Selecting The Toaster Oven That's Right For You

What is it about the toaster oven that fires the imagination and makes the soul take wing? Is it the intellectual thrill of witnessing the perfect meld of pure science and practical engineering at work? Or is it the aesthetic satisfaction in the interplay between the sleek angles of the machine and the soft, yielding curve of foodstuffs that moves us so? Perhaps it's nothing more than the sheer joy of baking things in an oven, only smaller.

 I cannot say; the answer is in your heart. Or maybe in the oven's instruction manual (this frankly seems more plausible). What I do know is that there are many different kinds of toaster oven. If you simply waltz into the house-wares section and demand a toaster oven you're very likely to get the wrong kind. In fact it's possible you may not get a toaster oven at all.

Some places don't like demanding customers, especially waltzing ones. The point is if you're buying a toaster oven for the 1st time you need to know what kind of toaster oven is best for you. Convection Ovens: The basic principle behind the operation of these ovens is that the heat flows from the heating element through the air to the food. The convection fan circulates the heated air, allowing for slower, more even cooking than direct heat methods like flames or microwaves.

A Quartz heating element is the best type, and sounds extremely impressive when you say it out loud. Combination Toaster Oven: Or a Combination Toaster/Toaster Oven. This is nothing more that a toaster oven (simply a small oven capable, among other things, of toasting bread) with a built in, and some might suggest, superfluous slot toaster on the side. Combination Microwave/Toaster Ovens:

 These combine the convenience and speed of a microwave with the cooking options of a toaster oven. Most importantly its two-in-one design makes it a space-saver, leaving room on your counter-tops for other things (minds out of the gutter, people!), like blenders, juicers and bread-makers. One option is to use the extra space for a second microwave toaster oven in an ostentatious display of wealth that will impress your friends and strike fear into the hearts of your enemies.

 Rotisserie Toaster Ovens: The cavemen did their part in inventing the rotisserie roasting method, and 150,000 years later (to the day! (okay, not really)) the toaster oven came along and finished the job. This process allows for even cooking, a crisp crust or skin and allows meat to basted in its own juices. Rotisserie accessories are usually removable.

A capacious oven is a must. Infrared Toaster Ovens: It isn't as 'tech as it sounds. Infrared is simply the part of the electromagnetic spectrum between light visible to the human eye and microwaves. The infrared radiation actually pushes moisture into food rather, increasing the flavor. Infrared toaster ovens are fast, versatile, efficient and can detect ghosts. All right, I made that last bit up, but don't look so disappointed. How often do ghosts try to mess with your pizza bagels anyway?

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Buying A Toaster Oven

So, what's the advantage of having a toaster oven versus just having a regular toaster? Here are some things to consider. Consider the functions of your basic toaster: It makes toast. On the other hand, with a toaster oven, you can: Make toast. Toast bagels. Okay so you can do that in some toasters that are made for larger items. You're not limited to two slices of bread. Once again, you can upgrade your toaster for more slices if you're so inclined. You can't reheat pizza in a toaster.

 At least not more than once. Sure you can use the microwave, but the crust is going to get soggy or tough. A toaster oven will make it nice and crisp. A hint here is to heat it just a bit in the microwave, then pop it in the toaster oven to get crisp. It's great to have access to a small oven without having to heat the full traditional oven. Sometimes, you just don't need that much oven space. So, especially in the summer, a toaster oven can come in handy. A countertop toaster oven allows you to cook small amounts of food without wasting energy (and money) using your regular oven.

 You can bake in a toaster oven. Don't even think of trying that in a toaster. Look for a toaster oven with a convection setting. That provides a small fan inside that circulates the hot air around the food, allowing the food to cook much quicker and more evenly. You'll spend a bit more for a toaster oven with the convection option, but you'll save almost a quarter of your cooking time. For best results and the most versatility, look for a toaster oven that comes in the 1400 watt range.

This will not only heat more quickly, you'll be able to heat it up to 450-500 degrees which is crucial in some recipes. What else should you consider when purchasing a toaster oven? Consider these tips: A chrome or stainless steel finish will be the best for easy cleaning. That's important if you plan to do a lot of broiling where the foods will splatter.

On the other hand, if you anticipate that your children will be using it, you may want to opt for a model with a plastic exterior. These models are harder to clean, but they stay cool on the outside while cooking. Look for a model with an electronic temperature control. Not only will these mean you don't have to keep checking to see if the food is done, this aids in preparing foods with a longer cooking time.

 Planning to make pizza? Then you need one with the interior at least 9 inches deep. However, most supermarket pizzas are 12 inches in diameter. If you plan to cook a whole chicken, you'll need to make sure you get an oven with the height clearance needed. Look for a removable tray, rack and turntable for easier cleanup. Some toaster ovens come with a self-cleaning feature.

While that's nice to have, the unit is fairly small and generally pretty easy to keep clean. Another safety feature to look for is an auto off feature. This is again especially important if your children will be using the toaster oven. Some models will have an audible beep to notify you when the food is done.

Check this out in the store because you don't want it to be louder than the smoke detector. Some toaster ovens will come with bake ware such as trays or racks. That's a nice feature to have and you know you'll always have bake ware that perfectly fits your oven. As kitchen appliances go, a toaster oven isn't essential. But it can be a nice, added convenience.

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How To Pick Out Your New Toaster Oven For Your Family

There are a couple of things that you need to be aware of when you are shopping for a brand new toaster oven. This can indicate recognizing the kind of compromise between price and quality which you may need to make or what some or all of the various features actually mean, so before you head off to check into any toaster oven reviews that you may have come across just take a minute to learn a little bit about what you will be investigating

 Here are the primary features that you will need to be informed of when looking for a new toaster oven: 

Function Toaster ovens are able to bake, toast or broil but the best kinds will be capable to do all three. The difference between baking and broiling is that baking is what occurs when we surround our meal with hot air to cook it, while broiling is the action of cooking the food with infrared radiation. People have compared broiling to being like an inverted barbecue, where the infrared beams replace the hot coals of the bbq. 

Cost

 It is a typical rule that the more you pay, the better the product that you are buying will be. However there are exceptions to this rule and they can generally be uncovered when purchasing on the internet where there are frequently heavy markdowns on some items. There is a likelihood that you might actually be able to find a more expensive toaster oven for less than you would normally pay for a cheaper one if the more expensive oven is currently on a special offer.

 Manufacturers Warranty

 Generally, it is a good idea to look for toaster ovens that come with a warranty that goes over and above the standard 1 year manufacturers warranty. Manufacturers that are confident in their product should be eager to supply warranties of up to 3 years in some instances.

 Keeping It Clean

 The manufacturers summary can say anything it likes about how straightforward it is to clean a toaster oven. The clever thing to do is to ask people who have tried the oven what they think. With the myriad of net based customer reviews available now it is easy to find this related information.

 Capacity

 Toaster ovens can end up requiring a lot of space in your kitchen area, so make sure you check the dimensions of the item and then work out where you can set it on your kitchen counter before making your purchase!

 Wattage

 You should always be aware of the power rating of the oven you are contemplating buying and try to balance enough power for your culinary needs with the most efficient option. A toaster ovens power rating is presented in watts and this information should be immediately available in the product specification.

 A toaster oven is an impressive add-on to someones kitchen. They are great for single-serve dinners, or for when you want to heat anything up very quickly, or when you don't want to wait around for the regular cooker to heat up. They are also much more cost-effective than warming a large oven when you are only preparing something small.

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Toaster Oven Reviews and Buying Guide

So, you are interested in a new Toaster Oven? Welcome to the family of millions who have or are adding this small, versatile energy efficient appliance into your food preparation arsenal. The variations of toaster ovens that are available are vast, which is great because it gives everybody the ability to buy the oven that is just right for their needs. The first thing you need to decide is whether you want a specialty toaster oven such a rotisserie or an infrared oven or want to stay with a more conventional approach so you have more overall flexibility.

A conventional toaster oven is a great overall, multifunction solution. They are terrific for a single person up to a small family for baking, boiling and grilling. They can be a convenient, energy efficient addition to your kitchen. They can combine the functionality of a few appliances such as a toaster, a pizza oven and an energy efficient oven into one convenient countertop piece.

Some of the smaller, more economical ovens are great for a couple pieces of toast and for small cooking jobs such as hot dogs and snack foods or prepackaged single serving dishes. The larger ovens can accommodate a full size chicken or frozen Pizza.

The more expensive units have electronic cook timers and temperature displays, better insulation and enhanced safety features in addition to also being a convection oven, which can really make a difference in the quality of your baking. Also if you are looking to go a little more green and at the same time reduce your electric bill, these counter top ovens perform as well as your full size oven using a lot less power.

Below are some of the types of cooking you can do with a toaster oven and an explanation of each.

Conventional is your basic electric heating element like the one in the bottom of your full size oven. This covers most toaster ovens as their basic functionality (other than Infrared).

Broiling is a common option which is very similar to the broiler element in your full size oven and is great for broiling steaks and fish. It browns nicely and also is healthier because the fat drains away.

Convection is an option to a conventional oven that circulates the hot air for even heating.

Infrared ovens work by electromagnetic radiation. Electrical energy is converted to light energy, most of which is in a spectrum that we cannot see. This light energy is transmitted directly into your food unlike a conventional oven that heats air that cooks your meal. That is why an infrared oven is more efficient than a conventional oven. It is a safe and efficient oven that can use 30 to 40% less energy to cook your food with the benefit of a very juicy locked-in flavor rather than a tough dried out meal.

Rotisserie cooking can create some great meals and make you a hit with your family and friends. You can create broasted chicken just like at the deli right in your home for a fraction of the cost. There are a couple variations of rotisserie ovens. Some larger standard-looking toaster ovens have the capability to remove the rack and be used as a rotisserie toaster oven.

Others are designed specifically for this purpose, using a rotisserie wheel similar to a carousel. Some have vertical wheels and some have horizontal wheels. These are great for broasted chicken and rotisserie foods, but are specially made to rotisserie cook and not suited for replacing a conventional toaster oven.

Confused? How big? How much money? Which options? Below are some of the top considerations you may want to review to help you make the best choice for you.


Size - How large of an oven do you need? What are you going to use it for? How much counter top space do you have? Are you going to heat up frozen foods such as chicken tenders fish sticks or do you want to take full advantage of your new oven and also make full size pizzas, casserole dishes and sizeable foods such as full chickens? I suggest you buy the largest size your counter top and budget permit because after you find how convenient it is, you will be looking for more and more uses for you new toaster oven.

Also be careful of size if you want to cook pizzas, a frozen pizza is just under 12 in. A lot of toaster oven descriptions only give only outside dimensions so if that is the case pick one 2 or 3 inches wider than you need for inside clearance to be safe.

Price - How much do you have budgeted? In today's hard times, this can be a real and limiting factor. You can get the best value for your needs by reviewing all the options and buying one that has what you really need and forgoing the frills. You can also keep you eye open for a good deal.

Options - What "extras" do you want? Options are wide open. There is anything from a ton of electronic features and controls to none stick interior to automatic eject racks. Versatility - What type of cooking do you want to do? Do you want to do specialty cooking like with a rotisserie oven for roasts and chickens or do you want to do convection baking? Do you want to do more conventional baking and reheating? If so a conventional toaster oven with whatever options you want is the way to go.

Safety - Generally speaking, toaster ovens are very safe appliances. Some options to consider to make your new oven even safer are things like "cool touch sides" which also means the oven is better insulated and will more efficient to operate as you will get less heat loss. Automatic ejecting racks take reduce the risk of burn form reaching inside a hot oven. Make sure your electrical circuit can handle the wattage of your new oven.

There are many options and different styles to choose from. Don't let it overwhelm you.

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