Am shopping for a high-end convection toaster oven ($200-ish).  Not interested in pizza makers or rotisserie, tho understand I may have to accept them in order to score a good toaster oven.  Have scoped most brands, finding Delonghi among the best: easy clean interior, good selection of cook options (toast, broil, warm, bake, etc.), timing bell shuts oven off, some with interior lights, etc. etc.  CR picks the Cuisinart, but for some reason, it doesn't appeal to me.  I put some credence into Amazon ratings, and the Cuisinart has some tough critics.

Do you have any strong opinions one way or the other about convection toaster oven brands and models?  What seems to be the complaint with Kenmore?  Thanks.

After my wonderful, discontinued Panasonic GB-N100P died of a non-functioning, non user replaceable lower heating bulb, I too searched for a perfect replacement. It ain't out there. Some are too loud. The Krups are just too big and the Cuisinart does not turn itself off when the timer expires. I do not understand how Consumers can recommend an appliance that seems to be a fire hazard. The literature on the Cuisinart states that it will turn off after 4 hours!

I wound up with the T-Fal. It's OK so far. A work in progress.

Having read CR's report on toaster ovens, I discovered I couldn't buy any of the top rated models at any of the stores, but I could buy the "sister" toaster oven to the T-Fal Avante' Elite Convection toaster oven that CR rated.  The first purchase had been dropped and was broken, so I returned it for another of the same brand, the Avante' Elite toaster oven.   The second one was defective.  I ended up with a Cuisinart, even though CR wasn't crazy about it.  Time will tell.  This new one replaces a 14-year old Toastmaster which finally gave up the ghost. 

Like most others here I have had a problem trying to choose a reliable toaster oven. Our last one - an old GE model, I think - lasted twenty years through two family generations. Our latest one - a cheap Euro-Pro from Bed, Bath & Beyond - lasted barely three months before the top element stopped working.

Looking at various sites that provide reliability ratings, it is hard not to conclude that - almost regardless of price - current models have dismal long-term reliability prospects. In the end we decided not to buy a toaster oven again. Instead we will use either our ancient toaster (an heirloom from our late 94-year-old aunt) or the our main built-in oven.

When our microwave (Sharp Carousel) finally goes completely - as opposed to "almost" - dead, we guess we may have to just do without. When our 1998 GE side-by-side refrigerator (currently broken down) stops working, I'm not sure what we'll do.

Derek

I have a Panasonic NB-G100P toaster oven which has been great.  I've had it for years and have found it to be work better than any other I've had in the past.  After reading your posting, I notice that my lower light also does not light.  I never paid that much attention to the unit in the past so I don't know if the lower light ever lit.!  I as still using it and have used as a toaster, primarily, but have also cooked chicken cutlets etc., as well and they came out fine. 
I was interested in purchasing another one to have available when the current one  bombs out but I cannot find it available.  I looked at the Panasonic website but it does carry that item anymore.  What a shame.........it is such a great little oven.  I may follow your lead with the unit you purchased to replace it. 
Thank you for your post and the information you provided.
Jack Kerrigan (shamrock9114)

Don't buy a Delonghi. The dial on our last one got to be so unreliable  that we were afraid to keep the oven plugged in. We bought another one and purchased the extended warranty for $6.00. Ok...the control went out on this one also after several years. We sent it for repair and received it back in just a little 2 months. We did discover that the toaster was put back together improperly. The front piece doesn't line up with the piece on the left.

So far, we are still waiting a response from the company in Mesquite that "repaired" the oven. Whatever happens, We will never buy another Delonghi.

I came here seeking advice on toaster ovens because of so many reviews talking about fire hazards,which I knew they get hot on the outside and dripping grease,crumbs,etc.;it's going to happen.But I was intrigued by your post.My shopping for a toaster oven was triggered by the fact that I am just tired of using the 30-40 year old toaster I inherited from Mom.It's just nasty with stains that can't be scrubbed off.

I,too,have a Sharp Carousel Microwave Oven that I use every day.The light went out about a year and a half ago,but I haven't gotten it fixed due to the probable cost.A few years ago,I had a Goldstar that stopped working and talked to a repairman,and it would have cost more to fix than it did to purchase.Just more proof that we live in a throw away society.I hope mine lasts.

I also have a 1998 model refrigerator and have been looking around and comparing.I looked on the energystar.com website and they have a tool that tells you how much energy you can save,and according to that tool I could cut the energy used by my refrigerator by 69% by purchasing a new energystar refrigerator.(In reality,based on average use and the size input into the tool,the actual savings are $90 per year in my case,which can vary greatly).While I was looking around,I found two Whirlpool side-by-sides with through the door ice and water at Lowes.Both models were 21.7 and 25.3 cu.ft. and priced at $898.A good deal.The only problem,Whirlpool was bought out by Maytag and the Maytag repairmen are few and far between.GE Appliance Service and Sears Appliance Service should work on them though.Many times,there are locals ,too.It is a reliable brand,though.My Mom has a 25 cu.ft. Whirlpool she's had for 11 years,but the icemaker broke 2 years ago.Its probably the water inlet valve because we can fill the bin with ice and it will dispense the ice just fine.I have estimated the repair at $200-$300,but could go higher if you had to repair one with electronic controls in the door.Some websites for appliance REPAIR and PARTS ADVICE are applianceman.com,applianceguru.com,and repairclinic.com.Another site for energy savings is dulley.com.

I bought a DeLonghi at Costco about 12 years ago. It worked fine until very recently (last week). The bottom elements stopped working, but to be fair, they got repeatedly abused by having the tray dropped on them full of food - this was due to operator error (not me, my partner) on how to place the rack. I would definitely buy another DeLonghi. However, this one was old enough not to have any fancy electronic controls - just the old dials - no convection, no infrared, no onboard computer.

William_Carroll: 

"The only problem,Whirlpool was bought out by Maytag and the Maytag repairmen are few and far between."

You have it backwards.  Whirlpool Corporation purchased Maytag, and orphaned pre-merger Maytag (and Jenn-Air and Amana) appliances.   Modern Maytag appliances are rebadged Whirlpools. 

Watch out...Delonghi is having issues. Mine went out just recently after a year. Took it back to Bloomingdales no questions asked. They said they have a major problem with the heating element going out and multiple returns. The salesperson didnt even offer a replacement Delonghi and told me to wait a few weeks for their next sale on other brands.. 

That's too bad about Delongi now... I have one from 10 years ago and its still working (I use it more than once every day), but now the bottom heating elements are twisting and I'm afraid it could become a fire hazard.  I am having the worse time finding a replacement!  I would really hate to start up my stove for chicken nuggets or the like.  I'm also disappointed that CR does not have pictures for every model they tested.