A Toast to Toaster Ovens

Homemakers are enjoying a renewed relationship with the toaster oven. This granddaddy of the microwave delivers the results cooks want, with the time-saving service that modern cooks need.

Toaster ovens are aptly named counter-top appliances that resemble both a tiny oven, and a big toaster. Handy substitutes to energy-gobbling full-size ovens, toaster ovens can crisp up your waffles, toast your bread, and re-heat just about anything.

A toaster oven is small and takes up very little counter space, which is a boon to homemakers with compact kitchens. They're easy to use, too. A simple dial will set the heat control to the desired temperature. Then, just open the door, place the food to be baked or toasted on the inner cooking grill, and then close the door. Most toaster ovens feature glass windows that allow you to monitor the cooking process, ensuring that food doesn't burn.

If the dial on your toaster oven is set for "toasting", rather than "warming" or "baking", the toaster thermostat will be activated. The thermostat allows the built-in heating elements to do their job. Toaster ovens have heating elements at the top and the bottom of the inside oven compartment, to provide an even and balanced source of heat. Most toaster ovens also have variable heat controls, allowing you to choose the desired temperature. If you choose to set the control to "bake", the baking thermometer will activate the heating elements to achieve your desired results.

However, the baking process involves an additional function: a timing mechanism to control the baking time. Of course, the baking abilities will depend upon wattage and capacity, and are often related to the quality and price of the toaster oven.

Toaster ovens are manufactured products, and are prone to mechanical problems. Many owners complain that the electrical cord will burn out before the toaster oven has lived a full life. Buying a new cord is the only way to remedy this problem. Thermostats can be faulty and may cause problems. These can be recalibrated, so it may not be necessary to purchase a new toaster oven. Look in your product manual for recalibration instructions, or take the toaster oven to an appliance repair shop.

The toaster oven's electrical system is also made up of the thermal fuse, solenoid and main switch. With regular use, all of these components are prone to problems. Toaster ovens less than one year old should still be covered under a manufacturer's warranty, and may be repaired or replaced at no cost. Sometimes it seems to make more sense to replace the entire unit rather than paying a pricey service fee, but think carefully before you toss your toaster oven into a landfill site. The environmental consequences of throwing a unit away may outweigh the minimal time and money it will take to fix it.

With proper use and care, you and your toaster oven should enjoy a long and happy life of sharing hors d'ouvres and mini pizzas. Bon Appetit!

Article Source: http://www.articlemonk.com

Bert Aurthurs is an author for several Internet magazines, on home shopping and online shopping topics.
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