Hi everyone. One of my kids eats fish sticks almost every night. So I'm thinking about getting a toaster oven to make his 5 fish sticks instead of using the gas oven to cook them. We do have a double oven (the kind with the small one on top and no broiler at the bottom) so I use that to make the fish sticks. Do you think it's worth buying for this purpose primarily? I've never had one before and while I'm sure I might use it for other things, I don't feel as though I need one and I really don't want it taking up counter space if it won't be worth it. I just thought it might save a little on energy costs when cooking something so small. Thanks in advance,
Thanks everyone. I'm going to try Momwithcamera's idea about the stove top first. And if that doesn't work well enough, I'll go for the toaster oven. I'm also really frugal so I wasn't planning on dropping $120 on one. I was thinking along the lines of $40 for one of the small ones.
And Laurie A...I know. If some had told me 5 years ago one of my kids would be eating fish sticks almost every night I would have said they were crazy. But this is the child who only ate baby food from the jar until 3+ years old. So after months of feeding therapy, fish sticks are a miracle. And I keep promising to make homemade ones but I don't have the time.
I love my toaster oven! I use it all the time. It heats up so much faster...but I have never used a double oven (I would love one of those too). I prefer not to use the microwave, the food stays hotter from the oven, so I use the toaster to heat up lunch! (Plus I love fries, it works nicely for a small snack)
Totally worth it!!!
Even if its just for fish sticks... But you'll also probably find yourself making
- waffles (frozen)
- garlic bread
- bagels
- French bread pizza
... List goes on.
But if you use it every day for fish sticks... Its worth it, anyway.
Toaster ovens are GREAT!
I use ours often. It is the Black and Decker brand.
For smallish amounts of food when I don't want to use the whole oven.
It is very worth it.
It can be used to warm up or bake or toast, anything.
My Aunty even makes her baked potatoes in hers.
I just baked some chicken wings in mine last night. Just 5 wings, for my son. It was perfect. No point in turning on an entire oven, for only 5 chicken wings.
And, my kids even know how to use it too, because I taught them.
So its real handy.
We have the "mother" of toaster ovens and we LOVE it. It's a Black and Decker and it will cook anything. We no longer have a toaster on the counter because we use this for nearly everything.
We broil in it and make toast in it- you name it. It's great in the summer because it keeps the kitchen from getting too hot and the kids can use it easily.
So whether you want fish sticks or roasted vegetables, just make sure you look at your needs and then your options because there is a lot to choose from! But it is a good investment. Good luck!
The secret is to flash them in the microwave to cook them and then place them in the toaster oven for just a few minutes to crisp them..
I would suggest, you try to get your child to move away from so many fish sticks instead of purchasing an appliance.
I know it is easier to give in, but they are so full of carbs and calories.. not that great of a food.
I look at the toaster oven in Costco all the time. I want one because the summers are hot here and trust me, you don't want an oven warming up your house in the summer. But I look at the size and think back to the freedom of preparing a salad on the counter and walk away.
Try cooking them in a little bit of Olive Oil on the stove top. Just enough so they don't stick.
Love my toaster oven!
It does everything (including toast up to six slices of bread at once so we got rid of the toaster) and it's a great energy saver when you only have something small to bake or roast. AND it's cooler in the summer as you don't have the heat of a large oven heating up the kitchen. Plus during the holidays or anytime you entertain it comes in handy having a second oven.
Just make sure you get a good one. Mine is a stainless steel Cuisinart and it can hold a standard brownie/cake pan or a small 9" frozen pizza. It cost around $120 on amazon.
When my child was little, I loved my toaster oven. I could cook the convenience foods like fish stick and chicken tenders in it. But I also could roast a chicken breast or a small casserole for just the two of us without using the regular oven. I used it more than the oven in fact.
Funny, but last night he was out (he is now 16), and I just wanted a couple of Tyson chicken tenders to toss on a salad and I wished I still had a toaster oven.
