Category: Daily Living
I've heard that most blind people don't use them. I've also heard they're unsafe for the blind because of a fire risk. I don't understand why though. My husband and I see some benefit in having one, but don't want to invest in one if it's not safe or accessible. Anyone use a toaster oven? If so, are you totally blind? What brand have you found works best for you? Is there anything special youhave to do to ensure their safety? Thanks for your help.
I've never heard such things in my life. On the contrary, I'll bet they're safer than a big oven cause they're more easily controled. In any case, I have a toaster oven that's specifically designed for the blind. The only difference between that one and a regular one is that it has tactile markings to indicate the temperatures. However, this is unnecessary, since there are products that you can buy to make your own. I actually bought a new toaster oven from a regular store last year cause it's bigger than the old one. So I'd definitely say get one. Just do your homework first. As with anything, there are good ones and bad ones, safe and unsafe ones. Make sure the tray inside is removable and that it has some kind of rubber grips, unless you have something to put it on so it won't slip. Check the reviews of the one that interests you and go from there. Best of luck to you two and let us know how it goes.
A lot of people say that toaster ovens are dangerous for the blind because, surprise surprise, they get hot, and obviously, us blind people can't handle hot things. I've talked with many so called experts, who oddly enough were sighted, who say that things that get that hot are unsafe. Toaster ovens do not have the materials that keep the outside as cool as ovens do. Thus, they are slightly more dangerous if touched. However, since its possible for most people to feel when they are getting close to a hot object, this shouldn't really be a problem.
I have also talked with some blind people who say they prefer to have full length oven mits on when working with ovens and toaster ovens. This is just personal preference. If you want oven mits taht go all the way up to your elbow, get them. If you don't think you'll run the risk of burning your forearms, then don't get them.
As for if a toaster oven is a good investment. I would say yes, they are easy and convenient for those who don't want to cook a full meal. I can't tell you brands, but shop around at your local aplience store and find someone who can help you.
then, get a sighted friend of family to help you label it. they do make labels that can just be stouck over the panel, but they are designed by sighted people, and no offense, but sighted people don't know much about being blind. Make the lables yourself, but make sure to use heat resistent materials. Go to your local hoby store for this. Any other questions, feel free to ask.
Mostly, it's a matter of just marking the dials at the appropriate times. If you're worried about heat, see if you can find Ove Gloves. They're heat-resistant gloves you can wear when taking stuff out of the oven. They're really amazing cause you can feel your fingers, unlike mits, and they're nice and thick too. the newer ones have rubber grips as well.
I actually use one. I got it for 34 dollars about 3 years ago but I don't know what brand. I love to use it because it can take more than your regular toaster. It does get pretty hot, but mine is on a stand in its own little cubby where nothing surrounds it. The only thing is that marking it can be a little challenge because the dials are a little too close to each other, but putting tactile markings is definitely doable. Also, to prevent fires, I just make sure it's often cleaned because the crumbs build up and I think that's what causes the fires.
Mary
Awesome suggestions guys. Ke,ep them coming. It's really helping meto feel corecomfortable withusing a toaster oven. My husband and I like to make small amounts of things for ourselves and our son and hate the way the microwave heats some spots to scalding and leaves some parts cold when you take it out. The toaster alone is much to small to heat up something other than bread and bagels. Also, the microwave zaps the nutrients out of food unlike an oven which leaves food in its original state. The problem is that an oven takes forever to preheat and it also heats up the house unnecessarily. These are our reasons for looking in to a good toaster oven.
Years ago, I lived in a studio and a toaster oven and a microwave were my only means of cooking. Lol, I had know idea about the fire concern, that info would have freaked me out! I have quite a fire fear!
Hmmm, I don't think I could have labeled my toaster oven, every part of it got hot while in use. Mine was a large model, picture your standard microwave.
Lately, I've been thinking of buying the kind that have an actual toaster on the top and a small oven on the bottom. It may be great for open faced sandwiches.
What kind are you considering?
I actually don't have a particular brand in mind which is why I wanted suggestions. I love most Hamilton Beach products, and I think they have a toaster oven I can check out at Walmart.
Oops, I meant, are you thinking the large models or the small ones with the toaster?
I remember my mom and grandparents were always fans of the toaster oven, because it didn't heat up the whole kitchen on those hot days.
I don't have a toaster oven and I can't say I've heard of them, but I do have a sandwich toaster which I like very much.
They're great, as long as you have some sort of heat resistant material to help you, although, you need to make sure it's clean. I found tmy oven mits needed to be washed more frequently when using a toaster oven. I couldn't believe the quality of the ove gloves, or however you spell that. lol. When I first touched them, I didn't believe they could actually be heat resistant at all, but on using them, I quickly found that I could touch hot metal that had been in temperatures up to 500 degrees F, and I couldn't even feel the heat. They also work well if you use a barbecue, which I personally don't. lol.
Actually Harmony they're oven gloves. As for the topic, I have a toaster oven which I used to use a lot. Over the last year I've used the oven function less, but it's there if I decide I want to use it. I bought it while living with my x fiance two years ago and just marked it with those locator dots you can usually get at your local COmmission for the Blind or oder from places like MaxiAids.
My husband and i have a toaster oven and absolutely love it. yes, it does get hot, and we both have burned ourselves quite a bit but we are now used to it so that happens a lot less.
The only time I've ever had a fire risk with a toaster oven, and in all honesty it might even have just been a toaster, was about fourteen years ago while I was still in High School and living with my folks. This was on New Year's Eve or even New Year's Day as I recall. Anyway I'd slipped some pop tarts in the toaster and went off to play a quick game of Mario Paint, secure in the knowledge that I'd know when the toaster was done, because not only did the pop tarts pop up but also the toaster would ding. Well just this one time, that didn't happen. Now this was one of those units that could be mounted under a cupboard. Well the pop tarts caught on fire, filling the kitchen with smoke. The fire thankfully didn't escape the toaster but the cupboard door just above it was so hot you couldn't touch it and the flames reignited three or four times before my dad got them extinguished. I believe my mom's exact words to me when she found out were "Did you get your pop tarts?"
Yes, I am totally blind
Who the hell cares. If you are so afraid of a fire coming to come burn your house down why the hell live in this world which anything could be potentially dangerous? Can you lot just stop whining and just go do it. It’s not like it’s hard for you. Come on now. I used a toaster oven before many times and I’ve haven’t managed to set anything on fire yet. Though, it’s a good idea, I should make it an excuse to burn my house down. Hahahahaha!
I mean the computer can be dangerous, should we stop using it? So can earphones, they can make you go deaf. Should we stop using that? No for both!!!!
I have not burnt anything else by way of that toaster oven except maybe the bread I rebaked, but then again you would call that toasting. Well, all right, maybe I did burn my first thing I put in there which was a crisant.
The only precaution I take is to not touch the hot metal with my hands when it’s hot, but that’s pretty logical, right? Also Unless I want it burnt or deformed, I keep things away from the top and the sides.
I just use one bought from a regular store and I and my parents have decorated it with Braille labels
I don't know that you need to be rude about this. After all it's because of sighted people that some blind people have the fear of god about such things as toaster ovens. I agree it's riddiculous but it is a fact of life.
I agree. He was just explaining a risk. Now, although it was probably a faulty unit, and not all toaster ovens are like that, it is a risk. Don't get me wrong. I agree with your point, Friendly Philosophical Rachel, but this is a board where people are supposed to give *tips*.
I did, did you read the post, completely?
If it’s inexcessible and was impossible to label or it was so visual that there is no way to accommodate the blind person, it would be a completely different story, but no, toaster ovens are pretty cool things.
The odd thing is that only happened once. And the unit had been marked with those little locator dots so I could also use the oven feature. Mmm, English muffin pizzas. LOL. But the part about pop tarts on fire must just have been a fluke, because like I said that never happened again.