The Key To Making An Entire Roast Dinner In A Toaster Oven

Do you own a toaster oven? If so, chances are you mostly use it to toast bread and heat up leftovers or frozen dinners. But did you know that this is wasted potential? Food & Nutrition says the toaster oven was invented in 1910 and reports that today, nearly two million units are purchased in the United States annually. You'll find models to suit any budget, application, and space: They're perfect for small apartments, college dorms, and kitchens with limited counter space (probably already crowded with other gadgets, admit it).

Toaster ovens are efficient. They warm up more quickly and burn less energy than regular ovens, and won't heat up your space — a nice consideration when it's hot out. They're electric, so if your gas is down, you can still use them. Also, if you need your oven for a massive turkey or ham, the toaster oven is there, a handy little sidecar for cooking or heating up side dishes and desserts. But did you know that the toaster oven can cook a whole meal for you? Say, an elaborate roast dinner? Read on to find out how this humble appliance can change your cooking game.

America's Test Kitchen, proving ground for all things exciting and culinary, created a 10-serving roast dinner recipe designed for the toaster oven. It features a four-pound boneless beef top sirloin roast rubbed with fresh herbs, butter, and Dijon mustard that bakes at 250 degrees Fahrenheit for just under two hours. That's two hours of an empty oven that can accommodate all your other dishes, like pies or side dishes in wonderful but cumbersome oven-to-table casserole dishes. The small space of a toaster oven heats up quickly and performs reliably, while offering the low and slow cook you need to achieve a medium or medium rare roast that's picture-worthy pink in the middle.

But that's not all you make in a toaster oven. Don't think you can fit a whole chicken in there? Spatchcock it! Less-mess bacon, hassle-free fish, and bread are all toaster oven-friendly. Plus, you probably already make toaster oven quesadillas, grilled cheese, and many iterations of toast. After all, toast is in the name of the thing. So you know what they can do. But how do toaster ovens do it?

According to Consumer Reports, there are a few varieties of toaster ovens, including countertop versions and cabinet-mounted models with or without extra features, like air fryer settings. Most work using electricity-powered infrared radiation coils that make food crispier and tastier than a microwave (per Abt Electronics). But some toaster ovens use convection, which uses fans and heating elements to circulate heat like a standard oven, Insider reports — which you want for baking. Then there's the Balmuda steam toaster of TikTok egg mayo toast fame — in a league of its own.

Ready to shop? The New York Times shouts out Cuisinart Chef's Convection Toaster Oven, capable of cooking a 13-inch pizza (on its included pizza stone) and making your air fryer jealous. The Emeril Lagasse Power Air Fryer 360 Better Than Convection Oven is highly rated on Amazon and comes with accessories like dehydrator trays and even a rotisserie spit. Of course, you can get many small, basic models for less than $50 — and they'll still do infinitely more than a standard slot toaster ever could. Save space, time, and energy with the toaster oven, the cooking ally you didn't know you had.