Today, I was going to buy a toaster to use for toasting bagels for a quick breakfast in the morning. I then thought, for a slight increase in price, why not just buy a toaster oven. I’ve got a wonderful gas stove, but I figure the toaster oven can also be used for quick tasks such as heating up a slice of pizza or a quick grilled cheese.
What’s been your experiences with toaster ovens? Do you use yours often? Suggestions for ones in the $100 range, maybe Bed Bath and Beyond or Target?
Toaster ovens are awesome. We use ours almost every day. We have a pretty small one, but there are very few occasions we have to cook something large enough to require the full-size oven. It’s fast and easy, and unlike the full-size oven it heats up to temp almost instantly.
A basic model is a very simple device; $100 is WAY too much to pay for one. You can get a decent one for $30-40, or a super-fancy, extra-large convection toaster oven for $70. I’ve actually seen that exact model at Costco for $40.
Growing up I had a [top loading] toaster, which was barely used. I married into a toaster oven family, and holy shit, what a difference. It gets used constantly.
I’ve had toaster ovens all my life (I hate a just-a-toaster cluttering up the counter) and can’t imagine life without one. I can’t make any recommendations in particular, but you get what you pay for. Don’t buy the cheap tinny ones, they may not work particularly well (they make up for that by not lasting that long!). Right now I have a big Hamilton Beach number with a rotisserie for a chicken, a timer, and a convection oven option (bought at Sears 3 years ago, about $100, but it’s quite big). Love it! The broiler element is not as hot as in a regular oven, it takes longer to broil a steak, but for toasting and top browning, it’s fine.
I use mine all the time – it’s wonderful for cooking for one or two. I often roast a bone-in chicken breast in mine, which is delicious and WAY faster and cheaper than heating up the whole oven (esp. in the summer!) plus it’s perfect for frozen boxed snacks (think Bagel Bites) and they come out better than they do in the microwave.
Yes.
Toaster ovens are more efficient than full-size ovens because they have a smaller box to heat. They’re also useful if you need to bake/roast things at a different temperature from what’s in the big oven.
We had to use a toaster oven and hot plate for over a year when our stove started leaking gas.
Even with the new stove, the toaster oven still gets plenty of use. It’s a $100 six-slice Black & Decker, model TO1635B, and big enough to cook a frozen pizza.
We use a toaster over rather than a toaster. Far more versatile. Also if you’re just going to make a small amount of something like a mini pizza or french fries the T.O. does it in less time than it takes to just warm up a regular oven.
We did have a toaster oven start on fire once for no apparent reason. Something inside was faulty (wiring or element, not burned food). And the underside of our cupboards got ruined. Also, it’s easy to set stuff on top of them (like, say, a loaf of bread) and not think about it when you fire up the toaster oven. Burnt plastic bag, yuck!
I mostly cook for 2, and I use my toaster oven all the time! Chicken, pork chops, fish, corn muffins, whomp biscuits… LOVE IT!!!
I use my toaster oven far more than my regular oven. It can hold a whole 14 inch pizza.
I use mine frequently, especially for making roasted garlic. Peel a bulb, wrap in a foil pouch with some olive oil, and bake for 45 minutes at 400 degrees. Perfect for mashed potatoes, hummus or just spreading on toast.
Our toaster oven gets used more than anything but the microwave. I don’t have a normal toaster. Things I use it for, besides bagels (which I warm, not toast) are
Nachos: makes just enough for me, and with aluminum foil on the pan, no cleanup.
Baked potatoes
melting cheese on hamburger buns for cheeseburgers
oh, and toast also.
Mine too. After reading endless reviews and becoming more and more disgusted with the quality of these things, I ended up buying a Breville, which was more money than I ever though I’d pay for a freaking toaster oven, but it’s very versatile and has some nice technological features.
Can you bake potatos or a meat loaf in a toaster? You can in a toaster oven.
Okay, you have to move the rack really low for the meat loaf.
Love ours. I didn’t grow up with one, but have had one most my adult life. My parents got one after seeing how much you can use it for. Great for avoiding turning the oven on during hot summers, making side dishes while baking a main dish, small dinners…
We use ours about 4 or 5 times for every time we turn the big oven on. Cheaper to operate and it does a good job on most things we heat/reheat. And things don’t get that microwave soggy thing happening.
This is something that is going to vary widely as you can already read above. For me, a toaster and a toaster over aren’t really related. That is, a toaster oven is a small over, not a large toaster. I never make toast in a toaster oven, and often find toast doesn’t come out right in them (because it’s an oven!) As far as toasting bagels, just make sure you get a toaster with the self-adjusting wide slots that fit them, I wouldn’t get a toaster oven just for that.
My toaster oven takes a bit long to make toast but otherwise I love it. I much prefer having this multi-functional tool on my countertop instead of a toaster. Especially since I can now make toasted cheese English muffins.
Toaster ovens are very versatile and can’t imagine a kitchen without one. We use ours to toast of course but also to heat up deep-fried foods so they’re crisp again, broil the cheese on onion gratin soups, steam fish and veggies in foil envelopes, reheat baked goods, etc. We also warm up our plates by sticking in them oven for about 30-seconds on high. It’s great for keeping hot food hot.
I’ve been tempted to replace the toaster with a toaster oven, but, the thing is, 90% of the time, I’m going to be using it for toast, so I wonder if it’s worth it. (And I don’t want to keep both. I don’t need the clutter.)