Where to Put Toaster Oven in Small Kitchen? | Our Useful Suggestions!

This begs the question, where to put a toaster oven in a small kitchen? Basically, you can choose creative places such as under the cabinet, below the counter, in a pull-out drawer, on a shelf, on a wall-mounted shelf, and in an appliance garage.

The ideas are many. We will discuss them here in the article below.

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Things to Consider When Deciding Where to Put Toaster Oven in Small Kitchen

The following things must be considered when choosing the right spot.

Convenience

Toaster ovens are one of the most frequently used appliances in the kitchen, and you wouldn’t want to place them in a difficult area to access – see this cutting-edge mini smart oven and top-of-the-line toaster oven from Breville.

You could also consider placing it near a refrigerator to avoid relatively long walks to and from both appliances.

Ventilation

Harmful pollutants such as odor, smoke, or grease are by-products of cooking in a toaster oven. Ventilation can eliminate harmful and unpleasant odors from polluting your kitchen.

Heat Protection

Most toaster oven models’ walls are thin and have poor insulation. Hence, their external surface tends to get fairly hot.

Here ventilation and good insulation are of utmost importance. This becomes an issue if you plan to install them into cabinets or walls.

You should also make sure that no plastic or flammable object is placed near the toaster oven when it is turned on.

Electrical Outlet

Oven toasters are powered by electricity, unlike regular ovens that can be operated by gas or wood (depending on the model).

So when installing one, it is important to consider the distance between the appliance and the power source.

Electrical renovations to favor oven positioning might be expensive and labor-intensive; therefore, it would be wise to place your oven near the power source.

If that is not an option, then you could consider investing in a power extension cord, which you will have to conceal afterward if you want to maintain tidiness.

Oven Size

Ovens come in different sizes depending on the models in the market.

If you plan to install your toaster oven in a designated area like a shelf, cabinet, or a small cavity in your kitchen, it is important to take proper measurements of both the oven as well as the intended place.

7 Places to Put the Toaster Oven

The following 7 places should give you an idea about where to put a toaster oven in a small kitchen.

1. Countertop – With Precautions

Most oven toasters are designed to sit on the countertop.

It is important not to place your countertop toaster ovens near gas outlets to prevent fire tragedies or near the sink to avoid damage by water.

It is also important that you DO NOT place a toaster oven directly over another appliance like a refrigerator or microwave oven. As mentioned earlier, the outside of a toaster oven gets hot therefore any other appliance placed near it can get damaged.

2. Below the Counter

Most modern kitchens have shelves under the countertop specifically designed for ovens.

Though you have to consider their size compared to the size of the oven you own or want to purchase.

Oven toasters that come with mounting plates are more suitable for this placement. If you decide to add a pullout board below it, that too would be a good option.

Below the counter is a suitable position to place your toaster oven to create space and out of sight.

Just remember that when you operate it, you give the toaster over proper ventilation to breathe.

To create a proper cavity for your toaster oven below the counter, you may need professional help.

3. Under Cabinets

Some toaster oven models can be placed under the cabinets, which are elevated above the countertop.

They come with a hood(mounting template), that is attached to screws drilled into the bottom of the cabinet.

After the mounting template is in place, screw the toaster oven firmly on the hood allowing a small counter space between the two for ventilation.

4. Pull Out Drawer

The market has a wide range of pull-out drawers which you can select. If you can’t find one in the market, you can have one custom-made.

Pull-out drawers can be installed under the overhead cabinets or under the countertop.

With pullout drawers, kitchen appliances are a glide away and within reach.

5. Shelf

If you want your toaster oven out of the way but still reachable, a shelf will give you that pleasure.

Attractive shelves can make your kitchen pleasing, and there isn’t much complexity involved when installing one.

You can either put the toaster oven on the shelf for display or even use it if the shelf has a power outlet nearby.

6. Wall

In the case where the kitchen is already built and fully packed with other appliances, then the wall can be your best option.

You should identify a wall area near a power source for convenience.

You could request the manufacturer’s wall bracket or custom-made one that can hold the weight of the oven after being screwed into the wall.

When fixing the toaster oven, it is important to ensure both are stable and there is space between the wall and the oven for ventilation.

7. Appliance Garage

Most households have a storage room or a storage cupboard where people prefer to tuck in items that are not in use at that immediate time.

Toaster ovens are relatively small-sized appliances and can be moved with ease.

Therefore if you have no convenient area to permanently fit it, then putting it back into its box or in a storage box and returning it to the garage after use is your best option.

8. Appliance Cart

An appliance cart, aka microwave cart, is an excellent place where you can place your toaster oven.

The appliance cart gives you plenty of shelf space and has a caster wheel which allows you to move the entire shelf around.

Make certain that the cart is well ventilated.

This can come in handy if you are short in space as you can tuck the entire shelf away when not in use and bring it out when you want to toast.

Important Points to Note

When placing or mounting a toaster oven in different areas in your kitchen, it is important to take precautions as you would not want to damage them or harm useful.

Heat Guards

Firstly, you must note that Toaster Ovens can get hot on the outside, especially when roasting or baking at high temperatures.

You would not want to destroy the immediate environment housing the oven.

Therefore it is important to invest in heat guards for maximum safety if you decide to place a toaster oven inside a cabinet, on a shelf, or under the countertop.

Alternatively, granite tiles or insulated metal plates can be put under the countertop toaster ovens as well.

Two Set of Hands

When mounting toaster ovens either on the wall, under the cabinet, or countertop, it is important to have two sets of hands to avoid accidents such as the oven sliding and falling.

Keep Away from Children

Toaster ovens should be out of reach of children.

Teaching them the harmful effects of an oven can help in deterring them away, but when installing them, you could consider a safe height or lockable cabinet drawers.

Final Words

If you were confused about where to put a toaster oven in a small kitchen then we hope this guide helped you out.

Fortunately, since an average toaster oven is fairly small, it should be easy to make room for it.

If all else fails and if you still cannot find space in your small kitchen, consider putting it in your dining room or the living room. Just make sure it is kept away from children and is properly ventilated when in operation.