KitchenAid Digital Countertop Oven Black Matte review with air fry and pizza stone
KitchenAid Digital Countertop Oven Black Matte review with air fry and pizza stone
- The No-Flip Air Fry Basket ensures even cooking without the hassle of flipping food, making it easy to prepare perfectly crispy dishes.
- With the included 12″ pizza baking stone, homemade pizza comes out with a perfectly crisp crust every time.
- The Even-Heat Convection Technology maintains consistent temperature throughout, ensuring reliable results for every recipe.
- Fast preheat functionality allows the oven to be ready for use in under four minutes, saving time during busy meal preparations.
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Description
Sleek Design and Build Quality
I was immediately impressed by the KitchenAid Digital Countertop Oven with Air Fry & Pizza Stone, KCO128BM, Black Matte when I set it up on my kitchen counter. The modern matte black finish not only looks stylish but also blends seamlessly with other appliances. Its compact size is deceptive because it offers a surprisingly spacious interior that can handle a wide variety of cooking tasks. The control knobs and digital display are user-friendly; they have a sturdy feel and make navigating the 10 essential cooking settings effortless. While it’s not a lightweight unit, the build feels solid, which gives me confidence in its durability.
Key Benefits
After testing this countertop oven, some features stood out:
- No-Flip Air Fry Basket: I love this! It eliminates the need to flip food halfway through cooking, which saves time and effort.
- 360° Air Fry System: Produces evenly crisped fries, chicken wings, and even delicate fish without burning.
- 12″ Pizza Baking Stone: This addition makes homemade pizza crispy and delicious, rivaling restaurant-quality pies.
- Fast Preheat: It’s ready to go in under 4 minutes, which is a lifesaver on busy days.
- Even-Heat Convection Technology: Ensures consistent results, whether baking cookies or roasting veggies.
Versatile Performance
This oven doesn’t just toast bread or bake small dishes; it can genuinely replace several kitchen appliances. I’ve used it to air fry crispy snacks, bake frozen and fresh pizzas, roast chicken, and even reheat leftovers. The pizza cycle combined with the baking stone creates perfectly crisp crusts without overcooking the toppings. The Even-Heat Convection Technology is a game-changer for ensuring food is cooked evenly, and I didn’t experience any cold spots.
That said, the air fry feature is where this oven truly shines. From fries to mozzarella sticks, everything came out crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. I even tried air-frying battered fish, and it turned out amazing—no soggy spots!
Practical Settings and Features
There are 10 cooking settings, including air fry, bake, broil, toast, and pizza. Each mode is tailored to specific needs, making it highly versatile. The digital display is intuitive, and I appreciate the timer feature, which ensures I never overcook anything. The interior light is bright enough to check on food without opening the door. Cleaning the oven is relatively easy, thanks to the non-stick interior and removable crumb tray. However, I did notice that the pizza stone requires extra care to maintain its surface.
Areas of Concern
While I’m overall happy with this product, there are a few less favorable aspects:
- The pizza stone can be tricky to clean, especially if cheese spills over the edges.
- The air fry basket isn’t very large, so cooking for a big family may require multiple batches.
- The fan noise during convection cooking is noticeable, though not overly loud.
These are minor inconveniences, but they’re worth mentioning for those considering this oven.
Competing Products
Comparing this to other countertop ovens, I’d say it holds its own quite well. For instance, the Breville Smart Oven Air has a larger capacity and more preset functions, but it’s bulkier and significantly pricier. On the other hand, the Cuisinart TOA-60 is another popular option with excellent air fry capabilities, but it lacks the dedicated pizza stone and fast preheat feature this model offers.
In terms of versatility and performance, this KitchenAid oven strikes a great balance. While it’s slightly smaller than some competitors, the Even-Heat Convection Technology and 360° Air Fry System make up for it by delivering consistent and reliable results.
Value for Money
When I think about the features packed into this compact appliance, it feels like a smart spending choice. It replaces multiple gadgets, like a toaster, air fryer, and even a pizza oven, which makes it a space-saver. While it’s not the cheapest option on the market, the quality for the price is undeniable. The durability of the build, combined with the innovative cooking technologies, makes it worth every penny.
Ultimately, I’ve enjoyed using this countertop oven for a variety of meals and snacks. It’s a solid performer with minimal flaws, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone looking for a versatile and stylish addition to their kitchen.
