The first thing that we noticed about the DeLonghi EO-1238 is how sleek it looks on the countertop. It has a brushed stainless steel top with coordinating silver plastic side panels and chrome and black accents. The light silver-on-silver coloring gives it a bright appearance, and we like the fact that the plastic sides do not get overly hot during use. Along with the machine, you also get a removable wire rack and a sturdy non-stick bake pan and broil rack.

The EO-1238 is a relatively large toaster oven -- the unit measures approximately 18 inches wide, 14 inches deep and 9 inches tall at its widest points. The interior is roomy enough to accommodate up to six slices of bread or a 12-inch frozen pizza. We love the design of the sliding wire rack, which is quite stable yet moves freely in either of its two slots. A wire guide pin, located in the rear of the oven, rotates forward and backward as the oven door is opened, thereby advancing the rack forward a few inches to make food removal easier. Removing and reinserting the rack was a bit tricky; we found that we needed to reach into the oven and guide the rack around the wire guide pin.

This model has three dial controls. The top knob adjusts the oven temperature; settings range in temperature from 250-450 degrees Fahrenheit, with separate "Toast/Broil" and "Keep Warm" settings. The center dial controls the toast settings and also acts as an "On" button. The bottom dial lets you set the function: "Bake/Toast", "Broil" or "Slow Bake". The gleaming chrome knobs are attractive, but the mirror finish can make it difficult to read the markings. In "Toast" mode, the EO-1238 has a self-timing mechanism, which makes a loud ticking sound as it counts down. An audible bell tone signals upon completion of the toast cycle. We toasted four slices of bread to a medium brown in about 5 minutes; six slices took about a minute longer. While this is not overly fast, we do appreciate the fact that multiple slices could be toasted simultaneously; additionally, the second batch toasts much more quickly, since the unit is already preheated.

Another nice feature of this oven is its interior light, which goes on automatically when the unit is operating. The bright appliance bulb lights the entire interior so you can keep on eye on the cooking progress without having to open the door. We also like the front-access slide-out crumb tray, which was easy to wipe clean.

For most tasks, we used the "Bake/Toast" setting, which utilizes both the upper and lower heating elements. We were surprised at how evenly this unit cooked. We baked a frozen apple crumb pie, following the manufacturer's directions and achieved excellent results. The "Slow Bake" function is designed for delicate pastries and cakes. During this mode, only the bottom heating element activates, in order to prevent scorching of the top crust. The "Broil" function, by contrast, utilizes only the top heating element, and is well suited to cooking hamburgers, hot dogs and other grilled foods. Two hamburgers, cooked medium well, took about 10 minutes per side. The broil tray can accommodate up to six hamburgers.

The DeLonghi EO-1238 is a nice family-sized machine that is both stylish and functional.


Pros: Extra-large capacity, accommodates six slices of bread or a 12-inch frozen pizza, automatic timer with shutoff for toast function, interior light, self-advancing wire rack
Cons: Requires slightly longer cooking times, loud ticking sound during toasting, dial settings are difficult to see

Warranty
1 year, limited