I have seen a few (American) recipes recently that refer to a 'toaster oven', what is that?

[BlackAmericanoNoSugar]

Is it like a giant single slot toaster with hot elements top and bottom (or at the sides maybe)? I used to see the word in the occasional American novel and assumed that it was the American word for our toaster, but you couldn't do any of these recipes in a toaster so it must be something else.

I love toaster ovens - I had one when I lived overseas. www.argos.co.uk/product/7193831?cmpid=GS001&_$ja=tsid:59157|acid:480-316-7430|cid:337401273|agid:26938256793|tid:pla-340310212498|crid:84385958673|nw:g|rnd:6277099261874178081|dvc:m|adp:1o1|mt:|loc:9046554&gclid=CjwKCAiA99vhBRBnEiwAwpk-uA6f2yP__Jrpp9av8ScOLvHEN1wR6_BNVnULiswnVfGz3C_vVvInIRoCwhUQAvD_BwE

There’s one mentioned in Santa Clarita Diet and I thought it was a microwave that also grills but I must be wrong because they also have a microwave. I am curious too!

Feck, sorry - that's a link to show you what one's like: it's like a very little oven with a grill in the top and sits on the counter top.

This is a toaster oven. here
I used to use mine a lot for small things like a tray of chicken gujons and for making thick toast that didn't fit in the toaster slots. Mainly because the oven was huge and it was 40 c outside and I didn't want to turn the monster on.

Oooh, that does look quite useful. I used to grill a lot but when I redid my kitchen the kitchen guy persuaded me that it would be enough to have a grill element in both the oven and the combi microwave. I have tried exactly once in each of them, the combi microwave is shit for everything except microwaving and the main oven is a total faff to grill in. So now I just use a George Foreman which doesn't give quite the same result, although it does make excellent toasted sandwiches.

I have been using them for years, after moving to a house where only one of the ovens worked and the agents failed to sort it. Bought what is called in the UK a mini oven, ideal if you don't want to use the full size oven and has a timer you set in order to start it rather than have to mess about with the main oven timer.

What is annoying is the ones with door that open downwards and prevent you getting close enough to get the cooking out without touching it, and you can't rest anything on the door.

oh i like this we have a grill in our oven which is awful to use especially if you don't clean the oven every time you use it as it smokes dreadfully. I was just thinking our dc have never had proper cheese on toast.

I do miss the old style with the grill at head height