Review: T-Fal Avante Elite Toaster Oven

We have owned the T-Fal Avante Elite toaster oven for about two years now. We purchased it ourselves on Amazon in the summer of 2007 after our previous toaster oven (a Proctor-Silex) decided it wanted an early retirement and caught fire.

We had initially decided to get a toaster oven several years prior because we couldn’t seem to manage to find a toaster that would toast four pieces of bread, look nice and didn’t cost an arm and a leg.

After the Proctor-Silex caught fire on the kitchen counter, we researched our options a bit better. We decided on the T-Fal Avante Elite toaster oven and though we were a little wary of the cost, it had great reviews and we decided to give it a shot. And here we are two years later without a single problem from the toaster oven, and we’ve also recommended it to at least half a dozen friends and family members (not many people are in the market for a toaster oven, or we’d sing its praises without being asked ).

The unit is compact at 17-1/2″ by 10-1/2″ by 11″, but to this day I’m still amazed at how much we can fit inside it. I use it for any baking requiring a 9×9″ baking pan or smaller, and it’s perfect for casseroles, garlic bread, small batches of cookies, and I’ve even done shepherd’s pie in it (the shepherd’s pie in that link was actually baked in the toaster oven!). And of course it does a fantastic job with toasting, whether it’s bread, bagels, etc., or reheating things like pizza that don’t hold up so well in a microwave (soggy crust!) The space between the rack and the top of the oven is adequate that I have never burned my hand reaching in for toast, unlike my experience with the Proctor-Silex.

The broiler works well, and though we don’t use it often, the warming unit on top is great for keeping rolls warm while the rest of the meal is finishing up. I also like that there’s a timer on it that has to be used when you choose which cooking method you want to use (bake, broil, toast or warm), and it shuts the unit off automatically when the time is up. Both the interior and exterior are easy to clean, and the the rack and included baking and broiler pans are dishwasher safe.

My most favorite thing about it, though, is the fact that it doesn’t require any pre-heating, and it doesn’t heat up the entire kitchen like the regular stove does. We still give this toaster oven five stars, and you know it’s a good purchase when you still comment to your spouse about what a great investment it still is two years later!

[image: amazon]