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Hamilton Beach 31401 Countertop vs Instant Omni Plus 18L Toaster Oven Side-by-Side Comparison
Hamilton Beach 31401 vs Instant Omni Plus 18L Toaster Oven. A comparison between a small-sized countertop toaster oven and a medium-sized convection unit.
Hamilton Beach 31401
Tested Using Methodology v1.0Instant Omni Plus 18L
Tested Using Methodology v1.0Overall Verdict
In most of our performance tests, the Hamilton Beach 31401 left a lot to be desired against the consistently great results of the Instant Omni Plus 18L. However, in an interesting upset, the Hamilton won in toasting bread.
Despite both using quartz heating elements, the Instant has four of them plus an additional swirl nichrome heating element while the Hamilton only has two. The Instant also has a power output of 1800 W as opposed to 1200 W of the Hamilton.
These could be the reasons behind the Hamilton’s low scores in dishes that require a long cooking time and/or a high temperature. Of course, the lack of a convection system compared to the Instant doesn’t help. In actual use, however, you can cook less food than our test amounts for better results.
The Hamilton has a basic design and three simple control dials with a stay-on function. On the other hand, the Instant has an LCD touchscreen with smart programs, audio cues, toggles, and cooking presets. It’s also equipped with a slide-out crumb tray, interior light, and tray-level indicators on the glass door.
The Instant Omni Plus 18L is the winner thanks to its convenient features of design and usability as well as overall efficiency. Nonetheless, the Hamilton can still have a place in your kitchen as a lightweight, small-sized, and energy-saving appliance.
Pros & Cons
- Lightweight and small size
- Easy-to-clean stainless steel exterior
- Cool-touch door handle
- Simple control knobs
- Stay-on feature
- Quartz heating elements have safeguards
- Energy-saving
- Informative and eye-catching package
- Smart Programs and cooking status bar
- Electrical safety feature for the door
- Convenient slide-out crumb tray
- Safeguards for all heating elements
- Complimentary app with detailed instructions and numerous recipes
- Helpful toggles
- Easy-to-clean stainless steel exterior
- No convection fan
- No internal lighting
- No safety mechanism for the door
- Touchscreen digital displays need more contrast
- The master-control knob can be confusing
Key Specs
Where to Buy
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Analysis and Test Results
Performance
Toast
Pizza
Whole Roasted Chicken
Baked French Fries
Design
In the Box
Exterior
Control Panel
Cooking Functions
Interior
Power Cord
Accessories
Build Quality
Capacity
Usability
User Control
Ease of Use
Cleanability
Behind the Comparison
Alan Nguyen is a writer and product reviewer at HealthyKitchen101. His major in English language teaching taught him to present concise information. In addition to his cooking hobby, he values the practical aspects of household appliances.
Lap is Head of the Research, Testing, and Review Team (RTR Team) at HealthyKitchen101.com, where he directs and supervises the testing of kitchen gadgets and appliances.
Tuyet Pham is an award-winning Saigonese chef passionate about delicious and healthful foods. At HealthyKitchen101, she develops recipes and collaborates with our Research, Testing, and Review lab to evaluate the performance of cooking appliances. Her assessments add a strong authoritative voice to our product scoring process.
Nguyen Ntk is a graphic designer, photographer, and videographer whose philosophy centers around respecting and celebrating the beauty of reality. Through his lenses, Nguyen strives to capture the true essence of objects and events, showcasing and highlighting authentic features without distortion or exaggeration.