Did you know that toaster ovens are one of the most popular household appliances? Toaster ovens were invented in Scotland in 1893 and have been an integral part of kitchens everywhere for over 120 years. If you haven’t picked up on the benefits of having one of these handy devices in your home, check out the facts below!
You might think that a toaster oven is like a new microwave, they tend to take up the same amount of space on a counter, but the two could not be more different in the terms of functionality. Many people don’t understand the convenience, energy-saving benefits of a new toaster oven and what they can be used for. We are going to take a closer look at several things that can be done with a toaster oven as well as why toaster ovens are more than just a passing trend.
Before getting into why toaster ovens are actually a great purchase for your family’s health, remember that not all ovens are the same. If you’re going to buy one, you can check out the latest toaster oven reviews here to get an idea what your best options are.
Warming Plates
Not everyone is accustomed to the practice of warming plates. Many don’t understand the benefits in it, and others just have not thought about it (like me). Some just may not be able to warm their plates because regular ovens don’t exactly allow you to set a temperature – and keep it there – below 200 degrees. If you have a toaster oven, however, that is going to change!
Toaster ovens are great because they let you set lower temperatures than normal ovens and this opens up the way for doing more things with the oven than just the conventional “put food in/take food out.” If you leave your dining plates in the toaster oven for about 5 minutes at just 170 degrees, they’ll warm up just properly.
Nut Toasting
Toasting nuts is also a lot easier with a toaster oven than a regular toaster. If you enjoy a nutty treat now and again, you can put your nuts in a tray and throw them into the toaster oven for just a bit. You can use whatever tray you want from around the house, but toaster ovens also come with at least 1 or two (sometimes three) included trays of different sizes or even material. If none of those works for you, you can just use some aluminum foil. Once you get something to lay the nuts on, do it. Once the nuts are in the oven, turn it all the way up to 350 degrees. To get the proper toast leave them there for at least 10 minutes. You shouldn’t overdo it either so don’t go over 15 minutes in total.
Bite-Size Delicacies
Toaster ovens are generally a lot smaller than normal ovens. That’s to be expected if you want one to fit on your kitchen counter. This often times means that you have to make compromises as to what you can or cannot bake inside. But you can delight yourself and your loved ones with some bite-sized treats that have no problem fitting in the toaster oven. From cupcakes to cookies, you can cook up small batches that work great as a small appetizer before the main meal or even as something you can serve with tea or coffee.
Leftover Duty
Leftovers can be annoying because they remind you of that great meal you had earlier or the other day. However, the fact that they’re cold pretty much ruins the dish. The toaster oven can come to the rescue as leftovers can quickly be reheated without having to fire up the stove again or dirty up the pan a second time for the same dish.
Defrosting
Defrosting can be a pain if you don’t have a toaster oven. It’s basically the same hassle as with leftovers. You need something cold to not be so cold, and the options for doings so are pretty scarce. Just throw that bag of peas in the toaster oven for just a bit and see how they magically become ready for putting into a stew.
Make Your Own Potato and Veggie Chips
Toaster ovens are the perfect opportunity to indulge yourself and your loved ones in some potato chips. No, I’m not talking about making a trip to the store, but making your own chips. You can do so by slicing really thin slices of potato or your favorite vegetable. A pinch of seasoning and a dash of salt later and you can just put them in the oven on a high temperature and wait for them to get crispy. You can play around with the seasoning, and imitate your favorite store chips flavors like barbecue or cheese with some barbecue sauce or thin-grated cheese.
So you see, there are many more uses for a modern toaster oven than just toasting bread for those morning breakfast meals! Do you have a new multi-function toaster oven? Share some of the things that you use yours for with us in the comments below!
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