I've had mixed success making toast in a toaster oven.

I used to toast it on the middle rack. But it seems that I have to toast it
longer when I put it on the middle rack, and the toast comes out dry.

Lately I've been finding more success toasting it on the upper rack (like
broiling or grilling). Toasting it on the upper rack browns one side really
well, and leaves the other side soft, and ready for my tummy.


W. Pooh (AKA Winnie P.)

The directions for my last three toaster ovens said to toast with the rack in the top position, and heat/bake
using the middle position. Did you even read the instructions that came with? ?

N.

On 1/26/2014 12:08 PM, Christopher M. wrote:
> I've had mixed success making toast in a toaster oven.
>
> I used to toast it on the middle rack. But it seems that I have to toast it
> longer when I put it on the middle rack, and the toast comes out dry.
>
> Lately I've been finding more success toasting it on the upper rack (like
> broiling or grilling). Toasting it on the upper rack browns one side really
> well, and leaves the other side soft, and ready for my tummy.
>
>
> W. Pooh (AKA Winnie P.)
>
>
Congratulations. LOL

Jill

"Nancy2" > wrote in message
...
> The directions for my last three toaster ovens said to toast with the rack
> in the top position, and heat/bake
> using the middle position. Did you even read the instructions that came
> with? ?
>
> N.

Thanks for the heads up.


W. Pooh (AKA Winnie P.)

"Nancy2" > wrote in message
...
> The directions for my last three toaster ovens said to toast with the rack
> in the top position, and heat/bake
> using the middle position. Did you even read the instructions that came
> with? ?
>
> N.

Actually the instructions for my toaster say "middle rack". But I guess
sometimes you just have to throw away the manual and make stuff up.


W. Pooh (AKA Winnie P.)

Christopher M. wrote:
> I've had mixed success making toast in a toaster oven.

toast is one of the hardest things to cook well

I'm pretty sure James Beard or Anthony Bourdain or some famous chef said that

On Sunday, January 26, 2014 12:11:08 PM UTC-5, Nancy2 wrote:
> The directions for my last three toaster ovens said to toast with the rack in the top position, and heat/bake
>
> using the middle position. Did you even read the instructions that came with? ?
>
>
>
> N.

Three? Did you say THREE? I'm still using my late sixties GE version - one rack plus a tray for roasting. Simple is best?

If it ever dies on me, I think I'll go for the Breville.

On 1/26/2014 12:17 PM, Christopher M. wrote:
> "Nancy2" > wrote in message
> ...
>> The directions for my last three toaster ovens said to toast with the rack
>> in the top position, and heat/bake
>> using the middle position. Did you even read the instructions that came
>> with? ?
>>
>> N.
>
> Actually the instructions for my toaster say "middle rack". But I guess
> sometimes you just have to throw away the manual and make stuff up.
>
>
> W. Pooh (AKA Winnie P.)
>
>
You seem to be pretty good at that. At least you found a way to make it
the way you like it.

I've always found toaster ovens to be pretty much useless. Expecially
for actually using the "broil" setting (which I think of as for meat -
burgers or maybe a small steak). I've been given two toaster ovens in
my adult life and gave both of them away.

They might be new and improved these days. I don't know. To me they
always took up counter space and didn't do anything the regular
oven/broiler could.

Save electricity? I doubt it. The ones I had didn't get hot enough,
fast enough, or cook well enough, for me to believe I was saving money
by using a toaster oven. As always, YMMV.

Jill

On 1/26/2014 7:08 AM, Christopher M. wrote:
> I've had mixed success making toast in a toaster oven.
>
> I used to toast it on the middle rack. But it seems that I have to toast it
> longer when I put it on the middle rack, and the toast comes out dry.
>
> Lately I've been finding more success toasting it on the upper rack (like
> broiling or grilling). Toasting it on the upper rack browns one side really
> well, and leaves the other side soft, and ready for my tummy.
>
>
> W. Pooh (AKA Winnie P.)
>
>

This is clearly an abuse of the word "grill." You can also forget about
broiling toast in your toaster oven. You can only toast toast in a
toaster oven. OTOH, I've been having some problems with making a grilled
cheese sandwich. The jalapeno/cheese bread refuses to transfer heat to
the slice of American cheese. I've never seen that happen in all my
decades of making grilled sandwiches. Obviously, this is a special
property of the bread. I don't know what to do. My tummy hurts so.

On 1/26/2014 12:33 PM, tert in seattle wrote:
> Christopher M. wrote:
>> I've had mixed success making toast in a toaster oven.
>
> toast is one of the hardest things to cook well
>
> I'm pretty sure James Beard or Anthony Bourdain or some famous chef said that
>
>
Oh c'mon, tert! I don't care who said it, I don't believe it. "toast
is one of the hardest things to cook". No, that would be eggs to order.
And it's always subjective.

I've made different types of toast in an electric oven broiler for a lot
of years. It's not difficult. You just have to pay attention so you
don't burn it. Garlic toast, cheese toast. It's easy enough to figure out.

I believe most people here know how to toast all sorts of bread using
many methods. I, for one, have never found it difficult.

Jill

On Sun, 26 Jan 2014 12:08:50 -0500, "Christopher M."
> wrote:

> I've had mixed success making toast in a toaster oven.
>
> I used to toast it on the middle rack. But it seems that I have to toast it
> longer when I put it on the middle rack, and the toast comes out dry.
>
> Lately I've been finding more success toasting it on the upper rack (like
> broiling or grilling). Toasting it on the upper rack browns one side really
> well, and leaves the other side soft, and ready for my tummy.
>
Those larger toaster ovens are cr*p when it comes to toasting slices
of bread. Buy a two slice toaster oven or forget about it.


--

Good Food.
Good Friends.
Good Memories.

"sf" > wrote in message
...

> Those larger toaster ovens are cr*p when it comes to toasting slices
> of bread. Buy a two slice toaster oven or forget about it.

I agree with you there. I have both sizes and always use the small one for
toast. The big one doesn't do a good job.

Cheri

Christopher M. wrote:
>
>I've had mixed success making toast in a toaster oven.
>Toast is one of the hardest things to cook well.

Toaster ovens are one of the most useless kitchen appliances, almost
as worthless as a food processor.

Toasting bread well is fairly fool proof with any ordinary $10 bread
toaster.... my old KA ultra power plus bread toaster makes exceptional
toast, any degree of doneness, even defrosts frozen bagels and toasts
them perfectly. Mine is in white, it's been used every day for over
ten years, works perfectly. It easily accomodates two slices of
packaged bread, or one over-sized slice of homemade... they made a two
slot model as well. I don't know if it's still available.
http://www.amazon.com/KitchenAid-KTT...ref=pd_sxp_f_r

On Sun, 26 Jan 2014 11:15:59 -0800, "Cheri" >
wrote:

>
> "sf" > wrote in message
> ...
>
> > Those larger toaster ovens are cr*p when it comes to toasting slices
> > of bread. Buy a two slice toaster oven or forget about it.
>
> I agree with you there. I have both sizes and always use the small one for
> toast. The big one doesn't do a good job.
>
I haven't owned a toaster oven since GE sold their small appliance
division to Black & Decker. When B&D started selling the two slice
toaster ovens, they were horrible - so I gave up on the concept. My
kids got older and I didn't need a toaster oven anymore. What do you
think of the two slice toaster ovens now?



--

Good Food.
Good Friends.
Good Memories.

On 1/26/14, 12:37 PM, Kalmia wrote:

> If it ever dies on me, I think I'll go for the Breville.

I just bought the middle Breville about a month ago, replacing our old
Kenwood electronic toaster. It does a fine job with up to four slices.

All the Breville toaster ovens specify middle rack for toasting.
Actually, I've never seen or heard of a toaster oven that didn't.

-- Larry

On 2014-01-26, Christopher M. > wrote:
> I've had mixed success making toast in a toaster oven.

This due to most toaster ovens being utter garbage. The concept was a
good one originally. Make a toaster that will handle toast, cinnamon
rolls, a Danish, the occasional frozen pot pie. But, the competition
has driven the price point down to were the only way vendors can
compete is to make junk. TOs with really crappy heating elements,
without even a decent pretense of providing even toasting. When the
price goes up, instead of getting better quality, the consumer gets a
bigger TO with more useless whistles and bells. Do a chicken! Bake a
pie! It's been my experience, no one makes a decent small toaster
oven that actually toasts bread worth a damn.

nb

"Christopher M." > wrote in message
...
> I've had mixed success making toast in a toaster oven.
>
> I used to toast it on the middle rack. But it seems that I have to toast
> it longer when I put it on the middle rack, and the toast comes out dry.
>
> Lately I've been finding more success toasting it on the upper rack (like
> broiling or grilling). Toasting it on the upper rack browns one side
> really well, and leaves the other side soft, and ready for my tummy.

The toast comes out dry? Is that not the point of toast? To dry it out?
Sheesh.

"jmcquown" > wrote in message
...
> On 1/26/2014 12:17 PM, Christopher M. wrote:
>> "Nancy2" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> The directions for my last three toaster ovens said to toast with the
>>> rack
>>> in the top position, and heat/bake
>>> using the middle position. Did you even read the instructions that came
>>> with? ?
>>>
>>> N.
>>
>> Actually the instructions for my toaster say "middle rack". But I guess
>> sometimes you just have to throw away the manual and make stuff up.
>>
>>
>> W. Pooh (AKA Winnie P.)
>>
>>
> You seem to be pretty good at that. At least you found a way to make it
> the way you like it.
>
> I've always found toaster ovens to be pretty much useless. Expecially for
> actually using the "broil" setting (which I think of as for meat - burgers
> or maybe a small steak). I've been given two toaster ovens in my adult
> life and gave both of them away.
>
> They might be new and improved these days. I don't know. To me they
> always took up counter space and didn't do anything the regular
> oven/broiler could.
>
> Save electricity? I doubt it. The ones I had didn't get hot enough, fast
> enough, or cook well enough, for me to believe I was saving money by using
> a toaster oven. As always, YMMV.

The one I had did work but got so hot on the outside that I considered it a
danger.

"jmcquown" > wrote in message
...
> On 1/26/2014 12:33 PM, tert in seattle wrote:
>> Christopher M. wrote:
>>> I've had mixed success making toast in a toaster oven.
>>
>> toast is one of the hardest things to cook well
>>
>> I'm pretty sure James Beard or Anthony Bourdain or some famous chef said
>> that
>>
>>
> Oh c'mon, tert! I don't care who said it, I don't believe it. "toast is
> one of the hardest things to cook". No, that would be eggs to order. And
> it's always subjective.
>
> I've made different types of toast in an electric oven broiler for a lot
> of years. It's not difficult. You just have to pay attention so you
> don't burn it. Garlic toast, cheese toast. It's easy enough to figure
> out.
>
> I believe most people here know how to toast all sorts of bread using many
> methods. I, for one, have never found it difficult.

Me either. I grew up making it in the oven or toaster oven because the
toasters we had as a kid all burned everything. My previous toaster was
great! It had a bread brain so the toast was always perfect.

What I have now is nice. Put the honey whole wheat bread in, push down the
lever and when it is done, it is the way Angela likes it. But it is not
toasted enough for me. This bread is especially moist to start with. It
toasts an English Muffin, white bread or Italian perfectly. I had to put
mine down for not quite another full cycle and it's great. If I put it down
twice it can get a little overdone. Not quite full on burned but I would
prefer it slightly less toasted.

"sf" > wrote in message
...
> On Sun, 26 Jan 2014 11:15:59 -0800, "Cheri" >
> wrote:
>
>>
>> "sf" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>
>> > Those larger toaster ovens are cr*p when it comes to toasting slices
>> > of bread. Buy a two slice toaster oven or forget about it.
>>
>> I agree with you there. I have both sizes and always use the small one
>> for
>> toast. The big one doesn't do a good job.
>>
> I haven't owned a toaster oven since GE sold their small appliance
> division to Black & Decker. When B&D started selling the two slice
> toaster ovens, they were horrible - so I gave up on the concept. My
> kids got older and I didn't need a toaster oven anymore. What do you
> think of the two slice toaster ovens now?

Mine is several years old and it is a B&D but it does a great job with the
toast. It also doesn't take up a lot of space, but it is fairly worthless as
an oven. The Cuisinart toaster oven is larger and it does a great job of
cooking a pie, cake, etc. but doesn't do toast well at all.

Cheri

On 1/26/2014 2:16 PM, Brooklyn1 wrote:
> Christopher M. wrote:
>>
>> I've had mixed success making toast in a toaster oven.
>> Toast is one of the hardest things to cook well.
>
> Toaster ovens are one of the most useless kitchen appliances,

That was true of the two I owned. I had an oven. I could grill/broil
toast on a sheet pan under a regular oven broiler.

> almost as worthless as a food processor.
>
Some people will swear by them. I'm not one of them. If other people
find a food processor something they use every day, more power to them.

> Toasting bread well is fairly fool proof with any ordinary $10 bread
> toaster.... my old KA ultra power plus bread toaster makes exceptional
> toast, any degree of doneness, even defrosts frozen bagels and toasts
> them perfectly.

Okay. All I'm saying is before toaster ovens there were plenty of
people who knew how to grill/toast bread in ovens. Or under a regular
oven broiler. Without using a toaster oven. The OP quoted some TV
chefs who stated: "Toast is one of the hardest things to cook well."
That's pretty much BS. I think we can agree on that.

Jill

On Sun, 26 Jan 2014 16:16:23 -0800, "Cheri" >
wrote:

> Mine is several years old and it is a B&D but it does a great job with the
> toast. It also doesn't take up a lot of space, but it is fairly worthless as
> an oven. The Cuisinart toaster oven is larger and it does a great job of
> cooking a pie, cake, etc. but doesn't do toast well at all.
>
When I had a two slice toaster oven, I used it to bake potatoes for
our dinner or make french fries for the kids lunch - but mainly, it
served as a toaster. My DD has no working oven at the moment and is
using a larger "toaster" oven until her kitchen is remodeled...
there's no way on god's green earth that I'd use that thing as a
toaster. Why they kid themselves with dual functionality is beyond
me.


--

Good Food.
Good Friends.
Good Memories.

I'm older than dirt. Plus, I don't mind replacing such a cheap appliance, contrary to my usual method of
operation. Plus, my son broke one by turning the dial the wrong way. What can I say? LOL.

N.

I don't heat any bread-like items in the microwave because I don't like the resulting texture. I use the
bake choice on my toaster oven to heat frozen items, leftover things like pizza, biscuits or rolls
wrapped in foil. It is much more satisfactory to me, than the nuker. And it does use less electricity than the oven.

N.

Make grilled cheese sandwiches in a sauté pan on the stove. Butter both outsides of the bread,
put in the fillings, use a medium temp instead of a faster one, smoosh the sandwich a little, let it
brown slowly (put a lid on it if you need to, to keep the heat in).

It ain't rocket science.

N.

Prt, meet my Hamilton Beach or Sunbeam toaster oven, both top-rack toasters.

N.

Jill, one thing that isn't good leftover is toast. Why would anyone heat a full size oven or a broiler
(in the oven) for one piece
of toast or a single frozen pot pie?? What a waste of energy.

I wouldn't ever give up my toaster oven willingly. (Or, Shel, my mini-FP...how else does one get really fine fresh bread crumbs?)

N.

On 1/26/2014 3:32 PM, Nancy2 wrote:
> Make grilled cheese sandwiches in a sauté pan on the stove. Butter both outsides of the bread,
> put in the fillings, use a medium temp instead of a faster one, smoosh the sandwich a little, let it
> brown slowly (put a lid on it if you need to, to keep the heat in).
>
> It ain't rocket science.
>
> N.
>

It ain't rocket science is right. I use a frying pan and do all those
little things that you're supposed to including browning both sides of
the bread. The brioche type bread doesn't retain heat very well. It's
the darndest thing I've ever seen. Next time I have to microwave the
sandwich to melt the cheese and then brown it on two sides.

On 1/26/2014 2:16 PM, Cheri wrote:
> Mine is several years old and it is a B&D but it does a great job with
> the toast. It also doesn't take up a lot of space, but it is fairly
> worthless as an oven. The Cuisinart toaster oven is larger and it does a
> great job of cooking a pie, cake, etc. but doesn't do toast well at all.
>
> Cheri

The main problem is that this appliance is misnamed. If it was called a
toaster-iron, people would try to iron their clothes with it.

jmcquown wrote:
> On 1/26/2014 12:33 PM, tert in seattle wrote:
>> Christopher M. wrote:
>>> I've had mixed success making toast in a toaster oven.
>>
>> toast is one of the hardest things to cook well
>>
>> I'm pretty sure James Beard or Anthony Bourdain or some famous chef said that
>>
>>
> Oh c'mon, tert! I don't care who said it, I don't believe it. "toast
> is one of the hardest things to cook". No, that would be eggs to order.
> And it's always subjective.
>
> I've made different types of toast in an electric oven broiler for a lot
> of years. It's not difficult. You just have to pay attention so you
> don't burn it. Garlic toast, cheese toast. It's easy enough to figure out.
>
> I believe most people here know how to toast all sorts of bread using
> many methods. I, for one, have never found it difficult.
>
> Jill

sure, anyone can make toast

but when's the last time you had toast that really knocked yer socks off?

"dsi1" > wrote in message
...
> On 1/26/2014 2:16 PM, Cheri wrote:
>> Mine is several years old and it is a B&D but it does a great job with
>> the toast. It also doesn't take up a lot of space, but it is fairly
>> worthless as an oven. The Cuisinart toaster oven is larger and it does a
>> great job of cooking a pie, cake, etc. but doesn't do toast well at all.
>>
>> Cheri
>
> The main problem is that this appliance is misnamed. If it was called a
> toaster-iron, people would try to iron their clothes with it.

Sorry, I don't iron. :-)

Cheri

On 1/26/2014 8:28 PM, Nancy2 wrote:
> I don't heat any bread-like items in the microwave because I don't like the resulting texture. I use the
> bake choice on my toaster oven to heat frozen items, leftover things like pizza, biscuits or rolls
> wrapped in foil. It is much more satisfactory to me, than the nuker. And it does use less electricity than the oven.
>
> N.
>
Who mentioned a microwave? Again, some quoting would be helpful.

Jill

On 1/26/2014 8:41 PM, Nancy2 wrote:
> Jill, one thing that isn't good leftover is toast. Why would anyone heat a full size oven or a broiler
> (in the oven) for one piece
> of toast or a single frozen pot pie?? What a waste of energy.
>
Leftover toast? Never heard of such a thing. Who makes more toast than
they're planning to eat?

Psssst, those frozen pot pies are microwaveable these days. I don't
buy them very often so nuking one on occasion is fine with me.

Jill

> I wouldn't ever give up my toaster oven willingly. (Or, Shel, my mini-FP...how else does one get really fine fresh bread crumbs?)
>
> N.
>
No one said you have to give yours up! In my case, as I stated, the two
toaster ovens I had didn't impress me. (Both were gifts, one probably a
wedding present, the other my parents bought for me in the early
1990's.) They didn't make good toast and they weren't good for much
else either. They also took up valuable counter space and no good place
to stash it away when not in use.

Jill

On 1/26/2014 11:17 PM, tert in seattle wrote:
> jmcquown wrote:
>> On 1/26/2014 12:33 PM, tert in seattle wrote:
>>> Christopher M. wrote:
>>>> I've had mixed success making toast in a toaster oven.
>>>
>>> toast is one of the hardest things to cook well
>>>
>>> I'm pretty sure James Beard or Anthony Bourdain or some famous chef said that
>>>
>>>
>> Oh c'mon, tert! I don't care who said it, I don't believe it. "toast
>> is one of the hardest things to cook". No, that would be eggs to order.
>> And it's always subjective.
>>
>> I've made different types of toast in an electric oven broiler for a lot
>> of years. It's not difficult. You just have to pay attention so you
>> don't burn it. Garlic toast, cheese toast. It's easy enough to figure out.
>>
>> I believe most people here know how to toast all sorts of bread using
>> many methods. I, for one, have never found it difficult.
>>
>> Jill
>
> sure, anyone can make toast
>
> but when's the last time you had toast that really knocked yer socks off?
>
Never. Toast is toast. The key difference would be the bread itself.

Jill

In article >,
jmcquown > wrote:
>On 1/26/2014 12:17 PM, Christopher M. wrote:
>> "Nancy2" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> The directions for my last three toaster ovens said to toast with the rack
>>> in the top position, and heat/bake
>>> using the middle position. Did you even read the instructions that came
>>> with? ?
>>>
>>> N.
>>
>> Actually the instructions for my toaster say "middle rack". But I guess
>> sometimes you just have to throw away the manual and make stuff up.
>>
>>
>> W. Pooh (AKA Winnie P.)
>>
>>
>You seem to be pretty good at that. At least you found a way to make it
>the way you like it.
>
>I've always found toaster ovens to be pretty much useless. Expecially
>for actually using the "broil" setting (which I think of as for meat -
>burgers or maybe a small steak). I've been given two toaster ovens in
>my adult life and gave both of them away.
>
>They might be new and improved these days. I don't know. To me they
>always took up counter space and didn't do anything the regular
>oven/broiler could.
>
>Save electricity? I doubt it. The ones I had didn't get hot enough,
>fast enough, or cook well enough, for me to believe I was saving money
>by using a toaster oven. As always, YMMV.
>
>Jill

I pretty much use mine only for melting cheese. Nachos, toasted
cheese sandwiches, etc. Last night I had a piece of buttered
bread and realized I wanted the butter melted. Popped it into
the toaster oven.

I've never had much success using my oven's broiler on meat, so I've
never tried meat in the toaster oven.

Mine isn't fancy at all. It's a small, 1989-vintage Black and Decker,
with a mounting bracket so it doesn't take up any counter space.
I got it as a wedding present. If it died, I doubt I'd replace it.
But I have it, so I use it.

Cindy Hamilton
--

On 1/27/2014 9:54 AM, Cindy Hamilton wrote:
> In article >,
> jmcquown > wrote:
>> On 1/26/2014 12:17 PM, Christopher M. wrote:
>>> "Nancy2" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> The directions for my last three toaster ovens said to toast with the rack
>>>> in the top position, and heat/bake
>>>> using the middle position. Did you even read the instructions that came
>>>> with? ?
>>>>
>>>> N.
>>>
>>> Actually the instructions for my toaster say "middle rack". But I guess
>>> sometimes you just have to throw away the manual and make stuff up.
>>>
>>>
>>> W. Pooh (AKA Winnie P.)
>>>
>>>
>> You seem to be pretty good at that. At least you found a way to make it
>> the way you like it.
>>
>> I've always found toaster ovens to be pretty much useless. Expecially
>> for actually using the "broil" setting (which I think of as for meat -
>> burgers or maybe a small steak). I've been given two toaster ovens in
>> my adult life and gave both of them away.
>>
>> They might be new and improved these days. I don't know. To me they
>> always took up counter space and didn't do anything the regular
>> oven/broiler could.
>>
>> Save electricity? I doubt it. The ones I had didn't get hot enough,
>> fast enough, or cook well enough, for me to believe I was saving money
>> by using a toaster oven. As always, YMMV.
>>
>> Jill
>
> I pretty much use mine only for melting cheese. Nachos, toasted
> cheese sandwiches, etc. Last night I had a piece of buttered
> bread and realized I wanted the butter melted. Popped it into
> the toaster oven.
>
> I've never had much success using my oven's broiler on meat, so I've
> never tried meat in the toaster oven.
>
> Mine isn't fancy at all. It's a small, 1989-vintage Black and Decker,
> with a mounting bracket so it doesn't take up any counter space.
> I got it as a wedding present. If it died, I doubt I'd replace it.
> But I have it, so I use it.
>
> Cindy Hamilton
>
I always thought the Black & Decker undermount appliances were a great
idea for a small kitchen. IIRC they also sold a coffee maker like that.
I don't think they make those anymore. Some fool probably managed to
set their kitchen cabinets on fire...

Jill

On 1/27/2014 10:08 AM, jmcquown wrote:

> I always thought the Black & Decker undermount appliances were a great
> idea for a small kitchen. IIRC they also sold a coffee maker like that.
> I don't think they make those anymore. Some fool probably managed to
> set their kitchen cabinets on fire...
>
The mounting kit includes a metal heat/flame shield - we had one for
years. It's still in use at my daughter's place - she has a miniscule
kitchen, and couldn't afford to lose counter space.

On 1/27/2014 10:27 AM, S Viemeister wrote:
> On 1/27/2014 10:08 AM, jmcquown wrote:
>
>> I always thought the Black & Decker undermount appliances were a great
>> idea for a small kitchen. IIRC they also sold a coffee maker like that.
>> I don't think they make those anymore. Some fool probably managed to
>> set their kitchen cabinets on fire...
>>
> The mounting kit includes a metal heat/flame shield - we had one for
> years. It's still in use at my daughter's place - she has a miniscule
> kitchen, and couldn't afford to lose counter space.
>
I would guess it had a sheild like that. But some idiot will always
manage to screw things up and probably sue.

Jill

On 27-Jan-2014, (Cindy Hamilton) wrote:

> I pretty much use mine only for melting cheese. Nachos, toasted
> cheese sandwiches, etc. Last night I had a piece of buttered
> bread and realized I wanted the butter melted. Popped it into
> the toaster oven.

I use mine that way as well. It is often used to reheat leftovers and I
also use it as an adjuct oven to keep things, such as casseroles, warm while
the main oven is doing other things. It is also how I finish frittatas,
which I eat fairly often.

Dsi1, have you tried putting a lid on it? I can't believe that "heat retention" is such a big problem.
Maybe your bread slices are too thick.

N.