Pretty much any toaster oven you look at will list a "wattage." Wattage is just a way of measuring how much electrical power the toaster will use. If they list one as having a power output of 1400 watts, for example, that means that this is the maximum amount of power it can use in a single hour. In other words, if you want the one that will use the least electricity, you want it to have a lower wattage.
There's one big thing to remember, though: the wattage they list is the most electricity it can use in an hour. Usually toaster ovens have more than one setting. Often the more expensive ones will have a bunch of fancy features that you won't always be using. So while the wattage may be higher, that doesn't always mean they use more electricity. It just means that it will if you've got all the bells and whistles running.
One final thing to remember is that you're always going to be better off electricity-wise with a toaster oven than an actual oven. It's just a matter of how much you're saving.
Have your own question? Send them in to us via e-mail here.
Return to Toaster Ovens Guide Home Page