more cost efficient: toaster oven or regular oven

rh71

No Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
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Say I have to cook a small pan of some frozen fries @ 425F for 20 minutes. Gas (regular oven) is cheaper than electric (toaster oven), but the latter is a much smaller space. Is it generally more cost efficient to use the toaster oven? Would it matter if it's pizza for only 10 minutes?
 

deadlyapp

Diamond Member
Apr 25, 2004
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Likely the toaster oven is more "efficient" in the case that it has less volume of air to heat up, it probably has a fan to help convect, and converting electricity to heat is quite efficient.

Now, if you really care about cost - which is more likely - if you're in any normal area of the US the therms of gas are probably less expensive.

But lets be honest here - your toaster over probably draws no more than 1200-1500W, so even at an hour you're talking less than $.50. The savings are negligible.
 

NutBucket

Lifer
Aug 30, 2000
27,104
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Consider this. If it's summer then the toaster oven will heat up the house less than a normal oven. That's a plus if your AC is running. In the winter, might as well use the normal oven and get some extra radiated heat.
 

smackababy

Lifer
Oct 30, 2008
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If you do not own a toaster over, I'd go with the oven as being the most cost efficient. Gas over > toaster over > electric oven. Electricity to heat is pretty much 100% efficient conversion and the only loss is due to insulation of the oven. And, since gas is cheaper than electricity in most places, the gas oven would be the "cheapest", but not the most efficient.

In reality, if you're baking fries the taste efficiency has already dropped below an acceptable threshold for cost to come into consideration. Just buy a deep fryer and do it right.
 

Mayne

Diamond Member
Apr 13, 2014
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Just use an oven. Ovens ... are quicker for frozen food.
 
Sep 29, 2004
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Put a large frozen mass into a toaster oven at 400 degrees and it will drop to say 350 degrees since there is little air volume and less surrounding metal. Do the same thing to an oven and the drop might be from 400 to 395.
 

edro

Lifer
Apr 5, 2002
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Toaster.
Much smaller air volume and much closer to heating elements. (radiation and convection)
 

SaurusX

Senior member
Nov 13, 2012
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You can't toast a sandwich with the meat and cheese on it in a toaster.

ETA: I totally misread the topic of this post.
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
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You're looking at a difference of probably a few pennies at most.

I don't know why people spend money on useless appliances like toaster ovens quite frankly. You would never recoup the cost for even the cheapest of toaster ovens and they just take up space in your kitchen.
 

slayer202

Lifer
Nov 27, 2005
13,679
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What brand of frozen fries are we talking here?

I think type of crust and toppings would be more relevant than brand

though brand would help determine those

as would the temperature of your freezer

and whether you like your pizza more crunchy or chewy










.
 

DrPizza

Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
Mar 5, 2001
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www.slatebrookfarm.com
toaster ovens can often have much nicer taste
Personally, I don't eat toaster ovens, but we'll take your word for it. I assumed they'd both taste pretty metallic.


OP: Next time you buy a stove, consider one with dual ovens (rather than oven & broiler) - the smaller oven is perfect for small things - preheats very quickly.
 

ultimatebob

Lifer
Jul 1, 2001
25,134
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what if you put the toaster.....IN THE OVEN! thank me later

OK, THAT idea just blew my mind.

Just don't turn on the oven lamp while it's cooking, or you're gonna lose the three cents of electricity you just saved with this epic scheme :)
 

norseamd

Lifer
Dec 13, 2013
13,990
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Personally, I don't eat toaster ovens, but we'll take your word for it. I assumed they'd both taste pretty metallic.

not much cooking with them so my opinion is not 100% sure

maybe for pizzas and such

think that pizza places basically more or less use a giant toaster oven
 

norseamd

Lifer
Dec 13, 2013
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More commonly known as an oven.

after looking on wikipedia seems they are called convection ovens

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convection_oven

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toaster#Toaster_ovens

not sure what this is but the toaster oven i have used does not look like this

Japanese_Toaster_Oven_2.JPG
 

rh71

No Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
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What brand of frozen fries are we talking here?

Trader Joe's, yes even better than Nathan's. Trader Joe's entire freezer section is remarkable.

My wife gets free Bloomy's gift cards every year so it was free (yes I told her she can sell the GCs). It's a pretty nice Calphalon too even though everything at Bloomy's is ridiculously overpriced.

http://store.calphalon.com/calphalon-electrics-xl-digital-convection-oven/335130

She's actually used both to cook dinners simultaneously too. We place it on the side of a large island that is used mainly for food prep anyway. The toaster sits on top.
 
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poofyhairguy

Lifer
Nov 20, 2005
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I don't know why people spend money on useless appliances like toaster ovens quite frankly. You would never recoup the cost for even the cheapest of toaster ovens and they just take up space in your kitchen.

Because if I do something in the oven, like cook a pizza with all its melty cheese, my wife makes me clean it up. Meanwhile I leave my toaster oven a mess because it gets stowed afterwards.
 

Midwayman

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2000
5,723
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The main reason I use a toaster over is its much quicker for small stuff. Like who would use a regular over to toast a bagel? Also mine has programs to change the top and bottom element ratios depending on what you're cooking.