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Hamilton Beach Easy Reach 4 Slices vs Black and Decker 4 Slice 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 Mar 19, 2023
The front of a closed silver Hamilton Beach 31344DA 4-Slice Easy Reach with Roll Top Door Toaster Oven on a white background.
The front of a closed stainless steel Black+Decker TO1760SS 4-Slice Natural Convection Toaster Oven on a white background.

Our Verdict

5.8
Overall Score
  • Performance (50%)
    6.3/10
  • Design (25%)
    5.1/10
  • Usability (25%)
    5.5/10
5.6
Overall Score
  • Performance (50%)
    6.1/10
  • Design (25%)
    4.6/10
  • Usability (25%)
    5.5/10

The Hamilton Beach Easy Reach 4 Slices (31344DA) and the Black and Decker 4 Slice Toaster Oven (TO1760SS) are not only similar in their sizes but also in their overall scores.

Both toaster ovens are small and have the standard features including analog control dials and two quartz heating elements. The Hamilton does stand out a bit more with its roll-top door that moves out of the way for easy bringing food in and out of the oven and for saving some countertop space.

The two machines have no convection and similar power draws so it was hard to figure out why one is better at cooking certain test dishes than the other. The Black+Decker is better at toasting bread.

Meanwhile, the Hamilton is slightly better at everything else, including baking pizza, roasting whole chicken, and baking fries. These test results were the main reasons why the Black+Decker narrowed out a victory.

Adequate but With a Weakness

Hamilton Beach Easy-Reach Performance

Black and Decker 4-Slice Toaster Oven Performance: Varied Results
6.3
Performance Scores
  • Toast (40%)6.7/10
  • Pizza (25%)6.6/10
  • Whole Roasted Chicken (25%)6.6/10
  • Baked French Fries (10%)3.6/10
6.1
Performance Scores
  • Toast (40%)7.1/10
  • Pizza (25%)5.6/10
  • Whole Roasted Chicken (25%)6.1/10
  • Baked French Fries (10%)3.2/10
6.7

Toast

7.1
Hamilton Beach Easy Reach 4 Slices Toaster Oven Toast Test
 Hamilton Beach easy reach 4 slices toaster Toast 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 31344DA 4-Slice Easy Reach Roll Top 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: 6.8
50% * 6.8 = 3.4
Even Surface Color: 7
20% * 7 = 1.4
Consecutive Usability: 6.3
30% * 6.3 = 1.9
  • Function: Toast
  • Number Of Slices: 4
  • Toast Level: Medium
  • Cooking Time: 5m
  • Second Batch: 5m
  • Convection: No

To start off our Toast test, we placed four pieces of bread on the lower tray level and turned the time knob to the point just before the toast icon, which was around 4 minutes 5 seconds on the timer. The bread came out only lightly toasted on top.

Thus, we tried increasing the timer to 5 minutes and had a pretty good result. We then tried increasing the timer again to 7 minutes and 20 seconds just for good measure, but that almost burnt the toast.

With everything in mind, we decided 5 minutes of toasting would yield the best possible result and the final score was 6.7/10. It was quite tricky to get the exact toasting time due to the analog control knob so we used an external timer.

The top of the four pieces of toast had good golden-brown color in areas that were closest to the center of the oven, but was only lightly toasted in areas furthest away from the center of the oven. On the bottom, the lightly toasted areas were even larger, so we gave the toast a 7/10 for even surface color.

The toast was a bit too crispy in the golden-brown areas and a little dry in the lighter areas, so we could only give it a 6.8/10 for taste. Our head chef, Tuyet Pham, determined it would go well with omelets and eggs benedict, but not sandwiches and soups.

The second batch came out brown on both the top and the bottom and crispy throughout, which could be more suitable for soup than the first batch. However, there were still lighter areas on both sides and the bottom even had some burnt ends.

Thus, we could only give the oven a 6.3/10 for consecutive usability. If you want the second batch to be the same as the first, around four minutes on the timer should be enough.

Black and Decker 4 Slice Toaster Oven Toast Test
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 Black+Decker TO1760SS 4-slice Natural Convection 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: 7.5
50% * 7.5 = 3.8
Even Surface Color: 6.5
20% * 6.5 = 1.3
Consecutive Usability: 6.8
30% * 6.8 = 2.0
  • Function: Toast
  • Number Of Slices: 4
  • Toast Level: 3/4 to Medium
  • Cooking Time: 4m
  • Second Batch: 4m
  • Convection: No

At the beginning of our Toast test, we turned the toast knob to the Medium Toast icon/setting—around 4 minutes 10 seconds on the timer—which resulted in four slightly burnt pieces of bread. We then chose the setting between Medium and Light, which was around 3 minutes 25 seconds on the timer, but that wasn’t enough time to get an even surface color.

Finally, we figured that around 4 minutes on the timer would yield the best possible result, with a total score of 7.1/10. Since it used an analog control knob, it was quite tricky to precisely choose 4 minutes, and we had to use an external timer.

On this setting, the Black+Decker produced four pieces of toast with a brown-colored top. However, the bottom was slightly charred in some areas and lacked color in others, so we gave the toast a 6.5/10 for even surface color.

Fortunately, the toast was crispy on the outside while still soft and moist on the inside, deserving a 7.5/10 for taste. Our head chef Tuyet Pham concluded that it would go great with omelets and eggs benedict, but not so much with soups or sandwiches.

For some reason, despite the identical toasting time, the second batch had a more uneven surface color than the first. The toast had a slightly darker color and crispier texture, which is more suitable for soups, and scored a 6.8/10 for consecutive usability.

6.6

Pizza

5.6
Hamilton Beach Easy Reach 4 Slices Toaster Oven Pizza Test
 Hamilton Beach easy reach 4 slices toaster 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: 9
20% * 9 = 1.8
Crust: 6
20% * 6 = 1.2
Toppings: 6
30% * 6 = 1.8
Taste: 6
30% * 6 = 1.8
  • Function: Bake
  • Temperature: 450°F
  • Cooking Time: 6m
  • Convection: No

We used the Hamilton to bake a 9-inch thick-crust meat pizza at 450°F for our Pizza test and the final score was 6.6/10. To our surprise, the oven took 6 minutes to bake the pizza, which was very fast and worthy of a 9/10 for cooking time.

Unfortunately, the crust showed the oven’s uneven heat distribution. The bottom right quarter of the crust almost became brown before the rest could turn an ideal golden-brown color. The crust was also mostly soft, so we could only give it a 6/10.

The same problem also showed in the toppings, giving the oven another 6/10. While the cheese was only slightly melty and most of the meat was not caramelized, some pieces of meat had some burnt ends.

With that said, our chef gave the pizza a final 6/10 after tasting it.

Black and Decker 4 Slice Toaster Oven Pizza Test
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 cheese, meat, onions, 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: 7
30% * 7 = 2.1
Taste: 7
30% * 7 = 2.1
  • Function: Bake
  • Temperature: 450°F
  • Cooking Time: 13m
  • Convection: No

The low power output of the Black+Decker held it back in our Pizza test, where a high temperature of 450 °F was required; it scored a 5.6/10. The oven took 13 minutes to bake a 9-inch thick-crust meat pizza, which was longer than our time limit of 10 minutes, resulting in a 0/10.

Fortunately, the other aspects were quite solid, even though the oven’s internal temperature couldn’t be maintained at 450 °F. The crust had a nice golden color but it was a bit soft, so it got a 7/10.

The toppings had reasonably even caramelization throughout and the cheese was slightly melted—enough to score another 7/10. Taking the crust and toppings into account, our chef gave the pizza one last 7/10 for taste.

6.6

Whole Roasted Chicken

6.1
Hamilton Beach Easy Reach 4 Slices Toaster Oven Whole Roasted Chicken Test
 Hamilton Beach easy reach 4 slices toaster Oven Whole Roasted ChickenA whole roasted chicken using the Hamilton Beach 31344DA backside up on an oven rack and baking pan on a white background.
A whole roasted chicken using the Hamilton Beach 31344DA belly up on an oven 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 displays 174°F and 183°F.
Eight pieces of a carved chicken including two carcass halves, two breasts, two wings, and two thighs on a 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
20% * 6 = 1.2
Skin: 5
20% * 5 = 1.0
Doneness: 9.8
20% * 9.8 = 2.0
Taste: 6
40% * 6 = 2.4
  • Function: Bake
  • Temperature: 350°F
  • Cooking Time: 1h 20m
  • Convection: No

The cooking chamber of the Hamilton technically didn’t have enough space for a 3 lb whole chicken as required in our Whole Roasted Chicken test. Thus, we had to place the chicken directly in front of the upper heating element, which led to a number of problems.

On the bright side, the result wasn’t too bad at 6.6/10 for a total score. If you choose to roast a whole chicken in this oven, we recommend flattening the chicken out, cutting it open, or cutting it into pieces.

The oven took 1 hour 20 minutes to roast the chicken, which was 20 minutes longer than the standard cooking time, so we gave it a 6/10.

Looking at the skin, the side that faced the door lacked color due to the lower temperature. In addition, the chicken grazed the upper heating element’s guard a number of times, which caused parts of the chicken to burn and led to the oven smoking during roasting as well as burnt bits on the guards afterward.

The silver lining in this was that the burnt areas actually had a nice golden-brown color. However, due to a lower power draw, the skin on the sides basically had no color. With everything in mind, we could only give the skin a 5/10.

Interestingly, the chicken had near-perfect doneness at 9.8/10. The meat had no pink spots and an internal temperature of 174°F-183°F, which was really close to the USDA recommendation.

The ideal doneness helped maintain the tenderness and juiciness of the meat. However, the skin was really unappetizing, so our chef could only give the chicken a 6/10 for taste.

Black and Decker 4 Slice Toaster Whole Roasted Chicken Test
A whole roasted chicken using the Black+Decker TO1760SS backside up on an oven rack and baking pan on a white background.
A whole roasted chicken using the Black+Decker TO1760SS belly up on an oven 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 displays 185°F and 187°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
20% * 6 = 1.2
Skin: 5
20% * 5 = 1.0
Doneness: 9.4
20% * 9.4 = 1.9
Taste: 5
40% * 5 = 2.0
  • Function: Bake
  • Temperature: 350°F
  • Cooking Time: 1h 30m
  • Convection: No

During our Whole Roasted Chicken test, the 3 lb chicken touched the upper heating element’s guard. This heavily seared the middle part of the chicken and made a mess inside the cooking chamber. If you were to roast a chicken in this oven, we recommend cutting open the chicken or chopping it into pieces beforehand.

The final test score of 6/10 made us speculate that the oven’s lower output also hindered its performance, even though the required temperature was only 350°F. The Black+Decker took 1 hour 20 minutes to roast the chicken, compared to the standard one hour, so it got a 6/10.

The skin had almost no color, except for the areas near the upper heating element, and was still very soft; we could give it just a 5/10. That being said, increasing the cooking time further would reduce the score for the skin and risk overcooking the chicken.

The only upside to the long cooking time and low oven temperature was the doneness of the chicken. The meat had no pink areas and the chicken’s internal temperature was 185°F–187°F, which was very close to the USDA recommended 165°F–180°F.

This partially helped maintain the juiciness of the meat, but the unappetizing skin gave our chef no choice but to give the chicken a 5/10 for taste.

3.6

Baked French Fries

3.2
Hamilton Beach Easy Reach 4 Slices Toaster Oven Baked French Fries Test
Pieces of baked french fries using the Hamilton Beach 31344DA Toaster Oven on a silver baking pan on a white background.
A close-up of pieces of baked french fries using the Hamilton Beach 31344DA on a silver baking pan on a white background.
Eight 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: 4.5
20% * 4.5 = 0.9
Texture: 4.5
20% * 4.5 = 0.9
Taste: 4.5
40% * 4.5 = 1.8
  • Function: Bake
  • Temperature: 400°F
  • Cooking Time: 26m
  • Convection: No

The Hamilton was at its weakest baking 12 oz of frozen fries for our Baked French Fries test, scoring a 3.6/10.

At 26 minutes, which was over our time limit, the fries still had no significant change in color. Thus, we stopped the baking process and gave the oven a 0/10 for cooking time.

Color-wise, the fries didn’t look much different before and after baking. The only saving grace was that the fries were actually cooked, so we could still give it a 4.5/10 for color.

Similarly, the fries had a texture like they were air-dried, which was still better than boiled french fries that are simply soft and soggy. Thus, it got another 4.5/10.

After tasting this batch of french fries that lacked both color and texture, our chef couldn’t give a higher score than 4.5/10.

Black and Decker 4 Slice Toaster Baked French Fries Test
Black and Decker 4 Slice Toaster Oven Baked French FriesPieces of baked french fries using the Black+Decker TO1760SS Toaster Oven on a silver baking pan on a white background.
A close-up of pieces of baked french fries using the Black+Decker TO1760SS on a silver baking pan on a white background.
Ten 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: 4
20% * 4 = 0.8
Texture: 4
20% * 4 = 0.8
Taste: 4
40% * 4 = 1.6
  • Function: Bake
  • Temperature: 400°F
  • Cooking Time: 30 m
  • Convection: No

While conducting our Baked French Fries test, the Black+Decker’s weakness in maintaining a high temperature became more apparent, and it scored a 3.2/10.

To start with, it took 30 minutes to bake 12 oz of frozen fries; this was way longer than our limit of 25 minutes and resulted in a score of 0/10. Despite the long time duration, the fries had almost no color, so we could only give it a 4/10.

The same can be said for the texture of the fries which was not crispy, earning it another 4/10. Overall, the fries appeared more boiled than oven-baked, so our chef had to give it one last 4/10 for taste.

Some Shortcomings

Hamilton Beach Roll-Top Toaster Oven Design Review

Black & Decker 4-Slice Toaster Oven Design Review: Standard
5.1
design Scores
  • Exterior (20%)5.0/10
  • Interior (30%)2.0/10
  • Build Quality (50%)7.0/10
4.6
design Scores
  • Exterior (20%)4.0/10
  • Interior (30%)1.0/10
  • Build Quality (50%)7.0/10

In the Box of the Hamilton Beach 31344DA Easy-Reach

In the Black+Decker TO1760SS Countertop Toaster Oven Box
A box, the Hamilton Beach 31344DA 4-Slice Easy Reach Roll Top Toaster Oven, a user manual, an oven rack, and a baking pan.
  • Model: 31344DA
  • Warranty: US - 1 year; Canada - 5 years
  • User Manual
  • Baking Rack
  • Baking Pan
  • Removable Crumb Tray

The Hamilton toaster oven, along with its accessories and a simple user manual, came in a basic cardboard box. The oven is secured with two foam pads and the accessories are duct-taped to it.

A box, the Black+Decker TO1760SS 4-Slice Natural Convection Toaster Oven, a user manual, a baking pan, and an oven rack.
  • Model: TO1760SS
  • Warranty: 2 years (US and Canada only)
  • User Manual
  • Baking Rack
  • Baking Pan
  • Removable Crumb Tray

The Black+Decker toaster oven is simply positioned with two foam pads inside the packaging. To the same degree, its two accessories are wrapped in a carton sheet and duct-taped to the oven. There is a simple user manual inside the box.

5.0

Exterior

Exterior
A closed front of the Hamilton Beach 31344DA 4-Slice Roll Top Toaster Oven with exterior measurements on a white background.
A closed front of the Hamilton Beach 31344DA 4-Slice Roll Top Toaster Oven with exterior measurements on a white background.
 Hamilton Beach easy reach 4 slices toaster Oven ExteriorThe front of a closed Hamilton Beach 31344DA 4-Slice Easy Reach Toaster Oven has a control panel and the right has holes.
The back of the Hamilton Beach 31344DA 4-Slice Easy Reach Roll Top Toaster Oven has a power cord, two buffers, and holes.
The top, front, and right sides of the Hamilton Beach 31344DA 4-Slice Easy Reach Roll Top Toaster Oven on a white background.
On a white background, the bottom of the Hamilton Beach 31344DA has four stands, holes, and carrying handles on the sides.
  • Weight:
    6.9 lbs (3.1 kg)
  • Length:
    15.8" (40.0 cm)
  • Width:
    11.9" (30.3 cm)
  • Height:
    8.4" (21.3 cm)
  • Material:
    Stainless steel
  • Color:
    Silver
  • Door Handle:
    Cool-touch
  • Tray Indicators:
    No
  • Crumb Tray:
    Removable

Although simple, the Hamilton has all the basic exterior features of a toaster oven and also something more: The roll-top door is a neat feature that can make it easier to move food in and out of the oven and save some space on the kitchen counter.

To make it easy to carry the oven, the two sides of the casing have shallow arches. The oven has a cool-touch door handle and two back buffers to prevent it from being too close to the walls.

Our measurements of 15.75" x 11.93" x 8.39" for the oven coincided almost completely with the manufacturer’s 16.12" x 11.93" x 8.97", with marginal differences being less than an inch.

A closed front of the Black+Decker TO1760SS Natural Convection Toaster Oven with exterior measurements on a white background.
A closed front of the Black+Decker TO1760SS Natural Convection Toaster Oven with exterior measurements on a white background.
The front of a closed Black+Decker TO1760SS Natural Convection Toaster Oven has a control panel and the right has holes.
The back and left sides of the Black+Decker TO1760SS 4-Slice Toaster Oven have holes. The back has a power cord and buffer.
The top, front, and right sides of the Black+Decker TO1760SS 4-Slice Natural Convection Toaster Oven on a white background.
On a white background, the bottom of the Black+Decker TO1760SS Natural Convection Toaster Oven has four stands and holes.
  • Weight:
    5.7 lbs (2.6 kg)
  • Length:
    15.6" (39.5 cm)
  • Width:
    11.6" (29.5 cm)
  • Height:
    8.9" (22.5 cm)
  • Material:
    Stainless steel
  • Color:
    Silver
  • Door Handle:
    Cool-touch
  • Tray Indicators:
    No
  • Crumb Tray:
    Removable

The Black+Decker has a basic stainless steel casing and a back buffer to prevent the oven from getting too close to the wall. Our measurements of 15.55" x 11.61" x 8.86" showed a slight difference in the length and height of the oven compared to the manufacturer’s 16.9" x 11.63" x 9.07", but that wasn’t an issue. The large cool-touch door handle provides a good grip.

Control Panel

The control panel of the Hamilton Beach 31344DA 4-Slice Roll Top Toaster Oven has 2 control knobs for temperature and timer.
  • Type:
    2 control knobs
  • Temperature:
    200°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 has two simple control knobs: one for temperature and one for time. The timer has a stay-on setting to help with its short range, similar to many other small toaster ovens.

The temperature knob indicates the lowest temperature setting to be 200°F, which is quite limited. Interestingly, however, we could actually set the temperature as low as 120°F by only turning the knob until we heard a small clank before the 200°F mark.

The control panel of the Black+Decker TO1760SS Toaster Oven has 3 control knobs for temperature, function, and timer/toast.
  • Type:
    3 control knobs
  • Temperature:
    150°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 Black+Decker has 3 control dials, one each for temperature, functions, and timer. The oven will start running when you turn the timer dial and the indicator light glows red.

Cooking Functions of the Hamilton Beach 4-Slice Easy-Reach Toaster Oven

Cooking Functions of the Black & Decker 4-Slice Toaster Oven
The control panel of the Hamilton Beach 31344DA 4-Slice Roll Top Toaster Oven has 2 control knobs for temperature and timer.
  • Not available

Not having multiple functions doesn’t affect a toaster oven’s mechanism, which is to heat air up to a certain temperature to cook food. However, it does mean that the user won’t have any way to operate only the upper or lower heating elements individually.

The function knob of the Black+Decker TO1760SS Toaster Oven has 4 cooking functions including Warm, Broil, Bake, and Toast.
  • Toast
  • Bake
  • Broil
  • Warm

The Black+Decker serves the three basic functions of a toaster oven: Toast, Bake, and Broil. If you know your way around the kitchen, Bake and Broil are all the functions you’ll need.

The Warm function maintains the oven at around 150°F, which is the common lowest temperature for most analog ovens. However, that’s a bit higher than most digital ovens’ warm function, which maintains around 100°F–-120°F.

2.0

Interior

1.0
 Hamilton Beach easy reach 4 slices toaster Oven InteriorThe Hamilton Beach 31344DA 4-Slice Toaster Oven’s cooking chamber has 2 quartz heating elements with guars and 2 guide rails.
 Hamilton Beach easy reach 4 slices toaster Oven InteriorThe Hamilton Beach 31344DA 4-Slice Toaster Oven’s cooking chamber has 2 quartz heating elements with guars and 2 guide rails.
The Hamilton Beach 31344DA has 1 bottom heating element with a guard and 2 guide rails on its right cooking chamber wall.
The opened roll top door and upper heating element with a guard of the silver Hamilton Beach 31344DA 4-Slice Toaster Oven.
  • Heating Elements:
    2 quartz
  • Convection Fan:
    No
  • Lighting:
    No
  • Tray Levels:
    2
  • Rotisserie:
    No
  • Safety Hook:
    No

The Hamilton shares the same lack of interior features, including a convection system and an interior light, similar to many other units of the same size. The design didn’t allow for maximum use of the space inside the cooking chamber even though it had two tray levels like most other small toaster ovens, including the Mueller MT-175.

It also only has two quartz heating elements, which can usually lead to uneven heat distribution compared to four or more heating elements. Nonetheless, they use infrared light to cook, which makes the process faster and more energy-efficient than the more common nichrome heating elements.

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

Black and Decker 4 Slice Toaster Oven InteriorThe Black+Decker TO1760SS 4-Slice Toaster Oven’s cooking chamber has 2 quartz heating elements with guards and 1 guide rails.
Black and Decker 4 Slice Toaster Oven InteriorThe Black+Decker TO1760SS 4-Slice Toaster Oven’s cooking chamber has 2 quartz heating elements with guards and 1 guide rails.
The Black+Decker TO1760SS Oven has 1 bottom heating element with a guard and a guide rail on the left cooking chamber wall.
The stainless steel Black+Decker TO1760SS 4-Slice Natural Convection Toaster Oven has 1 upper heating element with a guard.
  • Heating Elements:
    2 quartz
  • Convection Fan:
    No
  • Lighting:
    No
  • Tray Levels:
    1
  • Rotisserie:
    No
  • Safety Hook:
    No

The TO1760SS has only one tray level, while most other same-sized units, including the Mueller MT-175, have at least two. Moreover, it doesn’t have an interior light or a convection system: two common weaknesses of small toaster ovens.

The oven has two quartz heating elements, which may not distribute heat as evenly as four or more will do. Nonetheless, they are easier to clean and more energy-efficient than the more common nichrome variety. However, if grease splashes onto the heating elements while cooking, it’ll leave permanent stains.

These heating elements use infrared light to cook, which makes the process quicker. They cool down faster too, but are not as durable.

Capacity

An opened front of the Hamilton Beach 31344DA 4-Slice Roll Top Toaster Oven with interior measurements on a white background.
  • Length:
    11.0" (27.9 cm)
  • Width:
    9.84
  • Height:
    7.5" (19.0 cm)

While we couldn’t find the manufacturer’s capacity, we measured the cooking chamber’s volume to be around 13.28 liters. The 31344DA can accommodate four slices of toast or a 9-inch pizza, but not a 3-pound chicken due to insufficient height.

An opened front of the Black+Decker TO1760SS 4-Slice Toaster Oven with interior measurements on a white background.
  • Length:
    10.8" (27.5 cm)
  • Width:
    8.7" (22.0 cm)
  • Height:
    6.7" (17.0 cm)

The Black+Decker has a standard capacity for a small oven—10 liters, 4 slices of toast, a 9-inch pizza, and barely enough for a 3 lb chicken. This was one of the rare occasions where the cooking chamber’s volume that we measured matched the manufacturer’s stated capacity.

Power Cord of the Hamilton Beach Roll-Top Toaster Oven

Power Cord Review of the Black and Decker Natural Convection Toaster Oven
A two-pronged plug power cord. In the background is the Hamilton Beach 31344DA 4-Slice Easy Reach Roll Top Toaster Oven.
  • Length:
    34.6" (88.0 cm)
  • Type:
    2-prong plug
  • Power:
    1200
  • Rated Output:
    120

The power cord has enough length for household use and an oven this size— roughly 34.65". The fact that it protrudes from the bottom of the oven may lead to some inconvenient bends, though.

A three-pronged plug power cord. In the background is the Black+Decker TO1760SS 4-Slice Natural Convection Toaster Oven.
  • Length:
    25.6" (65.0 cm)
  • Type:
    3-prong plug
  • Power:
    1150 W
  • Rated Output:
    120 V ~ 60 Hz

The power cord has a good length for household use—roughly 25.59". 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 31344DA 4-Slice Easy Reach Roll Top Toaster Oven on a white background.
  • Length:
    11.0" (27.9 cm)
  • Width:
    9.3" (23.5 cm)
  • Height:
    1.0" (2.5 cm)
  • Material:
    Stainless steel
  • Dishwasher Safe:
    Yes

The baking rack has two supports below to slide the baking pan in. It fits perfectly with the guide to prevent accidents when placing your food in the oven. The supports narrow at the back to prevent the pan from sliding out, but the entire thing doesn’t conform perfectly.

A stainless steel baking rack of the Black+Decker TO1760SS 4-Slice Natural Convection Toaster Oven on a white background.
  • Length:
    10.8" (27.4 cm)
  • Width:
    8.3" (21.2 cm)
  • Height:
    0.6" (1.5 cm)
  • Material:
    Stainless steel
  • Dishwasher Safe:
    Yes

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

Baking Pan

Accessories

Baking Pan
A silver baking pan of the Hamilton Beach 31344DA 4-Slice Easy Reach With Roll Top Door Toaster Oven on a white background.
  • Length:
    9.9" (25.2 cm)
  • Width:
    8.3" (21.2 cm)
  • Height:
    0.6" (1.5 cm)
  • Material:
    Stainless steel
  • Dishwasher Safe:
    Yes

The baking pan fits nicely below the rack to catch any meat juice and drippings, which helps prevent any mess and the risk of fire from dirty heating elements. Keep in mind that it isn’t 100% non-stick, so it may be prone to stubborn stains after a hefty roast. During our performance tests, the pan bends when heated but luckily didn’t cause any issues.

A silver baking pan of the Black+Decker TO1760SS 4-Slice Natural Convection Toaster Oven on a white background.
  • Length:
    9.0" (22.9 cm)
  • Width:
    7.9" (20.0 cm)
  • Height:
    0.6" (1.5 cm)
  • Material:
    Stainless steel
  • Dishwasher Safe:
     Yes

The baking pan rests on the supports of the baking rack, which saves a bit of space in the cooking chamber. However, this means the pan will be shorter in length than the rack.

The pan does the job of catching any meat juices and drippings. This helps prevent any mess and the risk of fire from dirty heating elements. However, it doesn’t have a good coating and thus sustained some stubborn stains after our Whole Roasted Chicken test.

Removable Crumb Tray

Accessories

Removable Crumb Tray
A removable crumb tray of the Hamilton Beach 31344DA 4-Slice Easy Reach Roll Top Door Toaster Oven on a white background.
  • Length:
    10.8" (27.5 cm)
  • Width:
    8.9" (22.5 cm)
  • Height:
    0.9" (2.4 cm)
  • Material:
    Stainless steel
  • Dishwasher Safe:
    Not advisable

The removable crumb tray is useful for cleaning up crumbs and bits, which can be quite a hassle. However, some of the mess may still fall to the bottom of the oven upon taking out the tray.

A silver removable crumb tray of the Black+Decker TO1760SS 4-Slice Natural Convection Toaster Oven on a white background.
  • Length:
    10.7" (27.2 cm)
  • Width:
    7.7" (19.5 cm)
  • Height:
    0.8" (2.0 cm)
  • Material:
    Stainless steel
  • Dishwasher Safe:
    Not advisable

Crumbs can be quite a hassle to clean up, but the removable crumb tray makes it easier to remove them from the oven’s floor. Nonetheless, be careful, as some crumbs may still fall to the bottom of the oven as you take the tray out of the oven.

7.0

Build Quality

7.0
The front of an opened Hamilton Beach 31344DA 4-Slice Toaster Oven with a removable crumb tray, baking pan, and oven rack.

The Hamilton’s exterior shell is made from alloy steel, which has a higher tensile strength than stainless. We speculated the reason for this choice was to have the roll-top door—which can be easily removed for cleaning—more durable.

The casing also seems to have good heat insulation and only got hot to the touch after a long cooking time at a high temperature (>400°F). The knobs turn smoothly and have a contoured design for better grip.

The front of an opened Black+Decker TO1760SS 4-Slice Toaster Oven with a removable crumb tray, baking pan, and oven rack.

The Black+Decker has a sturdy build and is made from durable stainless steel. The dials turn smoothly and are polished for aesthetics and easy cleaning.

The oven, equipped with a tamper-resistant screw to prevent removal of the outer cover, contains no user-serviceable parts. This means you need to refer service to qualified service personnel if an issue crops up and not attempt self-repair.

Not Much To Offer

Hamilton Beach 4-Slice Easy-Reach Toaster Oven Usability

Black & Decker 4-Slice Toaster Oven Usability: Limited Features
5.5
usability Scores
  • User Control (30%)6.0/10
  • Ease of Use (50%)5.0/10
  • Cleanability (20%)6.0/10
5.5
usability Scores
  • User Control (30%)6.0/10
  • Ease of Use (50%)5.0/10
  • Cleanability (20%)6.0/10
6.0

User Control

6.0

The user control of the Hamilton cannot be any easier with just two knobs. Nonetheless, 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.

To select the Toast function, you’ll need to turn the temperature knob to the maximum, indicated by the Toast icon. This is consistent with the fact that for all toaster ovens, their toast function has an endpoint temperature of 450°F.

Similar to other manual toaster ovens, it can be tricky to precisely set time and temperature. This can be easily dealt with, however, by using an external timer and an oven thermometer for more accurate measurements.

There are a few things to keep in mind when using Black+Decker’s three simple control knobs. For the timer knob, always rotate past 10 minutes and then rotate back to the desired time when setting it to less than 10 minutes.

It’s also tricky to accurately adjust time and temperature. Normally, you can use an oven thermometer and an external timer to get around this. However, if you check the pointer, you'll find that the temperature knob of this unit is off by around 50°F. Evidently, when we set the temperature to 450°F for our pizza test, the oven heated up to only around 405°F.

5.0

Ease of Use

5.0

To remove the door, you simply need to fully open it, then pull straight up. The door can’t be kept partially open to let food cool inside the oven. With two control knobs, it’s easier than ever to readjust cooking settings.

The cooking cycle finishes when the timer reaches O (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.

The manufacturer claims the Black+Decker has the EvenToast Technology™ which toasts bread 30% more evenly. However, we didn’t notice an increase in evenness in our Toast test. Their Natural Convection technology certainly didn’t change the fact that this unit doesn’t have the convection fan that comes with several advantages.

With three control knobs, it’s very simple to readjust cooking settings. The cooking cycle finishes when the timer reaches O (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; however, be vigilant as the door can slide all the way down on the rare occasions when the oven is tilted. Opening the door doesn’t turn off the oven, unlike some other models.

6.0

Cleanability

6.0
Permanent stains on the Hamilton Beach 31344DA’s upper heating element guard, cooking chamber’s ceiling, and casing’s top.
Permanent stains on the Hamilton Beach 31344DA’s upper heating element guard, cooking chamber’s ceiling, and casing’s top.
The cleaned baking pan of the silver Hamilton Beach 31344DA 4-Slice Easy Reach with Roll Top Door Toaster Oven.

Due to its design, the Hamilton was more tricky to clean than anticipated. Because the chicken grazed the upper heating element’s guard during our test, it left some permanent stains there. Luckily, the heating element itself was intact.

As the oven doesn’t have a non-stick interior coating, there were also permanent grease stains on the cooking chamber’s ceiling. Some discoloration even made it to the top of the casing due to it not being stainless steel and the shape of the door.

In addition, the grease splashed into some tricky spots on the door, but it can be thoroughly wiped off after removing the door. The baking pan sustained some stubborn stains as well, but we were able to brush them off with a paste of baking soda and water.

Black and Decker 4 Slice Toaster Oven CleanabilityThe cleaned upper heating element guard of the Black+Decker TO1760SS Natural Convection Toaster Oven with some discoloration.
Black and Decker 4 Slice Toaster Oven CleanabilityThe cleaned upper heating element guard of the Black+Decker TO1760SS Natural Convection Toaster Oven with some discoloration.
The cleaned silver baking pan of the stainless steel Black+Decker TO1760SS 4-Slice Natural Convection Toaster Oven.

While the interior of the Black+Decker didn’t have a non-stick coating like the Breville BOV450XL, it was easy to clean because there were no tricky nooks and crannies. The removable crumb tray made it easy to clean up the crumbs, though we still had to tilt the oven to remove the last of them.

During our Whole Roasted Chicken test, the chicken touched the upper heating element’s guard and left some permanent discoloration there, even after we cleaned up the burnt bits. There were also some permanent stains on the cooking chamber’s ceiling.