CNET89est.
The biggest surprise of CNET's high-end toaster oven round: the quirky infrared oven cooks faster with no preheating and competed with far pricier models, at a bargain price.
Panasonic FlashXpress
4 expert reviewsChecked 1 Nov 2026
Quick answer
The Panasonic FlashXpress has a critic score of 84 out of 100 from 4 professional reviews, including CNET, The Strategist and Epicurious. 3 of 4 recommend it, and scores range from 77 (Good Housekeeping) to 89 (CNET). 0 of the scores are printed by the outlets and 4 are our estimates from the review text. Most praised: speed (3 of 4); cooking results (2 of 4).
Reviews checked 1 Nov 2026
Photo coming
Best for: Best budget pick
Our verdict
4 professional reviewers tested the Panasonic FlashXpress, and 3 recommend it. Most praised: speed and cooking results.
The catch: Weak at baking and roasting, with a dated control panel.
Critic agreement: Medium
Scores run from 77 to 890 printed scores, 4 estimated
Early score: only 4 professional reviews so far. Expect it to move as more reviews come in.
4 of these 4 outlets print no score. We estimated theirs from the review text and corrected for the known tendency of estimates to run high.
Check price at Amazon
We earn a commission if you buy through this link. It never changes a score.
What do critics say about the Panasonic FlashXpress?
The Strategist89est.
The writer used it through a kitchen renovation and praised its quick infrared heating, small size, light weight and excellent toast.
Epicurious83est.
Named the budget pick among toaster ovens.
Good Housekeeping77est.
Only a brief blurb among other recommendations: excellent toast and small footprint, but a dated control panel and weak baking, roasting and air frying.
Scores are converted to 0–100. "est." means the outlet gave no number, so we estimated one from its verdict. How we score
What critics praise most
Speed3 of 4
Cooking results2 of 4
What critics dislike most
No clear pattern.
Common questions
Is the Panasonic FlashXpress worth it?
Most critics think so: 3 of 4 recommend it. Weak at baking and roasting, with a dated control panel.
Do critics agree about the Panasonic FlashXpress?
Agreement is medium: scores range from 77 (Good Housekeeping) to 89 (CNET), a spread of 12 points across 4 reviews. Most reviewers land close together, with some outliers.