What to place under a toaster oven to protect countertop?

Question

I have hardly any countertop space left and may purchase an origami folding kitchen cart with butcher block top. I know that I can store many heavy items on the top and the shelves below on this cart, but would like to use a toaster oven (do not have one yet) on it. If I place it on the kitchen counters, the above cupboards will be very close to the toaster oven.

Can anyone suggest what I could place under the toaster oven and on top of butcher block so there will not be a fire? I have a stainless steel baking sheet. Would love to hear if you have any other ideas.

Answer

Almost anything that isn't flammable, really - both your steel baking sheet and ceramic tile would work fine, or some sort of insulation-lined metal "trivet" made for table-top use.. But in all seriousness, there's very, very little chance of a toaster oven setting fire to even a fairly thin wooden work surface under it, let alone anything worthy of the name "butcher block". Wood really just isn't *that* flammable. With frequent extended use, it might eventually darken and conceivably even "scorch" a wooden surface underneath it, but you're far more likely to start a fire by overcooking something like toast IN the toaster oven (or the old stand-by, absent-mindedly forgetting to remove or completely remove a wrapper around a frozen food item<sigh>) than you are to set fire to anything except maybe (and only maybe) paper or thin cardboard in very close proximity to the toaster oven...

Answer

My toaster oven (Fridgiare, not quite as expensive as Breville), has 1" high legs, and 1 1/2" spacers on the back. I have set it on 3/4" thick sticks as well. And as close to the wall as those spacers allow. There's no sign of scorching of the cabinet it sits on.

You could double check the instructions for the intended oven, but unless they specifically specify a non-flammable surface, you should be good on any counter top. Heat rises, so it's the top of the oven that will get hot, not the bottom.

Answer

I've been in the plastics business for over 40 years, selling to a number of appliance manufacturers over those years, I also have worked very closely with Underwriters Laboratories, who test appliances for safety, particularly fire safety. Your chances of getting hit by something falling out of the sky are higher than your chance of the heat from a toaster oven starting your butcher block on fire. The ignition temperature for wood is 356°F or 180°C, the plastic used on the toaster oven is likely rated to 150°C (302°F) continuous use, so it's highly unlikely anywhere outside the toaster oven is anywhere close to the auto ignition temperature of the butcher block. Even if there should be an electrical failure inside the toaster oven, the housing is supposed to contain the fire as the enclosure materials must be rated UL 94 5VA. Make sure your toaster oven when you purchase one is UL listed!!!

If however you want some extra protection for your butcher block, you can use a glass cutting board or an insulated metal hot plate.

Answer

I'm with mikie. I'd use a glass cutting board or get a metalworker to cut me a plate. I'd be less concerned with fire than the finish discoloring.

Answer

I want to purchase a convection oven and due to the limited space in my kitchen I was going to purchase a kitchen/microwave cart. Which would be better for protection to keep from burning the counters and walls?

Thank you for your time.

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What to place under a toaster oven to protect countertop?

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