A convection toaster oven is mainly utilized to warm or toast food. Additionally, it is frequently employed as a substitute for your big conventional oven. These countertop convection ovens can warm up quickly and may also be utilized for broiling or baking while lowering costs associated with your electricity bill. As an added bonus, these countertop ovens will not heat your kitchen up as do the larger conventional ovens.

Being smaller than your conventional oven, of course the amount of food that can be cooked at any one time is necessarily going to be smaller than the amount you can cook in your oven. As you might have guessed, a toaster oven is used primarily for smaller portions of food that smaller families today would require.

Unlike the microwave oven which uses microwaves to heat your food, the countertop toaster oven uses radiant heat - the same type of heat that the larger conventional ovens use. As do their larger cousins, these toaster ovens convert electrical energy into heat energy using heating elements similar to those found in your conventional oven. These elements can be made of nickel alloys, chromium, or quartz encased.

Toaster ovens generally include a metal coil at the very top so that it provides even temperatures for excellent baking and cooking results. A toaster oven lacking a top heating element isn't really efficient for baking.

Although some folks think that the toaster oven can take the place of the microwave, The microwave will still have its place in the kitchen although some of its tasks have been appropriated. The microwave will still do a better job at heating instant soups, defrosting frozen vegetables, and popping corn for instance. However, for frozen foods like enchiladas, pizza, or pot pies, the toaster oven stands head and shoulders over the microwave.

The toaster oven can't be beat for providing your family with light, fluffy, biscuits, hot, crispy pizzas, and crispy vegetables that don't end up soggy. It does a great job of warming up leftovers without giving them that overcooked taste and texture as a microwave tends to do. Even though some people use the toaster oven as a second or even their primary oven, these countertop ovens are great for dorm rooms or apartments.

Although called a toaster oven, the name of this appliance belies its true functionality. Although smaller than a traditional oven, this appliance can handle the work of its larger cousin such as cooking, baking, and broiling. The rack can also be adjusted up and down just like the conventional oven. And the various settings help you to cook a traditional meal to perfection.

Other features you will need to decide on will be size, color, and style. Some are even designed with a stainless steel exterior for the high end look. These appliances allow you to choose from analog controls using dials to digital controls use a touchscreen.

When shopping for a toaster oven, make sure to do your homework. Visit you local department stores such as WalMart or Target and get your hands on these things. Open the door, look inside, pick them up, turn the knobs - how does it feel? Cheap? Top of the line?

Write down the models and prices of the ones you liked. Now go online and read the reviews. See if you can find it cheaper. Make sure to factor in the cost of shipping.

Once you get your toaster oven home, make certain to spend some time with the instructions. Go through the functions to see if they work to your liking. Most retailers both online as well as your local brick and mortar will give you a small window of time within which to return your toaster oven if a feature is not functioning properly.

Now enjoy your new toaster oven and go and cook your family a delicious and nutritious meal this evening.