Black and Decker TO1412B Toaster Oven Review

If your first thought when looking at the Black and Decker TO1412B is that it is too small or has too few features, then this isn’t the toaster oven for you. It is true that there are hardly any features on this toaster oven and that it is small, but those of you who want a simple, inexpensive machine should take a good look at this toaster oven.

Not only is this model good for toasting, it also cooks personal pizzas, broils, and keeps food warm. The TO1412B toaster oven is also ideal for dorm rooms and small kitchens.

The purpose of this toaster oven is not to wow you with all that it can do. Instead it is meant to make common cooking jobs easier and faster than if you use your large conventional oven for them. It isn’t a perfect machine, but may be exactly what someone with small counter space or minimal cooking needs may want.

2018 Update: This model is no longer being sold on Amazon. The Hamilton Beach 31511 is a comparable toaster oven. You can read my review here or you can see it on Amazon here *.

Exterior Housing Material

The exterior is made of stainless steel.

Exterior Color

The exterior has been painted black. It has a nice clean look to it that will blend in with just about any kitchen.

Cord Length

Cord length is 24 inches

Toaster oven cords are typically from one to two feet in length, so the length of this cord, though short, is normal. You may need to get a small extension cord to plug this in depending on how many outlets you have in your kitchen.

The plug has three prongs. The third prong grounds the plug and is a safety feature to keep you from getting shocked. This was a pleasant surprise to me, to be honest. Most toaster ovens in this price range have only two prongs.

There are prongs on the back of this machine that you can use to wrap up excess cord. The prongs also prevent you from pushing this toaster oven flush against the wall, which will help prevent it from overheating.

(Return to Table Of Contents)

Convection

The Black and Decker TO1412B toaster oven does not have convection cooking.

Heating Elements

2 elements

There are two heating elements inside this model – one on the top and one on the bottom. Both elements are covered with a metal shield. The shields are there for two reasons: 1) to protect the elements from damage in case they are accidentally bumped, and 2) to prevent food spills from building up on them.

Element shields are not often found on low end toaster ovens. This is a thoughtful addition by Black and Decker.

Because there are only two heating elements you should not expect precision cooking with this model. If you are looking for a toaster oven that offers total control over cooking take a look at either the Breville BOV450XL or Breville BOV800XL models.

According to my research, the heating elements were unpredictable. They heat up quickly for many owners. On the other hand, a small minority of owners complained that the elements heat unevenly. One person said that the elements in his toaster oven require rest time between uses, which can cause frustration for anyone who wants to do back-to-back cooking.

Rack Positions

There is only one rack position for the B&D TO1412B toaster oven. Black and Decker works around the fact that there is only one rack position by putting the drip tray under the rack. The drip tray slides in and out from under the rack. This allows you to prevent grease and food from dripping onto the bottom heating element and crumb tray when you want to broil foods.

The wire rack does not have a stopper to prevent the rack from being pulled out completely. This means you will need to take care when pulling out the rack so that it doesn’t fall out.

Rotisserie

There is no rotisserie with this model.

Temperature Range

150° F to 450° F

The temperature is controlled by a dial and you can set it to any temperature between 150° F to 450° F. The major benefit to this is that you can select specific temperatures based on what you are cooking.

Warming Tray

The top of this model should not be used as a warming tray. The top exterior is rounded so that the front is the highest point and it curves down towards the back. Anything put on top would slide backwards.

Watts

I was unable to find the watts for this model, and contacted Black and Decker about this. Given that this is a low end model with no added features, I am guessing that the watts are between 1000 and 1200. As soon as I learn the exact watts I will add that information here.

(Return to Table Of Contents)

LCD DIsplay

There is no LCD display on this model.

Type OF Controls

The controls for the Black and Decker TO1412B toaster oven consist of two large dials – a TEMPERATURE dial and a TOAST / TIMER dial.

The TEMPERATURE dial starts at MINIMUM, then ranges from 150° F to 450° F, then goes to BROIL, and the last setting is TOAST.

The TOAST / TIMER dial starts at OFF, next has toast darkness options, then ranges from 10 minutes to 30 minutes. If you turn the dial back to OFF, then turn it just a bit further to the left it will be on STAY ON.

This model comes equipped with a ready indicator light, seen above the two dials. It lights up as soon as the machine is turned on and goes off when turned off. In other words, the light stays on when the toaster oven is on.

Temperature Control Options

There are three temperature control options – BAKE, BROIL, TOAST, and STAY ON. Below is how to each option works:

The temperature is controlled by the TEMPERATURE dial. Turn the dial to the desired temperature when you want to cook or bake. Turn the dial to BROIL when you want to broil. Turn the dial all the way past the temperature options to TOAST when you want to toast bread or bagels.

The temperature dial is very easy to understand and intuitive to use. You won’t need to read the instructions every time you want to use this machine.

There is a potential for confusion when it comes to toasting because you need to set the TEMPERATURE dial to TOAST when you want to toast bread or bagels, then select the toast shade with the TOAST / TIMER dial. If you forget to turn the TEMPERATUREdial to TOAST you risk burning your toast or getting uneven results.

As I did my research for this review I saw that a few people complained about burnt or uneven toasting. Since the majority of people who own this model say that it toasts quite well I can’t help but wonder if those who complained accidentally forgot to turn the TEMPERATURE dial to TOAST.

If you use the STAY ON feature make sure you use your own timer so you know when cooking is done because this toaster oven will not alert you when cooking is done when this feature is in use.

Toast Darkness Adjustment

The toast shade setting is on the TOAST / TIMER dial. Just to the right of OFF are the toast shading options. The lightest setting is visible by the outlined piece of toast, and the darkest setting is visible by the filled in piece of toast. It will take trial and error to fine tune the right shade setting for you, so prepare to either over or under cook a few pieces of bread until you find your toasting sweet spot.

The TOAST / TIMER dial is a timer countdown dial, meaning that you have to turn it to the desired toast shade each time you make toast. You may find it frustrating to have to remember where your “sweet spot” is each time you want to toast because the dial does not “remember” your setting. There is a solution to this, however, by marking the spot you like best with a dot of White Out. Then all you need to do is turn the dial to your dot for perfect toast every time!

Preset Cooking Functions

There are no preset cooking functions for this model.

Timer

There is a 30 minute timer on this toaster oven. The timer is set by turning the TOAST / TIMER dial to the desired time. The dial then winds down to zero, ticking quietly as it goes. An alarm bell will ding when the timer reaches zero, so you know when cooking is done.

(Return to Table Of Contents)

Alarm

When the timer reaches zero there is an alarm bell that rings. The bell is just the right volume to let you know cooking is done. The alarm will not sound if you use the STAY ON cooking feature. In that situation you will need to use your own timer. You can hear for yourself how loud the alarm is in the video further down in this review.

Always On

There is a STAY ON cooking function that lets you cook foods that require more than 30 minutes of cooking time (the timer only goes to 30 minutes).

Personally I do not like the STAY ON function because more than once I have thought I turned off my toaster oven but actually turned it past OFF to STAY ON. It is frightening to realize that your toaster oven has been left on for an unknown period of time. My advice is to always check and double check that your toaster oven is off when it has the STAY ON function.

Automatic Shutoff

This toaster oven will automatically shut off for all cooking functions except STAY ON. Unlike a convectional wall oven, this means that you won’t waste electricity or overcook your food if you don’t get to it as soon as cooking is done.

Auto-Eject Rack

There is no auto-eject rack on this model. You will need to use a hot pad to safely pull out the rack.

BPA FREE?

I have not yet been able to determine if this toaster oven is BPA free. As soon as I find out I will update this information.

*

Crumb Tray

The crumb tray on this toaster oven is, in my opinion, its weakness. The tray is located on the bottom of the machine and drops down to be cleaned.

Unlike most other toaster ovens that have removable crumb trays, this crumb tray stays connected to the body of the machine. The only way to get to the crumb tray is to either flip the model on its side, then open the crumb tray door, or hold it over your sink or garbage can while opening the crumb tray door. Either option is incredibly awkward.

Worse, in my opinion, is the fact that the crumb tray remains connected to the machine when opened. You risk getting water inside the oven or accidentally bumping the heating element while cleaning the tray.

Door

The glass door has a stay-cool handle. You can safely open the door without fear of getting burned.

Exterior Temperature During Cooking

The exterior walls of this toaster oven are thin so the outside gets very hot during use. To be fair, though, this is true of almost every toaster oven. Be sure to keep about four inches of free space around this toaster oven so that you don’t burn anything during use, and let it cool down completely before you either move it or attempt to clean the crumb tray.

Handles

There are no handles on the sides of the Black and Decker TO1412B. This isn’t a problems as long as you don’t try to move this machine while it is hot. It is very lightweight and is easy to move without handles.

In Use Light

There is a “ready indicator light”, seen above the two dials on the control panel, that lights up when the internal temperature reaches the selected temperature. The light stays on during the entire cooking process, then turns off when the timer reaches zero and shuts off. The light is helpful because you can with just a glance across the room if the toaster oven is still on or if it has finished cooking.

Interior Light

There is no interior light inside this toaster oven.

Nonstick Interior

The interior is not nonstick. It is zinc coated and the best way to keep it clean is to wipe it down regularly after it has cooled down.

Under Counter Mount

This model cannot be mounted under a cabinet.

Wire Rack Stopper

There is no stopper to prevent the wire rack from being pulled completely out of the toaster oven. This isn’t likely to be an issue with this particular model because there is only one rack position. In the unlikely event that the rack was pulled out completely it wouldn’t have far to fall before it landed on the door. The lack of a stopper is more of a concern on higher rack positions.

Included Accessories

• Baking Pan/Drip Tray

There is a baking pan/drip tray included with the Black and Decker TO1491S-2 toaster oven. There is enough space underneath this toaster oven that you can store the tray under the machine when it isn’t being used.

Optional Accessories

There are no additional accessories made specifically for this model.

(Return to Table Of Contents)

The exterior of this model is painted black so be sure not to use any type of abrasive sponge or cleaner to prevent scratching the finish. Wiping down the exterior and interior with a damp cloth, possibly with a bit of soap, should be enough for most clean up jobs.

One of the best things you can do to keep this toaster oven clean is to frequently clean it. Food can build up quickly, which can become a fire hazard so make sure you clean the crumb tray often. The same is true for any food that falls onto the heating element and the shields that protect the elements.

This is video that I took of the B&D TO1412B toaster oven. When you watch this video you will be able to hear the timer ticking and alarm bell, as well as see the other controls and how to access the crumb tray.

Dimensions: Length NUMBER" x Height NUMBER" x Depth NUMBER"
Weight: NUMBER pounds

(Return to Table Of Contents)

Duration

Black and Decker will warrant the TO1412B toaster oven for two years. This is about one year longer than most competitor warranties.

You will need to keep a copy of your receipt to use as proof of purchase if you even need to make a warranty claim.

Customer Support Experience

At the time of my review there were no comments from owners about contacting Black & Decker for warranty support, which didn’t surprise me because this is a fairly new toaster oven. However, Black and Decker has an excellent reputation, and I see no reason why that should be any different for this model.

It appears that Black and Decker sometimes monitors comments left for this toaster oven on Amazon. I saw Black and Decker respond to one complaint by directing the reviewer to the proper resource to get help with the complaint.

(Return to Table Of Contents)

• • Three Prong Plug – The third prong grounds this machine and is a very good safety feature
  • Heating Element Shields – These shields help protect the heating elements from accidental bumps or melted food, and are usually found on higher priced toaster oven
  • Price – What’s not to love about the price?

(Return to Table Of Contents)

• • Crumb Tray – The crumb tray is accessible only from the bottom which means you need to move the toaster oven to your sink or garbage can every time you want to clean it. Also, the drop-down tray stays connected to the toaster oven which makes cleaning it difficult.
  • Lack of Features – This may be a con for people who want their toaster oven to do more than this one does, but it may also be a pro for those who want a no-frills model.
  • Quality Control – There seems to be inconsistencies with the quality of this model. It works very well for most people, but there were a good number of complaints from owners who said it stopped working before the warranty expired or that it didn’t heat well.

(Return to Table Of Contents)

As I read through reviews for my research I did not find anyone complain that this model was priced too high. The only complaint I found regarding price is that you get what you pay for, which is great for people who don’t want expensive or confusing features.

(Return to Table Of Contents)

The vast majority of reviews that I read for the Black and Decker TO1412B toaster oven were positive. People who wanted a toaster oven that was basic knew what they were getting when they bought this model and were mostly happy with it.

The negative reviews that I read came from owners who had problems with this model. Some people said that the heating was inconsistent or uneven, and other said their toaster ovens stopped working after only a few months. These comments were in the minority, but it leads me to believe that Black and Decker may have quality control issues at their manufacturing facility.

Despite the negatives, most people love the simplicity of this toaster oven. They also love the price.

Here are the most helpful online sources I used to research the Black and Decker TO1412B toaster oven. You may find additional helpful information by visiting any or all of these sources:

• • Product information on Amazon
  • Product Information on Walmart
  • Black & Decker Website

The size of the Black and Decker TO1412B is small, making it a perfect fit for people with limited kitchen space, dorm rooms, or even RVs. One review I read was from a person who said it is small enough for him to take with him to hotels when he travels and makes his own food instead of eating out.

If you want a toaster oven with a few more features but doesn’t cost a lot more, take a look at the Hamilton Beach 31511. However, I think this is a great choice for people looking for a bare bones toaster oven. This model is perfect for those of you who want to reheat pizza and leftovers, cook fish sticks and tater tots, and make toast. It knows what it is meant to do and does those jobs fairly well, and won’t break your wallet in the process.

2018 Update: This model is no longer being sold on Amazon. The Hamilton Beach 31511 is a comparable toaster oven. You can read my review here or you can see it on Amazon here *.

(Return to Table Of Contents)

(Return to Table Of Contents)