I had been thinking of the benefits of a countertop oven for a while – mainly electrical power usage. Even though we have solar panels in MO, it’s a way different setup from what we have in TX. Both in TX and MO, we pay about 13 cents per kwh that we use. In Texas, we get back the same price – 13 cents per kwh that we send back to the grid. In MO, we get 3 or 3.5 cents per kwh that we send back. Kinda crazy but nothing we can do about it.
I often keep cookie dough in the freezer but unless I’m going to make at least a dozen cookies, it seems crazy to heat up the oven for four cookies.
Another thing that bothers me (not tremendously). My great recipe makes 8 biscuits – easy recipe and amazingly delicious. I’ll eat one for breakfast. Vince will eat two. There are five left. Sometimes we eat them the next day. Sometimes we make sandwiches using biscuits. Sometimes we make strawberry shortcake with the leftovers and sometimes . . they mold and get thrown out.
My friend, CJ, whom I have never even met, and she’s gotten me into more trouble than you would believe. She’s an excellent cook and for some reason, every gadget, no matter how expensive, she buys, I feel like I need one too. Everything I’ve bought “because of CJ” has been great but . . I really need to stop buying kitchen gadgets.
But . . I probably won’t! Earlier this week, she was mentioning a couple of countertop ovens she was considering. I came so close to buying one but decided to wait for her review. I already have one from Aldi at the Texas house and I use it quite a bit but CJ was looking at some that were a bit larger – you could put a 9 x 13 cake pan in them!
When Vince and I were cleaning out the apartment, we brought home a countertop oven I had never used . . still in the unopened box. It’s a Black & Decker brand, still small but a bit larger than the Aldi one I have. Vince said “I researched before buying that one and I think you’ll like it” so I figured . . why not at least give it a try.
Yesterday morning I cooked six biscuits in it – frozen biscuits . . from Walmart! They were delicious! Honestly, every bit as good as the ones I make.
Later we had sandwiches on bagels and I toasted the bagels in there. Again . . perfect!
Later, I baked potatoes in there. Perfect!
It was so much better than using the full size oven three times. I think I’m going to keep using this one for a while . . later I may buy a larger one but I kinda feel like I deserve a reward for not buying a bigger and better one when I already had one.
Karen Sutton says
I bought one from Aldi’s a year or two ago – thought I would use it in the RV. It threw out so much heat that I ended up getting rid of it. Several months ago I got the Ninja Foodi Flip – love it! It’s a combination air fryer, toaster, roaster, baker, dehydrator etc. It doesn’t heat up the kitchen, it flips up when not in use so I don’t lose any counter space. The only downside for me is ‘head room’.
Judy Laquidara says
I see Terri is using that one too. I’ll check it out. Thanks!
Cilla says
I have a Delonghi countertop oven and I love it. It has several cook settings: Bake, broil, toast, convection, defrost and a few more.
Terri says
I love my ninja flip as well, I actually bought the ninja oven cj was looking at but hated it and returned it after one use. The size was restrictive and too big for what it was.
Judy Laquidara says
That’s kinda what I keep thinking. This house has a full size stove top/oven combo and a wall oven and a built into the wall microwave so another big oven is probably not what I need.
Carol says
Have the Brevile countertop and I love it. Gets used most everyday instead of turning on the main oven.
Kathy C says
My daughter convinced me to buy a countertop oven for our Nashville condo. We almost never turn the big oven on anymore.
This year we bought one for our Oregon home, same deal, don’t use the big oven anymore. The new one has a convection feature so it works like air fryer sort of.
We are going to redo our Oregon kitchen and will put in a single wall oven for turkeys etc. and keep the countertop one. We also got rid of out toaster.
Elle says
Years ago I decided I had to convert to GAS as I was tired of not being able to “simmer” on the stupid glass top! So worth the cost of the line and the appliance. We found a heavily discounted 5 burner gas range w/electric double oven. The top oven is small and I use it 99% of the time. The great thing? Heat does NOT escape. I never know the oven is on unless I open the door. (Kitchen Aid).
I totally agree with having a small oven!
Laura says
I see a Ninja Flip in Judy’s future! 🙂
Janet B says
What model is your Black & Decker? Since Vince has already done the research, it might be a good replacement for the one I have.
Paula Philpot says
Will you share your biscuit recipe with us or is it on here where I can find it . Paula in KY
Nelle Coursey says
I have read about the Ninja flip and have thought of getting one as well. I figure if you have one of those you don’t need a slow cooker, air fryer, pressure cooker or a grill outside! You can do all this with the the Ninja Flip!
Katie says
I love my toaster oven, rarely use the big oven in the summer time. It is a small Black and Decker one. Makes Pizza, cookies, open faced toasted sandwiches, most things I heat up for meals.
Twyla says
I have had a Hamilton Beach 6 slice and pizza size toaster oven for years. I love it and use it every day. I have recently been shopping around for a new one and everything has numerous cooking abilities. I really would prefer a plain jane toaster oven.
Judy Laquidara says
If I could get rid of my air fryer (and the Black & Decker oven I have does have air fryer capabilities), I’d be really like to get rid of the air fryer if I had another device that does the same thing.