Toaster ovens? Thinking of getting one...

[checkerkitty]

Hi there! I'm thinking about buying a toaster oven. I looked at Lowe's and they had a couple that were less than $50. I want to find one that can hold a small casserole dish, a 6 cup muffin pan or maybe even something a little larger. Our oven works very well but lets off a lot of heat. I'm hoping that a toaster oven would let me do enough cooking for our small family of four so I could keep the oven off more than I do now. I had a really, really tiny one at one time but didn't keep it. Now I find myself wishing I had it back.

So, are they worth it? Anyone have a brand or model they prefer? Is there one that will hold a 9x13 pan? I would love to hear from others about their experiences. Thanks so much!

Christy

[lwlynch]

i didnt really like the toaster oven. I know you can do a few things in it. I only use mine to make cheese toast. Now what I do have and use all the time... my oven only during holidays for the space...
Is my convection, oven, rotessiarie (i know i spelled that wrong) I do everything in it. I did have to down size my pans.. like only 6 muffin tin, and I have two of those..but it is the best.. I can do a small ham, turkey and even a chicken in it. Pizza is also good in it.. Well gee you think I like it..lol..
Mine was only around 80 bucks..

[lwlynch]

you dont live near me, do you.. i got a lime green (toaster oven) one put up in my cabinet... getting ready to freecycle?

[anna021]

now, that it's just DH and I most of the time I use my toaster over all the time, why heat up a full sized oven (at 5.50 a pound for propane gas) for a few french fries, my toaster oven, bakes, broils and toasts. I've made cakes in there,actually, it crisps things up better than the big oven. Do you have a Kohl's card? If so, from May 15-20th, the code for 30% off is MAYSAVE30, you might find a great deal. hth

[nu2solar]

I bought a small, cheap toaster oven about a year ago just to see if I would use it. Well I do use it quite a bit and I really like it. I would upgrade but we are getting ready to build an off grid solar house so anything electric is out.

Toaster ovens are much more economical then heating a full size oven for everything. Also if you are cooking anything smelly like fish you can bring it outside. That's what I do b/c my husband can't stand the smell.

I would buy one large enough to make a small roast or chicken in. I would also go to Amazon and reasd some reviews.

Sorry I can't help with a brand but I would definitely tell you to buy one.

Lisa

[strawberricandle]

I have a black & decker toaster oven, but I don't use the oven part very often. I just make toast in it. For us (just me & Mike) I don't think I would ever buy another. A toaster would do us just fine.

that's just my opinion, I could be wrong....

[Lady_V]

A thought would be one of those convection/toaster/microwave ovens. If the cooking wasn't included in my condo fee, I would definitely get one of those because you can cook so much in it, it doesn't take any more room than a microwave and it doesn't heat up the house.

[janelane]

Nothing constructive to add, just wanted to say thank you for bringing this up. I had no idea how much toaster ovens could do, I think I'm going to think about one as well. Our oven heats up the house like crazy, it's impossible in the summer time, this is a great solution.

[champagnium]

I just received a toaster/convection oven as a wedding gift and am hoping to do almost everything I would normally have used the oven for in it since there's just the two of us. It's a Black and Decker.

[Brat]

Don't buy a Cuisinart TOB-30 Series...

I had a Tostmaster which I just loved...I used it for years when we camped...but it was getting old and just the 2 of us don't want to heat up the whole house with big oven ...I used the Toastmaster for everything...cakes and all

I got the new one it was 1 inch smaller inside that the other one...and you can not get the heat right on it...I have even had it replaced under warrenty once and the new one was the same way....so spend the extra and get something besides what I did...

[redhead68]

I have a DeLonghi that I received as a gift many, many years ago. We use it everyday to toast breakfast foods, but it's also good for heating up leftovers, baking small batches of cookies, and baking rolls. I have also used it to dehydrate vegetables/fruits on occasion.

[FrugalWitch]

You can probably get one free at your local FreeCycle board , or cheaply at a yard-sale. I bought a very basic toaster oven at a yard-sale for $3.00. It didn't even appear to have been used. Mine is extremely basic, no temperature controls, just "on" "off" and a timer.

We use it occasionally. I've gotten my 3 bucks worth out of it, but honestly we don't use it often enough to have justified a $40.00 or higher price tag.

[TheRootedNomad]

My husband was very when I put ours up in the attic to free up counter space. (Notice I didn't say got rid of). We used ours all the time when it was just the two of us. I cooked everything in it. ( chicken cutlets, pot pies, cookies, fries, biscuits, pork chops, ect.) When we were deeding just the two of us it was quicker and easier (besides the oven nin our first apartment made all kinds of noises and scared me )

~ Ours is a black and decker
~ I would suggest the kind with a temp control dial if you plan on doing actual cooking.
~ I also agree with FrugalWitch and lwlynch... check out freecycle

[redbug29]

I LOVE mine!!!! I can do anything in mine and I have three kids. Its not very big and I got it at a yard sale for $15. It does have temp controls and did I say I love mine, anyway I use it more than my regular oven.

Tiffany

[Twinkle]

I love mine too (although I can't remember the name of it ) especially in the summer when it doesn't heat up the whole house!