Is a microwave always cheaper than a toaster oven?

Not always. For reheating and defrosting, the microwave is almost always cheaper because it uses less wattage and cooks faster. For toasting or crisping, a toaster oven is the only practical choice, and it is still cheaper than a full-sized oven. The cheapest option depends on the task.

How much does it cost to run a microwave for 10 minutes?

A 1,000-watt microwave running 10 minutes uses about 0.167 kWh. At the U.S. average electricity rate of $0.15 per kWh, that costs about 2.5 cents. Your exact cost depends on your microwave's wattage and your local electricity rate.

Does a toaster oven use more electricity than a microwave?

Yes, for the same cooking task, a toaster oven typically uses more electricity because it draws higher wattage and takes longer to cook. However, for tasks that require dry heat, a toaster oven is the only option, and it still uses far less energy than a full-sized oven.

Should I unplug my microwave to save energy?

Unplugging a microwave saves only the standby power used by the clock and control panel, which is typically 2 to 5 watts. That amounts to less than $2 per year. It is more effective to reduce cooking time and choose the right appliance for each task.

Microwave vs Toaster Oven Energy Cost: Which Saves More?

Wattage and Energy Draw: What the Numbers Mean

Wattage is the rate at which an appliance consumes electricity. A typical microwave draws between 600 and 1,200 watts, while a toaster oven usually draws 1,200 to 1,800 watts. Higher wattage does not always mean more total energy used, because cooking time also matters.

Energy cost depends on both wattage and how long the appliance runs. A 1,000-watt microwave running for 5 minutes uses about 0.083 kilowatt-hours (kWh). A 1,500-watt toaster oven running for 20 minutes uses about 0.5 kWh. The toaster oven consumes roughly six times more electricity for that example.

To estimate your own cost, multiply the appliance's kilowatt rating by the hours used, then multiply by your electricity rate per kWh. Check your utility bill for the exact rate, which typically ranges from 10 to 30 cents per kWh in the United States.

Appliance	Typical Wattage	Example Cooking Time	Energy Used (kWh)	Cost at $0.15/kWh
Microwave	1,000 W	5 minutes	0.083 kWh	$0.012
Toaster Oven	1,500 W	20 minutes	0.500 kWh	$0.075

Efficiency: How Each Appliance Uses Heat

Efficiency measures how much of the electricity becomes useful heat in the food. Microwaves heat water molecules directly inside the food, so little energy is wasted heating the air or the appliance itself. Most microwave energy goes into the food.

Toaster ovens work like small conventional ovens. They heat a metal coil, which warms the air, which then cooks the food. This indirect method loses heat to the surrounding air and to the appliance body, making toaster ovens less efficient per unit of heat delivered.

The practical result: for the same cooking task, a microwave often uses 50% to 70% less electricity than a toaster oven. This is why reheating leftovers is almost always cheaper in a microwave.

Cooking Time and Preheating: Hidden Energy Costs

Preheating is a major hidden cost for toaster ovens. Many recipes and frozen foods require preheating for 5 to 10 minutes, during which the appliance uses full power without cooking any food. Microwaves rarely need preheating, so they start cooking immediately.

Microwaves also cook faster for most tasks. Reheating a plate of food takes 2 to 4 minutes in a microwave, but 10 to 15 minutes in a toaster oven. This time difference multiplies the energy gap, even when wattages are similar.

For tasks that genuinely need dry heat, such as toasting bread, crisping pizza crust, or roasting small vegetables, a toaster oven may be worth the extra energy because a microwave cannot produce the same texture.

Microwave: no preheat, fast reheating, best for leftovers and defrosting
Toaster oven: preheat required for many foods, slower cooking, best for toasting and crisping
Energy rule: shorter cooking time usually means lower energy cost, regardless of wattage

Real-World Cost Comparison for Common Tasks

Reheating a cup of coffee or a plate of leftovers is the most common microwave use. At a typical rate of $0.15 per kWh, a 1,000-watt microwave costs about 1 cent per 5-minute reheat. The same task in a 1,500-watt toaster oven, running 15 minutes including preheat, costs about 6 cents.

Cooking a frozen burrito or a small casserole shows a smaller gap. A microwave might take 6 minutes (about 1.5 cents), while a toaster oven takes 25 minutes including preheat (about 9 cents). The microwave still wins, but the difference is less dramatic for longer cooks.

For toasting bread, a toaster oven uses about 0.05 kWh per session (less than 1 cent), while a microwave cannot toast at all. For roasting a small chicken, a toaster oven may use 0.8 kWh over 40 minutes (12 cents), which is still less than a full-sized oven at 3 kWh (45 cents).

Standby Power and Other Hidden Electricity Use

Standby power is electricity consumed while an appliance is plugged in but not in use. Microwaves typically draw 2 to 5 watts for the clock and control panel, costing about $0.50 to $1.50 per year. Toaster ovens usually have no clock or digital display, so standby draw is near zero.

However, toaster ovens use more electricity during the brief moment of heating up, and they radiate heat into the kitchen, which can increase air-conditioning costs in warm weather. Microwaves release less waste heat, so they have a smaller effect on your home cooling load.

Unplugging either appliance when not in use eliminates standby costs, but the savings are small. The bigger factor is how often and how long you use each appliance for cooking.

Close-up of an electric meter showing kilowatt-hour usage

Which Appliance Saves More Energy? The Verdict

For the vast majority of everyday tasks, the microwave saves more energy. Reheating, defrosting, cooking vegetables, and warming sauces are all faster and more efficient in a microwave. If your goal is to cut electricity costs, use the microwave whenever it can produce an acceptable result.

The toaster oven only wins when you need browning, crisping, or a dry texture that a microwave cannot create. In those cases, a toaster oven is still far cheaper than a full-sized oven, so it remains a good energy choice for small batches.

The most energy-saving strategy is to match the appliance to the task. Reserve the toaster oven for foods that need its unique cooking action, and let the microwave handle the rest. This combination reduces overall kitchen energy use without sacrificing food quality.