I’ve spent the past week cooking, toasting, reheating, and experimenting with both the Hamilton Beach 31126 and 31127 Easy Reach Toaster Ovens side-by-side. At first glance, they look almost identical — both have the signature roll-top door, both fit six slices of toast or a 12-inch pizza, and both promise easier access and mess-free cooking. But once I started using them back-to-back, the differences in control style, design feel, and handling became much clearer.
While they share the same concept, these two toaster ovens serve slightly different types of users. One caters to people who want the convenience of convection cooking and touch-style controls, while the other leans toward simplicity, reliability, and manual knobs. After testing baking performance, door access, cleaning ease, and overall comfort, I’ve broken everything down to help you pick the better option for your kitchen needs.
Key Difference Between Hamilton Beach 31126 vs 31127 Toaster Oven
The Hamilton Beach 31126 and 31127 differ mainly in three areas:
- Control Type:
• 31126 uses touch controls
• 31127 uses manual knob controls - Convection Feature:
• 31126 includes convection technology, giving it faster and more even cooking
• 31127 does not have convection - Weight & Build Feel:
• 31126 is a bit heavier and feels slightly more premium
• 31127 is lighter and simpler, designed for basic tasks
Both are great toaster ovens, but the experience varies depending on whether you want advanced cooking or straightforward functionality.
- Easy access to food and countertop, easy to clean food can’t spill on door
- Bake, broil & toast functions, convection circulates air for faster, even cooking, removable crumb tray
- EASY ACCESS TO FOOD AND COUNTERTOP: Easily access food in the toaster oven broiler and on your countertop with the...
- FITS A 9" x 11" BAKE PAN, 6 SLICES OF TOAST OR A 12" PIZZA: This Hamilton Beach toaster oven has a spacious...
Comparison Table: Hamilton Beach 31126 vs 31127 Toaster Oven
| Feature | Hamilton Beach 31126 | Hamilton Beach 31127 |
| Color | Silver | Silver |
| Wattage | 1400W | 1400W |
| Material | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel |
| Weight | 13.4 lbs | 11.4 lbs |
| Controls | Touch Control | Manual Knob Control |
| Convection | Yes | No |
| Functions | Bake, Broil, Toast | Bake, Broil, Toast |
| Door Style | Easy Reach Roll-Top Door | Easy Reach Roll-Top Door |
| Rack Positions | 2 | 2 |
| Includes | Bake pan, bake rack | Bake pan, bake rack |
| Capacity | Fits 12″ pizza, 6 slices toast | Fits 12″ pizza, 6 slices toast |
| Timer | 30-min + Stay On | 30-min + Stay On, Auto Shutoff |
| Cleaning | Removable crumb tray | Removable crumb tray |
| Latest Price & Deals | Buy on Amazon | Buy on Amazon |
Detailed Comparison Review
Before jumping into the individual aspects, here’s a quick context: I used both units for everyday kitchen tasks — making toast, heating frozen pizzas, baking chicken breasts, reheating leftovers, and broiling veggies. This gave me a real-world feel of how differently they perform, despite their similar size and layout.
Design
Both toaster ovens feature the iconic Easy Reach roll-top door, which is honestly one of the best designs I’ve used. The door pulls up and away instead of swinging down, leaving your entire countertop accessible and preventing sauce or cheese from ever dripping on the door.
Where the designs differ is in the front interface. The 31126 has a cleaner modern look with touch controls, giving it a slightly more polished appearance. The 31127 looks a bit more old-school with its knobs, but some people might prefer this functional simplicity.
In terms of build weight, the 31126 feels more solid and a bit heavier, while the 31127 is slightly lighter and easier to move around if needed.
- Easy access to food and countertop, easy to clean food can’t spill on door
- Bake, broil & toast functions, convection circulates air for faster, even cooking, removable crumb tray
Ease of Use
My day-to-day experience revealed a clear difference here:
31126 – Touch Control Model
The touch controls feel modern, and switching between modes is quiet and smooth. Temperature and time accuracy is also a bit better because the digital calibration is very consistent.
However, if your hands are wet or oily (which happens often while cooking), touch controls require a quick wipe.
31127 – Knob Control Model
The knob system is simple and straightforward. There’s something satisfying about turning a dial — it feels instant, no learning curve, and very intuitive.
The knobs do not offer the same precision as touch settings, but for everyday tasks like toasting and reheating, the simplicity feels refreshing.
If you like simple controls: 31127 wins.
If you prefer precision and modern style: 31126 wins.
- EASY ACCESS TO FOOD AND COUNTERTOP: Easily access food in the toaster oven broiler and on your countertop with the...
- FITS A 9" x 11" BAKE PAN, 6 SLICES OF TOAST OR A 12" PIZZA: This Hamilton Beach toaster oven has a spacious...
Functions & Cooking Performance
Convection Cooking – The Biggest Difference
The 31126 comes with convection technology, which absolutely speeds up cooking. When I baked chicken, it cooked about 20–25% faster and browned more evenly. Frozen pizzas came out crispier, and cookies baked more uniformly.
The 31127 lacks convection, so it cooks using standard heating elements. It still performs well, but not as fast or as evenly as the 31126.
Toasting Performance
Both models toast evenly, but the 31126 is slightly faster because of the convection airflow. The 31127 toasts well — just not as quickly.
Baking & Broiling
Both ovens handle baking and broiling well, especially for small batches. The 31126 feels more versatile because convection improves browning and crispiness.
If you cook often — 31126 clearly outperforms.
If you want basic toasting and reheating — 31127 handles it just fine.
- Easy access to food and countertop, easy to clean food can’t spill on door
- Bake, broil & toast functions, convection circulates air for faster, even cooking, removable crumb tray
Cleaning & Maintenance
Both models shine in this category. The roll-top door lifts completely out of the way, which keeps the glass from ever touching food or drips. I never once found sauce stuck to the door, which is rare for toaster ovens.
- Both have removable crumb trays
• Both have removable doors
• Both wipe clean easily
There’s no real winner here — both are equally excellent for cleanliness.
Safety & Handling
The 31127 includes an auto-shutoff feature, which the 31126 lacks. It’s a small detail, but it does add peace of mind if you’re someone who forgets the oven is on.
The roll-top door also reduces the risk of accidental burns, since your hand never goes near hot surfaces when removing food.
Hamilton Beach 31126 Toaster Oven
- Easy access to food and countertop, easy to clean food can’t spill on door
- Bake, broil & toast functions, convection circulates air for faster, even cooking, removable crumb tray
Pros:
- Convection technology for faster, even cooking
- Touch controls feel modern and precise
- Slightly sturdier build
- Excellent performance for baking and broiling
- Roll-top door keeps counters clean
Cons:
- Heavier
- More expensive
- Touch controls require clean hands
Hamilton Beach 31127 Toaster Oven
- EASY ACCESS TO FOOD AND COUNTERTOP: Easily access food in the toaster oven broiler and on your countertop with the...
- FITS A 9" x 11" BAKE PAN, 6 SLICES OF TOAST OR A 12" PIZZA: This Hamilton Beach toaster oven has a spacious...
Pros:
- Simple, easy manual knobs
- Auto shutoff feature for safety
- Lighter and easier to move
- Great for basic toasting and reheating
- Roll-top door stays clean and accessible
Cons:
- No convection feature
- Less precise temperature control
- More “basic” in appearance
Conclusion & Recommendation:
After using both the 31126 and 31127 extensively, I can confirm that both are excellent toaster ovens, especially because of the roll-top door design — it’s genuinely one of the cleanest and safest layouts I’ve ever used.
But your choice depends on how you cook:
Choose the Hamilton Beach 31126 if:
- You want faster cooking
• You bake or broil frequently
• You prefer modern touch controls
• You want more even heat distribution
• You cook a variety of foods beyond toast
This model is simply more powerful and versatile thanks to its convection system.
Choose the Hamilton Beach 31127 if:
- You prefer simple manual knobs
• You mostly toast, reheat, or bake small meals
• You want auto-shutoff safety
• You want a lightweight, easy-to-use oven
It’s the better pick for everyday, no-frills cooking.
My personal recommendation:
If I had to keep one on my countertop for daily cooking, I’d go with the Hamilton Beach 31126. The convection system makes too big of a difference in performance to ignore, and the touch controls give it a cleaner, modern feel. But if you prefer simplicity and want something basic yet reliable, the 31127 still delivers excellent value.
