Foods You Can Cook or Reheat in Your Toaster

If you are using your toaster for only toasting bread, you are not using the small kitchen appliance for what it could be doing. There is a long list of foods you can cook or heat up in your toaster. Many foods can just be dropped in the toaster. However, some foods should be first put in toaster bags. Toaster bags will keep certain foods from dripping into the inside of the appliance such as cheese when you make grilled cheese sandwiches or drippings when you warm up leftover pizza.

Below is a list of foods you probably didn't know you could cook or heat up in your toaster. So take your toaster off unemployment and put it to work.

Sweet Potato Slices

You should wash a sweet potato very careful especially if you intend to eat the skin. It is better to cut the potato into lengthwise slices. Keep your slices as even as possible. Don't slice them too thin because they won't hold their shape. Don't slice them too thick because it will take too long for them to cook. Try to keep all the slices the same thickness so they will cook evenly when you put more than one slice in the toaster.

Just put the slices into a standard toaster just as you would put in slices of bread. Let the slices brown and until the inside is tender when pierced with a fork. You should test the time that is required until you get an idea of how long they need to cook. Most people cook them for about 15 minutes, but it depends on the type of toaster you use.

Toasted sweet potato slices are delicious if you just pop them in your mouth straight from the toaster. However, you can sprinkle them with your favorite toppings such as cinnamon, honey, almond butter, or cheese. You can top potato slices with the same things you put on bread that has been toasted such as butter, peanut butter, cream cheese, jam, jelly or even avocado.

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Don't be afraid to make grilled cheese sandwiches in your toaster. However, using a toaster bag is advised to keep the cheese from melting into the electric wires and down into the bottom of the toaster.

Choose your favorite type of cheese such as American, cheddar, or mozzarella. Simply make your sandwich, slide it in a toaster bag, and pop it into the toaster. In just a few minutes later, you will have a hot gooey sandwich just the way you like it. There is no mess to clean up. This is a quick lunch you can make in your break room at work if a toaster is available. Just remember to use a toaster bag. You will have to prepare your tomato soup in a different way.

Veggie Burgers

Forget about cooking veggie burgers in your microwave. Use your toaster for a crispier burger. You will discover that it will cook quickly and evenly in the toaster. Unlike other meat patties, veggie burgers don't drip. If you think they might drip, use a toaster bag.

Garlic Bread

You won't have to buy garlic bread from the grocery store after reading this. You can make your own in your toaster. Cut French bread to fit into your toaster. Smother some slices with olive oil or butter. Sprinkle them with garlic powder or spread minced garlic on them. Add a little cheese on top if you like. You will have crispy and crunchy garlic bread without a mess if you use a toaster bag.

Panini Sandwich

Don't fret if you don't have a panini press. Put your toaster to use to make an artisan sandwich. Use any bread you like as well as desired vegetables, meats, sauces, and cheeses. Make the sandwich with all the ingredients. Put the sandwich in a toaster bag and put the bag into the toaster.

Leftover Pizza

Stop settling for leftover cold pizza. Put a slice or two in toaster bags and reheat them. The toaster will make the slices just as cheesy and delicious as they were when the pizza was first delivered. Reheating pizza slices in a toaster is much better than the soggy slices that you get if you use your microwave.

French Fries and Onion Rings

Most people eat all their French fries and onion rings, but just in case you have leftovers, you can revive them by putting them in a toaster bag and reheating them. They will be just as crisp as your original batch.

Tortilla Chips

Sometimes there are no tortillas in the house, but you have plenty of flour or corn tortillas. Therefore, you can make your own chips by simply toasting a few pieces. The pieces that were original soft shells become crisp chips in just a few minutes. You can eat the chips by themselves or you can eat them with a dip of your choice.

Toaster Bags

Several of the above foods should be put in a toaster bag to avoid having a messy toaster. Toaster bags are enclosures for toasting foods in the toaster to prevent drips and spills from being at the bottom of the appliance. The bags make it convenient for toasting all kinds of sandwiches, pastries, pizza slices and foods that might drip or splatter.

The bags are non-stick, reusable and heat resistant. One bag can be used up to 100 times. They are easy to clean by washing them in warm soapy water or in the dishwasher.

You can make your own toaster bags out of parchment paper, but they are so reasonably priced that most people buy them. You can purchase 4 of them from Amazon for only $6.99 or 10 for $12.99.

Emphasis was deliberately placed on using toaster bags throughout this article to prevent you from making a mess. If you do, you might give up on getting good use out of your toaster and you might go back to just toasting bread.