Countertop Toaster Oven – So Much More Than Just a Toaster!
A countertop toaster oven is not just a replacement of your toaster or your oven. It can offer so much more benefits than you can imagine. Some people consider buying a toaster oven a waste of money especially if they already own an effective traditional oven. Let me tell you this – a toaster oven is quite a unique device, a must have in any kitchen setting, and it is the best complementary kitchen gear for your conventional oven. And if you do not have the money or the space for a full blown traditional oven – a countertop toaster oven is exactly what you need.
Here are just a few benefits of a countertop toaster oven worth mentioning:
A countertop toaster oven is an amazing time saver. Since the area of a toaster oven is way smaller than any traditional oven, it takes less time to heat up. So your food gets heated up or cooked in less than half the time. Make sure you get a toaster oven with a convection device. This makes the cooking even faster and it makes sure that all the food you heat cooks evenly.
A countertop toaster oven is compact and very versatile. It’s so much more than just toaster. In fact, you can do virtually any kind of cooking method with it like broiling, baking and of course heating up cold food or defrosting. Most toaster ovens come with amazing add-on features like broilers, rotisseries, Panini press and automatic eject racks
It is very simple to use a countertop toaster oven. In fact, some people say it’s easier than boiling an egg. Even the technically challenged can get used to it in a matter of minutes. All you have to do is familiarize yourself with the knobs or controls that are pretty straightforward. Besides, these devices usually come with an instruction manual and great toaster oven recipes too!
Most importantly, with a countertop toaster you get to save a lot on energy and money! Compared to a traditional oven, the savings you make on purchasing a toaster oven is a no-brainer. Aside from that, you get to save a significant amount in your electric bills, too. Mainly because any kind toaster oven takes minimal power for it to heat up and it can efficiently cook your food at a heating temperature 20% lower than a traditional oven.
Features to look for when purchasing a countertop toaster oven
Make sure to purchase a countertop toaster oven with a convection devise. A convection device is simply a small fan equipped within the toaster oven. This devise is responsible for circulating hot air within the oven. This makes sure that your food cooks faster and the end result is food that is cooked evenly. While it is true that a countertop toaster oven with a convection setting is priced a bit more, you get to save on time and energy in the long run since it shaves off up to twenty five percent of all your cooking time.
The most ideal power range for a countertop toaster oven is within the 1,400 Watt range. A toaster oven with this kind of power range will be able to pre-heat much faster and it has the ability to reach a 500 degree temperature which most kind of cooking requires.
Here are other very important features your countertop toaster oven should have:
Look for a countertop toaster oven that has a chrome or stainless steel housing. These kinds of toaster ovens are the easiest to clean. And if you are very particular about ease of cleaning, look for a toaster oven with removable racks and trays. Better yet, choose a toaster oven that is equipped with a self cleaning feature.
Choose a countertop toaster oven that is at least 9″ deep if you plan to frequently heat up regular sized pizzas. But if you have a small space, you might need an oven that is a space saver. You can still use it for pizza, but you might have to end up heating up portions instead of a whole.
A countertop toaster oven that comes with a built in digital temperature control ensures that your food is cooked to perfection all the time. With this feature, you need not frequently check if your food is ready to serve, the temperature control setting will do the job for you.
If you plan to allow your kids to use your countertop toaster oven, look for one that has an auto-off control. Kids can be quite forgetful sometimes. So better safe than sorry.
How much is a countertop toaster oven?
There is a wide array of price ranges when it comes to a countertop toaster oven. You can find a good one that is less than $50 and a top of the line that is priced for $600 or more. Of course, the price will greatly depend on the brand, features, power range, available discounts, etc. Please feel free to browse the site. We feature the best countertop toaster ovens available in the market today and we provide honest and unbiased reviews for each top rated countertop toaster oven.
Countertop Toaster Oven @ 2011
Resource: Countertop Toaster Oven
