of Use

3.0
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.

Panasonic FlashXpress Digital Small Toaster Oven Ease of Use
Panasonic FlashXpress Digital Small Toaster Oven Ease of Use 1

Despite having some features of convenience, the Panasonic didn’t quite meet our standards and scored a 3/10.

In addition to the cool-touch door handle (+2), the auto-pull rack minimizes the risk of burning due to contact (+2). The oven rack can be a little awkward to remove but it’ll be no problem with a bit of practice (+2). However, the auto-pull mechanism means that the oven door can only open or close all the way and not open partially to let food cool inside (-2).

The manufacturer claims that this oven has a smart sensor that turns the heat on and off automatically to maintain the perfect temperature and prevent burning.  However, our tests showed no significant increase in terms of cooking performance compared to other small units.

It’s also advertised that this oven requires no preheating due to its efficiency. While we didn’t agree with this, we were able to confirm that the NB-G110P could reach a high internal temperature very quickly—4 minutes 50 seconds to reach 450°F.

The interior light makes it easier to make our way around the oven (+2). Keep in mind that opening the door doesn’t stop the oven or the interior light (-2). Be careful as the oven’s casing can get very hot after a long cooking time at a high temperature (-1).

When the cooking cycle finishes, the oven will beep once and then turn off. Nonetheless, we advise you to unplug the oven after use because, according to the manufacturer, the oven still consumes about 0.4 W when plugged in and not turned on.

6.0

Cleanability

6.5
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.

The cleaned upper quartz ceramic heating element with a permanent black stain of the Panasonic NB-G110P FlashXpress Oven.

The Panasonic was quite easy to clean overall scoring a 6.5/10.

It has a stainless steel exterior and a non-stick interior (+4). The cooking chamber has no tricky nooks and crannies to make cleaning any more difficult than it needs to be (+2).

Thanks to the slide-out crumb tray, we could easily remove most of the falling debris after cooking. For the remaining crumbs on the cooking chamber’s floor, we could simply tilt the oven and get all of them out (+1).

Unfortunately, during our Whole Roasted Chicken test, the chicken grazed the upper heating elements when we put it in and left permanent black stains there (-1.5). The baking tray also suffered some stubborn stains but we were able to brush them off with a paste of baking soda and water (+1).