A question about baking & toaster ovens......?

Question

Is there a formula or "rule of thumb" for baking in a toaster oven as opposed to a regular oven. I baked a loaf of Irish brown bread from a store bought mix today. The instructions for a regular oven called for a baking time of 40 to 45 minutes at 400 degrees. I set my alarm at 35 minutes & happened to walk into the kitchen after 25 minutes. I glanced at the bread & saw that it was done & the top was beginning to burn. I run into this problem constantly and haven't been able to figure out a system to avoid it. Do I have to hover around the toaster oven and just check visually or is there some way to re-figure baking times? Thanx in advance for any info & advice.

Answer 1

Unfortunately toaster ovens are not very good for baking. A toaster oven has more in common with a broiler than an oven.

Since most of the energy comes from the top or top and bottom and not from the walls or air inside you will find it difficult to get even cooking for things like bread. The top will be burned and the inside underdone.

If you absolutely must use your toaster oven, I'd bake smaller loaves and you could try covering the top until half or more done but not with foil ... maybe some parchment paper. Not the best of solutions or results but the best you can do.

If space is a premium, and you do not have a regular oven I might suggest you get a microwave / convection oven combination, as you almost certainly have a microwave nowadays.

Answer 2

Toaster ovens are smaller and because of that the outside of your bread is much closer to the heat source than if it were in a standard oven which is why your bread crust is burning. It sounds silly, but you might try baking smaller loaves...

Answer 3

This site may be useful to your question re cooking time
www.convection-ovens.info/convection-toaster-oven.php