Toaster Oven Buying Guide

Today's toaster ovens have come a long way from just toasting bread. Toaster ovens can bake, broil, and even convection cook quickly, easily and affordably making them a great kitchen tool for today's busy households.

source: Williams-Sonoma

A toaster oven is essentially a small oven. It isn't meant to replace a conventional oven, but it can handle much of the same cooking tasks, just in smaller quantities. Also, it’s much more energy efficient to cook a small meal in a toaster oven rather than in a conventional oven.

There are essentially two types of toaster ovens: regular toaster ovens and convection toaster ovens. Convection toaster ovens, much like regular convection ovens, are more efficient and cook faster because a fan circulates the hot air around the oven creating a more even temperature.

Toaster ovens come in a variety of sizes and colors, and can take up a considerable amount of countertop space. A common toaster oven size is 0.5 cubic feet and can fit 4 - 6 slices of bread.

Toaster ovens range in price from $20 for a basic model to $200+ for a top-of-the-line convection model with specialty features.

Useful Features

Here are some of the most useful options and features of today’s toaster ovens:

• Automatic Timer - allows you to set your cooking time and includes automatic shut off settings

• Digital Touchpads - these are the easiest and most convenient to use and clean.

• Multiple Settings - such as toast, bake, broil, warm, reheat and even pizza and cookie settings.

• Sensor Technology - internal sensors can automatically adjust power and calculate cooking time.

• Convection Technology - if speed is important, consider convection cooking or infrared heating (speeds toasting).

• Multiple Rack Positions - for more precise positioning.

• Slide-out Crumb Tray - easier to clean than one that's attached to the toaster.

• Specialty Trays - such as baking and broiling trays as well as pizza pans.

• Porcelain/ Non-Stick Interiors - allow for easy cleaning.

Caring for Your Toaster Oven

Toaster ovens typically carry 1 or 2 year warranties; higher-end models may have longer warranties. To keep your toaster oven in tip-top shape beyond its warranty, perform these basic maintenance tips:

• Clean exterior and interior with a damp cloth. Avoid touching the heating elements.

• Wash removable items such as racks and baking, broiling and crumb trays in warm, soapy water; use a degreaser on greasy spots, and avoid using ammonia, chlorine bleach or any cleaner containing those chemicals on aluminum or nickel-plated parts (they'll darken the metal).

• To remove baked-on stains, soak a paper towel in all-purpose cleaner and place it over the spots for several minutes; make sure the toaster is cool and unplugged.

• Do not use abrasive pads or cleansers– it may scratch surfaces permanently.

Top Toaster Oven Brands

Breville - www.brevilleusa.com
Cuisinart - www.cuisinart.com
DeLonghi - www.delonghiusa.com
Hamilton Beach - www.hamiltonbeach.com
GE - www.geappliances.com
KitchenAid - www.kitchenaid.com
Black & Decker - www.blackanddecker.com
Oster - www.oster.com
Proctor-Silex - www.proctorsilex.com
Sunbeam - www.sunbeam.com
Avanti - www.avantiproducts.com
Rival - www.rivalproducts.com
Krups - www.krups.com
Sanyo - www.us.sanyo.com
T-Fal - www.t-falusa.com
Waring - www.waringproducts.com

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