Toaster ovens

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bradly1101

Diamond Member
May 5, 2013
4,689
294
126
www.bradlygsmith.org
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?

We use ours as a toaster and it's perfect for the rarely eaten but good tuna/chicken melts.
 

Scarpozzi

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
26,392
1,780
126
When I was in college, the apartment I stayed in my freshmen year had a 2 burner cooktop, but no oven. I got a toaster oven, despite them being outlawed by housing. (people would put things on top of them and they were often cause fires that way)

I used my toaster oven weekly to bake chicken (30 minutes), brownies, cookies, as well as toast bagels, garlic bread, and other things I wanted to broil. It filled a void though I could do about the same with a skillet and different cooking methods.
 

Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
41,359
10,479
136
When I was in college, the apartment I stayed in my freshmen year had a 2 burner cooktop, but no oven. I got a toaster oven, despite them being outlawed by housing. (people would put things on top of them and they were often cause fires that way)

I used my toaster oven weekly to bake chicken (30 minutes), brownies, cookies, as well as toast bagels, garlic bread, and other things I wanted to broil. It filled a void though I could do about the same with a skillet and different cooking methods.
I usually skim or skip the warnings in product manuals, but this one I read completely and thoroughly before turning on the device. These evidently cause a lot of fires! One thing is obvious, don't leave them unattended. Also, don't allow a buildup of grease. As well, it's evidently best to be aware of proximity to combustibles and be careful what you put in them, in particular any packaging.
 

mrjminer

Platinum Member
Dec 2, 2005
2,739
16
76
The only thing I put on top of mine are cookie sheets.

It's actually pretty good at cooking anything. I used it exclusively once I got it in an apartment that had an extremely old gas oven I was afraid to use. Now, I use it primarily for frozen pizzas. I am probably going to get rid of my Pizzaz, which hasn't been used since I got this toaster oven.

Don't know exactly which one I have, but it is a Black and Decker my brother got me for Christmas last year due to my fear of the oven. It looks a lot like this one: http://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-...pebp=1440645838906&perid=04T7C1Q5BK9MYVEHXFMM
 
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mikeford

Diamond Member
Jan 27, 2001
5,671
160
106
We have no toaster, just a Cusinart TO, works great, would replace with same if it died tomorrow, had it a decade or so. Has convection, just big enough for a typical pie, toasts smart (knows how hot it is already) and evenly.
 

Murloc

Diamond Member
Jun 24, 2008
5,382
65
91
never owned or used one, from this thread it seems like it works just like a normal oven except that it's smaller and it has no fan function.
 

Charmonium

Lifer
May 15, 2015
10,654
3,610
136
I like the Breville - http://www.amazon.com/Breville-BOV800XL-1800-Watt-Convection-Toaster/dp/B001L5TVGW/

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Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
41,359
10,479
136
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.

I just did this. Came out good, 15 minutes in the Panasonic at 390F. I used a 6 cup muffin pan with paper muffin inserts. Next time I think I'll make it from scratch. I have a bottle of organic corn meal I've had for 8 years waiting for a usage. Still smells good.

A cool thing about this TO is the light, it's real bright. Mostly I've been using it for toast. I just bought a set of 4 Pyrex 300ml custard dishes. They will all fit nicely in the Panasonic.
 
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Elixer

Lifer
May 7, 2002
10,371
762
126
from my research this one was the best:

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-NB-...r-White/dp/B00E07D76S/ref=dp_ob_title_kitchen

Works well and makes better toast then any toaster.

Have been making the rounds to find a good toaster oven, was reading that the warranty on these things suck.

So, instead, was thinking it would be better to get one from Costco or another B&M that lets you return it to them if it breaks, which seems to be the case, no matter the brand or price paid for it.

Problem is, store selection is pretty skimpy, and I don't see anyone offer a Panasonic brand, just Cusinart, kitchaid, B&D and oster.

Need it to cook pizza, sandwiches, steak or pork, and the occasional cookies.
Are they all pretty much the same, or, is there really a difference between the brands?
 

Leyawiin

Diamond Member
Nov 11, 2008
3,204
52
91
I got an extra large toaster oven by Oster from Walmart about two years ago (think it was $90). Its worth every penny. I have it on a table on the patio and use it to keep the heat down in the house in the summer, plus just to avoid cooking odors in the house for strong smelling stuff like fish or garlicky pizza. This one is big enough to hold regular size cookie sheets or a typical frozen pizza.
 

Childs

Lifer
Jul 9, 2000
11,313
7
81
I got an extra large toaster oven by Oster from Walmart about two years ago (think it was $90). Its worth every penny. I have it on a table on the patio and use it to keep the heat down in the house in the summer, plus just to avoid cooking odors in the house for strong smelling stuff like fish or garlicky pizza. This one is big enough to hold regular size cookie sheets or a typical frozen pizza.

When this thread was bumped again and started looking at toaster ovens again and almost bought the Oster you are talking about, mainly because it can go down to 150 for a warming mode. When I make pancakes I use the big oven on low to keep the pancakes hot.
 

Linux23

Lifer
Apr 9, 2000
11,374
741
126
Serious question here. I have a toaster oven i borrowed from my brother. Once I moved into my house, the kitchen is way too small for me to keep it on the counter. Is there a good toaster oven, like the linked Panasonic one on page 1 that attaches under the kitchen cabinets that anyone could recommend.

Microwaves are shit for reheating any type of deep fried foods or anything with bread.
 

Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
41,359
10,479
136
Have been making the rounds to find a good toaster oven, was reading that the warranty on these things suck.

So, instead, was thinking it would be better to get one from Costco or another B&M that lets you return it to them if it breaks, which seems to be the case, no matter the brand or price paid for it.

Problem is, store selection is pretty skimpy, and I don't see anyone offer a Panasonic brand, just Cusinart, kitchaid, B&D and oster.

Need it to cook pizza, sandwiches, steak or pork, and the occasional cookies.
Are they all pretty much the same, or, is there really a difference between the brands?
I love the linked Panasonic, which I've had a few months now. It's on the small side, for sure. I think the pan is 9x9". A small pie pan will fit in it, but not a very big one. However, four 300ml Pyrex custard bowls fit in it perfectly. I'm using those to make crustless pumpkin pie, a good use for my 130 lb kabocha pumpkin crop! :cool: I put crackers in the pan, and they are freshened, crisped in less than 2 minutes. I had no idea how useful a toaster oven could be until I got this thing. I still use my microwave a lot, though. I hardly ever use my gas oven these days. Last time was to make pizza from scratch. I use the oven (without turning on the gas) to ripen bananas, however. It's about 85F in there, due to the pilot light.
 

Elixer

Lifer
May 7, 2002
10,371
762
126
Serious question here. I have a toaster oven i borrowed from my brother. Once I moved into my house, the kitchen is way too small for me to keep it on the counter. Is there a good toaster oven, like the linked Panasonic one on page 1 that attaches under the kitchen cabinets that anyone could recommend.

Microwaves are shit for reheating any type of deep fried foods or anything with bread.

They do make them, http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&page=1&rh=i:aps,k:Under Cabinet Toaster Ovens but, as you can see, they need a extra "hood" on them, since it gets really hot and if it didn't have it, it would be a fire hazard.

I was kinda hoping there would be a standout unit that would work with a 12" pizza, that had a good warranty as well, but, can't find any more than 1 year.