Calphalon HE650CO XL 1400-Watt 0.7-Cubic-Foot 6-Slice Convection Oven Review

I had very high hopes for this oven.It has the Calphalon name on it.Their PR write up sounds so promising.The warranty is good.The oven is handsome.Too bad it fails as an oven though.I tested this oven thoroughly upon receipt.I knew I had to make sure this was a keeper given the price.Save your money and buy a $60 toaster oven.It is important to share that I never use a 'big' oven.Normal ovens pull 3500 watts.They cost a fortune and the overwhelming majority of people don't need such a cavernous appliance.So I bake a lot and everything in countertop ovens.This oven suffers from bad design flaws.You can only use the middle rack position or you will burn the top or bottom of your food.There is almost no internal clearance for anything but the shallowest casserole dish.If you use the rack in the inverted position facing downwards (it has a 'dip' design to - not flat) and pull the rack out to safely remove the dish, the dish slides at a fast clip right out of the oven - almost lost a dish as it rapidly headed for the floor.This is happening because the rack tips down once you pull it forward enough to safely grasp the hot pan.Now I had to flip the rack and use it in that position due to the excessively low clearance - my small casserole dish wouldn't fit and I couldn't move the rack down lest I burn the food - you see where this circle never ends.This occurred regardless of using a casserole dish or a bake sheet.And the back left quadrant cooks much faster than the rest of the oven.I had to watch the food and rotate the pan - talk about aggravating.The back of the oven is actually angled forward presenting a really strange limitation on what it can really hold.I tested many different types of items in the oven to be as thorough and fair as I possibly could especially since it came in such a large packing box.It is going to be a pain to return but return I must unless I feel like cursing everytime I attempt to use it.I am wondering if the people who designed this ever actually used it?A few design changes and this product wouldn't be such a beast.

Clarification:There is an 'edge' to the rack that, when used with the invert facing upwards will stop any dish from sliding out.But the loss of clear space above means only pans or very shallow dishes can be used.Tried using it in this position in the lowest slots but that was still so close to the lower elements that the bottom of the cinnamon rolls burned.Just want to be specific about the issues faced.I am looking for a counter top oven that does more than just pizza, biscuits, etc..I believe the enclosed user guide mentioned you could use this oven to cook a chicken.It had better be either a cut up one or a miniature one.

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Product Description:
Attractively housed in stainless steel, this convection oven not only looks great on the countertop, it also provides an array of convenient features. The appliance bakes, broils, and toasts, and its large 0.7-cubic-foot capacity can accommodate a 9-by-13-inch pan, a 12-inch pizza, or six slices of bread, bagel halves, or English muffin halves. To toast, simply press the "toast" button and select from "light", "medium", or "dark" shade settings. For baking, turn the temperature control knob to the desired heat setting, ranging from 250 to 450 degrees F, then set the timer up to 60 minutes or choose the "always on" setting for continuous operation. For convection baking, simply push the button and the convection fan circulates warm air around food during the baking cycle for superior browning and even baking or roasting. Or, turn the control knob to "broil" and set the timer; the unit's upper heating element will quickly sear meats or melt cheese on garlic bread. A chime will sound once the timer ticks down to zero, or with the "always on" setting, the unit will shut off automatically after two hours. Other highlights include an Opti-Heat system for premium heating, a glass door for checking on the cooking progress at a glance, a high-performance bronze nonstick interior, and a removable crumb tray for quick cleanup. Accessories include a nonstick heavy-gauge 9-by-13-inch baking pan/broil rack and an easy-to-follow instruction book. With its sleek, contoured shape, the 1400-watt convection oven measures 16 by 17-2/3 by 10-2/5 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.

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