Toaster ovens a good choice for small-scale cooking

[Gabe]

DEAR SARA: How do I use a toaster oven? I just got a new (to me) toaster oven. No instructions. I need advice on how to use it, what to make in it, etc. I’ve never had one before. Never had one while growing up, either. — Julie, Florida DEAR JULIE: Toaster ovens are a [...]

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[Contrary Housewife]

You can buy special mini sized toaster oven pans, too. The last one I owned came with a card for ordering a set with a mini muffin pan, baking sheet, and baking/casserole pan. The oven is much more useful when you don't have to scrounge for something to fit in it.

[mauimagic]

We use ours all the time - last night baked chicken breasts - have also made cornbread, chili - anything you can cook in a large oven, you can cook in a small one - only limited by the size.

Have fun with yours and enjoy the energy savings and a cooler home!!

[saver]

They are portable, too. I move mine to the laundry room on hot days so it doesn't add heat to the kitchen. I've even used it outside on warm days as well. We've taken ours on trips and used it in hotels and also camping if we have an electrical hookup.

[LeeCee]

the one I have is large enough for a 9 inch pizza. I use it all the time

[monkeywrangler71]

Ours sat out in the garage for years, I couldn't spare the counter space. Then when our oven broke I hauled it back inside and discovered I could do just about anything in it, except bake bread.

[Trishagirl]

When our 3rd microwave broke we decided on getting a toaster oven and it works great and we have more counter space.

[NikoSan999]

Use ours alot. No heating up the kitchen. Less use time than oven cause hardly any preheating and less space to heat period. Less electric

[karichelle]

I don't use mine nearly as much as I should. I bought a muffin pan that makes 6 muffins and have several packs of Martha White muffin mix I got on sale, and those make 6 muffins, so I'm not sure what my excuse is. :p I used one all the time in college...I made break & bake cookies in it, fish sticks, au gratin potatoes, meat...all kinds of things.

[NikoSan999]

Another plus to the toaster ovens is that you can get them with rotisserie for whole chickens, small turkeys etc. Ours works fine but if had to get another one I'd get it with this option. I"ve looked at them at Walmart and they aren't that much higher than a good plain toaster oven. Slightly bigger also but not so big you couldn't just leave on a decent sized counter.
I leave mine out cause I've found if I have to get down, dig it out, put stuff back, then go thru the same to put it back I just plain won't do it. Hurts my back to bad with the up and down so low.

[Palooka]

I love my toaster oven, but it's rather small. When this one dies I will buy a bigger one. It's money well spent.

[karichelle]

Bah...my muffin pan is too big. Had the muffins all ready and the toaster oven preheated, stuck it in, and the door lacked 1/4" of closing. Not sure if it'd be okay like that or not. Probably since it doesn't really "seal" but I dunno.

[Momto5RN]

i used ours last night to make brownies for a 13 yo girl sleepover .
we use it to reheat to cook small sized meals or reheat pizza etc oh ad to toast LOL

[angelbumpkin]

I use mine all the time. We made cupcakes today.

[shp1055]

My brother got our dad one for Xmas 2 years ago because the oven in his stove quit working (burners work fine). He likes it so much that he hasn't had the big oven repaired. It will hold a 13" pizza & the best part is: you HAVE to use the timer. If he forgets it is on, it will cut off when it runs out of the time he has set it for. I think it's a GE, not sure. It's perfect for him, it will hold a 6-cup muffin tin, a small skillet of cornbread or pan of biscuits. He loves it & it really doesn't heat up the kitchen like the regular oven does.