The first toaster oven, called the "Eclipse Toaster," was invented in 1910 by George Schneider of the American Electrical Heater Company. However, it was quite different from the toaster ovens we are familiar with today.
The original toaster oven was essentially an enclosed wire basket made of metal with an opening on top. It had a simple heating element inside, powered by electricity, to toast slices of bread. The user would place the bread slices inside the wire basket, and then the toaster would be turned on, toasting the bread using the electric heating element.
Unlike modern toaster ovens, the early version did not have any temperature or timer controls. Instead, the user had to manually monitor the toasting process and remove the bread when it reached the desired level of toastiness. This was a significant limitation, as it required constant attention and could result in uneven toasting.
Over the years, toaster ovens evolved and became more sophisticated, incorporating temperature and timer controls, as well as additional cooking functions. Today's toaster ovens offer a wide range of features, including baking, broiling, and even air frying capabilities, making them versatile kitchen appliances suitable for various cooking tasks beyond just toasting bread.