Nesco American Harvest JS-1500 Jet Stream Oven

Nesco's basic Jet Stream Oven model, this 1,500-watt countertop unit cooks food up to three times faster than a conventional oven by rapidly circulating hot air with a high-speed fan. It roasts, bakes, toasts, and steams (inside foil packets containing liquid) food and uses hot air to simulate broiling and frying. It's especially useful for convenience foods such as frozen pizza, breaded fish fillets, pocket sandwiches, and frozen waffles. This model has a transparent top and measures 8-1/4 inches high, 17 inches wide, and 13 inches deep. By adding up to three expander rings of transparent plastic like the top, the model's height can be increased to accommodate a 20-pound turkey. (Expander rings are not included but are available separately.) The model also has two removable chrome cooking racks that can be adjusted to various heights for different foods. (The top rack also holds lightweight foods in place on the bottom rack.) A nonstick liner fits in the base to prevent it from reaching too high a temperature and to catch falling bits of food and moisture. It removes for easy cleanup, and, like the rest of the unit (except the power head), goes safely into a dishwasher.

With the power head and hinge assembly removed, the base and liner can be used as a serving platter. For compact storage, the oven stands upright. It comes with a detailed instruction booklet that includes dozens of recipes. For easy use, the top of the power head displays a cooking-time chart for various foods such as baked apples (9 minutes), hot dogs (4 minutes), and cookies (5 minutes) and also shows whether they should be cooked at high or low temperature. --Fred Brack