When I first started adapting my kitchen for low vision, I wasn’t sure about the toaster oven. It seemed like just another gadget with too many buttons and not enough tactile feedback. But with a few personal strategies—and some trial and error—I’ve made it one of the most useful tools in my low vision kitchen.
If you’ve got a toaster oven or are thinking about getting one, here’s how I make mine work safely and effectively.
🔲 Keep It Simple: Focus on Just a Few Functions
Toaster ovens today come with all kinds of settings: air fry, bake, toast, warm, broil, reheat—and more. But here’s my advice: you don’t have to use them all.
I generally stick to the same 3 or 4:
- Air Fry
- Bake
- Toast
- Warm
The rest are just extra noise in my opinion. You can always add more as your confidence grows, but don’t feel pressured to master everything at once.
📋 How I Use an Excel Guide for Button Layout
Like with my Instant Pot and air fryer, I created a simple Excel spreadsheet showing the layout of my toaster oven’s buttons. It’s easy to reference and helps me remember exactly which button does what.
I keep:
- A large-print version taped inside a nearby cabinet door
- A digital copy saved on my kitchen computer for quick zooming in
This gives me peace of mind if I ever forget or accidentally brush the wrong button.
🟠 Mark the Buttons You Use Most
For the few settings I use regularly, I’ve added bump dots and tactile markers. For example:
- An orange dot for Air Fry
- A triangle-shaped marker for Bake
- A square for Warm
If you’re not familiar with tactile markers, I go into more detail about them in my article on Kitchen Labeling and Organization Tools.
These additions make it easy to feel my way around the control panel without needing to squint or lean in close.
🛡️ Use Oven Rack Guards for Extra Safety
One trick I’ve picked up is using oven rack guards—the soft, silicone sleeves that slide over metal oven racks. I use them on the basket inside the toaster oven’s air fry compartment. This way, I don’t accidentally burn myself when pulling out food, especially in a tight space.
They’ve made a huge difference, especially when I’m reaching in to get something hot.
Silicone oven rack guards installed on the air fryer basket of a toaster oven help protect fingers and wrists from accidental burns—a simple but effective safety adaptation for low vision cooks.
Tip: I found these silicone oven rack guards on Amazon—they’re affordable and easy to cut to fit your toaster oven if needed.
🧠 Final Thoughts: Build Confidence, Not Confusion
I’ll admit, I didn’t think I’d get much use out of my toaster oven. But it’s become a go-to appliance for simple meals and reheats. By sticking to a few key features, marking the controls, and using simple guides like my spreadsheet, I’ve made it a lot more accessible—and a lot less intimidating.
If you’ve got one already, it’s worth adapting. And if you’re shopping for one, keep an eye out for models with:
- Separate, raised buttons
- An audible alert
- Clear labels or markings
With a few tweaks, even the most button-heavy toaster oven can be a safe, useful tool for low vision cooks.