Thinking about buying an Oster toaster oven? Or perhaps you have one and would like to know how to preheat it?
Well, it’s always important to understand the functionality of a toaster oven or any other appliance before using it.
So, in this article, we take a look at how to preheat your Oster toaster oven and why it’s highly recommended.
Why Preheat Your Oster Toaster Oven?
The main purpose of preheating is to simply heat the air inside the oven to ensure food is properly cooked. You see, the oven needs to reach the right temperature so that food cooks thoroughly.
You see, putting food inside your toaster oven before it has fully heated up can result in poorly cooked food. For instance, if you place dough inside a cold or even a cool oven, it will either rise too soon or too late. Also, broiling meats in cold toaster ovens may cause them to dry out.
Preheating the oven also allows food to cook in lesser time. Therefore, it really makes sense to preheat your toaster oven. However, some foods like frozen pizzas, bagels, leftovers, and toast don’t require preheating. All you need is to pop them inside and switch on the toaster oven.
How to Preheat Oster Toaster Oven
Preheating is an effortless task. All you got to do is turn on the toaster oven and set the temperature you need for your perfectly baked food.
Basically, toaster ovens tend to preheat pretty fast. Therefore, it is advisable to preheat it just before you’re ready to use it.
Additionally, experts recommend that you avoid opening the oven’s door repeatedly because it will pull all the heat out. Consequently, the oven may take longer to reach the cooking temperature.
How Long Does an Oster Toaster Oven Take to Preheat?
The time may vary from one model to another based on two things including oven’s size and power rating. Also, the temperature you choose will determine how long it takes to preheat these mini appliances.
For instance, smaller toaster ovens will perform very differently than their larger counterparts. However, an average toaster oven usually takes between 5-6 minutes to preheat to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. But of course, a larger one may take slightly longer.
So, compared to traditional ovens, toaster ovens take lesser time to preheat which makes them more energy efficient.
What to Cook in Your Oster Toaster Oven
Toaster ovens are very good at tackling breakfast. However, they can do so much more. Sure, they may be small, but they are also very versatile.
You can use your oven to bake pizza, roast veggies, cook sausages, and even meat. Of course, these appliances have limitations. For instance, if you would like to speed up lengthy cook times, a pressure cooker is the go-to appliance.
But besides preparing sandwiches, breakfast toast, and bagels, a toaster oven can be used to make:
- Pizza and spring rolls
- Mozzarella sticks
- Chicken nuggets and even tenders
- Baked potatoes
- Cookies and treats
- Bratwurst and ribs
- Almost any solid food with melted cheese
How Do You Know When Preheating is Complete?
Most models come with an indicator to let you know when preheating is done. However, some models lack this feature. The good news is that you can purchase a small oven thermometer. You just have to place the thermometer inside. The thermometer will show you how accurately your toaster oven is at heating up to the desired temperature.
Benefits of Oster Toaster Oven
While a toaster oven is a little smaller than a standard oven, this versatile appliance offers so many benefits. It’s no wonder it is becoming a permanent item in most kitchens. That said, below are some of the benefits it offers.
Energy Efficient
A toaster oven is considered to be more energy-efficient compared to a full-sized oven. This is because of its small size. As such, it preheats very quickly.
In fact, if you turn it on before assembling your ingredients, it is likely to reach the cooking temperature before you’re ready to cook. So, it’s recommended that you preheat it just before you’re ready to use it.
Light and Portable
Because of their compact size, an Oster toaster oven is very light in weight. This makes it extremely portable. On top of that, it takes up very minimal counter space. As such, it is ideal for cottages, galley kitchens, RVs, and student digs.
Easy to Clean
Another advantage of this type of oven is that it cleans up easily. It boasts an easy-to-clean interior and slide-out trays which makes it easy to get the job done. This is especially if you wipe up any spills as soon as they happen.
Does not Heat up the Kitchen
Traditional ovens or big stoves have a tendency of heating up the kitchen. However, this is not the case with toaster ovens. This makes them ideal for use in the summer, at your recreational vehicle, or in the cottage.
Great Cooking Ability
With this mini-oven, you can cook a variety of foods. For instance, you can bake a crunchy pizza, toast bread, or cook an array of delicious meats and vegetables. Some models even feature a healthy air fryer function for cooking oil-free nuggets or fries.
What’s more, you can defrost and reheat foods. However, unlike a microwave, a toaster oven often produces crusty and crisp results.
Saves Time & Money
Oster toaster ovens can warm up your food twice as fast as standard ovens. They also offer great cooking results faster with less hassle, work, and stress.
Best of all, they are extremely affordable and don’t consume so much power because of their compact size. Therefore, you can save more money compared to using the traditional oven.
Bottom Line
Oster toaster ovens are convenient appliances that help make cooking easier. The best part? They are easy to use and make almost any food you want. Whether you want to toast bread or bake a small tray of cookies, this oven could be a great investment.
Unfortunately, you cannot use it to prepare certain meals like turkey for thanksgiving. However, while it has some limitations, the benefits outweigh them.