What can you put in a toaster oven? Some materials should not go anywhere near your toaster oven such as parchment paper.
Aluminum foil is another common kitchen material used in wrapping up food but it is often wondered if foil can be used in a toaster oven. When you buy a new toaster oven and a foil is usually used to keep the inside clean but why do the manuals for some toaster oven tell you not to use foil?
Every toaster oven comes with a manual that states what material can be used safely in it but we agree manuals are boring and you might need more explanation than just a list of materials. Foils are used a lot in regular ovens and the common way it’s being used is lining the broiler pan and crumb tray to catch any droppings.
Toaster ovens use the same basic technology as any regular oven and people use foil in regular ovens all the time however this might not be the same with some toaster oven. There is a surprising amount of engineering that goes into the toaster oven and most of it is centred around heat hence here is what you should know before using aluminium foil in it.
Table of Contents
Can I put aluminium foil in a toaster oven?
Yes, aluminium foil can be used in a toaster oven, it is ideal for small batch baking in the toaster oven. You most definitely can put aluminium foil in a toaster oven as long as you are careful and you are not coating the bottom of the oven itself. However, to be on the safe side, use an alternative when possible and avoid using aluminium foil when cooking at high temperature or acidic food.
Aluminum foil is a metal and this means it might be dangerous for your toaster oven if it’s not used properly. When using foil in your toaster oven, keep the temperature within acceptable limits to prevent the foil from interfering with airflow which can lead to a fire hazard.
Airflow is important in toaster ovens and if foil should overlap around the edges of your broiler pan, it can interfere with the airflow and this can cause the toaster oven to fail or the edges of the foil itself could ignite.
You can put aluminum foil in a toaster oven but first, consult your toaster manual and when not sure, make use of a safe aluminum alternative.
What To Do
Despite the go-ahead to use aluminium foil in toaster ovens, there are also dire warnings that need to strictly taken into account. It is certainly possible to use aluminium foil in toaster oven safely but here are simple tricks to help you achieve that.
- Use foil but do this carefully. If your recipe specifically calls for aluminium foil covering or wrapping the do the following: cut it so it doesn’t touch anything in the toaster oven walls, ceiling or floor of the cavity heating elements.
- Another rule is to use it that they don’t block airflow within the toaster oven.
- Strick to heavy-duty aluminium and replace the foil every time you cook.
- Use bakeware. Here are lists of bakewares that can be used in a toaster oven.
- Do not cover the broiling rack or the crumb tray. No loose ends.
Some Specific Uses For Aluminium Foil
Aluminium foil is incredibly useful. There are lot’s of versatile material but aluminium happens to be a very common one and while it might not be the ideal material for your toaster oven, here are other specific uses for it that are sure to save you time and money:
- Clean cast iron
- Sharpen scissors
- Foil funnel
- Prevent messes
- Shine silverware
- Use a tin of foil to form your own disposable piping bag
- Polishing tarnished silver
- Cleaning your iron
- Foil can help you save money by improving your radiator efficiency.
Final Thoughts
You can definitely use aluminum foil in toaster ovens however if you are not too sure about this then we recommend using an aluminum foil alternative.
There are several kinds of toaster oven-safe bakeware, some of which include the usual metal glass, glass, and porcelain options but disposable foil bakeware is the most common one and even more useful.
