Toaster Oven

What a world of opportunities my first toaster oven opened up for me! As a bachelor with an enthusiasm for cooking, but limited discovered abilities, that opportunity to stray from the frying pan or pot on the stove was a great thing. That old toaster oven lasted 11 years and was still going strong when it was replaced, both of them being Christmas gifts from my parents.

We had picked this one out because of its much greater size, advanced pushbutton controls and great reviews. As with so many things that are very similar from one model to another, it requires practice and finding a way that works best for us. Having had a first toaster oven I knew which features to look for in our next one and was not afraid to try out demo models in the store before choosing one.

Thanks to the size of this oven I could cook almost anything we would want in it for the two of us. When cooking for a larger group significant side dishes can be prepared in this oven. Besides saving power it has opened up great opportunities for me to cook even more effectively for my wife and slightly larger groups.

Source: Department stores.

Front Oven Controls

As with the flat light switches over the last decade, and front-load washing machines, ovens with front controls are easier to find and more comparably priced than they used to be.

Without question, front controls can be more dangerous for children than standard rear controls, but I believe there are pass-code lockable models available for those concerned. In the past, when living in my first apartment while attending post-secondary education, I considered trying an adaptation to reach across the burners to work the controls on the built-in range top provided in the apartment. I felt it too dangerous for me. Ironically, despite the unusable range in my "barrier-free" apartment, it had a cabinet-mount oven that was usable.

For our home we decided the counter top and cupboard space was more valuable than a roll-under range and a cabinet-mount oven. The solutions to my limited ability to use the range and oven include a toaster oven, electric appliances and planning a meal's completion for when my wife is home and can remove items from the full-sized oven.

Source: Most major appliance retailers.