The Cuisinart Brick Oven Deluxe BRK-200 is an ultra-sophisticated cooking appliance, which surpassed our expectations. We were surprised by the size of this machine, which is more aptly labeled a countertop oven than a toaster oven. The oven's exterior measures 16 inches wide by 14.5 inches deep by 11 inches tall; however, you need to allow several more inches both on the sides and in the rear of the unit to accommodate the handles and a rear protrusion for the convection fan. The interior provides nearly 1 cubic foot of available space -- enough for a 5-pound chicken, a standard pie or a 6-cup muffin tin.

The unit comes with two removable heavy-duty wire racks, a sturdy square baking tray and broiling pan, and a removable baking stone. The Brick Oven gets its name from the two 5.25x11-inch clay bricks that line the sides of the oven. The bricks absorb and then redistribute heat evenly throughout the oven cavity for evenly baked breads, pizza, pies and cookies. When used in conjunction with the removable baking stone, the bricks combine to deliver an astonishing amount of heat. As a result, foods cook faster and crusts turn out extra crispy. A frozen pizza, for instance, cooked in just two-thirds of the stated time.

Everything about this unit is high quality -- from the brushed stainless steel housing to the industrial-style side handles and 1,700 watts of cooking power. There are four basic functions: Toast, Bake, Broil and Convection. The Convection Bake feature incorporates a high-power fan, which distributes the heated air around the oven for faster cooking. With all the power behind it, we were surprised at how quiet the fan is. In fact, we had a hard time believing it was on until we shut it off and watched the blade in the rear of the unit slowly stop spinning.

The Bake function is efficient by itself, so you may not need to use the convection fan. If you do, however, you should reduce the cooking temperature by about 25 degrees and monitor foods closely to prevent over-browning. The Convection Bake feature is particularly useful when cooking a whole chicken or roast. These items cook faster and have a pleasant crispy exterior. We expected the toasting function to be a bit slower because of the large interior capacity. Such was not the case. The bricks are so efficient distributing the heat that toasting in this oven is fast and even. Up to six slices fit on the rack. We toasted garlic bread to a medium brownness in about 4 minutes.

The three dial controls are similar to oven control dials, letting you select the function, the temperature (from 200 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit) and the toast color. Separate Start and Stop buttons let you start and cancel selections. Although the oven comes with two racks and theoretically can handle two trays of cookies simultaneously, the instructions recommend baking just a single tray at a time for better results. We found that the position of the tray is also extremely important for optimum browning. Too high up in the oven will result in the tops darkening too quickly; too low will result in the bottoms burning. The center position provides for best results when baking or toasting.


Pros: Brushed stainless steel exterior, roomy 0.9-cubic-foot interior, brick-lined oven for even heating
Cons: Oversize oven occupies much more space than a conventional toaster oven

Warranty
3 years, limited