Long before there were microwave ovens, the modern household's corner-cutting appliance of choice was the toaster oven.

The toaster oven is just that; it bakes like an oven, and cooks like a toaster. These handy gadgets can toast a slice of bread, crisp up a waffle and re-heat a dish of leftovers in no time. Best of all, these little hotties do it all without heating up the kitchen or inflating your energy bill.

A toaster oven is small and takes up very little counter space, which is a boon to homemakers with compact kitchens. They're easy to use, too. A simple dial will set the heat control to the desired temperature. Then, just open the door, place the food to be baked or toasted on the inner cooking grill, and then close the door. Most toaster ovens feature glass windows that allow you to monitor the cooking process, ensuring that food doesn't burn.

If the food on the shelf has been set for toasting, the toaster thermostat will be activated. The thermostat, in turn, causes the built-in heating elements to kick in to gear. These heating elements are found both at the top and bottom of the inside of the oven, providing a balanced source of heat. Your toaster oven will also have a heat control to set the desired temperature. If, on the other hand, your dial has been set for baking, the baking thermometer then gets activated. Like the toasting thermometer, this will activate the same heating elements.

There is an additional feature involved in the baking process. A timing mechanism is used to control the baking time. The wattage and capacity of the individual toaster oven will affect the baking capabilities, and these are often relative to the quality and price of the toaster oven. If you plan to do a lot of baking in your toaster oven, spend the extra money on a good quality model.

Toaster ovens are manufactured products, and are prone to mechanical problems. Many owners complain that the electrical cord will burn out before the toaster oven has lived a full life. Buying a new cord is the only way to remedy this problem. Thermostats can be faulty and may cause problems. These can be recalibrated, so it may not be necessary to purchase a new toaster oven. Look in your product manual for recalibration instructions, or take the toaster oven to an appliance repair shop.

The toaster oven's electrical system is also made up of the thermal fuse, solenoid and main switch. With regular use, all of these components are prone to problems. Toaster ovens less than one year old should still be covered under a manufacturer's warranty, and may be repaired or replaced at no cost. Sometimes it seems to make more sense to replace the entire unit rather than paying a pricey service fee, but think carefully before you toss your toaster oven into a landfill site. The environmental consequences of throwing a unit away may outweigh the minimal time and money it will take to fix it.

Toaster ovens are handy appliances to have for reheating, cooking, baking, and, of course, toasting. If you haven't used one lately, maybe it's time to rekindle that warm relationship.

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Bert Aurthurs enjoys writing for several web zines, on comparison shopping and retail shopping topics. Visit our toaster article directory for a completely unique version of this article.