A toaster oven can be worth getting if you’re someone who regularly cooks small portions, wants to avoid heating up your full-size oven or prefers crispy leftovers compared to soggier microwave meals. Toaster ovens can reach high temperatures in minutes, saving time on making quick meals. They use less power than heating a standard oven for small dishes and can keep food crisp like leftover pizza. Some more advanced models can not only toast but also bake, broil, roast and air fry.

A standard toaster is designed specifically to evenly and quickly toast bread. A toaster oven is a more versatile appliance that can bake, broil, reheat and roast small meals like a miniature oven. Toasters focus on toasting things like bread, bagels or waffles. Toaster overs not only toast but can also handle cooking tasks like melting cheese on sandwiches, baking cookies and heating up frozen pizza. Toasters only let you control toast shade or toast time. Toaster ovens feature adjustable temperature dials and specific cooking modes.

To use an air fryer, cut your ingredients into even sizes so they cook at the same speed. Pat wet food dry with a paper towel so it cooks better. Load the air fryer’s basket with your food in a loose single layer. Do not overcrowd the basket or your food will steam instead of crisping. Use a light spray of oil if needed but avoid aerosol cooking sprays. Turn the air fryer on and select your temperature and cooking time. Air fryers can cook faster than standard ovens, so check online guides for cooking times. Pull out the basket halfway through cooking to check the food, shake fries or flip meats. When it’s finished, you can enjoy your meal.

The best way to clean a microwave is to start by steaming a mixture of water and vinegar in a bowl to loosen any stuck-on grease and food. Fill a bowl with 1 cup of water and 1 cup of white vinegar and microwave it on high for 5 minutes until it boils. Keep the microwave door closed for 10 more minutes to let the steam soften the grime. Use oven mitts to carefully remove the bowl and wipe down the interior walls with a microfibre cloth or sponge. Dry all surfaces completely with a clean towel and leave the door open to air dry.