Not a perfect combination, but good - Sharp R-55TS Microwave/Toaster Oven

At the apartment we had before we purchased our house, space was really at a premium in our kitchen so when I went looking for a new microwave, I wanted something that could do at least double-duty. That's how I found the Sharp 650-Watt Compact Microwave Toaster Oven. This little fellow claimed to be able to microwave, toast, bake and broil, all in a package that wasn't much bigger than a compact microwave oven.

The idea that I could combine my microwave and my toaster oven was quite alluring. It turns out that reality isn't quite so perfect, but overall I've generally been happy with my Sharp Microwave Toaster Oven.

Basics

I'll be honest the first thing that caught my eye with this oven is that it looks good. It's front is stainless steel with black buttons and then the rest of the machine is a black metal material except for the heat dissipater in the back which is also stainless. The window is tinted so when it's not in operation it's fairly black, but when the machine is running, you can see your stuff inside cooking.

This is a 0.5 cubic foot oven so it's not that big. Don't be expecting to put a turkey or even a chicken in there and trying to cook it. You'd be more likely to fit a cornish game hen. On the other hand, for the vast majority of sides and things, this oven can generally fit them without problem. I can put a full-size dinner plate in there and it has enough room to spin around.

On the outside, this oven takes up a little more space than your standard compact microwave oven, which is mostly to the heat dissipater shield in the back I think. This leaves a space for hot air to escape and to keep any hot part of the oven away from a wall. Dimension wise, the oven on the outside measures just under 18 inches wide, about 11 ½ inches high and just over 15 inches in depth.

Using the Oven

When I first set up the oven, I have to admit to being a bit confused by the controls. There are a series of 12 buttons along with a dial, three buttons above the dial and an LCD screen above those buttons. This lets you cook via a number of different pre-programmed settings but at the same time can make it a bit intimidating to microwave something for say, 2 minutes.

Once you get a handle on it, it's a bit easier. You can microwave, toast, bake or broil by pushing that button and then turning the dial to the amount of time that you want. Beyond that, the top three buttons above the dial let you access a number of different pre-sets and the dial lets you turn those pre-sets up or down depending on say if you are baking fresh biscuits versus frozen biscuits.

The oven comes with a clear plastic guide to all the pre-sets and I just ended up putting it across the window of the oven. It's the only way I can remember all the settings and it includes a lot of the items I tend to use the oven for, so it's a lot quicker than me trying to remember or flipping through the guidebook.

The LCD screen lets you see what pre-set you have chosen, what is happening in the oven right now and provides a way to see how much time you have left to go with what you are cooking. In addition when you are working with the pre-sets or the manual settings, you use the LCD screen to see exactly what you are choosing to do.

Microwaving

I have always been slightly disappointed at the power of the microwave in this oven. It just seems to lack some strength. Things that take a minute or two to warm up in other ovens may take several minutes in this oven. That said, it does work, it just needs a little extra time and for me, it hasn't turned out to be a big deal, I've just learned how long I have to microwave stuff to get it to the temperature that I want.

Baking

Besides microwaving, I use the baking settings more than anything else for small baking jobs. It's great for cooking the store-bought rolled biscuits, rolls and stuff like that. Just put them in a small pan, pop them in and use the biscuit pre-set and off you go.

Another nice benefit of the baking setting is that when it's baking, it's a convection oven, the air is moving around inside so the baking process is generally faster than a standard oven. I can cook biscuits and rolls in a few minutes and I find they come out cooked better than a standard oven.

Toasting

I've never really been one who tries to toast things in a toaster oven - I just find it easier to use a toaster and that's what I continue to do. The few times I have tried to toast with this oven, the results have been less than stellar.

Broiling

I've only broiled a few things in this oven over the years, but it has worked well. It just tends to make a mess in the oven as the food tends to splatter a bit as it broils and you've really got to get in afterwards and clean the oven, otherwise it just cakes to the sides and is a real pain to get out.

Cool Downs

One thing I like about this oven is that even when it's finished, if the oven is still hot, it will run through a cool-down cycle. By the time the cycle is finished, the oven is cool to the touch on the inside and you can cook something else without having to worry about various temperatures.

Warnings!

It's very easy to push the wrong button and be toasting or baking instead of microwaving and vice versa. I haven't done it very often, but I've had a plastic thing in there to microwave when I realize after a few minutes I'm baking or broiling it. This can easily cause a fire if you aren't careful so be very aware of what buttons you are pushing when you start cooking.

The back of the oven on the outside can get hot, that's why there's the heat dissipating shield in the back. You shouldn't push the oven up against a wall or something else because the heat can build up back there and while I don't think it would start a fire, there could be some damage.

Experiences

Now that we're in a house with more room for various appliances, I still find that this oven has its place in my kitchen. I like the fact that I can microwave and bake with the same oven and overall besides a few minor problems this oven has served me well over the last 4 years or so. Not only that but I like the way it looks and the fact that it doesn't take up too much space while being so versatile.

Final Thoughts

Besides a few minor complaints about the power of the microwave and the potential to accidentally bake or broil something you were going to microwave, I really like the Sharp 650-Watt Compact Microwave Toaster Oven. It's compact, very versatile and works well. If you are looking for a way to combine your toaster oven and your microwave in a small and easy to use package, then you should at least give this oven a look.