Microwaves serve many functions in the kitchen. They are almost a crucial aspect of all kitchens and are necessary for the process of making a lot of things. But sometimes, having a microwave is inconvenient because of the sheer amount of space they occupy and the high amount of electricity they consume.
A toaster oven can replace a microwave. A toaster can perform some major functions of a microwave. It can be used to heat food and toast bread. It can also be used to bake. However, not all microwave functions can be performed on a toaster oven, i.e., heating liquids, defrosting food, etc. This means that a toaster cannot fully replace a microwave, but it can do just enough for you not to need a microwave in your kitchen.
To understand precisely how suitable a toaster replacement is for a microwave, let’s look at how they operate.
How Does A Microwave Work?
Microwaves are electrical appliances that heat food by energizing the liquid particles of food until they are heated up. The heat is generated by, well, microwaves emitted by the device itself.
What Are Microwaves Used For?
Microwaves can heat food from the outside, but they can also warm food both from the outside and the inside. That is why they can serve various functions, including heating frozen food, defrosting meals, or even warming up your tea.
How Does A Toaster Oven Work?
Toaster ovens have coils that emit infrared rays and heat the food from the outside. These coils are made of metal or metal alloys, and the heat they radiate does not require a medium to travel in; radiation is used to heat the food.
What Are Toaster Ovens Used For?
Toaster ovens are great for, well, toasting, for starters. They can also be used to cook meat, roast vegetables, and bake baked goods.
What Functions Of A Microwave Can Toasters Not Replace?
Since toasters heat food from the outside in, they cannot be used to defrost meals, nor can they be used to cook frozen meat. Liquids cannot be reheated in a toaster, nor can you make popcorn. These are functions of the microwave that toasters are not designed to do.
Are Toasters Still A Viable Alternative?
Even though a toaster may not serve all the functions of a microwave, toasters still make a suitable replacement, especially for people who don’t have the space to have both and want to save room in their kitchen.
Instead, you can use a stove to perform the functions that a toaster can’t act and leave the rest to the toaster.
Conclusion
In short, when we say that toasters can replace microwaves, we don’t mean to imply that all the microwave and the toaster functions are the same. There are fundamental differences in what each can and cannot do. But can you still run a kitchen with just a toaster and a stove?
Of course, you can. Having a microwave is convenient, but it is not always necessary. So if you have to pick between the two, choose what suits your needs better.
