Tip of the Day - Get Toasted!
Posted on August 1, 2008 by
I’ve been toying with the idea of breaking my no new kitchen appliances moratorium and getting a toaster oven for a long time. A recent post on Metaefficient has convinced me to take the plunge.
From Metaefficient:
“Toaster ovens are efficient devices for cooking small meals. They typically use two 750 watts heating elements and draw a total 1500 watts, whereas electric ranges draw about 3000 watts (and thus require a 240 volt electric socket). “
Also figure in the energy savings that comes from not increasing the heat in your kitchen and forcing your air conditioner to work overtime.
Metaefficient goes on to suggest getting a toaster oven with a convection cooking option for greater energy savings, and even lists two of the most efficient.
I think I’m going to go with the Krups. The T-Fal oven looks like it might have non-stick coating on the roll warmer tray (although, I don’t know for sure, so I don’t want to condemn it).
The Amazon reviews on the T-Fal oven also give us an important reminder to unplug what we aren’t using.
I highly recommend purchasing a toaster oven. I cannot say enough good things about mine. Even though mine is a mid-price model that gives off more heat than I would like, but it gives me loads of cooking and baking options not always available to you during the heat of the summer!
I love my toaster oven! And, it would allow you to get rid of your toaster, if you have one.
I have to admit, this is one area where I am horrible- don’t hate me, but I hate toaster ovens. *gasp* I know, I know but we really just don’t have space for any extra gadgets. We have a small kitchen with little counter space and barely any storage. We did have one (before it bit the dust) and I’d have to move it any time I did a major cooking project and needed the counter. I’m sorry to say, I haven’t invested in another one. I know I need to get over it, as it’s better for energy- I just have this thing about purchasing new things when we already have something that can do the chore.
We wouldn’t have room for a toaster oven. I’ve never owned one, but I know a lot of people who seem to enjoy theirs. It is probably a lot better than running the oven like Jill says!
Jill - I felt exactly the same as you do about the toaster oven. If it doesn’t work for you right now, don’t beat yourself up about it! I really didn’t have room for one either, but decided to try one out so my kids had more cooking options when they were home for lunch in the summer. Now I don’t know how I lived without it! I have to store mine sideways on a small strip of counterspace and flip it out for actual use. Some of them are actually quite small - and I’ve thought about shifting mine to a metal cart or somesuch to get it off the countertop.
I have a question. A toaster oven uses less power when it runs, but neither a toaster oven nor a regular an oven has it’s heating elements on all the time. I’ve had the impression that a toaster oven is less insulated and has it’s heating elements on more of the time. For something that cooks quickly, I can see how the toaster oven can win out (less oven volume and mass to heat), but could there be a cross-over point when an oven uses less energy? Has anyone measured actual total power usage for typical tasks like baking a pizza at 400F for 30 minutes? a casserole for an hour? a chicken for 90 minutes at 350F?