Toaster ovens

Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
41,361
10,480
136
My mom used to tell me how thrilled she was with her toaster oven. This was way after we flew the coop. She cooked for us growing up, wasn't what you call a good cook because she obviously wasn't excited doing it. She provided wholesome fare, had smart ideas about what was good for us that preceded the health food craze/revolution/etc.

I found a toaster oven on the curb (I guess, don't remember exactly), it's in my kitchen, but I've only tried using it a couple of times, I think. It's a Philips (on the front glass it says "DELUXE ELECTRONIC BAKE & BROIL"), has a bunch of settings, knobs, buttons.

I use my microwave all the time. I heat coffee, I cook potatoes in it, I reheat leftovers out of the fridge. I have a toaster for bread.

I have a decent stove with an oven (that I use less and less), a broiler (that I almost never use), a bread machine, that I bake all my bread in. I cook in pans on my gas stove top all the time.

It seems to me that a toaster oven would be relatively slow, probably a waste of electricity. It's sat in my kitchen for years but I'm thinking of putting it on the curb with a "Free" sign. What's your opinion? Do you use one?
 
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lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
60,926
11,258
126
Aside from my range, it's my most used cooking device. I could easily go without a microwave, but a broken toaster oven would be replaced within a week.
 

pontifex

Lifer
Dec 5, 2000
43,804
46
91
I live alone and got one, best thing I ever did.
I have a microwave, toaster, and oven.

heats up faster than a regular oven and probably uses less electricity.
my regular oven takes like 15 minutes just to heat up. I'm already 15 minutes of cooking with the toaster oven.

anything that would go in the oven goes in the toaster oven (unless it's too big or cooking for more than myself, which is rare).

I still use the toaster though, that seems faster than the toaster oven.
 

mmntech

Lifer
Sep 20, 2007
17,501
12
0
Toaster ovens are a mixed bag. They're ideal for baking single meals when you don't want to put the big oven on. They're more energy efficient in that regard. I do tuna melts and chicken fingers in mine. I have a small muffin tin for it I use for making Yorkshire Puddings.

Ironically, they're useless for making toast. Just spits out a dried out, slightly browned slice of bread.
 

Imp

Lifer
Feb 8, 2000
18,828
184
106
I want a good toaster oven so bad to screw around with baking, toast more than 2 slices of bread at once, and bake actual food once in a while. Alas, it's hard to find a good one that isn't coated with non-stick shit inside. The one I found that isn't non-stick and stainless steel outside, apparently, sucks at heating past 400 F.

Could use the stove oven but it seems so wasteful to heat such a big space for anything but bulk production of food. Where the hell are the mini stove-like ovens -- insulated walls, porcelain exterior.
 

Leros

Lifer
Jul 11, 2004
21,867
7
81
I use my toaster oven a lot more than my main oven. It heats up faster than on oven. It heats up food better than microwave. It toasts better (although slower) than a standard toaster.
 

MagnusTheBrewer

IN MEMORIAM
Jun 19, 2004
24,122
1,594
126
Arrrgh! People who don't care about food need to die a slow and painful death while waiting in line at McDee's.
 

JSt0rm

Lifer
Sep 5, 2000
27,399
3,948
126
Arrrgh! People who don't care about food need to die a slow and painful death while waiting in line at McDee's.


toaster ovens have a big purpose in the fooodies kitchen. We all cant have a salamander and a toaster oven kinda does the same thing for 1/10th the price.
 
Nov 8, 2012
20,842
4,785
146
My mom used to tell me how thrilled she was with her toaster oven. This was way after we flew the coop. She cooked for us growing up, wasn't what you call a good cook because she obviously wasn't excited doing it. She provided wholesome fare, had smart ideas about what was good for us that preceded the health food craze/revolution/etc.

I found a toaster oven on the curb (I guess, don't remember exactly), it's in my kitchen, but I've only tried using it a couple of times, I think. It's a Philips (on the front glass it says "DELUXE ELECTRONIC BAKE & BROIL"), has a bunch of settings, knobs, buttons.

I use my microwave all the time. I heat coffee, I cook potatoes in it, I reheat leftovers out of the fridge. I have a toaster for bread.

I have a decent stove with an oven (that I use less and less), a broiler (that I almost never use), a bread machine, that I bake all my bread in. I cook in pans on my gas stove top all the time.

It seems to me that a toaster oven would be relatively slow, probably a waste of electricity. It's sat in my kitchen for years but I'm thinking of putting it on the curb with a "Free" sign. What's your opinion? Do you use one?

Toaster ovens are damn useful for things like re-heating a sandwich or pizza.

Try re-heating those in the microwave. They come out soggy and taste like shit. It also obviously uses less power than a full oven, so we put things like full size bake-at-home pizza's in the toaster oven all the time. Also good for things like a side of fries with a meal.

I think they are super handy. I wouldn't throw it out.
 

MagnusTheBrewer

IN MEMORIAM
Jun 19, 2004
24,122
1,594
126
toaster ovens have a big purpose in the fooodies kitchen. We all cant have a salamander and a toaster oven kinda does the same thing for 1/10th the price.

I have a decent stove with an oven (that I use less and less), a broiler (that I almost never use), a bread machine, that I bake all my bread in. I cook in pans on my gas stove top all the time.

"Foodie" not found.
 

JSt0rm

Lifer
Sep 5, 2000
27,399
3,948
126
Yeah its kind of amazing how many kitchen gadgets we have now. Home Sous vide, bread makers, "salamanders", kitchen torches, smoke machines. Its all pretty great.
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
We have one and I love it.

I am not a proffesional cook. I'm cooking for my enjoyment and to feed myself. So often it's just for myself.

the toaster oven is great for that.

and those that don't like people using them? fuck off.
 

xSauronx

Lifer
Jul 14, 2000
19,582
4
81
Aside from my range, it's my most used cooking device. I could easily go without a microwave, but a broken toaster oven would be replaced within a week.

same boat here. we dont have a microwave, we have a large convection toaster oven. its fricking great. i only use the regular oven if im baking a lot or doing something home made.
 

TheGardener

Golden Member
Jul 19, 2014
1,945
33
56
Toaster ovens are a compromise. They don't last as long as a big oven, nor do they cook as well. A toaster gives you a more uniform result. If you cook fish, you need to bake or broil it at no more 350F. If you go higher, you risk a grease fire. Things like reheating pizza you can go higher than 350F, because you only cook it a few minutes. Toaster ovens are great for single people.

I've burnt out 4 toaster ovens. One caught fire, as in flames. I unplugged it by yanking on the cord and tossing it in the sink. Never leave them unattended. I would never risk using one I found on the street. There was a reason it got tossed out. If you are lucky enough to get 7 years out of one, throw it away and buy a new one.
 

duragezic

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
11,234
4
81
Yah I think I want one. I live by myself so I never need to cook anything big. I imagine it's a little more efficient to use a toaster oven for the things I use the oven for like frozen pizzas, frozen bread, and snacks like mozzarella sticks. I think the mid-size ones can all fit a regular size pizza, so it'd be all I need.
 

Papagayo

Platinum Member
Jul 28, 2003
2,303
24
81
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Imp

Lifer
Feb 8, 2000
18,828
184
106
I've burnt out 4 toaster ovens. One caught fire, as in flames. I unplugged it by yanking on the cord and tossing it in the sink. Never leave them unattended. I would never risk using one I found on the street. There was a reason it got tossed out. If you are lucky enough to get 7 years out of one, throw it away and buy a new one.

How did the other 3 die? Just didn't turn on?
 

BUTCH1

Lifer
Jul 15, 2000
20,433
1,770
126
They are great at saving juice when you don't need a full sized oven. I use mine to satisfy my unending love for Jiffy corn muffins. I buy those huge muffin tins, (Reynolds makes 'em) and make 4 jumbo muffins, I have it down to a science, don't overmix the batter, let it sit for 5 minutes to rise then use a large wooden spoon to scoop out the batter in 4 separate scoops being careful not to disturb the batter too much, they come out awesome!. Also great for garlic bread and for melting cheese on a sandwich without wrecking the bread like a nuke does.
 

who?

Platinum Member
Sep 1, 2012
2,327
42
91
Sometimes perfectly good things get tossed out because a landlord doesn't want the potential liability from something that they didn't buy brand new or they don't want some tenants complaining about what the other guy got with his apartment.