WEBlue

We don't have an upright toaster, so we use our toaster oven mostly for toasting. It works fine for all thicknesses of bread slices, and for bagels and halved muffins that mightn't fit easily in a regular toaster-only toaster.

It also melts cheese on toast well, or you can put in the baking tray and it warms up leftover pies/pastries/fried foods/omelet/etc. Nice in the summer heat for small items for one or two people b/c it doesn't heat up the kitchen.

Also better for whatever doesn't benefit from the 'steaming' process of our microwave. I know there are microwaves that say they can 'bake' or 'crisp' food, but we don't have one of those.

Guindalf

I haven't got one myself, but a lot of people on another forum I use swear by this one...

Smart Oven™ BOV800XL Convection Toaster Oven | Breville

I think it's going to be our next one. A little pricey, but it's supposed to be very good.

Yorkieabroad

Back in the late 80's I had one of those Sharp combination microwaves that have a convection oven and grill in it - claimed it could roast bake or grill as well as microwave at the same time. I never really got the hang of the 'combination' method for anything 'dry', but the oven on its own was pretty reasonable (although there were some problems with the door refusing to open when I had it on the highest temp for more than 30 minutes). The grill was next to useless.
Scroll forward almost 15 years to 2002 when we arrived here and started looking at appliances, and a salesman in Sears tried to sell me a very similar model as a one of a kind - "the very latest technology" from Europe....

Hotscot

That's how I killed the current one, the door expanded and stuck, I pulled on it and it shattered into millions of bits.
We've still been using it with a metal tray propped to cover the front but that's just a temporary solution.

That Breville does look nice albeit a bit pricey.

Pulaski

In so far as there's a premium brand for small cooking appliances, Breville would be it.

Hotscot

Quite partial to this one though.
Would pay for itself in the savings by not using the main oven at times.

Mini Smart Oven BOV450XL Toaster Oven | Breville

BubbleChog

All this talking about Breville has got me wondering about "Toasty" makers. Just tried to ask husband about toasties and got a totally blank look. I could kill for a ham and cheese toasty. A proper one with huge pockets of melted cheese Not a melted cheese sandwich

Jerseygirl

I threw mine out when we moved from NJ last year. Daughter used to love cheese toasties.

Uncle_Bob

I go outside and chuck the food on my BBQ grill. Indirect heat. Works well.

Pulaski

Indirect? I can't imagine anything more direct than placing the food directly over glowing coals.

Uncle_Bob

Yep two years ago I wouldn't have a clue either, but i've taken up an interest in BBQ, read a few books etc.

For indirect heat on my charcoal grill i have two baskets for keeping the coals to either side for indirect cooking.



But a charcoal grill would take to long to light and is a bit of a waste just for reheating.

For reheating I would use my gas grill, placing the food in the middle of the grill then lighting just the front and rear burners and not the middle thus providing an indirect heat and not burning or recooking/overcooking the food.
Its quick and easy and here in Arizona with my a/c running full time I don't have to warm my house up.

Hotscot

Went with the Breville...

tuxedocat

$5 brand I never heard of from the thrift store. It's great for things that cook for a long time like baked potatoes or a tray of chicken legs. Toasting subs is tricky it often burns a section of the bread. A bit of a pain would love to get a higher end one that cooks evenly.

What I really want is another ronco rotisserie makes the best chicken ever!

tuxedocat

They are great for teen food we make the super pretzel pretzel bites and cheese sticks.

MMcD

Odd spot to set it down.

Or do you think you'll need a little heat booster?