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Cuisinart TOB-40N vs Breville BOV450XL 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 stainless steel Breville BOV450XL Mini Smart 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
6.5
Overall Score
  • Performance (50%)
    6.8/10
  • Design (25%)
    6.4/10
  • Usability (25%)
    6.2/10

Purely in terms of score, the Cuisinart TOB-40N and the Breville BOV450XL tied in our performance tests. However, upon a closer look, you’ll find that the Breville has the upper hand in three out of four tests, if only slightly.

The design aspect was where the Breville gained a decisive advantage. With the same power rating, the Breville’s four quartz heating elements are more efficient than the Cuisinart’s four nichrome ones.

However, we suspected the oven’s smart heating algorithms may have caused inconsistencies in its heating performance. This could explain its loss in baking french fries, since they require a stable high temperature.

The Breville’s digital display allows for more cooking functions and unique features than the 100% analog control of the Cuisinart. However, it doesn’t have a stay-on feature like the Cuisinart.

While the Cuisinart has a slightly greater capacity, the Breville has three tray levels as opposed to two, which makes it easier to make minor adjustments to the outcome. To further help with that, the Breville also has tray-level indicators on the glass door.

As a shared useful feature, both ovens have slide-out crumb trays. Plus, the Breville’s interior is easier to clean thanks to its non-stick surface coating.

With a marginal difference in the score between the two, we believe the Cuisinart TOB-40N is a better choice budget-wise. However, if you think the added modern features are worth it, the Breville BOV450XL is still a solid choice.

Could Be Improved

Cuisinart TOB-40N Classic Toaster Oven Performance

Breville Mini Smart Toaster Oven Performance: Inconsistent Heating
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
6.8
Performance Scores
  • Toast (40%)7.8/10
  • Pizza (25%)5.5/10
  • Whole Roasted Chicken (25%)6.6/10
  • Baked French Fries (10%)6.5/10
7.1

Toast

7.8
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.

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: Level 3; In the middle: Level 4; On the right: Level 5
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 stainless steel Breville BOV450XL Mini Smart 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: 7.5
30% * 7.5 = 2.3
  • Function: Toast
  • Number Of Slices: 4
  • Toast Level: 4/7
  • Cooking Time: 3m
  • Second Batch: 2m 36s
  • Convection: No

After following our Toast test procedures, we determined that this oven’s toasting level 4—3 minutes on the timer—was the best option, giving it a score of 7.9/10. At level 3, the bread was very lightly toasted and at 5 was darker than ideal and had a more uneven surface color.

At toast level 4, the Breville produced 4 pieces with mottled light golden to golden-brown color which looked quite appetizing. The color was not evenly distributed due to the oven’s lack of a convection system, though, so we gave it an 8/10.

The first batch of toast was nicely crispy outside while still soft and moist inside, deserving an 8/10 score for flavor. Our head chef, Tuyet Pham, determined they would go well with pretty much anything including an omelet, eggs benedict, and particularly sandwiches.

Even though the oven automatically adjusted the timer to 2 minutes 36 seconds, the color of the second batch was a bit darker. Also, the second batch was crispier than the first which made it more suitable for soup.

Overall, it’s a 7.5/10 for consecutive usability. Remember to reduce the heat by one level if you want the same result. Thanks to its high wattage, this oven has the fastest cooking time for toast among the toaster ovens we’ve tested thus far.

6.5

Pizza

5.5
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.

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: 0
20% * 0 = 0.0
Crust: 7
20% * 7 = 1.4
Toppings: 6.5
30% * 6.5 = 1.9
Taste: 7
30% * 7 = 2.1
  • Function:  Bake
  • Temperature: 450°F
  • Cooking Time: 10m 30s
  • Convection: No

The Breville oven did not agree with the 9-inch thick-crust meat pizza we tried to bake. We gave it a score of only 5.5/10.

This oven took 10m 30s to bake the pizza which was only slightly longer than the recommended 10 minutes on the label. However, 10 minutes was the time limit of our Pizza test, so it failed the cooking time section.

The crust had a nice golden color but was soft and dry—a possible consequence of the long cooking time. Therefore, we could only give it a 7/10.

The toppings were mostly dry with uneven color. Plus, the cheese wasn’t well melted, so it received a 6.5/10.

After tasting, our chef gave the pizza a 7/10.

7.4

Whole Roasted Chicken

6.6
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.

A whole roasted chicken using a toaster oven on an enamel baking pan on a white background.
A whole roasted chicken using a toaster oven on an enamel baking pan on a white background.
A tray of whole toaster oven roasted chicken. The thermometer has two probes inside the chicken and displays 168°F and 171°F.
Seven pieces of a carved chicken including a carcass, two breasts, two wings, and two thighs on an enamel baking pan.
The chicken thigh is slightly pink near the bone. In the white background is the rest of the roasted chicken on a baking pan.
Cooking Time: 7.5
20% * 7.5 = 1.5
Skin: 5.5
20% * 5.5 = 1.1
Doneness: 7
20% * 7 = 1.4
Taste: 6.5
40% * 6.5 = 2.6
  • Function: Bake
  • Temperature: 350°F
  • Cooking Time: 1h 5m
  • Convection: No

The Breville could barely fit the 3 lb chicken for our Whole Roasted Chicken test and scored a 6.9/10. The chicken grazed the safety guards that protect the upper heating elements while we were putting it in. During the roasting, quite a bit of grease splashed inside the oven and caused the heating elements to smoke a little.

The oven took 1h 5m to cook the chicken which was just 5 minutes longer than what we consider standard, so it got a 7.5/10.

After roasting, the skin had a quite even coloring although a bit too light, and remained soft. We awarded it a 7/10. In addition, the skin on the back got stuck to the baking pan during roasting.

The chicken’s internal temperature was 168-171°F which was very close to the USDA recommendation. However, there were a few pink spots near the bone, so we gave it a 7/10.

Even though the meat was juicy, the unappetizing chicken skin was enough that our chef lowered the score to 6.5/10 for taste.

5.1

Baked French Fries

6.5
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.

Pieces of baked french fries using a toaster oven on an enamel baking pan on a white background.
Pieces of baked french fries using a toaster oven on an enamel baking pan on a white background.
A close-up of pieces of baked french fries using a toaster oven on an enamel baking pan on a white background.
Six pieces of broken-up baked french fries are stacked on top of pieces of whole fries on an enamel baking pan.
Cooking Time: 5
20% * 5 = 1.0
Color: 7
20% * 7 = 1.4
Texture: 6.5
20% * 6.5 = 1.3
Taste: 7
40% * 7 = 2.8
  • Function: Bake
  • Temperature: 400°F.
  • Cooking Time: 25 m
  • Convection: No

The Breville did an acceptable job of baking 12 oz of french fries, scoring a 6.5/10.

It took 25 minutes, the limit of our Baked French Fries test, so this oven got a 5/10.

Except for a few golden pieces, the fries mostly lacked color. They only deserved a score of  7/10.

The fries had a variety of textures, none of which were good. The golden fries were dry and yet only slightly crispy. Also, the ones that lacked color were really soft, so it was only a 6.5/10.

Our chef gave the fries a 7/10 for taste.

Simple and Spacious

Cuisinart TOB-40N Design Review

Breville BOV450XL Design: Can Be Improved With a Convection System
6.2
design Scores
  • Exterior (20%)7.0/10
  • Interior (30%)6.0/10
  • Build Quality (50%)6.0/10
6.4
design Scores
  • Exterior (20%)6.0/10
  • Interior (30%)4.0/10
  • Build Quality (50%)8.0/10

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

In the Breville BOV450XL Mini Smart 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.

An oven rack, 5 pieces of document, the Breville BOV450XL Mini Smart Toaster Oven, a box, and an enamel baking pan.
  • Model: BOV450XL
  • Warranty: 1-year limited
  • User Manual
  • Baking Rack
  • Baking Pan

On the packaging were some illustrations and basic information, and the oven was couched nicely between two foam pads. Breville’s user manual explains in detail how each oven function works. 

The default accessories, a baking rack and baking pan, were packaged in a fitted carton box. You can opt to buy a separate 11” pizza pan and/or a broiling rack to cover more cooking methods.

7.0

Exterior

6.0
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 Breville BOV450XL Mini Smart Toaster Oven with exterior measurements on a white background
A closed front of the Breville BOV450XL Mini Smart Toaster Oven with exterior measurements on a white background
The front of a closed stainless steel Breville BOV450XL Mini Smart Toaster Oven has a control panel and the right has holes.
The back and left sides of the Breville BOV450XL Toaster Oven have holes. The back has a power cord and two buffers.
The top of the stainless steel Breville BOV450XL Mini Smart Toaster Oven on a grey background.
On a grey background, the bottom of the stainless steel Breville BOV450XL Mini Smart Toaster Oven has four stands and holes.
View from the top onto a slide-out crumb tray of the Breville BOV450XL Mini Smart Toaster Oven on a grey background.
  • Weight:
    10.0 lbs (4.5 kg)
  • Length:
    15.7" (40.0 cm)
  • Width:
    14.2" (36.0 cm)
  • Height:
    8.9" (22.5 cm)
  • Material:
    Stainless steel
  • Color:
    Silver
  • Door Handle:
    cool-touch
  • Tray Indicators:
    Yes
  • Crumb Tray:
    Slide-out

The small size didn’t stop Breville from designing a sturdy stainless steel outer shell. The shape of the back buffers makes it easy to wrap the power cord around them once things have cooled.

Also, the tray-level indicators on the glass door and the slide-out crumb tray are always nice touches. However, the oven’s exterior doesn’t provide good grip points to carry the oven.

We measured the oven’s footprint to be 15.74" x 14.17" x 8.86" which was slightly different in terms of height from the manufacturer’s 16.1" x 14.2" x 10.4".

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 Breville BOV450XL Mini Smart Toaster Oven’s control panel has an LCD, 1 cooking functions’ control dial, and 8 buttons
  • Type:
     LCD display + 1 control dial + 8 buttons
  • Temperature:
    120°F - 450°F
  • Timer:
    1 minute - 2 hours
  • Indicator Light:
    No
  • Status Bar:
    No
  • Light Toggle:
    No
  • Convection Toggle:
    No
  • Rotation Toggle:
    No
  • Automatic Preheat:
    Yes
  • Audio Cues:
    No

The control panel consists of 1 control knob for 8 functions and 4 buttons to set the time, temperature, and/or toasting mode. The digital display and the Start/Cancel button both shine blue when the oven’s plugged in and red when it’s cooking.

Beyond the standard stuff, you’ll find 3 unique buttons: Temperature Conversion (°F-°C), Frozen Foods, and A Bit More. The latter adds a specific amount of time depending on the cooking function.

The LCD screen will display ‘E01’ or ‘E02’ 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.

Cooking Functions

Cooking Functions of the Breville BOV450XL Smart 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.

  • Toast (7 levels, 4 slices maximum)
  • Bagel (7 levels, 4 slices maximum)
  • Bake (1h 30m maximum)
  • Broil (High and Low levels, 20 minutes maximum)
  • Pizza (55 minutes maximum)
  • Roast (1h 30m maximum)
  • Cookies (55 minutes maximum)
  • Reheat (370°F maximum)

For safety reasons, all cooking functions have a predetermined timer limit after which the oven stops cooking. If you want to continue cooking, simply operate the oven in standard mode. The High setting of the Broil function does the job faster than Low and you’ll need to experiment with it to learn how quickly it cooks.

6.0

Interior

4.0
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 Breville BOV450XL ’s cooking chamber is black and has 4 quartz heating elements with guards and 2 guide rails.
The Breville BOV450XL ’s cooking chamber is black and has 4 quartz heating elements with guards and 2 guide rails.
The cooking chamber’s right wall of the Breville BOV450XL has 2 guide rails.
  • Heating Elements:
    4 quartz
  • Convection Fan:
    No
  • Lighting:
    No
  • Tray Levels:
    3
  • Rotisserie:
    No
  • Safety Hook:
    No

The Breville’s interior has a non-stick coating, 4 heating elements, and 3 tray levels (quite rare for its size). However, it has no internal lighting or convection system.

The oven uses 4 quartz heating elements, each with its own safety guard to prevent direct contact with baking pans and food. Unlike the more common nichrome style, these don’t heat the air in the oven, but rather radiate the infrared heat directly to the food or pan.

Overall, they produce more heat and cool down faster than nichrome. In addition, they’re easier to clean and are more energy-efficient but not as durable. However, if grease splashes onto the heating elements while cooking, it’ll leave permanent stains.

Capacity of the Cuisinart Classic Toaster Oven Broiler

Capacity of the Breville Smart Toaster 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 Breville BOV450XL Mini Smart Toaster Oven with interior measurements on a white background.
  • Length:
    11.5" (29.2 cm)
  • Width:
    11.0" (27.9 cm)
  • Height:
    6.7" (17.0 cm)

The BOV450XL had enough space for four slices of toast, an 11-inch pizza, or barely a 3 lb whole chicken.

We measured the cooking chamber’s volume to be 13.86 liters compared to the manufacturer’s provided capacity of 12.74 liters. However, it could just be because we measured from the cooking chamber’s walls to walls whereas the manufacturer stopped before reaching the heating elements.

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 three-pronged plug power cord. In the background is the stainless steel Breville BOV450XL Mini Smart Toaster Oven.
  • Length:
    40.9" (104.0 cm)
  • Type:
    3-prong plug
  • Power:
    1800 W
  • Rated Output:
    110 V - 120 V ~ 60 Hz

The power cord is roughly 40.94"—plenty of length for household use—and can be wrapped around the back buffers for storage. The plug also has a nice little handle which makes it easier to grab.

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 stainless steel Breville BOV450XL Mini Smart Toaster Oven on a grey background.
  • Length:
    11.5" (29.2 cm)
  • Width:
    10.3" (26.3 cm)
  • Height:
    0.3" (0.7 cm)
  • Material:
    Stainless steel
  • Dishwasher Safe:
    Yes

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

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 enamel baking pan of the stainless steel Breville BOV450XL Mini Smart Toaster Oven on a grey background.
  • Length:
    10.6" (27.0 cm)
  • Width:
    10.6" (27.0 cm)
  • Height:
    1.2" (3.0 cm)
  • Material:
    Stainless steel with enamel coating
  • Dishwasher Safe:
    Not advisable

Although the baking pan is a bit smaller than the rack, it still has more than enough space for a 3 lb chicken. Thus, it keeps most of the mess off the heating elements. 

However, even with the enamel coating, the chicken skin still stuck to the pan during our roasting test. Also worth noting is that the dishwasher can damage this coating.

6.0

Build Quality

8.0
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 stainless steel Breville BOV450XL Mini Smart Toaster Oven with a baking rack and a baking pan.

The Breville is well-constructed and durable with a high power rating of 1800 W. All of its parts fit nicely and work smoothly, especially the LCD display and the buttons.

Thanks to the good insulation of the casing, the oven gets hot to the touch only after cooking for a long period of time at high heat.

Only Standard Features

Cuisinart Custom Classic Toaster Oven Usability

Breville Mini Toaster Oven Usability Review: Flawed Technology
5.8
usability Scores
  • User Control (30%)7.0/10
  • Ease of Use (50%)5.0/10
  • Cleanability (20%)6.0/10
6.2
usability Scores
  • User Control (30%)8.0/10
  • Ease of Use (50%)4.0/10
  • Cleanability (20%)9.0/10
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 Temperature Conversion button is a nice touch for international users. The cooking time can be adjusted in increments of 1 minute and the temperature in increments of 5°F. For some reason, this differs from what the user manual states.

The manual says that the FROZEN FOODS button adds the right amount of additional time needed to defrost the target foods in the Toast, Bagel, Pizza, Cookies, and Bake functions. However, we didn’t find it very useful since cooking time depends heavily on the food quantity and personal preference.

The A BIT MORE button, where each press adds a pre-set amount of time to each function, has a similar problem. It only seemed useful when the oven was still cold and we wanted to skip the preheating phase.

5.0

Ease of Use

4.0
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.

The Breville has an automatic preheating phase that lasts 1m 45s. Our tests saw it reaching around 180°F in that time. The temperature alert will sound when the oven reaches your selected temperature. Then, it will sound three times at the end of the cooking cycle.

It’s very easy to adjust cooking settings during use, especially compared to an analog unit like the Mueller MT-175. However, even though this oven doesn’t turn off upon opening the door, the door won’t stay partially open – it’s all or nothing.

According to the manufacturer, the Element iQ System’s smart algorithms focus power where and when it’s most needed, creating ideal cooking conditions every time. However, we didn’t notice a significant difference in performance when comparing it to other ovens of the same size/wattage.

If it’s not actively cooking, the oven will go into STANDBY mode after 10 minutes with no interaction. Although unplugging the oven resets your customized setting, Breville recommends doing so anyway after you finish using it.

6.0

Cleanability

9.0
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.

Grease on the back of the stainless steel Breville BOV450XL Mini Smart Toaster Oven’s glass door.
Grease on the back of the stainless steel Breville BOV450XL Mini Smart Toaster Oven’s glass door.
Brushing the upper heating element’s guards of the stainless steel Breville BOV450XL Mini Smart Toaster Oven’s glass door.
Grease and chicken skin stuck on the enamel baking pan of the stainless steel Breville BOV450XL Mini Smart Toaster Oven.
The cleaned enamel baking pan of the stainless steel Breville BOV450XL Mini Smart Toaster Oven.

We cleaned the Breville in accordance with our toaster oven cleaning guide. Thanks to the stainless steel exterior and non-stick interior, it was very easy to clean. Removing crumbs was also easy thanks to the slide-out crumb tray, although we still had to tilt the oven to get the last of them out.

The upper heating elements got stained by smoke from splattered grease during our roasted chicken test. Fortunately, we had no problem removing the stains by brushing the elements with a paste of baking soda and water. We were also able to easily scrub the burnt chicken skin off of the baking pan.