Toaster Oven Inquiry
I am going to be moving soon to my first home (a lovely condo across from a regional park) and am interested in reducing my electricity bill when I want to toast or roast (or whatever) something, but have only a standard oven.
I was wondering if buying a toaster oven, perhaps even springing for the convection kind, would be worth the money and space that it would take up. At the moment, I have a microwave and oven, but no toaster.
If you think that they are worth it, do you have any recommendations? I would liekly be using it mainly for toast, small batches of baked goods, and basic veggie/fish roasting/broiling/etc.
I would love any thoughts! Thanks in advance!!
Add a comment:
Previewing your comment:
HTML Hints
Some HTML is OK: <a href="URL">link</a>, <strong>strong</strong>, <em>em</em>
Comment Guidelines
Post whatever you want, just keep it seriously about eats, seriously. We reserve the right to delete off-topic or inflammatory comments. Learn more at our Comment Policy page.
If you see something not so nice, please, report an inappropriate comment.
Start Talking!
Need a question answered? Have advice to share? Start a Talk topic now!
Sign up to get your questions answered and share advice.
10 Comments:
I don't have a specific recommendation, nor an oven of my own. (But I'd like one- just no counter space in my kitchen)
I do have friends who use theirs almost daily- for everything from toasting bread, warming rolls, to baking potatoes and more. The nice thing about it is it doesn't take all the time and energy to heat to temp. and doesn't warm up the kitchen on summer days.
Like I said- I'd love one.
CJ McD at 2:05PM on 10/30/09
Cuisinart's convection toaster oven is great.
I use my every day and I love it.
soozm32 at 2:27PM on 10/30/09
We have a mid-range Black & Decker toaster oven -- tried to live without one, couldn't live without it, and made counter space for it in our kitchen when we finally broke down and purchased one.
We use ours for toast, melting cheese on top of breads, and occasional baking (herb-stuffed tomatoes, for one!).
avaryne at 2:39PM on 10/30/09
I can't recommend a brand - ours is the cheap-o version, but we STILL use it daily - I roast peppers/veggies in it, heat up burritos and other frozen foods that suffer in the microwave (which we don't own anyway), toast muffins for egg mcmuffins, heat up leftovers, make mini pizzas, etc. I love the regular oven for full trays of stews, roasts, whole chickens, but for small jobs the little one rocks. Now I feel the need for an upgrade!
tatianak at 2:39PM on 10/30/09
Our oven is on its last leg and, because we're in an apartment, don't know when we'll be getting a new one. Because of that we've decided to splurge on the Breville toaster/convection oven @ Williams Sonoma.
We'll have to move a ton of stuff around to make room and probably move the microwave to a cart but I think the ease, energy savings and not heating up the kitchen will make it all worthwhile. A little concerned about the power required...It uses 20 amps. Anyone have any experience with this particular oven?
bessfour at 4:14PM on 10/30/09
Thanks, everyone! I have another question for those of you that have used them (or still do). I am moving into a great little condo, and have my own terrace, but the HOA doesn't let people (very understandably) have individual grills on their decks. We have to use the ones in the shared area in the middle. Well, that's just fine for the warm months, but I live in Minnesota and love to grill all year round (mostly fish and veggies, but the occasional dogs, brats, burgers, too) and the prospect of having to stand in -20 degrees trying to grill doesn't make me happy. Do these toaster ovens do anything like a "mock" grill that might be "good enough"?
Traveller at 6:18PM on 10/30/09
i use my krups toaster/convection oven a lot, especially in the summer when i don't want to use the regular oven. it was expensive but totally worth the money.
cybercita at 9:11PM on 10/30/09
Toaster ovens make toast really badly. If what you want is mostly toast, get a proper toaster that can do the job right.
benbenberi at 10:22PM on 10/30/09
good, or even mediocre, toaster over is way better than a microwave for everything except popcorn. as mentioned above: heats, melts, toasts and cooks frozen food that tastes, smells and is better for you than some crazy molecule-rattling machine. we cannot live without our toaster oven.
evs25 at 12:31AM on 10/31/09
A toaster oven is the best way to reheat a slice of pizza.
When I was single, I basically used it to cook everything.
eeels at 12:23PM on 10/31/09