do those small ovens/toaster ovens work?

[FuckRx]

I have a small hot plate and an iron skillet and i love it. have been able to do all my cooking on it. but there are a few things i like to bake in the oven like dessert or lasagna etc and wanted to know if there are small ovens/toaster ovens that actually work similar to how an oven would work?

[geekette]

I have a toaster oven I use quite a bit, but there are some things I won't attempt.  At least with mine, both the top and bottom element cycle together, so you get a bit of a broiler effect.  I make some adjustments - for biscuits, I preheat to the recommended temp, then lower it when I put the food in, so they get a chance to cook a bit before too much browning.  Other things I might cook at a lower temp longer.  Lasagna might work if it were covered, but I wouldn't even attempt a cake or muffins because that broiler element's too close.

[Russ]

I use mine fairly often. IMO it's better than a full-size for toasting and heating up leftovers, and just as good for broiling. I've baked cookies, scones, and bread in it, all of which turned out fine, and I don't see why it wouldn't work for cakes or pies with a little practice (as long as you don't have the problem geekette does with the top element). Only thing is you might have a hard time finding one big enough for that kind of stuff.

If I could only have one or the other I'd take a full-size oven, but a toaster oven has its strengths as well.

[totoro]

I use mine almost every day for baking and broiling.   I bake cookies and tarts six at a time for the kids.  Grilling chicken and fish works great in them.  Less energy and no big stacks of tempting cookies lying around.

[FuckRx]

great info...any models/brands that you have that you recommend would be helpful as well...

[brewer12345]

My mother has had a countertop convection oven for many years.  Works really, really well as an oven and more space than a toaster over.  More even heat as well.

[jpo]

I used mine all the time when making food only for myself.

[Tempe]

I have no experiences with toaster ovens, although if you are looking for similar smaller things you can cook some desserts in a crock pot although I admit I haven't been able to try any since I have no crockpot (yet) and there are lasagna recipes out there made for a crock pot.  http://www.tablespoon.com/recipes/easy-crockpot-lasagna/fc587848-9ea5-4f95-a1f7-8d50a3f011f9

[Lil_Bit]

I have one that I use and really like the fact that I don't have to use the oven as often.  The one I have is on the small side, but for myself and my son it's just right.  I've used it for biscuits, garlic toast, corn dogs, and I've also made cornbread.  Mine will fit a 9-inch cake pan or an 8x8 glass baking dish.  It has three knob settings - Oven Temp, Toast, and Bake/Broil/Toast.  I purchased mine at a garage sale six years ago, but they are always listed on Craigslist.

The one I have is a (white) GE Extra Large Capacity Toaster Oven/Broiler, Model 106632.  I don't believe they make this model anymore but it is similar to this one. http://www.gehousewares.com/Browse_Product.aspx?category_id=6

[FuckRx]

it sounds like baking is possible so that's good, and apparently the convection ones work a little better?

[scottydog]

We have a countertop convection oven that can take up to a 12" pizza.  Sometimes when we want to bake something in the summer we have even set up the oven outside on our deck to avoid heating up our house with our big gas oven.  Ours is Black and Decker, and it has held up pretty well for 3-4 years, although we did get it replaced under warranty when one of the elements died on the original.  Luckily the replacement process was no hassle other than waiting for the replacement to arrive.  Just to be clear, the replacement has been going for 3 or 4 years.  Ours has a little fan on one side that forces the convection, and items on that side do get a bit more heat than in the rest of the oven, but that's pretty easy to live with.

[tooqk4u22]

I miss my toaster oven but counter space is limited and cooking is now for a family of five.  We used it for many things...as far as desserts just make things smaller like in a ramekin, usually isn't a problem to fit four ramekins in a toaster and comes out perfectly.

Another great benefit of the toaster oven is it doesn't heat up your whole house when making something.

EDIT:  Oh yeah, I had a few in my past but always had the ones that were about $20 new like Black & Decker. Just be sure to buy one that has an oven thermostat setting.  Absolutely no need to spend many dollars.

[dodojojo]

I recently bought one for $5 at a yard sale.  I used it for the first time last night and was pleasantly surprised it worked just fine.  I bought it for toast and cooking smaller items--firing up the oven for a couple of fish sticks or one small pie seemed such a waste.  Plus, it means I don't have to take out whatever I'm storing in the oven.

[warpgirl]

My husband and I use a Black & Decker convection toaster oven that can fit at 12" frozen pizza in it and has bake, broil, toast, and keep warm modes. We got it at Target for less than $50 I think. It's been awesome and we've saved a ton of natural gas and money with it.

Our apartment's oven has such terrible insulation that baking something in it would make the AC kick on. Now we use the toaster oven exclusively in the summertime to bake and broil things. I've done enchiladas, tofu lasagna, cookies, brownies, and homemade pizza in it, in addition to the frozen pizzas.  I recommend an 8X8 pan for the lasagna and brownies-type baking.

Highly recommend!

PS- For baking things with cheese on top, like the enchiladas and lasagna, I place foil over the top for the majority of the cook time to prevent overbrowning from the top heating element, then remove for the last 5 minutes to get a nice golden brown.

PPS- Only type of frozen pizza you can't do in the toaster oven are the type that require it to be on a baking sheet. So read the pizza instructions before you buy (only when on sale!) and choose the ones that say to place directly on oven rack.

[rachael talcott]

I looked into this once and apparently the larger toaster ovens require a dedicated circuit -- something to be aware of.  I use a small cheap one that has a bake setting (to prevent broiling your cakes.  I don't know why you couldn't use it to make a few cookies or a cake if you had a small pan. 

[Daleth]

great info...any models/brands that you have that you recommend would be helpful as well...

Breville. We have one, the medium size (it comes in three sizes). It is phenomenal. You can bake anything that will fit into it, and to give you an idea the large size will fit a 13" pizza or six slices of toast. Here's the Amazon link--note that there are over 1500 reviews and it comes out with 4.5 stars out of 5! It's really great. This link also shows you the three different sizes.

http://www.amazon.com/Breville-BOV800XL-1800-Watt-Convection-Toaster/dp/B001L5TVGW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1381674028

[sununderwood]

I have one and love it for the aforementioned reasons of less energy consumption and shorter cooking times when heating food up for the self. However, mine has caught on fire multiple times and I can't really figure out why. It was a bit scary the first time but now I'm used to jaunting over and unplugging it without opening it until the fire does down. So umm, maybe it's one of those things you shouldn't buy off-brand?

[Daleth]

I have one and love it for the aforementioned reasons of less energy consumption and shorter cooking times when heating food up for the self. However, mine has caught on fire multiple times and I can't really figure out why. It was a bit scary the first time but now I'm used to jaunting over and unplugging it without opening it until the fire does down. So umm, maybe it's one of those things you shouldn't buy off-brand?

OMG! Yes, buy a good one!!!

[Rural]

I have one and love it for the aforementioned reasons of less energy consumption and shorter cooking times when heating food up for the self. However, mine has caught on fire multiple times and I can't really figure out why. It was a bit scary the first time but now I'm used to jaunting over and unplugging it without opening it until the fire does down. So umm, maybe it's one of those things you shouldn't buy off-brand?

OMG! Yes, buy a good one!!!

But let's not be silly and think that an overpriced brand name oven will be a good one; you're buying marketing, and sometimes quality goes along for the ride.

Whatever the brand,  watch it the first couple of times you use it, and if it catches fire once, don't use it ever again.

[prof61820]

If you are in a position to make a long term investment, have you thought about a double oven (see link below) instead of a fancy toaster oven?   As a family of three, we use our small top oven almost every day.  The top oven does not heat up the house like a full oven, it consumes less energy than a regular oven and we don't have the clutter on the counter that the former toaster oven created.  Something you should consider if you can swing it financially and you're in a place that you own and where you will be for at least 5 years

http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=A2KK_c5Ze2BSkjcAAi.bvZx4?fr=yfp-t-900-s&toggle=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8&p=double%20oven%20range

[dragoncar]

I have one and love it for the aforementioned reasons of less energy consumption and shorter cooking times when heating food up for the self. However, mine has caught on fire multiple times and I can't really figure out why. It was a bit scary the first time but now I'm used to jaunting over and unplugging it without opening it until the fire does down. So umm, maybe it's one of those things you shouldn't buy off-brand?

OMG! Yes, buy a good one!!!

But let's not be silly and think that an overpriced brand name oven will be a good one; you're buying marketing, and sometimes quality goes along for the ride.

Whatever the brand,  watch it the first couple of times you use it, and if it catches fire once, don't use it ever again.

I've had one catch fire too.  I think the most common reason for this would be build up of oil near the heating elements, which an expensive version won't fix.

I say go for a cheap used one and see how you like it.  If it doesn't work out you can probably resell for the same price.

The fancy convection ones probably work a lot better, however.

[NinetyFour]

And make sure you have a a fire extinguisher handy and that you know how to use it.  ;-)

[dragoncar]

And make sure you have a a fire extinguisher handy and that you know how to use it.  ;-)

Or freak out like me and keep throwing flour in there and then throw the whole thing out the back door.

I'm lucky I didn't get a grain elevator explosion, but at least I can still use the thing.  I wouldn't be comfortable reusing filled with fire extinguisher chemicals

[RysChristensen]

I second the vote for the Breville, that's the exact one I have. I've been using it for a few years now with no problems at all! It easily fits a full size pizza or full size casserole, and the heating elements have a variety of settings to change which elements are doing the heating. I haven't done any cakes, but cookies have come out nicely. (It also did a nice low'n'slow roast of the beef chuck that was on sale the other day, but I digress...)

[galliver]

I have a http://www.amazon.com/Waring-WTO450-Professional-Toaster-Stainless/dp/B006CR6W2A/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1382106789&sr=8-2&keywords=toaster+oven and it's great. It sits on top of our microwave like the busted and frustrating toaster used to. No problems as long as I remember not to use both at once.

I got it as a "Toaster+" i.e. I didn't intend to bake or make pizza or roast chicken in it. That, to me, is what my full-size gas oven is good for. But I don't really want to turn that on for 20 mins to preheat in order to make a single-serving of whatever, when the toaster oven will do it in 10 mins. [I live with a roommate, but we mostly cook alone.]

Things I do use it for: toast, grilled cheese/toasted sandwiches, reheating homemade falafel so it's not soggy (last week), baking take-n-bake bread (this week), baking 1-2 pieces of fish in a small pyrex dish, french fries from a bag ( :( cravings), single-serve pizzas/homemade pizzas, garlic bread. You could probably make cookies, etc (it even comes with a small pan!), but I never want to make less than a full batch, and then the oven is more efficient.

[Spork]

We used a toaster oven when we lived in our 600sqft temporary home just to keep from heating the whole house with the oven.

Another thing that works: solar cookers.  Don't cheap out and get the lowest end one.  Get one with some reflectors.  You can bake/crockpot stuff for $0 in energy costs.  If you buy it from Solar Cookers International they'll use the profits from the cooker you buy to buy even more cookers for folks in undeveloped countries.