Looking for a quick, convenient way to reheat leftovers, broil small portions, and toast bread all with one easy appliance? If you don't own, or have never used, a toaster oven, you're missing out on an energy-saving option that can handle many of the cooking tasks you do every day.
A toaster oven is a counter top kitchen appliance that can not only toast bread and bagels, but many can also serve as an alternative to your wall oven. Several models can also roast, broil and bake food. Higher end models even offer options like rotisseries, allowing you to bake a chicken or small turkey. The features have certainly changed over the years, and today's counter top ovens can do nearly everything your traditional oven can.
Built In Microwave
Toaster ovens typically contain two heating elements in the form of metal coils. The coils are located at the top and bottom of the oven, just like your normal oven. Depending on the setting you choose, toasting, broiling or baking, the oven will control the temperature of the heating elements. Counter top ovens normally have a timer built in, as well, and often, the oven will shut off automatically when the timer goes off.
When looking for a new oven, it's advisable to make sure there are upper and lower heating elements, as you won't be able to do as much with an oven that only has a bottom heating element.
One of the greatest advantages to using a smaller oven is that it is far more energy-efficient than using a traditional oven. Because it uses less energy to heat up, using a counter top oven can save you money on your electric bills in the long run.
Re-heating food is a snap using a toaster oven, and in many cases, it's preferable to using a microwave. Often, food reheated in a microwave will end up being soggy. Take a slice of pizza, for example. In a microwave, your pizza may heat up thoroughly, but you're often left with a soggy or hardened crust. A toaster oven will heat up slices of pizza evenly, leaving the crust nice and crispy.
Another nice advantage to toaster ovens is the space that they save in your kitchen. Rather than having a separate toaster, rotisserie and convection oven, you can have all three in one compact appliance. This is great for people with smaller kitchens, that don't have a lot of extra counter space.
Cleaning a toaster oven is also easier than cleaning a wall oven. Today's ovens mostly have non-stick interiors and a removable crumb tray, to easily dispose of crumbs and food spills.
As with any kitchen appliance, caution needs to be exercised when using it. The exterior of the oven may get hot when it's operating, so using oven mitts is advisable when opening the door and removing food. The appliance should always be unplugged when not in use, and young children should never be allowed to operate it.