Use a Convection Toaster Oven
If your oven is powered with gas, using an electric convection toaster oven is a low cost way to make a big impact on climate change and your health. It’ll also use way less energy than a gas or electric full size oven. Why heat up your whole oven when a toaster oven will do? New, larger convection toaster ovens are super energy efficient, and they’ll give your roast chicken that perfect crispy finish - what’s not to like?!
Your Impact
Action Steps & Tips
Introduction
So what is convection? Convection ovens have a fan that circulates hot air evenly, heating the whole oven to the same temperature and cooking your food quickly and evenly. This reduces cooking time and saves energy. Convection toaster ovens also save energy because they’re smaller than full-size ovens. Convection toaster ovens are surprisingly versatile and can cook most things that you would normally put in your regular oven.
It’s a win-win-win: improve your health, save time and lower carbon emissions!
1Choose your convection toaster oven
Know what you’ll use it for. Convection toaster ovens can come with a variety of functions, from broiling to air frying. They also toast bread! Before you get overwhelmed by all the options, take a moment to consider what you’ll actually use it for, then choose the model that fits your needs. Most convection toaster ovens are large enough to roast a whole chicken and are about the size of a small microwave.
Make it work for your budget. Convection toaster ovens are available at a variety of price points - you can buy a highly-rated model for as low as $80! Think of it as an investment that will pay for itself over time in health, time and energy saved.
2Tips for using your convection toaster oven
Use it for all your favorite recipes. Convection toaster ovens can cook pretty much anything that fits inside them! Their rapid and even heating allows your food to retain lots of moisture - so roasted vegetables will come out with that perfect crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside finish. They’re also great for pastries! The extra hot air cooks the butter in the dough very quickly, leaving you with a perfectly flaky pie crust. And they work great for simple everyday use, like warming up leftovers.
Adjust your cooking temperature. Convection ovens cook faster and hotter than traditional ovens, so you'll probably have to adjust your cooking time and temperature. For best results, set your convection toaster oven to a temperature 25 degrees lower than your recipe calls for and set a timer for ⅔ to ¾ the normal cooking time.
Extra Credit: Next time you upgrade your oven, upgrade to an electric convection oven! Check out our Upgrade your Oven/Stove Action for more info.