Toaster ovens are incredibly versatile kitchen appliances, perfect for everything from making quick toast to cooking smaller meals. They heat up faster than conventional ovens and are more energy-efficient for smaller portions. While toaster ovens are convenient for a wide array of cooking tasks, it’s important to understand their limitations and what not to cook in them to ensure safety and optimal cooking results.
While many believe that a toaster oven can handle almost anything a regular oven can, there are certain foods and cookware that are best kept out of these compact appliances. Knowing what to avoid will help you prevent kitchen mishaps, poorly cooked food, and potential fire hazards.
1. Fatty or Greasy Foods
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One of the primary concerns with toaster ovens is the risk of fire, especially when cooking fatty or greasy foods. Foods like bacon, sausages, or excessively cheesy dishes can drip grease onto the heating elements. Because toaster oven heating elements are often exposed and located close to the cooking area, dripping fat can easily ignite, causing a fire.
Paul Hope, a senior home and appliances reporter for Consumer Reports, emphasizes this risk, noting that fires are often caused by fatty foods dripping onto exposed heating elements. Even reheating leftovers like french fries or very cheesy pizzas can pose a fire risk due to grease accumulation.
However, you don’t have to entirely avoid cooking these types of foods. The key is to properly contain them. Using aluminum foil to line the crumb tray or cooking in a covered baking dish can effectively prevent grease from dripping onto the heating elements and minimize the risk of fire. Always supervise the toaster oven when cooking fatty foods and ensure proper ventilation around the appliance.
2. Delicate Pastries and Frozen Baked Goods
While toaster ovens are excellent for crisping up certain pastries, they can be less forgiving with delicate items or frozen baked goods. The intense heat from the close proximity of the heating elements can quickly dry out pastries like cinnamon rolls, croissants, or frozen danishes, leading to a hard, dry, and less than enjoyable result.
Tanya Christian, a home and appliances reporter for Consumer Reports, advises caution with foods prone to drying out. For items like cinnamon rolls, a microwave might be a better initial step to heat them through, followed by a brief crisping in the toaster oven if desired.
For pastries that tend to dry out, Lois DeWitt, author of Pop It in the Toaster Oven, suggests covering them for most of the baking time to retain moisture. Uncover them only towards the end to achieve a slight crispness, if that’s the desired texture. This technique can help prevent the outside from becoming overly dry while ensuring the inside is heated through.
3. Rice
Reheating rice in a toaster oven is generally not recommended. The dry heat environment of a toaster oven tends to draw moisture out of cooked rice, resulting in a crispy, often hard, and unevenly heated product, especially at the bottom.
Tanya Christian specifically points out that rice often becomes crispy in a toaster oven, particularly at the base. This happens because the direct heat from below can quickly evaporate the moisture in the rice before it can reheat evenly.
For reheating rice, methods that introduce or retain moisture, such as microwaving with a damp paper towel or steaming on the stovetop with a little water, are far more effective in maintaining its texture and preventing it from drying out.
4. Unattended Nuts and Seeds
Toasting nuts and seeds in a toaster oven can be a quick and convenient way to enhance their flavor. However, they require close attention. Due to the small size and concentrated heat in a toaster oven, nuts and seeds can burn very rapidly if left unattended.
As one anecdote shared, forgetting about nuts toasting in a toaster oven is a common mistake that leads to burning. The rapid heating capability that makes toaster ovens efficient also means that foods, especially small items like nuts and seeds, can go from perfectly toasted to burnt in a matter of moments.
When toasting nuts or seeds, it’s crucial to stay vigilant. Keep a close eye on them, listen for any changes in sound or smell, and check them frequently to prevent burning. Setting a timer and remaining near the toaster oven throughout the process is highly recommended to ensure they are toasted to perfection without becoming burnt.
5. Certain Glass and Ceramic Bakeware
While many glass and ceramic bakeware items are labeled “oven-safe,” not all are “broiler-safe.” This distinction becomes particularly important in toaster ovens where the heating elements are much closer to the cookware than in a standard oven. Using bakeware that is not broiler-safe in a toaster oven, especially under the direct heat of the top heating element, can lead to shattering due to thermal shock.
John Savoia from Kitchenwitch highlights the importance of caution with glass and ceramic bakeware in toaster ovens. He advises being particularly careful with items not explicitly labeled “broiler-safe” as the close proximity to heating elements increases the risk. Additionally, avoid placing cold glass or ceramic bakeware into a preheated toaster oven, as sudden temperature changes can also cause breakage.
For safer options, metal or silicone bakeware are generally preferred for toaster ovens. Metal bakeware is durable and conducts heat well, while silicone is heat-resistant and flexible. If you have a choice, opting for metal or silicone can eliminate the risk of glass or ceramic shattering and make cleanup easier in case of spills.
6. Paper, Wood, and Plastic
This might seem obvious, but it’s crucial to reiterate: never place paper, wood, or plastic items in a toaster oven. These materials are highly flammable or can melt at toaster oven temperatures, posing both a fire hazard and potential damage to the appliance.
Lois DeWitt explicitly warns against using most paper products, including wax paper, wooden utensils or bowls, plastic wrap, plastic storage containers, and non-oven-safe dishes in a toaster oven. While aluminum foil is generally safe, ensure it does not directly touch the heating elements.
Parchment paper and disposable aluminum containers are generally considered safe alternatives for lining or cooking in a toaster oven. Metal bakeware and oven-safe glass or ceramic are also suitable. Always double-check that any material you place inside the toaster oven is explicitly labeled as oven-safe to prevent accidents and ensure safe cooking.
Bottom Line
With a bit of caution and awareness of what not to put inside, your toaster oven remains a fantastic tool for quick meals and reheating. Understanding these limitations ensures safe and efficient use, allowing you to maximize the benefits of this convenient kitchen appliance while avoiding potential hazards and cooking mishaps.
