Anyone use a toaster oven?

[Summerwind]

Originally Posted By: greenjp
I have a Delonghi convection toaster oven, love it. We don't have a regular toaster. It does a perfectly good job doing "regular" toasting, you just have to learn how to use it. As others have said it does a great job heating things up when the full size oven would be a waste, works great with breads and other things that microwaves ruin, etc.

jeff

My Mom has a GE Convection Toaster oven she uses often for about "everything" and is very happy with it. My Fiancee and I just purchased a Waring Convection toaster oven, and thus far have been very pleased. We just moved into a "new" (circa 1903) house, and have to wait a bit for the $$$ to get a stove/range, so the toaster oven and microwave are the main "cook-fires" for a while. As others have said, it pays to get the larger models, and you do get what you pay for. You can get a really nice unit from several manufacturers for well under $100 however. I like 'em!

 

[Steve S]

Originally Posted By: CivicFan
I just cooked a stuffed eggplant (eggplant cut in half and middle removed, filled with sauteed eggplant middle, onions, nuts, garlic and tomatoes) in it.

Not bad, the key was to cover it with some foil to prevent burning. It definitely makes sense for small and quick meals.
I love eggplant! sounds like it tasted great.

 

[CivicFan]

It's pretty tasty. The combination of the flavors is quite pleasant. One can add a number of other ingredients for different tastes:

- sprinkle cheese on top;
- use some cooked rice, quinoa or couscous in the stuffing;
- add ground beef to the saute mix (I'm a vegetarian so it's a no-no to me).

Did a quick search, even the Mayo Clinic has a recipe

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/healthy-recipes/NU00445

 

[AmericaWestCMH]

I use one. Perfect for small portions when heating up a full-size oven would be a waste. Good in the summer too, as it doesn't heat up the kitchen.

 

[BradC]

In our area, our electricity recently switched over to time-of-use billing, which charges one of 3 rates based on the time of day you are using electricity.

Of course, one of the peak periods just happens to be around supper hour (how convenient).

So we recently purchased a large convection toaster oven that also has a rotisserie.

Since it is just my wife and I, the toaster oven has been great.
For the types of foods we normally prepare, it is great.

Our biggest issue at the moment is trying to find baking sheets that will fit it so we can do things like garlic toast, etc.

We picked up some 12" round pizza pans at a local store that caters to professional cooks and restaurants.

There are obviously things the large size oven can do that the toaster oven can't, but since getting our toaster over, we have not used the large oven.

 

[SevenBizzos]

We use the toaster oven nearly daily.

 

[Spazdog]

It doesn't heat up the kitchen in the summer and it cooks fast.

makes frozen corndogs crispy and frozen pizzas as good as a frozen pizza can be when me and the kiddo want a quick junkfood lunch on a weekend afternoon.

 

[helix_rider]

Last year, our Oven quit in December. Since I was going to replace it anyway in February (pre-budgeted), I bought a Black & Decker Toaster oven. It got us through the 2-month span just fine - amazing what all you can actually cook in these. Some adjusting of shelf-height is necessary for different items, but actually it was quite pactical. We still use it occasionally. It's cheaper to operate than the large oven - graet for smaller items, and quicker too.

BTW, French-Bread Pizzas turn out great in a toaster oven.

 

[Cutehumor]

I've been using a toaster oven for the past ten years. It saves on the electric bill. you can cook alot of stuff in a toaster oven. we use it for fries, corn dogs, pretzels, popcorn chicken, and reheating leftovers like pizza. there's more stuff that I'm forgetting. they are pretty reliable devices.

 

[hr1940]

They are great for plate warmers. While you are cooking your food place your plates on top of the oven. That way you can serve your food on warm plates which will prevent food from cooling down so rapidly.

 

[CivicFan]

Originally Posted By: hr1940
They are great for plate warmers. While you are cooking your food place your plates on top of the oven. That way you can serve your food on warm plates which will prevent food from cooling down so rapidly.

That's good tip.

 

[unDummy]

Toaster oven works great with saving money. Heating big oven for little things is a waste. Why wait in line for the regular toaster to pop up 2-slices when I can toast 6-slices in the t-oven at once?

It comes down to what you expect and how many mouths are waiting.

I also can bake 2-4 cookies at a time. No need to make dozens at once. Make the dough, freeze it, and scoop out a couple cookies worth whenever you want.

And, besides grilled cheese, makes great garlic bread, steamed or baked vegetables, chicken, pork chops, fish, pizza, and all those frozen party poppers.....

The toaster oven is so much more efficient when 'portions' are compatible with it. The better ones have optional accessories and starter cookbooks.

http://www.blackanddeckerappliances.com/blog/category/recipes/
http://www.cuisinart.com/share/pdf/manuals/brk-100_recipe.pdf
http://www.hamiltonbeach.com/recipes/toaster-ovens-recipes.php