Toaster Oven Buying Advice

Toaster ovens have come a long way since their introduction. No longer used solely for reheating leftovers or toasting sandwiches, today's models come close to mirroring nearly all the functions of a full-sized oven, only with faster pre-heat and cook times and lower energy consumption. Use them brown, bake or broil, but before you buy, make sure you know what features you'll use most so you get the most toaster ovenyou're your dollar.

Form and Function
Toaster ovens are available in a wide variety of styles, finishes and colors, so finding one that matches your kitchen's décor shouldn't be your first consideration. How your toaster oven looks should be a lesser consideration than its actual design.

The first thing you want to be aware of is how much counter space you have available to house your toaster oven. Toaster ovens range in size from compact, 10-inch cubes all the way to space-hogging 26-inches by 16'inches. Depending on the toaster oven you choose, it may also have back-mounted vents that require it to be placed a reasonale distance away from the wall to ensure your safety.

Next, you'll want your toaster oven to feature large, clear windows with good visibility. Usually, toaster ovens come with one or two racks that may or may not be adjustable. If you'll be cooking a variety of items that are different sizes, choose a model that allows you to adjust rack height and maximize the interior usable space. Not sure how large a unit you need? Think about the largest foods you'll be cooking. If you're primarily using the toaster oven for frozen foods, fixed racks may be okay.

Heating Methods
Traditional toaster ovens use a pair of coil heating elements that can brown or broil from the top or bake and roast using both the top and bottom elements. Convection toaster ovens add a fan that circulates the heat for quicker, more even cooking. Many consumers find that convection ovens make better toast than a typical toaster oven, because the air circulation browns both the bottom and top of the bread.

In general, you want a toaster oven that's on the tall side. Shorter toaster ovens put the heating elements too close to the food, which results in scorching and uneven heating.

The newest innovation in toaster ovens is infrared cooking. These toaster ovens promise-and deliver-much faster cooking times with no preheating. Infrared toaster ovens fire invisible infrared light through foods, working in much the same way as a microwave.

Infrared toaster ovens are incredibly popular despite a few drawbacks. These toaster ovens cannot broil and only metal pans can be placed inside them-no paper, plastic or glass. You'll need to make sure that foods can't splatter, as this presents a fire hazard, and some infrared toaster ovens have extremely hot surfaces, though they cool almost as soon as they're turned off. If you can live without the broiler, you may want to join the thousands who have embraced infrared toaster ovens.

Controls and settings
A toaster oven's price determines the amount and style of controls you'll get. Entry-level toaster ovens often feature dial controls that can sometimes be difficult to decipher and may not include a thermostat. These toaster ovens are a good choice for monitored toasting, frozen foods, and reheating leftovers, but they don't offer enough control for cooking or baking.

The best toaster oven controls are digital. If you're willing to spend a bit more, you'll find toaster ovens with pre-programmed buttons for heat levels and digital timers. Check a toaster oven's timer to determine if it alerts you to the completed cooking time or uses auto-shutoff to turn off the heating element. Without auto-shutoff, your food will continue to cook even after the timer goes off, resulting in food that's too well done.

Cleaning and Maintenance
One way your toaster oven can't compete with your full-sized oven is true self-cleaning. Toaster ovens require some maintenance and can develop bad smells and a tendency to overheat or cook badly if not cleaned properly.  Look for toaster ovens with nonstick or continuous-clean interiors. Continuous-clean finishes allow food buildup to break down over time, turning it to ash that can easily be swept out.

Aluminum interiors can be difficult to clean, so avoid them if you'll be cooking meats or foods that spatter. Try to find a toaster oven with a removable crumb tray instead of a hinged crumb tray. Hinged crumb trays force you to pick up the entire toaster oven and shake it to clear the tray. Removable trays are much easier to manage and many are dishwasher safe.