Just before I left for Ireland, I accidentally and providentially discovered that my toaster oven was well on its way to becoming a fire hazard. So when I returned, in the middle of a heat wave, getting a new toaster oven (with which to heat foods without super-heating or burning down the apartment) was a priority.
So I shopped for one. My parents have one by the same manufacturer as the one I’ve had (quite happily) for probably a decade, but their new, upgraded version requires an advanced degree to operate and even at that, doesn’t make toast, so I knew I was avoiding that model.
I went online. I read reviews.
Guess what? We can go to space, but we can’t make toast. What the heck is that all about?
Plus most toaster ovens are these very complicated, trying-to-do-it-all-but-nothing-well affairs, when really: I just want to be able to make toast, toast a bagel, and reheat the occasional slice of pizza. It doesn’t have to be this complicated!
So finally I looked at the reviews by America’s Test Kitchen (love that show) and they named their toaster oven winner (at about $250 a pop) and their best buy (a Hamilton Beach Set & Forget Convection version at about half that, still ridiculous but theoretically also still functional) so I shopped for the latter.
And 2 days later, I had my new toaster oven delivered to my office.
I hauled it home.
I hauled it up the stairs.
I carefully unboxed and set it up and read the instructions. (Yes, I actually did.)
And then I plugged it in…
And got an annoying BEEPING sound and a “ERR” code.
Fortunately, I still had that user manual handy, so I could read the details.
That particular error means that the internal temperature sensor is damaged or defective. Advise? Call Hamilton Beach. There’s a toll-free number.
That’s only answered during office hours. Which is (a) wicked helpful (NOT) and (b) not boding well for there being a quick solution that doesn’t involve returning the item.
Heck with that. I returned it the next day (thank you Amazon.com for making that simple, because HB was a big fat FAIL) and this weekend I shopped for a replacement.
Voila, my new toaster oven. It’s a Cuisinart. And guess what?
It makes toast.
In one try.
On both sides.
Without requiring a doctorate in electronics.
AWESOME.
How disappointing to do all that research and think you’re making a smart buy only to find the thing doesn’t work out of the box. And the aggravation of having to box it up and return it. Anyway, sounds like Part I turned out to be a Win. Enjoy that toast!
LikeLike
You’d think Hamilton Beach would try to butter you up, but nope: they left you in a jam. What a bunch of crusty folk there.
LikeLike