Toaster oven or microwave?

[3catwoman3]

Our older son (27) has just moved into a small studio apartment which he is getting rent-free in exchange for 2 hours a day, M-F, working with a 9 yr old boy on soccer skills and maintaining reading proficiency. Our son is the assistant women's soccer coach at a small D3 college, where he also works in the intitutional development office (aka alumni fundraising). This studio apartment is only a mile from campus. Pretty sweet deal if it works out.

There is a very small kitchen area with a dorm-size fridge and a double sink. No stove or cooktop of anykind, but enough counter space for a microwave or a toaster oven, maybe both.

I've never not had a stove. I've never had a toaster oven, either, so know nothing about them. Our microwave is used mostly for warming up leftovers, or cooking already prepared dishes from Trader Joe's and the like. We don't "create" in it.

I'd welcome any words of wisdom from toaster oven users as to the versatility of this item compared to a microwave.

[Warpy]

1. Both, actually. You park the toaster oven on top of the microwave.

The microwave will do things like boil water for coffee or tea, as well as reheat prepared foods. The toaster oven will toast bread and other breakfast goods, as well as bake or broil meats and fish. The microwave will bake the potato and warm the frozen veg. You can live very well off that combo even without a one unit hot plate you keep stashed in a cabinet when it's not in use.

Of course, if he's a non cook, then microwave.

[UTUSN]

11. This

[Warpy]

13. My last rather Spartan living arrangement

featured a unit with a built in dorm fridge and tiny sink and one electric hob, all the size of one of my smaller kitchen cabinets now. I added a toaster oven and did fine. Microwave was still a couple of years away. I reheated stuff in a Chinese steamer over a frypan it fit. I had one saucepan and a wok and that was it.

[tymorial]

2. Could your son go with a toaster and small microwave

Maybe swap them out when needed. If I had to pick one or the other then a microwave has more options to heat quick meals. A toaster is nice though because you can toast bread, bagels, frozen waffles etc but also use it as a small oven.

[hlthe2b]

3. Can you get a convection microwave?

Convection would give the added flexibiity of a standard oven in one relatively small footprint appliance

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. Seconded. Not cheap, but totally worth it.

[Awsi Dooger]

23. Sharp Carousel Microwave/Convection Oven

I can't imagine being without one. The microwave aspect of my first one gave out in 2012 after 17 years use. Fortunately the model was continued and I found a used version in great shape on ebay for $140 and free shipping. It's still going strong after 5 years of near daily reliance.

I'm a value guy so I was determined to wait on a bargain on that specific model even if it took a while. Luckily it did not...a few weeks.

[tonyt53]

27. Got one in our motorhome and we love it.

[TreasonousBastard]

4. If he must choose, then a microwave...

I have successfully made eggplant parmesan from scratch and microwaved it-- gives you an idea what the nuke can do.

Canned or frozen veggies are good microwaved. Even fresh veggies.

And don't forget popcorn!

Best would to have both, if possible. The toasting function of the oven can't be reproduced in the microwave.

[forgotmylogin]

14. I agree. If you can only have one.

A microwave will let you heat up food and boil water in plastic containers and dishes that won't work with direct heat. You can't really make ramen noodles in a toaster oven.

Stuff that works better in a toaster oven will usually still be satisfactory in a microwave.

Plus, the microwave is safer because it shuts off automatically and isn't going to heat up enough to melt or set nearby items on fire.

(Yes, some toaster ovens have analog timers that shut them off.)

[Thomas Hurt]

5. If he wants to actually cook meals, not just warm up frozen stuff, don't forget the crockpot

[appleannie1943]

6. I have and use both in my kitchen depending on what I am making. I never reheat things

like pizza or rolls in the microwave. I use the toaster oven instead. Micro waves are good for cooking corn on the cob, cooking frozen veggies and reheating. You can roast a chicken or bake a pie in a toaster oven. When my granddaughter lived in a studio apartment without a stove, she made a complete Thanksgiving dinner on a one burner hot plate, microwave and toaster oven. The pie looked professional. I would go with both and stack them.

Even though I have a full size oven, if what I want to bake is small, I use my toaster oven.

[NCjack]

8. Induction cooktop and iron skillet. nt

[Kleveland]

10. Good suggestion!

You can do a lot with a good skillet and a lid.

A few dashes of water, and a well fitting lid, helps re-hydrate many foods.

Just be patient, and forget about the instant gratification of microwave ruined foods!

[forgotmylogin]

15. Electric skillet FTW.

You can actually bake a cake in an electric skillet with a lid.

[NCjack]

25. My induction stovetop and iron skillet will bake a cake or bread. And, I can also use

my 10-q pressure cooker on my IS to prepare a meal or can veggies or fruit.

[Kleveland]

9. I gave up microwaves years ago.

Not trying to cast dispersions, but I find that I do not need them ever.

My situation is different. I live in a house, with a stove.

I have an Instant Hot for hot water.

I gave up on toasters, since they are all junk these days, except for expensive Dualits, or commercial US made units.

I generally do not like toaster ovens. 'cause they just get gross.

I love toasted English muffins and stuff like that, so I broke down and got this:

http://shop.panasonic.com/microwave-and-kitchen/kitchen-appliances/toaster-ovens/NB-G110.html#start=1&cgid=toaster-ovens

Uses infra red lamps, like some restaurant units, not nichrome wire heating elements.

Pretty good for many things, especially warming bread and things like that.

I generally use the stove top for reheating foods, especially pizza!

Microwaves destroy bread, hate what they do to pizza especially.

I do not eat frozen prepared foods.

As I said, my situation is not identical, by any means.

But I do like my Panasonic unit a lot!

[customerserviceguy]

18. Yes, stove top for heating leftover pizza

I got the tip from a server at my favorite pizza restaurant. I use a large nonstick frying pan, with a glass cover, and the pizza comes out crispy on the bottom, cheese beautifully melted on top, and as long as I keep a reasonable eye on it with low temperatures, not burnt.

I may not use my pizza stone again, at least not for leftover pizza!

[Kleveland]

19. Yup, exactly what I do.

It works the best I think.

Sometimes if I have several pieces, I use the oven, but it tends to dry it out a bit too much.

The non-stick pan with the lid is my favorite for coming close to what it was originally.

And yeah, I have burned a few bottoms, but getting the crust crunchy again is worth the risk!

I actually figured this out by myself, and shared the idea with a few friends.

Nice to know that others know the technique!

I also use the same technique for warming up most leftovers.

I do not miss microwaves at all, and sadly, a lot of restaurants use them a lot.

When I was a line cook, it was very surprising how often it was used.

I don't like what they do to food at all.

A good cook uses a real heat source, and understands water/steam appropriately, and how it relates to cooking.

Been wanting to try Sous Vide, looks pretty good, but it bugs me that you have to create more plastic bag waste.

[diva77]

12. last 2 toaster ovens I bought caught on fire within a few weeks

they don't make 'em like they used to...I will not buy one again...

OTOH, my microwave oven is indispensable!

[hunter]

16. Or maybe a rice cooker. Those don't take up much room at all.

I've lived on rice and lentils + whatever else I had (which was mostly scavenged Taco Bell hot sauce, back when it came in little plastic tubs.) You can even make mac & cheese in the machines.

I don't feel secure unless I have at least 25 lbs of rice in the closet, and forty pounds of dry food for the dogs.

http://allrecipes.com/recipes/17713/everyday-cooking/cookware-and-equipment/rice-cooker/

[customerserviceguy]

17. They're really two very different appliances

You cannot toast bread, bagels or anything with a microwave, but you really have to watch the darned things carefully. My toaster oven blew up a couple of weeks ago with a loud sound, scared the crap out of me while I was heating up some bread in it and cooking pasta sauce on the stove right next to it. I replaced it with a real toaster.

But, the microwave is very versatile, you can heat up a wide variety of foods in it, and it's quite safe to use. So many foods are designed to be microwaved, and hey, it's the easiest way to make popcorn in a hurry. I'd go for the microwave if I couldn't have both.

Funny story about a microwave back in the mid-1970's: At the University of Washington, cooking was not allowed in the dorm rooms, so some imaginative students in my dorm got one of the early microwaves with the dials instead of the buttons. They concealed it by putting a rabbit ears antenna on top, so that when a dorm inspection was done, it looked like a TV in a quick glance.

[Generic Brad]

20. Toaster oven popcorn does not exist

But if he does not care for popcorn...toaster oven game on.

[jmowreader]

21. One of these

https://www.target.com/p/courant-3-in-1-multifunction-toaster-oven-red/-/A-51204683#lnk=sametab

It is a combination toaster oven-coffeemaker-griddle.

[Lars39]

22. Another really handy small appliance

is a George Forman Type grill. We use the heck out of a Cuisinart Griddler, which has reversible plates...
grill and griddle.

[clutterbox1830]

24. I would choose the microwave over a toaster oven.

I rarely used the toaster oven except the occasional dish. Microwave is more versatile and easier for heating food/water and cooking items.

I mainly cook meals on the stove or oven now, but when I was young, single, and also less skilled in the kitchen I would use the microwave way more often then I would like to admit. It was just easier and more importantly quicker.
Even now, if I'm too lazy to cook I would "pop" leftovers into the microwave or cook something simple like a bake potato.

Toaster oven has it's uses like if i need to cook something crispy quickly, but that's about it for my taste that is.

[John1956PA]

26. When I read the title, I thought it was about Kellyanne Conway's accusation of Obama spying on 45.

http://www.latimes.com/politics/washington/la-na-essential-washington-updates-more-than-just-spying-microwaves-why-1489416182-htmlstory.html

[Orrex]

28. Does the residence agreement have any stipulations about toasters/hot plates?

I've been on some leases that expressly disallowed toaster ovens as a potential fire hazard, even when the unit included a regular stove/oven.

If this place might have a similar restriction, then you're better off with the microwave.

[shanti]

29. Induction cooktop

as someone above stated also. It's flat and takes up little space.

[Skittles]

30. no substitute for a micowave

end of story

OK wait, does he have a washer or dryer? I put an appliance on those when I needed to use it back when I was extremely squeezed for space. Yes I did. Heck, in the military dorm room we made grilled cheese sandwiches with an iron.