Is It OK to Put the Toaster Oven On Top of the Microwave? (Take These Five Precautions)

Most microwaves are quite enormous products with an expansive flat space on top.

Dusty homes are always unattractive, but living in such a home with flat-topped appliances like microwaves can mean layers of dust on top of them.

That’s something that may take a significant part of your time to clean.

To some homeowners, a simple piece of cardboard would be enough to cover the top and keep the machine in great working conditions.

To others, the flat top may serve as an additional countertop for lightweight kitchenware such as cutlery or a tray of similar essentials.

If your kitchen is short on space, chances are you have thought of putting your toaster oven on top of the microwave to make a compact stack.

(Let’s Get This Out Of The Way) Is It OK To Put The Toaster Oven On Top Of The Microwave Oven?

Absolutely, but you need to place some padding materials between the two appliances. In some cases, however, it may not be the right thing to do. For example, it’s not uncommon for microwaves to come with vents on the sides and/or on the top panel. If these vents are on the top panel, it would be a bad idea to place items there as they’d hamper the smooth circulation of air into and out of the machine. Also, some toaster ovens can be pretty big: an average toaster oven is almost the same size and weight as your conventional microwave. You don’t want to stress your cherished machine with such a load.

Five Toaster Oven Slash Microwave Oven Precautions You MUST CONSIDER

Yes, it’s okay to place the toaster oven on top of your microwave, but here are the steps you need to make for the two appliances to work in harmony with each other:

1. Ensure That There’s Enough Ventilation

All types of ovens require a sizeable clearance area with nearby items to let out heat and ventilate.

This is especially true for any appliance that uses heating elements like a toaster oven.

Toaster ovens generate a lot of heat from the other three sides.

Microwaves, on the other hand, are cool most of the time even when left to run for a long time.

If you bring the two very close together on their breathing sides, radiant heat will be trapped around one or both machines, this can end up weakening the coating on either appliance and even damage them.

You know you are dealing with a fire hazard if you spot heat damages or discoloration on the coating of the microwave.

So, before you even think of placing the toaster oven on the microwave, make sure that there’s adequate space on the perimeter of the two.

But, how much space is adequate clearance?

Well, it’s going to depend on what the oven’s manual says.

Toaster ovens come with legs by default.

These legs alone can provide 3 – 5 cm of clearance. But this can be too meager of clearance as far as safety is concerned.

You might want to put the toaster oven on a stand before putting it on the microwave.

2. Do Not Put the Toaster Directly On the Microwave

Some toaster ovens are designed to feature long extended feet that can meet the least clearance requirement (according to the manual).

In this case, it would be fine to put it directly on top of the microwave oven.

If it’s not designed that way, you may be forced to add a heat-safe underlay beneath it:

Get yourself an insulation mat of the kind of the above examples and reduce the likelihood of razing down your kitchen with a toaster and/or toaster oven-induced fire.

Items such as insulation sheets are perfect for not only separating the ovens for insulation purposes, but also for preventing the accumulation of dust on the microwave oven.

This will cut the amount of radiant heat seeping in from the toaster to the microwave and also extend the lifespan of each appliance by a few more years.

If your toaster came with extended feet, make sure you keep them on.

They can help create sufficient space between the two ovens and prevent any friction that could result from laying directly on each other.

3. Remember to Take Your Toaster Off the Microwave When Turning It (the Toaster Oven) On

If you have these two stacked on each other for storage or space-saving purposes, then you are free to run the microwave without worries.

The microwave oven doesn’t radiate a great deal of heat from the sides. Also, the clearance space provided by the legs of the toaster oven is sufficient.

However, things can be a little bit different if you wish to use your toaster oven.

Simply put, don’t switch on the toaster oven before taking it off the microwave oven more so if you don’t have enough safety precautions put in place.

Start by creating a sizeable space to relocate either the microwave or toaster oven when you are just about to switch on the toaster oven.

Why?

The toaster oven is prone to get hotter than your microwave oven in a very short time.

If it is switched on right on top of the microwave, it may damage the top panel of your microwave oven as the cooking continues.

4. Do Not Let Both Ovens Run at The Same Time

If you chose to take into consideration only the minimum size of clearance requirement, then don’t use both ovens simultaneously.

Meeting the minimum size of clearance for your toaster oven may mean that the space is only suitable for the smooth running of the toaster.

When using both ovens, you will require a higher clearance area for safety reasons

Plus, both ovens tend to come with high powered wattage. This can cause sparks or damage to the wall socket. In extreme cases, it can trip your home circuit breaker when the combined usage surpasses the amperage rating.

5. Never Put a Bigger Toaster On a Small Microwave

This doesn’t just apply for size or amount of generated heat, but also weight.

It goes unsaid that stacking a bigger toaster oven on your small microwave will certainly exert undue weight on it and even dent it.

You want the lightest item to be on top of the heaviest.

But since you can’t put a microwave on top of a toaster oven, you will be forced to separate them if the microwave ends up being the lightest of the two.

Again, before you even choose to put the toaster oven over your microwave, make sure that the toaster isn’t heavier than the microwave.

Undue weight can easily form weight imprints to the microwave oven or cause it to press inside.

In a nutshell

So, can you put the toaster oven on top of the microwave? In one word – yes, but you need to place some padding materials between the two appliances. It may not be the right thing to do in some cases though.

It is perfectly okay to place the toaster oven on top of your microwave, but here are the steps you need to make for the two appliances to work in harmony with each other:

Firstly, ensure that there’s enough ventilation

  • All types of ovens require a sizeable clearance area with nearby items to let out heat and ventilate
  • Toaster ovens generate a lot of heat from the other three sides.
  • Microwaves, on the other hand, are cool most of the time even when left to run for a long time

Secondly, do not put the toaster directly on the microwave

  • Some toaster ovens are designed to feature long extended feet that can meet the least clearance requirement (according to the manual).
  • In this case, it would be fine to put it directly on top of the microwave oven.
  • If it’s not designed that way, you may be forced to add a heat-safe underlay beneath it.
  • Items such as insulation sheets are perfect for not only separating the ovens for insulation purposes, but also for preventing the accumulation of dust on the microwave oven.
  • This setup will cut the amount of radiant heat seeping in from the toaster to the microwave and also extend the lifespan of each appliance by a few more years.

Thirdly, remember to take your toaster off the microwave when turning it (the toaster oven) on

  • If you have these two stacked on each other for storage or space-saving purposes, then you are free to run the microwave without worries.
  • The microwave oven doesn’t radiate a great deal of heat from the sides.
  • Also, the clearance space provided by the legs of the toaster oven is sufficient.
  • However, things can be a little bit different if you wish to use your toaster oven.
  • Simply put, don’t switch on the toaster oven before taking it off the microwave oven more so if you don’t have enough safety precautions put in place.

Fourthly, do not let both ovens run at the same time

  • If you chose to take into consideration only the minimum size of clearance requirement, then don’t use both ovens simultaneously.

Fifth, never put a bigger toaster on a small microwave