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Hamilton Beach 31401 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 Hamilton Beach 31401 4-Slice Capacity Countertop Toaster Oven 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

4.6
Overall Score
  • Performance (50%)
    5.1/10
  • Design (25%)
    3.6/10
  • Usability (25%)
    4.6/10
6.0
Overall Score
  • Performance (50%)
    6.6/10
  • Design (25%)
    6.0/10
  • Usability (25%)
    4.9/10

The Hamilton Beach 31401 4-Slice Toaster Oven and Panasonic FlashXpress Digital Toaster Oven (NB-G110P) are both small units. The second one has slightly higher scores in every aspect and also a higher price.

Both products have two quartz heating elements, three control dials, and a removable crumb tray. The Hamilton has a basic design with three control dials. On the other hand, the Panasonic has a digital control panel, a unique auto-pull rack, and an interior light that’s rare in a small unit.

The main advantage of the Panasonic is its ability to reach and maintain a high temperature. Although both units have relatively low power draws, the Panasonic has shorter cooking times in all of our tests compared to the Hamilton.

Good for Toast Only

Hamilton Beach 4-Slice Toaster Oven Performance

Panasonic FlashXpress Toaster Oven Performance: Short Cooking Times
5.1
Performance Scores
  • Toast (40%)7.7/10
  • Pizza (25%)5.5/10
  • Whole Roasted Chicken (25%)1.0/10
  • Baked French Fries (10%)4.0/10
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
7.7

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: 2m 30s; In the middle: 4m 15s; On the right: 5m 55s
From left to right, 24 pieces of toast for the top and bottom of three toast levels including lighter, medium, and darker.
The top and bottom of the best four pieces of toast from the Hamilton Beach 31401 4-Slice Capacity Countertop 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: 7.5
20% * 7.5 = 1.5
Consecutive Usability: 7.3
30% * 7.3 = 2.2
  • Function: Toast
  • Number Of Slices: 4
  • Toast Level: Medium
  • Cooking Time: 4m 15s
  • Second Batch: 4m 15s
  • Convection: No

With our Toast test, we determined the best option was right at the position of the Toast icon—around 4 minutes 15 seconds on the timer, scoring a 7.7/10. Turning the knob halfway down would result in no color and turning it halfway up nearly burnt the toast.

With 4m 15s, the Hamilton Beach produced 4 pieces with a light golden brown color on the top and golden on the bottom. Although that was great, the top and the bottom were quite different and they were both only about 80% even throughout. Thus, we gave it a 7.5/10.

The first batch of toast had a nice balance of crispiness on the outside and softness on the inside, deserving an 8/10 for taste. Our head chef Tuyet Pham determined it would go well with pretty much everything including eggs benedict, omelet, and especially sandwiches. It wasn’t as suitable for soup but the second batch was.

The second batch got crispier and more even in color. However, it also became browner so we gave it a 7.3/10 for consecutive usability. If you want the second batch to be the same as the first, remember to only turn the knob to ¾ to Medium—around 3 minutes 40 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.

5.5

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: 0
20% * 0 = 0.0
Crust: 6
20% * 6 = 1.2
Toppings: 7.5
30% * 7.5 = 2.3
Taste: 7
30% * 7 = 2.1
  • Function: Bake
  • Temperature:  450°F
  • Cooking Time: 10m 30s
  • Convection:  No

The Hamilton didn’t perform well in baking a 9-inch thick-crust meat pizza scoring a 5.6/10.

Compared to the recommended 10 minutes on the label, the oven took only a tad bit longer at 10m 30s. However, this meant that it failed the cooking time criterion with 10 minutes being the time limit for our Pizza test.

For the most part, the crust didn’t have a good toasted coloring and was soft so it got a 6/10. The toppings had pretty good caramelization but some darkened areas of the cheese lowered the score to 7.5/10. After tasting the pizza, our chef gave it a 7/10.

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.

1.0

Whole Roasted Chicken

7.1
A whole roasted chicken using the Hamilton Beach 31401 Toaster Oven on a baking rack and baking pan on a white background.
A whole roasted chicken using the Hamilton Beach 31401 Toaster Oven on a baking rack and baking pan on a white background.
A tray of whole toaster oven roasted chicken. The thermometer has two probes inside the chicken and both display 176°F.
Seven pieces of a carved chicken including a carcass, two breasts, two wings, and two thighs on a silver baking pan.
The chicken thigh meat is still pink. In the white background is the rest of the roasted chicken on a baking pan.
Cooking Time: 0
20% * 0 = 0.0
Skin: 5
20% * 5 = 1.0
Doneness: 0
20% * 0 = 0.0
Taste: 0
40% * 0 = 0.0
  • Function: Rotisserie
  • Temperature: 350°F
  • Cooking Time: 1h 30m
  • Convection: No

This was one of the rare occasions where an oven failed the entirety of our Whole Roasted Chicken test. Our speculations concerned the instability of the heating elements and the fact that the chicken grazed the upper safeguard during cooking.

After 1h 30m—our time limit, the oven wasn’t able to roast the chicken to a desirable outcome and failed the first criterion. After roasting, the skin had no noticeable caramelization and barely enough for a 5/10.

The chicken reached an internal temperature of 176°F which was quite good. However, the meat itself was undercooked and still pink in a lot of areas. Thus, it was another failure. Due to the meat being undercooked, our chef couldn’t taste it to give a score.

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.

4.0

Baked French Fries

6.1
Pieces of baked french fries using the Hamilton Beach 31401 Toaster Oven on a silver baking pan on a white background.
Pieces of baked french fries using the Hamilton Beach 31401 Toaster Oven on a silver baking pan on a white background.
A close-up of pieces of baked french fries using the Hamilton Beach 31401 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: 5
20% * 5 = 1.0
Texture: 5
20% * 5 = 1.0
Taste: 5
40% * 5 = 2.0
  • Function: Bake
  • Temperature: 400°F
  • Cooking Time: 30 m
  • Convection: No

The Hamilton Beach wasn’t suitable for baking 12 oz of french fries scoring only a 4/10.

There were no noticeable changes to the fries after 30 minutes of baking in this oven. Due to our time limit of 25 minutes, this constituted a failure in the cooking time section of our Baked French Fries test.

There was no change in the fries’ color so they received a 5/10. The oven basically thawed and heated the fries so they were very soggy scoring another 5/10. Our chef could only give the fries a minimal score of 5/10 for taste.

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.

No Stand-Out Features

Hamilton Beach Stainless Steel Toaster Oven Design

Panasonic NB-G110P FlashXpress Design Review: High Build Quality Only
3.6
design Scores
  • Exterior (20%)4.0/10
  • Interior (30%)1.0/10
  • Build Quality (50%)5.0/10
6.0
design Scores
  • Exterior (20%)5.0/10
  • Interior (30%)5.0/10
  • Build Quality (50%)7.0/10

In the Hamilton Beach Countertop Toaster Oven Box

In the Panasonic NB-G110P FlashXpress Box
An oven rack, a user manual, the Hamilton Beach 31401 4-Slice Capacity Countertop Toaster Oven, a box, and a baking pan.
  • Model: 31401
  • Warranty: 1-year limited in the US and 5-year limited in Canada
  • User Manual
  • Baking Rack
  • Baking Pan
  • Removable Crumb Tray

Inside the packaging are the Hamilton Beach oven, a baking rack, a baking pan, a removable crumb tray, and a simple user manual.

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.

4.0

Exterior

5.0
A closed front of the Hamilton Beach 31401 4-Slice Countertop Toaster Oven with exterior measurements on a white background.
A closed front of the Hamilton Beach 31401 4-Slice Countertop Toaster Oven with exterior measurements on a white background.
The front of a closed Hamilton Beach 31401 4-Slice Countertop Toaster Oven has a control panel and the right has holes.
The back and left sides of the Hamilton Beach 31401 have air ventilation holes. The back has a power cord and one buffer.
The top of the stainless steel Hamilton Beach 31401 4-Slice Capacity Countertop Toaster Oven on a grey background.
On a grey background, the bottom of the Hamilton Beach 31401 4-Slice Countertop Toaster Oven has four stands and holes.
  • Weight:
    5.4 lbs (2.4 kg)
  • Length:
    15.0" (38.0 cm)
  • Width:
    12.2" (31.0 cm)
  • Height:
    8.5" (21.6 cm)
  • Material:
    Stainless steel
  • Color:
    Silver
  • Door Handle:
    cool-touch
  • Tray Indicators:
    No
  • Crumb Tray:
    Removable

The Hamilton Beach has a stainless steel exterior, a back buffer to prevent the oven from being too close to the wall, and a cool-touch door handle. However, the back buffer isn’t designed to wrap the power cord around, unlike many other toaster ovens.

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

The control panel of the Hamilton Beach 31401 4-Slice Toaster Oven has 3 control knobs for temperature, function, and timer.
  • Type:
    3 control knobs
  • Temperature:
    100°F - 450°F
  • Timer:
    1 minute - 30 minutes + stay-on
  • Indicator Light:
    Yes
  • Status Bar:
    No
  • Light Toggle:
    No
  • Convection Toggle:
    No
  • Rotation Toggle:
    No
  • Automatic Preheat:
    No
  • Audio Cues:
    No

The Hamilton Beach has three simple control knobs for Temperature, Function, and Timer. Even though the timer is only from 1 minute to 30 minutes, it has a stay-on position. 1 minute to 30 minutes, it has a stay-on position.

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 of the Hamilton Beach 31401 Toaster Oven

Cooking Functions of the Panasonic NB-G110P FlashXpress Toaster Oven
The function knob of the Hamilton Beach 31401 4-Slice Toaster Oven has 3 cooking functions including Broil, Toast, and Bake.
  • Toast
  • Bake
  • Broil

If you know your way around the kitchen, the bake and broil functions will be all you need. The temperature knob has a Min setting which can act as Keep Warm and maintain the oven at around 100°F.

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.

1.0

Interior

5.0
The Hamilton Beach 31401 4-Slice Toaster Oven’s cooking chamber has 2 quartz heating elements with guards and 2 guide rails.
The Hamilton Beach 31401 4-Slice Toaster Oven’s cooking chamber has 2 quartz heating elements with guards and 2 guide rails.
The bottom quartz heating element with guard and 2 rails on the left wall of the Hamilton Beach 31401’s cooking chamber.
  • Heating Elements:
    2 quartz
  • Convection Fan:
    No
  • Lighting:
    No
  • Tray Levels:
    2
  • Rotisserie:
    No
  • Safety Hook:
    No

The 31401 has 2 quartz heating elements that cook food using infrared light. To avoid direct contact with baking pans and trays, each one has its own safety guard.

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

Nonetheless, the oven suffers from a lack of internal lighting and a convection system, similar to most small units like the Mueller MT-175. Moreover, having only two heating elements may not distribute heat evenly as having four.

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

An opened front of the Hamilton Beach 31401 4-Slice Countertop Toaster Oven with interior measurements on a white background.
  • Length:
    10.9" (27.8 cm)
  • Width:
    9.4" (24.0 cm)
  • Height:
    7.1" (18.0 cm)

The Hamilton Beach, with only two tray levels, can accommodate 4 slices of toast, a 9-inch pizza, or barely a 3 lb chicken. We measured the cooking chamber’s volume to be roughly 12 liters which coincided with the manufacturer’s stated capacity.

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 of the Hamilton Beach 31401 Countertop Toaster Oven

Power Cord of the Panasonic FlashXpress Toaster Oven
A two-pronged plug power cord. In the background is the Hamilton Beach 31401 4-Slice Capacity Countertop Toaster Oven.
  • Length:
    29.9" (76.0 cm)
  • Type:
    2-prong plug
  • Power:
    1200 W
  • Rated Output:
    120 V ~ 60 Hz

The power cord is long enough for household use.

 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 Hamilton Beach 31401 4-Slice Capacity Countertop Toaster Oven on a grey background.
A stainless steel baking rack of the Hamilton Beach 31401 4-Slice Capacity Countertop Toaster Oven on a grey background.
Some burnt bits on the stainless steel baking rack of the Hamilton Beach 31401 4-Slice Toaster Oven on a grey background.
  • Length:
    10.9" (27.8 cm)
  • Width:
    8.8" (22.3 cm)
  • Height:
    0.9" (2.3 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. Unfortunately, by burning a batch of toast, we left some extremely stubborn burnt bits on some rods.

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 Hamilton Beach 31401 4-Slice Countertop Toaster Oven on a grey background.
A silver baking pan of the stainless steel Hamilton Beach 31401 4-Slice Countertop Toaster Oven on a grey background.
Permanent stains on the silver baking pan of the Hamilton Beach 31401 4-Slice Countertop Toaster Oven on a grey background.Permanent stains on the silver baking pan of the Hamilton Beach 31401 4-Slice Countertop Toaster Oven on a grey background.
  • Length:
    9.3" (23.5 cm)
  • Width:
    8.1" (20.5 cm)
  • Height:
    0.7" (1.8 cm)
  • Material:
    Stainless steel
  • Dishwasher Safe:
    Yes

The baking pan rests on the supports of the baking rack to catch any drippings and meat juice, preventing any mess and the risk of fire from dirty heating elements. However, it doesn’t have a good coating and sustained permanent stains after our Baked French Fries and Whole Roasted Chicken test.

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.

Removable Crumb Tray

Accessories

A removable crumb tray of the stainless steel Hamilton Beach 31401 4-Slice Countertop Toaster Oven on a grey background.
  • Length:
    10.9" (27.8 cm)
  • Width:
    8.1" (20.5 cm)
  • Height:
    0.8" (2.0 cm)
  • Material:
    Stainless steel
  • Dishwasher Safe:
    Not advisable

Without a tray, falling crumbs are quite a hassle to clean up. However, some can still fall to the bottom of the oven as you remove the tray.

5.0

Build Quality

7.0
The front of an opened Hamilton Beach 31401 4-Slice Toaster Oven with a silver baking pan and a stainless steel oven rack.

The Hamilton uses durable material but its construction isn’t very sturdy. Even though the control knobs turned smoothly, they felt a bit loose.

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).

Not Much Offered

Hamilton Beach 31401 4-Slice Toaster Oven Usability Review

Panasonic FlashXpress Compact Toaster Oven Usability: Lacking Premium Features
4.6
usability Scores
  • User Control (30%)7.0/10
  • Ease of Use (50%)3.0/10
  • Cleanability (20%)5.0/10
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

Even though the Hamilton Beach only has three simple control knobs, there are a few things to keep in mind. For the timer knob, when setting it to less than 10 minutes, always rotate past 10 minutes and then rotate back to the desired time.

It’s also tricky to precisely adjust time and temperature but we didn’t find this to be an issue. You can use an oven thermometer and an external timer to get familiar before eye-balling it.

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).

3.0

Ease of Use

3.0

With three control knobs, it’s very simple to readjust cooking settings. The cooking cycle finishes when the timer reaches Off. When this happens, the oven will ding once and shut off. As it has no digital display, you can freely leave this oven plugged in without worrying about power consumption.

It’s easy to keep the door partially open to let food cool down but be careful as the oven’s exterior gets hot to the touch quite quickly. However, opening the door doesn’t stop the oven, unlike some others.

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.

5.0

Cleanability

6.5
Caramelized bits on the upper heating element’s guard and stains on the cooking chamber ceiling of the Hamilton Beach 31401.
Caramelized bits on the upper heating element’s guard and stains on the cooking chamber ceiling of the Hamilton Beach 31401.
Washing the cooking chamber of the stainless steel Hamilton Beach 31401 4-Slice Countertop Toaster Oven with dish soap.
Grease and chicken skin stuck to the silver baking pan of the Hamilton Beach 31401 4-Slice Capacity Countertop Toaster Oven.
Brushing the stained silver baking pan of the Hamilton Beach 31401 4-Slice Toaster Oven with a bowl of baking soda and water.

The Hamilton Beach oven’s exterior and interior were easy to clean following the steps of our toaster oven cleaning guide. Due to the chicken touching the upper safeguard during cooking, there were some caramelized bits stuck to it. Nonetheless, they were easy to remove with just dish soap and a sponge.

We accidentally burnt a batch of toast during our test and it caught fire which led to some discoloration on the oven’s exterior. Luckily, we were able to remove most of it with an all-purpose cleaner.

What surprised us the most, however, were the permanent stains left on the baking pan. Even after we applied a paste of baking soda and water and then scrubbed it with diluted vinegar, the stains didn’t budge at 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).