Ninja Foodi XL Pro vs Hamilton Beach 31127D Toaster Oven Side-by-Side Comparison
Ninja Foodi XL Pro vs Hamilton Beach 31127D Toaster Oven. A comparison between an above-average medium-sized toaster oven and our best large pick.
Specifications
Design
The Ninja DT201 shows a high build quality in all of its design features from the exterior and interior to the included accessories. What stood out to us the most was the powerful convection system and the number of heating elements. We couldn’t confirm the accuracy of the Ninja’s claim that it had ‘up to ten times the convection power’ of a traditional full-size convection oven, though.
The design of the Hamilton Beach 31127D is basic with a simple stainless steel exterior. The oven has a similar capacity as other medium-sized toaster ovens, with greater length and width but less height. Its roll-top door is a unique feature that we found useful.
Usability Comparison
The straightforward control panel on the Ninja DT201 allowed for easy adjusting and readjusting of the cooking settings. Moreover, the informative display combined with distinguished buttons removed all of the guesswork when it came to operating the oven.
The oven’s practical cooking functions shined all the more in combination with the 2-level even cooking feature. The oven’s interior could be improved with a coating for easier cleaning, though.
Although the Hamilton Beach 31127D doesn’t invest much in convenience, it also doesn't pose any problems. You may not be able to select an exact time and temperature with the analog control knobs, but realistically, you don’t lose much precision.
Performance Test
The Ninja DT201 performed differently on each of our tests but even at its worst, it still gave good results. We were most impressed with the oven’s ability to quickly reach and maintain its temperature despite the large cooking chamber. This could be attributed to the oven’s high power output, powerful convection system, and a total of 5 heating elements.
With these factors, you don’t even need to turn food during cooking, especially if you incorporate the air fryer basket. Interestingly, this was one of the few units where we felt increasing the food amounts would lead to even better results.
The Hamilton Beach 31127D did a good job at making toast but struggled with french fries. We suspect its 1400 W power draw isn’t sufficient for its capacity, so it couldn’t quite maintain high temperatures. Of course, the lack of a convection system didn’t help either. A more preferable but still affordable choice could be the Toshiba AC25CEW-BS.
Overall Scores
Pros & Cons
- Straightforward and informative control panel
- Tailored cooking functions
- Family-sized capacity
- Tray-level suggestions
- Sturdy construction
- Well-designed accessories
- Easy-to-clean stainless steel exterior
- Cool-touch door handle
- Easy-to-clean stainless steel exterior
- Roll-top door
- Cool-touch door handle
- Simple control knobs
- Stay-on feature
- Spacious interior
- No safety mechanism for the door
- Faulty interior light upon received
- No convection fan
- No internal lighting
- No safety mechanism for the door
Conclusion
The Hamilton Beach 31127D 6-Slice Easy-Reach Toaster Oven is an above-average medium-sized toaster oven. That is to say, it has no significant advantage against the Ninja Foodie XL Pro Air Fryer Toaster Oven (DT201)—our best large pick.
Stands out from the Hamilton’s standard features is its roll-top door which moves out of the way and allows you to place food in and out of the oven easily. On the other hand, the Ninja can simply achieve this with a firmly hinged door and spacious cooking chamber. Moreover, the Hamilton’s three simple analog control dials can’t hold a candle to the Ninja’s informative digital display, intuitive buttons, and interior light.
For the medium-sized 31127D, 1500 W of power is usually adequate, which can be seen in its toast results. However, the lack of a convection system just hindered its performance in baking pizza, fries, and roasting whole chicken. The Foodie XL Pro is equipped with a high power output, a strong convection system, and numerous accessories to tackle any cooking task.
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.
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.
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.
