We found the most credible toaster oven reviews at Cook's Illustrated, Consumer Reports, Real Simple, and Good Housekeeping magazines. Testers at Consumer Reports evaluate toaster ovens' performance toasting bread, melting cheese, and, in some cases, roasting chicken. Cook's Illustrated's editorial team browned toast on light and dark settings. They also baked potatoes and cookies and cooked frozen pizzas, among other tasks. Temperature controls are tested for accuracy and ease of use and cleanup is assessed. As usual, Cook's Illustrated impressed us with its thoroughness. Unfortunately, the toaster ovens themselves did not: only one of the eight toaster ovens they tested is recommended without reservations. Clearly, this is a technology that manufacturers have yet to perfect: We read reports of flaking nonstick coatings, blackened toast, confusing diagrams, and malfunctioning thermostats.

We also found good reviews in The New York Times and Wine Spectator. The latter in particular impressed us with its methodology: Sam Gugino baked potatoes, roasted chicken, broiled a 13-ounce steak (to medium-rare), and heated up frozen fries, among other tasks. Melissa Clark of The New York Times prepared all the food for a dinner party in her toaster oven. We also evaluated owner-written toaster oven reviews posted to Epinions, Target.com, and Amazon.com. Unlike most professional testers, owners can comment on long-term reliability.

Reviews say that toaster ovens are great for smaller kitchens, especially during summer months where you don't want to turn on your full-size oven. Unlike microwaves, toaster ovens can brown food. They heat up quickly and consume less energy than regular ovens. Toaster ovens with a broiler feature can even turn out crunchy garlic bread and leftover lasagna with a crusty top.

Although Real Simple deems the KitchenAid toaster oven (*est. $150) "best for big jobs," owners posting to Amazon.com and Epinions aren't as sure. Although some like its looks, several say that the handle gets dangerously hot, and many others complain that it toasts too slowly and can dry out food. It also doesn't have a simple on/off setting; instead, you have to set the timer, which has a maximum time of 30 minutes.

If all you want is a horizontal box for making cheese sandwiches and toasting bagels, you can find a model that costs $40 or less. But beware: experts and owners alike say the cheapest models can be more trouble than they're worth. Without a nonstick interior or a continuous clean finish (which causes stuck-on food to disintegrate), gooey cheese is hard to remove. Many cheaper toaster ovens lack a broil feature, and others have a hinged crumb tray that's messy and awkward. The cheapest toaster ovens don't even have a thermostat.

You should also look for a model that will shut off automatically when the timer runs out. Some models just keep on cooking, which can lead to burnt food if you can't hear the bell. Such models also pose a fire hazard.