Electrical Use

• According to General Electric, an electric oven uses about 2,300 watts of energy when operating. This is higher than almost any other appliance in the home. Generating heat from electricity consumes a significant amount of power, which is why the other major electric users are the clothes dryer and the electric furnace. A toaster oven, however, needs about 1,200 watts to run. Toaster ovens come in a variety of sizes so this can vary considerably. The difference in yearly use between the two can be more than $100, with the oven costing much more.
  
  

Standard Ovens

• For larger items or multiple foods, a full-sized electric oven is still the better value. It can cook a full-size turkey, the dressing and a side dish all at the same time. Using a full-size oven for a long time will heat up a kitchen, which can save energy costs over using the central heat as long. During the summer, though, this can give extra strain to the air conditioner and make it work harder with more electricity consumed.
  
  

Toaster Ovens

• A table top oven is good for reheating leftovers, and packaged meals. The largest table top models even handle a small chicken. Convenience features include a timer, temperature controls and a choice of how dark the toast will be. Some models with electronic controls will even come on at a per-programmed time similar to a coffeepot so you can toast a breakfast bagel and make coffee while technically still in bed asleep.
  
  

Convection Models

• Both standard and table top ovens come in convection models. These ovens have a small fan that moves the air around in the over, circulating it over the foods. The fan adds no real cost to the electrical use, but can cook the foods up to one third faster with less inconsistency from hot spots. Convection models cost a little more to purchase but if you use the kitchen regularly, they will soon pay for themselves with savings.