Oster's Digital Convection Oven 6248 is designed in brushed stainless steel and is an efficient, affordable cooking appliance.

This state-of-the-art oven features a digital panel with touchpad controls, a convection fan for faster, more even cooking and a 120-minute timer with auto-shutoff. The exterior dimensions of the unit are 20.5 inches wide by 14.75 inches deep by 12 inches tall. The interior is roomy enough to fit a whole roasting chicken, a 9-inch pie plate or an entire 12-inch pizza.

We noticed that this unit is quite consistent in terms of its cooking performance; we attribute this to the convection fan, which is automatically enlisted whenever the "Bake" function is selected. For the "Toast", "Broil" and "Keep Warm" functions, the fan is inactive. Although the fan is not silent by any means, it is not overly noisy. We find that the continuous hum of the motor provides a gentle reminder that the machine is working. At several points, however, we noticed a slight rattling sound, which was caused by vibration of the crumb tray. A simple adjustment stopped the rattling.

The unit accommodates up to six standard bread slices and toasts to a medium brown in about five minutes, which is a bit speedier than some other comparable models. Subsequent batches toast much faster.

This unit comes with two reversible wire racks. Each rack has one straight edge and one rounded edge to match the rounded rear wall of the oven, which is designed to accommodate larger round items, such as a frozen pizza. One issue we noticed is that the rack tends to tip forward slightly if pulled out too far. We find the additional oven space helpful in fitting basic casserole dishes, which often have handles that can prevent them from fitting in some other toaster ovens. You also get a standard baking/broiling pan, which is useful for cooking hamburgers, hot dogs and more.

We love the digital controls, which let you choose your settings with a simple press of a button. There are up and down arrow pads to set the oven temperature, toast color and timer; your selections appear on the LED screen in bright yellow digits against a black background. The set time counts down to zero and a series of gentle beeps alert you that the cooking time has expired, after which the oven shuts itself off automatically.

Another nice feature is the auto-advancing oven rack, which slides forward as the oven door is opened for safe and easy removal of cooked foods. It should be noted that the auto-advance feature engages only when the rack is positioned in the lower slot. Other handy features include indicator lights, non-stick interior walls and a removable, front-access crumb tray.

Interestingly, the right side of the oven (where the fan is located) stays comfortably cool to the touch, while the top and left side gets a bit hot. The oven door handle and control panel also remain cool for safety.

All in all, we felt the Oster Digital Convection Oven 6248 offers some terrific features for a reasonable price.


Pros: Convection fan, 120-minute oven timer, front-access crumb tray, self-advancing wire rack
Cons: Crumb tray can rattle when convection fan is in use, oven rack tips slightly forward if pulled out too far

Warranty
1 year, limited