Toaster Oven Vs. Microwave Oven; Differences and Similaries

A toaster oven is one of the world’s most widely used kitchen appliances. It has earned this reputation due to its versatility and efficiency- not only can you use boil, bake, warm, and toast in a toaster oven, but you will also find it extremely energy efficient while serving its diverse functions. Using many appliances may consume a lot of counter space, but with a toaster oven, you really do not need to bother anymore about your small kitchen space or your low utility budget; this is how this versatile home appliance saves you a lot of money. A toaster is also by far one of the simplest kitchen appliance items you will find out there. It shares similar qualities with a toaster in performing functions like heating up and toasting bread, bagels, waffles, and lots more. It is an even more useful appliance that often comes with various settings that can be used for much more than toasting.

Similarly, toaster ovens are like standard ovens but smaller. Many newer models have fans inside them to enhance easier and, more importantly, even toasting and cooking, and because a toaster oven can toast, broil, bake, and warm, they can be used as both a toaster and a small oven at the same time. A great advantage of the toaster oven is the time factor. It is much faster to heat because it has a smaller space than a standard-size oven. It can heat many of the same things a microwave oven can, but items cooked in the toaster oven will come out crispy rather than soggy due to the differences in the heating methods. This is one kitchen appliance that will save you hundreds of dollars, because of its versatility; especially if its procured, from a one the best home appliance brand. 

On the other hand, we have microwave ovens; also simple and widely used kitchen appliances- In fact, ‘widely used’ is an understatement. For example, microwave ovens are so popular in Australia that the Canstar Blue Research in 2013 revealed that around 96% of all Australian households owned one or more microwaves. They further added that, over the last couple of years, 28% of all people surveyed said they purchased a new microwave. Whether or not this wide adoption of microwave ovens in Australia is due to their extremely cold temperature, one thing is certain, most people think of microwaves as an essential kitchen appliance, and several other countries around the world share similar views.  

Microwave ovens heat food using microwaves, a wavelength of energy that irradiates the food and heats the water molecules that are part of the substance, thus warming the food via turning some of the water into steam. The benefit of the microwave is that it’s very fast — you can reheat an entire plate of food in a minute. The downside of using a microwave remains; it can significantly drain moisture from what is being reheated, thus affecting the texture and taste of the food- this is common with meat and similar food items. But a microwave is quite effective because it is very fast- you can reheat an entire plate of food in a minute.

Are Toaster Ovens Worth It?

Homeowners and other kitchen users tasked with the responsibility of cooking or preparing meals in large quantities understand better than anyone what it means to have a large kitchen space while they prepare their meals. For safety and other crucial concerns like convenience, you cannot just afford to have your countertop crowded- with a fully occupied countertop. It is inevitable to knock things down, including things that may hurt you or get destroyed, when they hit the ground. Suppose you find yourself lacking the amount of space sufficient to cook what and when you want it. A toaster oven can be nothing short of a godsend in this particular circumstance. The name toaster oven is a misnomer, as this device can do a lot more than toasting; some of the advantages of a toaster oven are mentioned below.

Benefits of Toaster Ovens 

They Give Additional Cooking Space 

If you are already familiar with the functioning of a toaster oven, you’d know that toaster ovens can prepare multiple ingredients simultaneously. Another tremendous benefit of a toaster concerning space-saving is its great use if you want to prepare meals with various stages while being cooked, especially in a situation where each step calls for different temperature settings.

Toaster Ovens Are Easy to Use

One of the striking features of toaster ovens is their incredible ease of use. That means you finally bid goodbye to your days of having to bend over to reach out to cooked food items. The typical placement of a kitchen appliance is the kitchen countertop which makes it especially easy to access. As for operation, you can control your toaster oven by merely pressing two or three buttons, each with designated functions.

It Is Easy to Clean

It is an all-too-common experience of how much of a bothersome chore cleaning kitchen appliances happens. And to add to the distress, they are often greasy, making cleaning uncomfortable, complex, and time-consuming. However, this is not valid for the better toaster models you will find out there in the market. They are easy to clean and require a minimal amount of time. It might be as simple as wiping them with a wet or rather damp cloth after every use. This makes monthly thorough cleaning sessions much more manageable.

It Prevents Kitchen Area from Overheating 

Compared to a convectional oven, a toaster oven generates much less heat in a kitchen space- individuals who use these appliances can testify to this. An overheating oven can be a serious pain point, both in the summer and even in some cold regions in the world, because it is neither energy-efficient nor convenient to use. In such situations, toaster ovens emerge as a lifesaver. It lets you have fun while you cook all sorts of dishes without worrying about overheating.

Heats Faster and Saves Energy

Toaster ovens are well known for their prompt preheating times, and the attribute is primarily due to the compact size of such appliances. Conventional ovens may call for significant cooking time. Simple cooking exercises like toasting slices of bread and warming dinner leftovers take time in traditional ovens; toaster ovens, in contrast, work fast.

Disadvantages of a Toaster Oven 

Food may burn easily and quickly

Because toaster ovens cook food items very fast, it is may burn this food very quickly, too, if constant vigil is not kept. Hence, the fact that a toaster oven cooks very fast is a con and pro and the same time. If the toaster oven is not watched from time to time, it may destroy your meal.

The Number of dishes one can cook is relatively limited

Toaster ovens are significantly smaller in size. Therefore, they have very little space to accommodate enough food items at once. Therefore, despite their numerous advantages, toaster ovens are not entirely adequate replacements for conventional ovens for particular cooking purposes. The former is more suited for smaller, less elaborate dishes. If you have a small family or live alone, then toaster ovens may be the better choice. It is a fact that toaster ovens are not suitable for a large number of dishes.

It may not cook your food evenly 

Generally, toaster ovens cook pretty fast and evenly, too. They can make your food cook evenly because of the fans embedded in them. However, toaster ovens do not cook as evenly when they are making bread toast. Two bread slices of the same loaf will likely be cooked to varying degrees in a toaster oven. Such differences might not always be conspicuous, but they are there.

Are Microwave Ovens Worth Buying?

Recently, every homeowner has had a microwave oven in their home. Significantly makes life easier when it warms your food with ease and performs other functions. Microwave ovens have a very fast cooking time and can be used to prepare a wide variety of foods. It is also easy to clean and safe for defrosting food. A microwave oven is also energy-efficient as it uses less energy than a cook stove if it cooks or reheats small amounts of food. Because the microwave is an enclosed container, it does not produce steam or smoke that usually can appear when cooking food on the stoves or flames; this section will be used to address the detailed benefits that come with using a microwave.

Less risk of Burns and the elimination of tars/char

When you use a microwave oven, the probability of your food getting burnt in the process is significantly lower than when you use a toaster oven or a manual stove. Well, it is arguable that microwave ovens burn less because they take a slightly longer time than a toaster oven. Still, a better argument is that they heat the food but stay cold, unlike other heating methods. Heated food can heat the dish in which it is heated, but even that to a lesser extent than conventional stoves and ovens.

On the other hand, because of the lower temperature of cooking in a microwave oven, eliminates the formation of tars and char, which are carcinogenic.

The Ability  To Heat Food Quickly 

The obvious initial advantage that comes to mind is the ability of the microwave oven to cook fast. Due to the way a microwave cooks food, using a microwave is much faster than any other appliance. When a microwave cooks food, it uses a magnetron to create radio waves, which send heat energy directly into the molecules of whatever it is heating.

Direct Heat 

The direct heat of other types of kitchen appliances can fry the surface while the inside stays cold. Microwave radiation penetrates deeper than that and, in combination with a stirrer or turntable, it allows for more even heating of the food. Another benefit derivable from using a microwave oven is the reduced time needed for your food items to heat up if subsequently placed in a grill or pan. More importantly, that process reduces the risk of the formation of carcinogenic char in your food.

Toaster Oven vs. Microwave

When the need to reheat your food arises, you turn to one of these two appliances; a toaster oven or a microwave oven. However,, when faced with the dilemma of insufficient countertop space, you may just be forced to prefer one to the other. Each appliance mentioned above has its features and peculiar benefits over the others. This section attempts to treat these varying features to assist your decision-making. 

Cooking Process 

Toaster ovens cook food using infrared radiation produced by coils. Thus, because the heat from these coils hits your food directly, toaster ovens do not just toast your food. They caramelize and crisp your food conveniently. Therefore if you are bent on retaining the taste of your heated food, toaster ovens are a better option.

On the hand, microwave ovens bounce electromagnetic waves that heat the water molecules within foods. While they cook food faster and more thoroughly, they lack the same crisping qualities, leaving foods like bread and meat much chewier. But a microwave can efficiently heat water for tea, bring soups up to temperature, or quickly reheat coffee.

Cooking Time

In direct cooking, using a toaster oven, means longer cooking times. However, the cooking method of a microwave oven helps it cook faster than a toaster oven. One to know is that microwave power and heating levels depend on the wattage of the microwave oven.

Installation

Toaster ovens and microwaves are available in countertop models and models that can be hung underneath your cabinets (usually over the stovetop). Over-the-range microwaves free up your counters and give your kitchen a streamlined look. If you choose to hang your appliance, choose the correct size to fit the space and allow enough clearance from the stovetop. Since this requires electrical work and you’ll need to account for exhaust ducting, you’ll likely want to opt for a professional installation. This also ensures you’ll stay in line with building codes and the minimum spacing required for installation.

An in-between option is to install a countertop microwave into a nook in the cabinets and surround it with a trim kit, giving it a custom look. This option is usually not available for countertop toaster ovens due to the amount of heat the

FAQs

How do you clean a really dirty toaster oven?

The fact that a toaster oven is quite easy to clean is the reason why most homeowners prefer it to other heating options. To clean your toaster oven by yourself, set it outside or any other place you would not mind messing up. Soak it up and leave it that way overnight, then scrub the cavity with a mixture of dish soap and baking soda.

Can Microwave Ovens be repaired?

It can surely be repaired if you run into some trouble with your microwave oven. And often, you may not need to engage the services of a professional to get the fault fixed; you will only need some appliance repair kit and appliance troubleshooting skills. Alternatively, you may need to call a professional when the fault is excessive.