Do you intend to purchase a new toaster oven? Or are you skeptical about using the one you have in your home because you have some unanswered questions such as, how hot does a toaster oven get? Are you worried about your personal safety or the safety of objects surrounding your toaster oven?
Simply put, the temperature of toaster oven ranges from 150° Fahrenheit to 500° Fahrenheit (65° C – 260° C).
If you are wondering how hot this really is and whether it is dangerous, then read on.
Also Read: Are toaster ovens safe?
How Does Toaster Oven Heat Up?
Toaster oven heats up by converting electrical energy into heat energy using either an electric resistance coil, infrared lamp or other devices depending on the model.
The component that heats up is generally referred to as the heating element. Those glaring red components that you see on the top and bottom of the toaster oven are electric resistance coils.
These coils basically resist the electrical current without breaking apart which ends up releasing heat.
Since toaster ovens are small, they preheat very quickly due to their smaller chamber as compared to a regular oven and as such they are faster at cooking and reheating your food.
For convection toaster ovens, there is an additional feature, a fan, which helps to circulate the hot air within the oven chamber so that the heat affects the food from all sides.
Convection Toaster Ovens are slightly more expensive and you do have to modify the temperature of your recipe when using this feature.
So that is basically how the heating works. One thing to note is that unlike microwave ovens that heat the food from the inside out, toaster ovens, like regular ovens, heat from the outside in.
So How How Hot Does a Toaster Oven Get?
Toaster ovens can get as low as a stable 150° Fahrenheit (65° C) and as high as 500° Fahrenheit (260° C), which is the same for a regular oven.
The typical upper range is 450° Fahrenheit (230° C). An oven with a temperature exceeding 450° Fahrenheit is called a Quick Oven. These are some time also called broiler ovens.
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This means that that a toaster oven can cook basically anything that a regular oven can. The only limit is their size.
They can bake, roast, broil and let’s not forget, toast.
How Do You Regulate Your Toaster Oven Temperature?
Many have concerns that toaster ovens do not regulate temperatures as perfectly as conventional ovens.
This concern is plausible to some extent. However, there is a quick way to check how accurate your oven temperature is.
Testing the Accuracy of Toaster Oven Temperature
Are you tired of burning countless dinners in your toaster oven? Or do you just get frustrated about temperature modification that comes with using a toaster oven? It’s okay.
This condition is typical with some toaster ovens, especially those that are available at budget range.
So to test the accuracy of your toaster oven, here are some steps;
- Start with a cold toaster oven
- Place your baking rack in the middle level
- Place an oven thermometer in the baking rack
- Set the toaster oven to any of the preset functions and the temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- The toaster oven will begin to preheat. After it has finished preheating, the toaster will make a “ding” sound. Bring out the thermometer and check to see if the temperature is accurate.
If your toaster oven does not have a preheat feature, set your toaster oven timer to 5-10 minutes.
If the thermometer’s temperature commensurate with the set temperature, then there is no problem with your toaster oven.
But if the thermometer’s temperature is higher or lower than your set temperature, it means that your toaster oven temperature is inaccurate.
What do you do if it inaccurate?
- First, you should allow your toaster oven to cool down then re-do the test again. Just to be sure.
- If the temperature still remains the same, you could return the toaster oven to the manufacturer. Or,
- For any future cooking, the difference between the two temperatures will either be deducted or added to the recipe temperature.
Also Read: Where to Recycle Toaster Oven?
Toaster Oven Preset Functions and Their Corresponding Temperatures
In most modern-day toaster ovens, there are usually preset functions that are put in place to guide the user without the need of a cookery book or recipe.
NOTE: NOT ALL TOASTER OVENS HAVE PRESET FUNCTIONS.
Toast
The toasting temperature is generally 450 degree Fahrenheit.
Some advanced toaster ovens allow ask you to set the number of toasts placed in the chamber.
When the toasting function is set, both the top and bottom heating elements turn on.
With a preset function, the oven takes care of the temperature as well as the cooking cycle for you.
Some advanced toaster ovens like the Breville Smart Oven Pro (BOV845BSS) may even ask you to set the toast to light or dark crust.
Bake
When trying to bake in a toaster oven, turn the function dial to the Bake function. The preset temperature and time typically for toaster oven for Bake are 325-350 degrees Fahrenheit with a 30 minutes cycle.
This temperature and time is sufficient to bake a 4-oz chicken.
Roast
Preset temperature and time for roasting in a toaster oven are 350 degrees Fahrenheit in 1 hour.
It can even reach 375 degrees Fahrenheit depending upon model and size of your toaster oven.
The higher temperature required for roasting is essential for the brownish and crisply crust.
Also Read: Best Toaster Ovens with Rotisserie
Broil
Broiling is used for quick heating, melt cheese, toast etc. As such, broiling temperature are generally quite high but with a short cooking cycle.
Do not be alarmed if you find the preset temperature and time for broiling in a toaster oven at 500 degrees Fahrenheit with 10 minutes cycle.
Where Do I Place My Toaster Oven?
We have established how hot a toaster oven can get while cooking, therefore, it is imperative to be cautious about where you place your toaster oven to avoid damage to the appliance, property and danger to human and pet lives.
The single most important care that should be taken is to make sure that the toaster oven has proper ventilation.
Check out some places you could place your toaster ovens.
- On a platform, preferably high. This is to enhance proper ventilation for your oven.
- In a cabinet that fits. It helps if there is pocket space on all sides to prevent damage to the toaster oven
- On a countertop, far away from the sink to avoid splashes of water. Also, distance your toaster oven from flammable materials.
Final Words
Here we learned about how hot does a toaster oven get. The simple answer is that it gets as hot as any regular oven. Specifically between 150° Fahrenheit to 500° Fahrenheit (65° C – 260° C).
If you have smart and an advanced toaster oven, then the preset functions for various food will have pre-defined temperature and cooking cycle.
If you are concerned about the safety, then make sure that you do not place the toaster oven in a confined space, near children, plastic etc to prevent damage caused by radiant heat.
FAQs:
1. How hot do toaster ovens get on the outside?
Around 450–500 degrees Fahrenheit. While some toaster ovens can reach temperatures comparable to those of a conventional oven, the majority operate at temperatures between 450 and 500 degrees.
2. What temperature do you reheat food in a toaster oven?
To reheat food in a toaster oven, set the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the food on a baking sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the food is heated through.
3. Can you put a toaster oven under a cabinet?
Certain models of toaster ovens can be concealed beneath cabinets that are elevated above the countertop. They include a hood (mounting template) that attaches to screws drilled into the cabinet's bottom.
4. Does a toaster oven need a vent?
No. A toaster oven is identical to a stand-alone range oven. It features racks, heating coils, an open door, and reaches fairly high temperatures. It is simply smaller. However, unlike your oven, it does not require ventilation.
5. Is it safe to use a toaster oven on a wooden table?
While some toaster ovens are suitable for storage and use in confined spaces such as an open wood cabinet, many emit an excessive amount of heat. In no case should the toaster oven be used in a cabinet or cupboard. It requires a good deal of airflow and can get quite hot.