Panasonic Flashxpress Toaster Oven Review | A Versatile Countertop Appliance!

The Panasonic Flashxpress toaster oven is an excellent option for anyone looking for a small, inexpensive, and versatile toaster oven. I have been using it for several months now and it has become one of my favorite appliances in my kitchen.

This Panasonic Flashxpress toaster oven review is based on my own experience with the kitchen appliance. I use this smart oven for everything; from baking cookies to toasting bread, cooking steaks, and chicken breasts. Its versatility is impressive.

What Is the Panasonic FlashXpress Toaster Oven?

The Panasonic FlashXpress Toaster Oven is a 1300 watts countertop oven with two heating elements, preset cooking functions, and a smart sensor to prevent food from burning, just to name a few features.

It can bake, defrost, toast, and warm food at temperatures ranging from 250 Degree F to 500 Degree F. This means it can cook most foods just as well as an ordinary range or oven would.

The main difference between this product and other countertop ovens is that it doesn't have a rotisserie function or high-temp broiling option like some models do (which makes sense since those features would require additional parts that would increase manufacturing costs).

No Preheating

The first thing that surprised me about this oven was its rapid heating capability. Unlike other appliances that require preheating, this oven's heat comes on instantly, allowing you to start cooking almost immediately.

This feature makes it perfect for thawing frozen foods like waffles and pizzas. When it comes to reheating leftover pizza, cold or frozen, I prefer to use the air fryer function.

I simply place the slice on a foil sheet and hit start. Although it goes through a preheating cycle, I consider it part of the cooking process. When the alert sounds to add the food, the pizza is usually done, sometimes even a bit overdone.

What's truly amazing is that there is no need for preheating with this oven. I've tried putting frozen biscuits in, and after just 20 minutes, they come out perfectly baked.

While you may need to experiment to find the best settings for different foods, I can confidently say that after owning this oven for about 6 months, I highly recommend it.

I've never come across a toaster oven with pre-set buttons that doesn't require preheating and delivers such fantastic results. It's astonishing how quickly this toaster oven cooks; I only realized its speed when I used a different one at someone else's house, which seemed to take ages to make toast or heat up for small dishes.

It’s Small but Surprisingly Roomy Inside

The second thing that surprised me was how much space there was inside this oven. The interior dimensions are measured 4.1-inch (H) by 10.2-inch (W) by 9. 8-Inch (D).

When you open the door, there are two racks inside; (baking and crumb tray) one on top of the other, which means you can cook two things at once without having to use more than one rack at a time.

There’s also plenty of room between each rack so you don’t have to worry about anything getting burned or overcooked while cooking on top of another item on that same rack.

Panasonic Brand

Versatile Unlike Most Toaster Ovens

 You can use this appliance to bake, toast foods, defrost pizza, etc., without having to use multiple appliances like an oven, microwave, stove top, etc. This makes it extremely convenient when you want to cook something quick and fast without having to wait around too long while other things cook in other places.

As with most modern digital toaster ovens, there’s a timer that allows you to program your cooking session up to 30 minutes in advance which is great if you want something ready when you get home from work or when guests arrive at the house so you don’t have to fuss with it while they’re there.

Its Safety Features

The toaster oven has a connected baking rack to the toaster oven door. This feature saves you from burning your hands by oven heat.

With this feature also, you can start removing cookies or brownies from their baking pan as soon as they're done baking so they don't stick together or become soggy while still hot from the oven's heat source.

It has a smart sensor for maintaining the ideal temperature during cooking to ensure that food doesn't burn or get overcooked.

This toaster oven also has a 30-minute timer with an audible alert when time is up so you don't have to worry about overcooking your foods while you're busy doing something else in the kitchen.

The interior light helps you see what's cooking inside the oven without opening it up and letting out heat.

This is one of the toaster ovens that have an auto shut-off feature that activates when the timer reaches zero. This safety feature ensures that the device will not get accidentally left on if you forget to turn it off.

Is Panasonic Flashxpress a Convection Oven?

The Panasonic FlashXpress is a toaster oven. It's not a convection oven, because it doesn't have a fan to blow hot air around the food. Instead, it has two infrared heating elements that heat the entire oven chamber evenly.

Which Brand of Toaster Oven Is Best?

I have used Breville, Cuisinart, and Panasonic and have had good experiences with all of them. I have owned the Cuisinart for over 3 years and it still works great.

The Panasonic is a newer model and it works very well. The Breville has the best features (like the convection feature) but it has some minor flaws that make me hesitant to recommend it.

Does The Panasonic Toaster Oven Broil?

The oven does not have a broiler setting for cooking meat or poultry. If you want to cook broiled meals with this oven, you need to use another appliance that has a broiler function.

Is It Worth Buying a Toaster Oven?

Yes, it is worth buying a toaster oven. Toaster ovens are a great alternative to traditional toasters or ovens. They are smaller, more energy-efficient, and easier to clean than traditional ovens.

They can toast, cook food, and even thaw frozen waffles and pizza. Cleaning the toaster oven is a breeze as you can easily remove the grid and crumb tray. After using it for a week, I realized the importance of following the instructions.

Personally, I love this toaster oven as it perfectly suits our needs - it's quick and simple to use. Remember to take notes on temperature and time settings for different recipes until you get the hang of it.

I personally prepare my 7" pizza crusts with pizza sauce and toppings, and the mozzarella melts beautifully and turns toasty brown. Just remember not to leave it unattended during the last few minutes and be ready to hit the power button.

I can't stress this enough, but please avoid putting your hand in the oven while the flash lamps are on as the radiant infrared can instantly burn you.

This knowledge comes from my experience working with infrared lamps in an R&D lab. Always remember to turn off the oven before reaching inside.

They Are Smaller than Traditional Ovens

Toaster ovens are more convenient and are more budget friendly than traditional ones. They usually occupy less space on your countertop or shelf, making them ideal for people who live in small apartments or houses.

Are Energy Efficient

Toaster ovens use less energy compared to traditional ones because they have a smaller capacity and they cook quicker. This makes them an eco-friendly option since they help reduce your electricity bill every month.

For Reheating Leftovers

People also like using toasters for various tasks beyond making toast. It's very much useful for reheating leftovers or even thawing frozen foods.

The convenience lies in the ability to simply place the food in the toaster, select a low setting, and quickly reheat it without the need to wait for an entire oven to heat up and cool down again.

This not only saves time but also reduces energy consumption, as you don't have to heat up your entire kitchen for a quick task.

Personally, I appreciate the controls of my toaster, and while they may not offer extensive flexibility, they work well for my needs. I've successfully used it for making toast, reheating pizza, and heating frozen baguette pieces.

Additionally, if you're in a rush for some chocolate chip cookies, this toaster oven shines. Instead of the usual ten minutes of preheating required by a regular oven, this toaster oven only needs nine minutes.

It not only saves time but also produces cookies that are exceptionally light and fluffy on the inside, surpassing the instructions on the cookie package.

Used for Baking

Toaster ovens make baking easy too. You don't have to worry about preheating your entire kitchen if you want to bake cookies or muffins; just set the temperature and bake your food.

The lights are super bright, which may seem odd when they cycle on and off repeatedly. However, when using the presets for toasting, they stay on consistently.

If you opt for a timed "bake" by selecting the temperature and time, the lights will cycle on and off. If your food isn't cooked enough, simply put it back in and heat it for a little longer.

One notable advantage is the shortened cooking time; for example, a recipe that typically takes 40 to 50 minutes in a regular oven can be done in just 25 minutes in the toaster oven, saving energy and preventing unnecessary heat in the kitchen.

Moreover, the controls on the toaster oven are straightforward to use, and it excels at toasting bread—perfectly crisping slices, especially with whole wheat bread on the #4 setting.

Final Thoughts

All in all, the toaster oven offers advantages over traditional toasters, toasting more evenly and providing versatility. It cooks quickly and thoroughly, making cleanup a breeze with foil pans/sheets.

Despite some challenges with cleaning and infrared rods, it excels at toasting and handles frozen items well. The convenient design of the toasting rack and its ability to toast unique bread types are additional highlights. It takes up minimal counter space, has a separate on/off button, and stands as the best toaster oven I've found.