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A Toast to Toaster Ovens

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Long before there were microwave ovens, the modern household's corner-cutting appliance of choice was the toaster oven.

A toaster oven cooks like a toaster, and bakes like a tiny oven. It offer countertop convenience for space-saving cooking, and uses a fraction of the energy that traditional ovens will consume. Yet it does everything that regular ovens and microwaves do, from baking waffles to reheating frozen dinners.

Cooking with a toaster oven is as easy as using a microwave. Just dial the heat control to the temperature you need, place the food inside, and close the door. Your little toaster oven will do the same amount of work, yet use up just a little of your valuable counter space. It's also easy to keep an eye on your food, as most models have glass windows.

If the dial on your toaster oven is set for "toasting", rather than "warming" or "baking", the toaster thermostat will be activated. The thermostat allows the built-in heating elements to do their job. Toaster ovens have heating elements at the top and the bottom of the inside oven compartment, to provide an even and balanced source of heat. Most toaster ovens also have variable heat controls, allowing you to choose the desired temperature. If you choose to set the control to "bake", the baking thermometer will activate the heating elements to achieve your desired results.

There is another function that comes into play during the baking process. The baking time, or duration, is controlled by a timing mechanism. The success of your baking will depend upon the wattage and capacity of your particular toaster oven. As a rule, the baking capabilities are reflected in the retail price of the appliance.

All manufactured products will eventually face mechanical problems, and toaster ovens are no exception. Many homemakers will find that they need to purchase a replacement electrical cord, as the original cords are known to burn out fairly quickly. Others complain of faulty thermostats. When thermostats cause errors in temperature regulation, they can be recalibrated. If you face this problem, check your product manual or take the appliance to a professional service shop.

The toaster oven's electrical system is also made up of the thermal fuse, solenoid and main switch. With regular use, all of these components are prone to problems. Toaster ovens less than one year old should still be covered under a manufacturer's warranty, and may be repaired or replaced at no cost. Sometimes it seems to make more sense to replace the entire unit rather than paying a pricey service fee, but think carefully before you toss your toaster oven into a landfill site. The environmental consequences of throwing a unit away may outweigh the minimal time and money it will take to fix it.

With proper use and care, you and your toaster oven should enjoy a long and happy life of sharing hors d'ouvres and mini pizzas. Bon Appetit!