{Product Review} Panasonic Toaster Oven, Model NB-G110P

It seems as far as toaster ovens go, you either love them or hate them. I am probably one of the only in-between, on the fence kind of people. If I have one, I'll use it, but I'm not knocking down any doors to buy one.

Before receiving the NB-G110P to review as part of the Viewpoints Blogger Panel, we were not owners of a toaster oven. We donated the one we previously owned a few years ago and never replaced it. I was happy to give a newer model with updated features and functionality a test drive.

Right out of the box I was a little concerned. The NB-G110P seemed too lightweight for a toaster oven. I was worried that if I dropped it, it might break into a million pieces. The toaster ovens of yesteryear were big, bulky, and heavy. The Panasonic NB-G110P is lightweight and compact. It's taller and narrower than toaster ovens I've seen before, but I was still a bit concerned about counter space. In most homes, counter space is rare and storage space is even more so. We don't have the extra space for either.

Safety
Although the handle was heat-resistant, the window became very hot and gave off a lot of residual heat. The appliance itself was flimsy and reminded me of the children's Easy-Bake oven due to it's being so compact and lightweight. The infrared light is a hazard also. It's dangerous to stare directly at it, and it's best to keep children away from the oven while in use.

Heating
Because this toaster oven uses infra-red light for heating, the items heat very quickly. There is also no need to preheat the toaster oven. Once you turn it on and set the temperature, you can put the food into the oven immediately. I loved the heating capabilities of this toaster oven. The fact that you don't have to wait for preheating is a huge plus.

Ease of Cleaning
Spills and stains wiped up easily. I used the oven tray on every occasion because it keeps the oven cleaner. Since toaster ovens do not have self-cleaning features, it's important to be able to easily clean them after each use. This one was easy to wipe clean.

Toaster Oven Design
I liked the size of it. It was small enough to either store easily or leave on the counter top. I loved the push buttons rather than dials. I loved the automatic cooking keys for the frequently cooked foods, such as toast, waffles, and pizza.

I did not like the pre-set temperature settings. As you can see in the picture above, you can set the temperatures for only what is shown on the oven.

I learned later that the infrared light is meant to go off and on during cooking. This light was so annoying. It kept coming on and going off repeatedly. I kept wondering, "What is going on with the light?" I had a hard time getting past the light. I had to step out of the kitchen during cooking because the light was too annoying for me.

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS
If you are in the market for a toaster oven, this is a good one to consider. It's small, heats quickly and evenly, and has nice touch buttons rather than dials. However, I couldn't get passed the infrared light. It was just one of those things that's a blessing and a curse. The infrared light enables the oven to heat food quickly and evenly but it's constant on and off is bothersome.

The Panasonic NB-G110P retails for $133.

To read my review on Viewpoints, click here.

Disclosure: I received a Panasonic NB-G110P toaster oven via Viewpoints for the purpose of facilitating this review. All opinions are my own. The toaster oven I received will be donated to a charity of my choosing.