What would you say is the best (smaller) alternative for a kitchen oven?

[KBelleC]

I've used our kitchen oven with no problems, but because I'm starting to bake clay more frequently, I'm looking into an alternative. I have the Amaco craft oven, but am not pleased with it. I have trouble finding 275° (it's never seems to be in the same place on the dial) and preheating took closer to an hour than the recommended 20 minutes. I read a convection oven is more consistent in temperature. Is there a certain brand that is more reliable and/or cost efficient?

[Claybykim]

I have a 20 dollar Rival brand toaster oven and I love it. It holds the temperature steady which my expensive kitchen toaster oven does not. I keep an oven thermometer in there and check it occasionally but I have been using it for almost 2 yrs now and am very happy with it.

[TheHeatherWells]

Here is my baby.

http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-TOB-195-Toaster-Broiler-Stainless/dp/B000PYF768/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&...

I love it. It is around 160.00 but is energy efficient. It is bigger then the small toaster ovens, but still fairly small.
* It is very accurate in heat it checks its temperature, and self adjusts to keep the right temp which is great when you are opening and closing it a lot.
*Quick heat up...I would guess about 5 minutes..
*has baking and convection setting
*digital ... so you can set it to exactly 275..
* has a timer
**** Okay I believe I read in the directions that if the timer goes off for a period of time with out you turning it off, the it shuts itself off as a safety feature (dont quote me on this particular detail) I have never left it unattended I just remember that the directions stated a saftey shut off feture

[Former_Member]

I used to have one very similar to the Cuisinart Heather linked, but I don't remember the name of it. It was pretty great, but I needed something larger. I lucked out and found an almost full size oven (studio apartment size) for $100!!! They were normally $800 and they were just getting rid of them since they weren't selling very well.

[Former_Member]

I had problems with our conventional oven so my dad suggested using his halogen oven - sounds a bit space age l know, but it really does the trick. I think it is not too expensive to run either. The oven was burning my pieces, but l switched and that problem has not occurred since.

[KBelleC]

Thank you for all your responses! Kim, I may have seen a Rival toasted oven that fit your description. I'm thinking of trying it out, but I'm nervous about using another toasted oven (I've gone through 3. Two were Amaco craft ovens). For how long do you preheat?

[Claybykim]

It preheats very quickly. I don't worry about that too much because I do leave items in there for 30 min + sometimes. If your temperature is consistent you can't overcook them.
I used an Amaco craft oven once and it burned everything. Too many temperature spikes. I think that brand is unreliable. I have used my rival almost everyday for 1 1/2 years and it is still consistent in temp and I love it.