The Krups Digital Convection Toaster Oven FBC4 is a state-of-the-art appliance that offers superior performance and ease of use. This unit has all the bells and whistles you'd expect from a top-of-the-line model.

We were impressed with this unit from the moment we unpacked it. The dimensions of this oven are larger than standard toaster ovens (20-1/2 inches wide by 14-3/4 inches deep by 10-2/5 inches tall) so the user is rewarded with ample oven space. Also, thanks to an extended rear wall, 12-inch pizzas can be prepared directly on the wire rack.

This model is beautifully designed in black and brushed stainless steel for a stunning appearance. The pushbutton control panel is highly intuitive, with five main function buttons (bake, broil, conv. bake, defrost and toast), as well as separate temp and timer buttons with "+" and "–" buttons to adjust the oven temperature and cook time.

A nice extra on the Krups FBC4 is the inclusion of six preset functions for convenient one-touch cooking. Each of the six functions (cookies, brownies, thick pizza, thin pizza, pastries and bagels) has a preset oven temperature and cook time. Unlike most toaster ovens, which have two heating elements each at the top and bottom of the oven, the FBC 4 has three heating elements each at the top and bottom. The additional elements enable this unit to cook quicker and more evenly. In our tests, baked goods were evenly cooked, bagels browned in 2-1/2 minutes, and frozen pizza came out crisp and delicious in about 15 minutes.

Consistent toasting, which is typically challenging for larger ovens, was quick and efficient with this unit. The slide-out wire rack accommodates up to six standard bread slices and toasts to a golden brown on setting 4. English muffins were still pale on setting 4 but lightly browned on setting 6.

The Expert Quartz Cycling Technology diverts power between the lower and upper elements to maintain a constant temperature in the oven. For even faster results, the convection bake function uses an internal fan to circulate heated air throughout the chamber.

We loved the timer function, which allows you to set the cook time and move on to other tasks in the kitchen. When the set time has elapsed, the oven will sound a series of beeps and shut off automatically so there's less concern about overcooking. You can also add or subtract minutes during cooking as needed. The cook time can be adjusted in 1-minute increments up to a maximum of 1 hour, 30 minutes.

Other features include a lighted LCD control panel, which displays the time, cooking time and oven temperature intermittently; reflective slide-out crumb tray; and nonstick interior. The oven also comes with two reversible slide-out wire racks, although we found that using one tray satisfied the majority of cooking needs. You also get a sturdy bake pan with broil grid, which is handy for cooking hamburgers, fish fillets, grilled sandwiches and more.

The Krups Convection Toaster Oven provides everything you could want in a toaster oven and more.


Pros: Quiet and efficient operation, cooks quickly and evenly, intuitive pushbutton control panel
Cons: Large unit, requires extra counter space

Warranty
1 year, limited