The truth is that a toaster oven can be used for most of the same tasks as a microwave and, in many cases, can do them better or more safely. It also has several other uses that make it an essential addition to any kitchen. Here are some ways you can put this versatile appliance to work.

The humble toaster oven is a kitchen workhorse. It’s so versatile that it can do more than just toast bread and reheat pizza. For example, you can cook full meals in a toaster oven. The toaster oven also makes the perfect substitute for your microwave when you need to warm up leftovers or defrost frozen food quickly. A toaster oven even gets the job done if you just want a snack and don’t want to go through the trouble of preheating your stovetop or conventional oven.

The topic of whether or not it’s safe to put a microwave-safe ceramic bowl in the oven comes up surprisingly often. And it makes sense because the answer isn’t always clear. Some materials are safe for both cooking appliances, and others are only safe for one of them. Let’s take a look at this question to help us better understand which materials are oven-safe and which aren’t.

Have you ever thought to yourself, “Where can I recycle a toaster oven?” You can easily recycle toaster ovens in a number of places.