A toaster oven is a type of oven that has a significantly smaller cooking cavity compared to a full-size oven. Because the cooking cavity of a toaster oven are smaller than those of conventional ovens, heat builds up more quickly within the appliance. As a result, the dial that indicate the temperature within a toaster oven is often lower than the actual heat that is being emitted from the appliance.
Thus, it is necessary to both adjust the temperature and cooking times that you use when cooking with a toaster oven. Toaster ovens often also have a convection fan that help to circulate hot air more aggressiveley within the cooking cavity. Because the convection fan circulates hot air more aggressively, food heats more quickly within the toaster oven than with standard ovens.
How to Use a Toaster Oven Safely
Thus, you should decrease cooking temperatures when using an oven that has a convection fan. A temperature of 350 degrees is often used in baking cookies and casseroles. For reheating leftovers, a temperature of 300 degrees is often most useful.
For protein like salmon and chicken thighs, a temperature of 400 degrees is recommended. For items like fries and nuggets that require crisping, 425 degrees is the most apropiate temperature for cooking in a toaster oven. Toaster ovens often have three rack within the appliance: the top rack, the middle rack, and the bottom rack.
Recipes that require browning of items like toast or cheese will cook best on the top rack. Items that require heat from both the top and bottom racks, such as most roasts or baked items should be cooked on the middle rack. Items that require crisping of the crust, such as pizza or bread should be cooked on the bottom rack.
Cooking items on the wrong rack will result in food that is burnt on the top side of the item, for example, yet pale on the bottom side of the same food. Because different types of food require different temperatures, times, and rack positions within the toaster oven to ensure the food is cooked correctly, it is crucial to read the instruction for each item that is to be cooked. For example, frozen pizzas should be cooked at 400 degrees on the middle rack for 12 to 15 minutes.
Items like toast and bagels should be cooked on the top rack for 3 to 6 minutes. Chicken breasts should be cooked at 375 degrees on the middle rack for 22 to 28 minutes. Salmon should be cooked at 400 degrees for 10 to 14 minutes.
Vegetables and fries should be cooked at 425 degrees, but you should flip them halfway through cooking. Broccoli should be cooked at 425 degrees for 12 to 16 minutes to ensure it is crisp rather than mushy. Cookies should be cooked at 325 degrees on the middle rack without flipping.
Several steps can be taken to ensure best results when cooking in a toaster oven. One step is to always preheat the oven for at least five minutes. Otherwise, the food will steam within the appliance rather than bake.
Using baking sheets lined with foil or parchment paper will make it easier to clean the toaster oven after cooking. Items should always be cooked in a single layer on the baking sheets for even cooking. Using a probe thermometer will allow for the best measurement of the doneness of meat.
Finally, you should empty the crumb tray of the toaster oven each week to prevent smoking of the appliance when cooking with high heat settings. Safety is based off the internal temperature of the food being cooked, not the time indicated on the clock. Poultry should reach 165 degrees within the internal portion of the meat.
Fish should reach a temperature of 145 degrees. Ground meats should reach 160 degrees. Whole cuts of meat such as pork or beef only need to reach 145 degrees, but you should allow them to rest after being cooked to this temperature.
If you pull the meat off the heat prior to cooking, the carryover heat will ensure the meat reaches the correct temperature. A probe thermometer will ensure that the internal temperature of the cooked meat reaches the safe temperatures indicated for each type of meat.