Tell me all about toaster ovens

[Disneyluvr]

I think I would like to get a toaster oven so I don't always have to heat up the whole stove. But of course I know NOTHING about them. And my DS is on a crazy kick where he will not heat anything in the microwave! Can it be used to heat things like that? And can you cook bake potatoes in a toaster oven? Are they fairly cheap? Can I get a decent one at Wal-mart (only store within a 60 mile area for me)

 

[Imzadi]

Your DS may be on the right track. We joke around that foods are "nuked" in the microwave. But, we really don't know if the radiation used to heat the foods are dangerous or not. Just because we currently lack the machinery to detect how low the levels or radiation are and the residual effects, doesn't mean that they aren't there.

Science is really in it's infancy. What we call "scientific fact" is only as good as our powers of observation & repeatable study, and those are based on our current level of technology, machinery and available means of detection. What is scientific or medical "fact" today becomes obsolete, inaccurate data tomorrow as more advanced technology, machinery, research and the ability to detect at a new level invalidates the "fact." And that new "fact" is only as good as the current new machinery... which may get debunked the day after tomorrow.

A machine may be developed tomorrow that finds microwaved foods really not healthy. That it may contribute to the various health problems which are on the rise, that weren't here at the levels they are compared to a few decades ago.

Meanwhile, heating foods the "normal" way with direct heat, has been used since the first caveman diiscovered fire. And mankind has grown since then.

I like to use my microwave sparingly and consider whatever I cook in there may now be of the nutritional value of junk food. Filling, but may not be healthy.

So, yes, I do use my toaster oven as much as possible. I have a tiny kitchenette that doesn't even have an oven. So all my baked & broiled foods (meat & fish) are done in the toaster oven.

Walmart is fine to get one from. Make sure you get one with an electronic sensor, so the top & bottom coils heat evenly, and get a TIMER on the toaster oven. It's great because you can't forget about the something cooking and overcook it. You set it for a certain amount of minutes and it shuts off automatically.

I've had old models without the timer and and accidentally almost set the kitchen on fire because I forgot I had something baking.

Convection ovens are nice because they heat faster, but they've been reported to not broil as well or toast as quickly.

Check Amazon for reviews of different toaster ovens.

 

[daisax]

My neighbor is a firefighter and will not have one in his home. They cause a LOT of house fires, even when not in use.

He pretty much cured me of wanting one ever again!

 

[daughtersrus]

I LOVE our toaster oven!

It's great for reheating just about anything. We use it for pizza, hot wings, egg rolls, fries, chicken kiev...just about anything that will fit.

We had a GE that we got for a wedding shower that lasted almost 20 years! We've had a Krups now for the last few years but I actually liked the cheaper GE better.

We do keep ours unplugged when it's not in use. Depending on the style it could be easy to accidentally turn it on.

 

[mrsv98]

We received a DeLonghi for a wedding gift more than 11 years ago and it works really well. I use it for toasting, baking small things and even occaisionally broiling to melt cheese. Like the PP, it is unplugged when not in use.

 

[Imzadi]

We do keep ours unplugged when it's not in use. Depending on the style it could be easy to accidentally turn it on.

This is why I recommend the automatic timer. Mine is a dial that you have to manually turn for the correct amount of minutes. We had an old one that has a button that could easily be pressed by accident - and was once. After that, my mom also used to keep it unplugged.

 

[SDFgirl]

I use our toaster oven on a daily basis. It's one of the few gadgets that I got for our wedding that we actually use (unlike the ice cream maker, ha!).

I use it mostly for reheating leftovers and toasting bread/sandwiches. I don't know if I'd make a baked potato in it, that seems like a long time for it to be turned on. Nevertheless, I love mine!