The Val Cucina Toaster Oven Air Fryer is a trendy kitchen appliance on Amazon with a good rating. But is it really good? What do real users have to say about this appliance?
Is it a kitchen champion or a contender with a few flaws? This comprehensive review will help you decide whether the Val Cucina Toaster Oven deserves a spot on your countertop.
Don’t Buy VAL CUCINA Toaster Oven Before Reading This
Now let’s discuss what real users love about it, along with some potential shortcomings you might want to consider.
Spacious
One of the first things you’ll notice about the Val Cucina Air fryer toaster oven is its roomy interior. The capacity of the Val Cucina oven is 26.3 Quarts.
This space is enough for roasting a 5-6lb chicken, toasting 6 slices of bread simultaneously, or baking a 12-inch pizza. You can even cook a large batch of French fries or 20 chicken wings all at once.
This is a major win for meal preppers and families. Users rave about the ample space, stating it’s perfect for batch cooking and easily accommodates a quarter sheet pan (13″ wide).
The oven also comes with three separate trays – an air fry basket, a baking pan, and a wire rack – providing versatility for different cooking tasks.
Friendly Controls
The Val Cucina keeps things simple with intuitive knobs and a bright LED display. Users appreciate the ease of selecting functions, adjusting temperatures (in 5-degree increments for more precise control!), and monitoring cooking progress.
Convenience Features
Another perk that users appreciate is the ability to skip preheating for both toasting and air frying. This saves valuable time in the kitchen, especially during those hectic mornings or evenings when every minute counts. And once you’re done cooking, the removable crumb tray makes cleaning up a breeze.
Toasting
The Val Cucina offers a dedicated toasting function that allows you to select the number of slices you’re toasting and adjust the browning level. Users generally love the toast function, appreciating the browning control for achieving their perfect slice.
However, a small word of caution: since the oven heats up quickly, you might need to keep a close eye on your toast to avoid burning it.
Minor Issues
One issue that some users have encountered is the timer. It can be a bit unpredictable, sometimes starting at random times (like 20:00 ) instead of resetting to zero.
This can be frustrating if you’re relying on the timer for precise cooking. The instruction manual doesn’t seem to address this issue and there’s no way to set an exact time as the timer always seems to add a few extra seconds.
Another potential issue is the heat generated by the controls, particularly the “Function” and “Select” knobs. While the controls themselves are easy to use, they can get very hot during extended baking sessions.
Some users recommend using an oven mitt to avoid burning yourself when adjusting settings.
The placement of the door handle might limit how far you can open the oven door, especially when removing the lower tray. If your countertop space is limited, this could be a minor inconvenience.
Users recommend placing the oven near the edge of the counter to ensure enough clearance for a full door opening.
The pan that comes with the Val Cucina can be a bit tight, making it difficult to remove without taking out the rack as well. This might be a hassle for some users who prefer to keep the rack in place while removing the pan to check on food.
On the other hand, some users appreciated that all three trays (baking pan, rack, and air fry basket) have “rails” that slide directly into the side position slots, making them easy to maneuver.
Powerhouse
The 1750 watts of heating power translates to a fast preheat and even cooking, which is a major plus. However, the 450-degree Fahrenheit maximum temperature might be a limitation for some bakers who require higher heat for certain recipes.
Versatility
With 10 pre-programmed settings, you can Air Fry, Toast, Bake, Broil, Roast, Reheat, Warm, Slow Cook, and even Dehydrate! This versatility allows you to whip up a variety of dishes with ease, from breakfast toast to slow-cooked stews.
Infrared Heating and True Convection Air Fry Technology is the key
The fast and even cooking because of Infrared Heating technology and Rapid hot air circulation because of True Convection Air Fry Technology make the Val Cucina air fryer oven different from others.
This technology prevents overcooking and drying out your food, keeping the inside tender and juicy.
Keep in mind
The exact interior dimensions according to Val Cucina is (13x13x7.5 inches), but the user was able to confirm that the usable depth is closer to 11 inches due to the placement of the heating elements.
By placing the baking tray or rack in the middle position with the air fry basket on top (without the rack), there’s more air circulation, and the timer seems to function more consistently.
Conclusion
The Val Cucina Toaster Oven is a versatile appliance with a lot to offer busy cooks. It boasts a spacious interior, fast preheating, even cooking, and air frying capabilities. Users also love the user-friendly controls, the ability to skip preheating for toasting and air frying, and the stylish design.
However, there are a few quirks to consider, such as the unpredictable timer, potentially hot controls, and the limited temperature range.
If you can work around these quirks and the temperature limit isn’t a dealbreaker for your cooking needs, then the Val Cucina Toaster Oven could be a great addition to your kitchen.
