The toaster oven has become one of the must have kitchen appliances for most family homes. As the name implies, almost all toaster ovens can make toast. However, unlike traditional toasters, a toaster oven can be used to bake, broil, reheat, defrost and warm food. Basically, a toaster oven can be used in place of a regular oven. The versatility of this kitchen device means that many people can benefit from having one.
Some of the factors to consider when buying this kitchen appliance are dependent on personal preference, the type of food you will using it to cook and the amount of space you have in your kitchen. Here are some points to consider while shopping for the best toaster oven.
· Cooking functions
What do you want your toaster oven to do? Bake pizzas, reheat foods, keep food warm, cook an entire chicken, make toast or roast meat and vegetables?
You should think about all these things when deciding on the model to buy. The easiest way to determine what a toaster oven can do is to look at the preset functions. Basic models only offer up to three functions-broil, bake and toast-while the advanced models can offer up to ten functions or even more.
· Size
In most cases, cooking functions and size go hand in hand. The more you want your toaster oven to do, the larger it will be.
When deciding on the ideal size of the toaster oven, consider both the internal and external dimensions. Most people only consider the external size which is important as you need to know if you have enough space in your kitchen for the model but the internal size should also be considered.
The internal size is determined by what you intend to cook inside the toaster oven. If you are planning on cooking large frozen pizzas, whole chicken or baking bread, then you will need a larger toaster oven.
· Features
Toaster ovens are equipped with features that make using it easy to use and enjoyable. They include: Digital displays, auto eject racks and baking trays, Non-stick coating, auto shut off and many others.
It is important to consider what features you will need when cooking, baking or grilling but keep in mind that the features a toaster oven has plays a part in how much it will cost. Even cooking
Even cooking is an important point to consider when buying a toaster oven. Unlike traditional toaster, convection technology ensures that food is evenly cooked no matter the size.
· Included accessories
You gain a lot when an accessory is included in the toaster oven but most importantly, it will help you save money that you could have spent purchasing the accessory. There are plenty of accessories available for toaster ovens including but not limited to:
· Pizza trays
· Roasting racks or inserts
· Baking trays.
Though you can buy these accessories separately, they may not perfectly fit in your model.
· Appearance
Looks certainly count especially in modern kitchens. If a cohesive looking kitchen matters to you, then you should buy a toaster oven that is cohesive with the look of your kitchen. Fortunately, most toaster ovens have neutral colors hence can blend well with most kitchens.
· Ease of use and cleaning
As with other kitchen items, toaster ovens needs to be cleaned regularly. Though most toaster ovens are easy to clean, the type settings and displays make some difficult to clean. Therefore, look for a model that does not have any part that is difficult to reach. Also, the inner parts of the oven can be removed and are dishwasher safe. You can even ask for a cleaning demonstration before taking the plunge or read reviews on what customers are saying about using the specific model
· Price
Everything always comes down to the price. Basically, the more things a toaster oven can cook, the higher the price. Therefore the question on price translates directly to what you intend to use it for. If you just want to cook meat and make toast, you will have an easier time finding a low cost model but if you want a full service conventional oven, you will still find different price ranges but it will cost much more compared to basic models.
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