In today's fast-paced kitchens of 2025, having an extra oven is like hitting the jackpot for busy home cooks. She dreams of double everything—ovens, dishwashers, you name it—but when space is tight, a high-quality toaster oven can be a real game-changer. Enter the Our Place Large Wonder Oven, a buzzy appliance that promises to do it all: bake, broil, toast, and even air fry like a pro. It's basically a mini kitchen powerhouse that heats up in a jiffy, saving time and energy without turning your counter into a sauna during those scorching summer months. But is it worth the hype? Let's dive into the nitty-gritty based on thorough testing.

Capacity and Size: Bigger Isn't Always Better

At 32 quarts, this bad boy is roomy enough to handle a whole chicken, a 12-inch pizza, or a tray of cookies—though not all at once, of course. That's a whole lot of cooking real estate! For families of four, it's a no-brainer for whipping up dinners without firing up the main oven. But here's the rub: it measures 16.75 inches wide and 13.25 inches deep, gobbling up 1.53 square feet of counter space. Compared to the original Wonder Oven's petite 0.84 square feet, that's almost double the footprint. In a cozy kitchen, that's premium real estate gone to waste—talk about a space hog! For those with sprawling countertops, though, it might be worth the trade-off for the extra capacity.

Temperature Control: A Bit of a Wild Card

The oven boasts a temperature range from 200°F to 450°F, set via a dial with 25-degree increments. Sounds straightforward, right? Well, not quite. Achieving precise heat is like trying to hit a bullseye blindfolded—it's a bit hit-or-miss. During tests, she had to rely on an oven thermometer to verify accuracy because there's no built-in display or indicator. For instance, the recommended chicken wing recipe calls for preheating to 400°F on broil, but how long does that take? The manual doesn't say, leaving you guessing. This led to uneven browning in the hot spots test, where some bread slices toasted lightly while others turned medium-dark. Not a total deal-breaker, but rotating your pan halfway through can save the day.

Performance Tests: How It Handles the Heat

She put this oven through its paces with a series of real-world tests, and boy, did it deliver some mixed results. Here's a quick rundown of how it fared:

• Toast Test: After toasting a single slice for six minutes, hot spots were evident—some areas browned perfectly, others lagged behind. It's not the end of the world, but it means you'll need to keep an eye on things. 😟

• Hot Spots Test: With nine slices baked at 350°F for 10 minutes, unevenness popped up again. Rotating the rack could have helped, but it's a common flaw in toaster ovens.

• Frozen French Fries Test: Using the air fry setting at 400°F for 20 minutes (with a shake halfway), the fries came out slightly soft initially. But after an extra five minutes? Boom—crispy on the outside, fluffy inside. That's what I call nailing it! 👍

• Chicken Wings Test: Tossed with oil and spices, two pounds of wings air-fried at 360°F for 24 minutes (flipped midway) and finished at 390°F for six minutes. The result? Golden, shattering skin with juicy meat—no steaming issues thanks to ample space in the basket. It was finger-lickin' good! 🍗

Overall, the air fry function is where this oven shines, making food crispy as heck without any crowding drama.

Air Fry Function: The Star of the Show

When it comes to air frying, this appliance is a total rockstar. The spacious mesh basket lets hot air flow freely, preventing that dreaded steam bath effect. For chicken wings, it rendered fat perfectly, creating a crunch that's music to your ears. And those frozen waffle fries? After a bit of extra time, they turned out satisfyingly crunchy—no sogginess in sight. It's like having a dedicated air fryer without the clutter, making it a top pick for wing lovers or fry fanatics. If crispy food is your jam, this feature alone might sell you on it.

The Leakage Issue: A Major Bummer

Now, here's where things get messy—literally. During testing, the oven leaked like a sieve, with puddles forming under the door. For the toast test, it was just water, but during the chicken wing trial, visible drops of grease dripped onto the counter. That's a real downer, especially for an appliance that costs a pretty penny. Editor's note: A new unit didn't show this problem in repeat tests, so it might be a fluke. But for now, it's a potential deal-breaker if you hate cleanup.

Cleaning and Maintenance: Easy Peasy

Cleaning this oven is a breeze, folks. Just unplug it, let it cool, and wash the removable parts—like the baking sheet, crumb tray, wire racks, and mesh basket—in warm, soapy water. For stubborn stains, a baking soda paste does the trick without scratching. It's as simple as pie, and the functionality covers baking cookies, roasting fish, or crisping up leftovers. No fancy tools needed! 🧽

Final Verdict: Worth a Look with Caveats

In a nutshell, the Our Place Large Wonder Oven is a versatile beast that excels in air frying and cuts cooking times significantly. Its generous capacity makes it a solid alternative for family meals, heating up faster than a standard oven. But the leakage issue and bulky size could be showstoppers for small kitchens. If you're all about that crispy life and don't mind the extra space or potential mess, give it a whirl. Otherwise, you might want to shop around. After all, in 2025, kitchen tech is evolving fast, but this one's got charm—and a few quirks.