The Black & Decker CTO6301 Convection Countertop Oven/Broiler is a multi-function appliance that may very well replace your traditional oven for many everyday cooking tasks.

This unit is rather large, measuring approximately 19 inches wide, 14 inches deep and 10.5 inches tall, and is styled in beautiful brushed stainless steel with black trim. The spacious interior can accommodate casserole dishes that measure up to 13 inches wide by 10 inches deep by 5 inches tall. With the oven rack set at its lowest position, it often can accommodate a whole 5-6-pound roasting chicken.

We found the convection bake function to be extremely efficient for tasks such as roasting a whole chicken, cooking a frozen potpie or baking an apple crumb tart. A 6-pound roasting chicken turned out tender and juicy in just over an hour-and-a-half. We were surprised at how evenly the heat was distributed; the exterior was nicely browned without burning. For toasting, this unit can handle up to six slices of bread, English muffins or bagels. It took approximately 5-6 minutes for four bread slices to achieve a light- to medium-brown toast color.

The Black & Decker CTO6301 comes with a reversible slide-out oven rack, an extra-large bake pan measuring approximately 10X13 inches with broil rack and a 12-inch round pizza pan. There are two slots and four rack positions that allow you to place foods at the ideal cooking height; for best results, foods should be centered in the oven. The 1-inch-deep bake pan is perfectly suited to baking a tray of brownies or a sheet cake.

We found the controls to be straightforward and self-explanatory, for the most part. The unit features eight preset function buttons that are designed to manage the most common cooking tasks: Toast, bagel, bake, broil, cookies, pizza, frozen snacks and potato. There are four additional buttons to adjust the cook time (up to 120 minutes) or temperature (between 200-450 degrees Fahrenheit), as well as to activate the convection fan. Finally, there is a "Start/Stop" button to begin or halt operation. A digital display shows the selected function and remaining cooking time.

The only tricky part about using the CTO6301 is changing the default settings, since you can only do so before the unit begins preheating or after it has reached the preset temperature. You also need to remember to press "Start" to activate a function; if you fail to do so within five seconds, the unit shuts off and you have to begin again. The preheat time for this model is quick -- about 3-5 minutes.

Once you get the hang of it, adjusting the settings is a simple matter of pressing the appropriate buttons; you can adjust the time and/or temperature by using the "Up" and "Down" arrow keys. The oven also remembers the last settings used so if you are baking multiple batches of cookies, for instance, you simply press bake and start again to continue at the same temp/time.

The automatic timer counts down as it cooks, then signals you with a bell sound and shuts itself off automatically. Other handy features of the Black & Decker CTO6301 include a non-stick interior, full-view glass door and front-access slide-out crumb tray.


Pros: Convection cooking, digital controls, automatic 120-minute oven timer with preset functions, front-access crumb tray
Cons: Touchpad buttons are small, exterior gets quite hot

Warranty
1 year, limited