Toaster Oven With Toaster Plus Cookbook

It's harder than you think to find a toaster oven with a toaster. Which is a shame because this humble kitchen appliance can do a lot more than you think, and it doesn't take up much counter space at all. When I went looking for a toaster oven combo on Amazon I was just surprised and a little bit sad to find only 2 available. At least they were both available from Hamilton Beach - a top name in kitchen appliances.

The difference in the two Hamilton Beach toaster ovens with a toaster shown to the right is the size. The Mini toaster oven measures 17.1 inches x 9.6 inches x 9 inches. The second is slightly smaller at 15.2 inches x 8.2 inches x 8 inches.

I was actually looking for a graduation gift for a cousin going off to college, I've decided to give them a toaster oven with toaster and a few accessories. That way they'll be able to cook cheap and nutritious meals and snacks. The oven mitt and tongs are a good idea. Toaster ovens can get hot both on the outside as well as the inside. If the oven mitt and kitchen tongs are included there's a great chance they'll use them. I've also shown you a toaster-oven cookbook, Pop It in the Toaster Oven: From Entrees to Desserts, More Than 250 Delectable, Healthy, and Convenient Recipes that will help them think beyond the frozen entrees.

I had a toaster oven with toaster in my college dorm room and it got me through many projects. Although when pressed for time it really just made toast that I slathered with peanut butter for some late night sustenance. Now that same toaster oven sits in my husband's basement workshop. He's a consulting electrical engineer and when he's into a project, he doesn't like to stop very often. The toaster oven combined with a small two-cup coffee pot keeps him content and takes up very little precious counter space.

I should add that I really like the ove' Glove Hot Surface Handler. It's so much more flexible than the traditional bulky oven mitt. This is important when you're taking hot items out of a small space like a toaster oven. There's always the temptation to grab it quick! That's how cooks end up with nasty burns and impromptu trips to the emergency room. These gloves are so comfortable and easy to use, I never think twice about using them. It's a good idea to get young and inexperienced cooks used to being safety conscious right from the start.

You might also want to send your college student off with some plastic bowls, mixing spoons and measuring cups. Whatever price you pay on Amazon is bound to be less than what your student will pay when they shop on or near campus.