A decent quality toaster oven can do as much as a conventional oven that you grew up with.
Compared to a toaster, the sucker is a bit expensive, but in a good way. It is a workhorse in the kitchen. Well, the toaster oven is a warmer, grill and a conventional oven, all jumbled up in one.
Your mama told you that you need the right baking tools to make the best cake.
Of course, the right tools in contemporary times also include the innovative toaster oven. Baking in a toaster oven is not rocket science, and you can do it at any time in the comfort of your home.
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Here’s How you Go About It
Preparation
The first thing is to preheat the unit for about 10 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Secondly, put an oven thermometer in the middle of the rack and give the oven some time to recover from the lost heat. Identify the real temperature of the oven and adjust the thermostat accordingly – this is the primary goal. Typically, the oven thermometer should show the real temperature.
Sprinkle some oatmeal on the broiler pan and make sure you have an even layer. Then slide the pan in and observe the hot spots where the browning is much quicker. You need to be watchful of the hot spots.
Select the pan that will comfortably fit inside the oven and compare it with the batch size of the recipe. If necessary, make the layers thinner by reducing the number of cups.
Baking
Preheat the toaster oven again for 10 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Line the pan with parchment or grease it as you usually would and fill with 2/3s batter.
Slide the pan inside the oven, making sure to open the door as little as possible to prevent heat loss. Shut it immediately.
Fold a small sheet of aluminum foil to fit the oven space and spray it with nonstick cooking spray on one side. Midway through the set time for the baking, open the oven door and cover the cake with the aluminum foil.
Later, rotate the cake to prevent uneven baking. Only remove the cake when it is springy and firm or when the cake tester comes out clean when you insert it. The cake will also begin pulling away from the edges of the pan.
Let the cake cool for a handful of minutes inside the pan as directed in the recipe.
You can then put it out in a wire rack so that it cools farther.
How long does it take to bake a cake in a toaster oven?
The toaster oven will take a bit longer to bake the cake than the standard oven.
But it should not take you too long to grow impatient. You will need to keep an eye on the cake to avoid burning or uneven cooking.
Is a toaster oven good for baking?
As mentioned earlier, a toaster oven can do the same cooking as the older oven.
However, you may need to observe the cake, or any other dish you are baking, closely. That is especially so if you don’t have an oven thermometer. If it is browning or rising too quickly, you need to adjust the thermostat as is necessary.
The heating elements of the toaster oven are very close, and this causes the cake to brown more quickly. You can remedy this by making the layers thinner.
If you’re baking anything with quick browning ingredients such as a chocolate cake, the risk of scorching is high.
Nonetheless, that does not mean you cannot use the toaster oven for baking them. Just reduce the temperature stated in the recipe by an average of 25 degrees Fahrenheit.
FAQ
Can I bake a cheesecake in a toaster oven?
The cheesecake is a birthday special for most children. Surprisingly, you can bake a cheesecake using a toaster oven. You can use a 9-inch pan to serve up to four people – pretty much enough for most families.
Can you bake cookies in a toaster oven?
Yes, you can do it. Prepare the dough and preheat the toaster oven according to the toaster oven baking recipes.
Use the recommended baking temperature and the appropriate function, which is baking. Preheat for 10 minutes and place an aluminum foil on the pan. Place the cookies on the pan and allow some spacing.
Remember not to leave the toaster oven and the cookies unattended.
Can I use a toaster oven instead of a regular oven?
The toaster oven can replace a conventional oven. Of course, an energy-efficient toaster oven can pretty much do everything that a regular oven can.
The good thing is that a toaster oven comes with a fan to effectively circulate hot air inside the oven space and around the food.
This functionality makes it even more effective, and especially so when baking brownies in a toaster oven and others. The conventional oven does not always come with a fan.
Can you bake a cake in a countertop oven?
A countertop oven can bake cakes, roast veggies, and knock rotisserie chicken. It can do pretty much the whole lot that a standard oven can.
However, the baking dish shouldn’t be too big for the available oven space.
Even better, some of the countertop ovens act as a toaster, eliminating the need for having a stand-alone toaster. The less equipment you have in the kitchen, the better.
Conclusion
A toaster oven is quickly becoming a standard piece of equipment in modern kitchens. Toaster ovens are mostly compact, versatile, and easy to use.
If you are a foodie, you’ll relish every bit of the cooking moment when using a toaster oven.