Get Toasted

Toaster ovens use much less energy than conventional ovens.
Check out more efficient kitchen appliances.

Photo: Yana Petruseva / istock

By Brian Clark Howard

If you have the option, use a toaster oven instead of a conventional oven, and you'll consume far less energy.

Tests have shown that a well-insulated toaster oven, with plenty of room for air to circulate around it, consumes a whopping 50 percent less energy. As an added bonus, using a toaster oven will keep your kitchen cooler.

Not just for toast and bagels, toaster ovens can be used for casseroles, mini meat loaves, cheese nachos, fish in a foil pouch, small pizzas and your all-time fave "grilled" cheese.

Maybe using a compact toaster with a 10 x 10-inch footprint more often will get you thinking about downsizing your overall carbon footprint, too.

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