Quartz countertops are the newest trend in home design, and it is taking over. In fact, Quartz has become the most popular material for kitchen countertops as well! However, with new trends come new questions. In today’s article, I will be answering one of the most common questions which is “can you use a toaster oven on my quartz countertop?”
A toaster oven is safest to use on quartz countertops if a trivet, ceramic tile, or glass cutting board is first placed between the quartz countertop and the toaster oven. This will help prevent heat transfer from the toaster oven from gradually damaging the polyester resin used to bind the quartz stones.
As you can see, the answer is a resounding NO but as hinted in the answer section above, there are a couple of safety precautions you can put in place so that you can use your toaster oven on your quartz countertops so that you do not damage it. Keep reading this article to find out more!
What Will Happen If You Use A Toaster Oven On Quartz Countertops Without Precaution?
1. Heat From The Toaster Oven Can Damage The Polyester Resin In Quartz
Quartz is an engineered stone created largely from some of the toughest minerals on earth. It usually consists of about 90% quartz stone and 10% polyester resin.
The polyester resins are what holds or binds the quartz together and are the material that helps make quartz such a durable stone.
The polyester resin in quartz countertops can be damaged by heat from toaster ovens, crock pots, electric frying pans, and other household appliances that produce a lot of heat.
Not only those electric appliances by also even placing hot saucepans directly on the quartz countertops can also yield the same level of damage to the polyester resins in quartz.
What happens is the heat could weaken the polyester resins and in the long term cause them to swell or melt. So if you are going to use your Quartz Countertop as an additional surface for cooking on, then don’t set any electric appliance or hot pans directly on them.
2. Using The Toaster Oven On Quartz Can Affect Indoor Air Quality
Another reason why you do not want to be using your toaster oven on your quartz countertops is that it can affect the quality of your indoor air.
When you are baking, broiling, reheating, roasting, or whatever you do with your toaster oven, the heat that gets transmitted onto the surface of your quartz countertop will emit a lot of harmful pollutants into the air.
This will primarily happen due to the synthetic polyester resins that are used to bind the quartz stone particles into a slab.
By so doing the high temperatures directly hitting the polyester resin in the quartz will not only damage the polymer but also release more of its chemicals into the atmosphere over time making indoor air quality worse.
This pollution can be anything from hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide which could cause respiratory problems for people who have asthma as well as pregnant women and infants who are still in their growing stages.
If you want to keep your home’s indoor air fresh without compromising on kitchen functionality, there are other options like using a potholder between whatever has been heated up and your quartz countertop surface.
3. Using A Toaster Oven On Quartz Can Make Quartz Duller
The manufacturers of natural stone countertops go beyond the durability of the stone countertop to make the piece a befitting work of art and an integral part of the house or outdoor area it is installed.
Putting your toaster or crockpot on them while still hot is just going to disrupt the beautiful look of the quartz countertop which then defeats the purpose of the entire decoration.
The toaster oven when used on a quartz countertop can make them duller and they can also start to form stains, which is not a good look.
This in turn will have the opposite effect of what you were trying to achieve when you purchased your quartz countertop.
“Quartz can usually withstand heat temperatures up to about 160 degrees Celsius.”
The best thing that one can do for their long-term appearance is put trays or pans on the stove where they belong, rather than directly on your beautiful new kitchen surface.
This way there won’t be any heat damage from the appliance sitting directly on top of it. It takes care of both appliances and keeps things looking great every time as well.
What Can You Use To Prevent The Toaster Oven From Damaging Your Quartz Countertops?
There are some safety precautions you need to take when using a toaster oven on quartz countertops.
Quartz can usually withstand heat temperatures up to about 160 degrees Celsius, but anything above that and you run the risk of damage occurring. It is important not to use any appliances directly on your kitchen surface.
Instead, set your toaster ovens on the items mentioned below so there won’t be any direct contact with your beautiful new counters.
This way it keeps things looking great every time as well in addition to ensuring safety from potential damage by reducing temperature exposure levels from the appliance sitting right on top of it.
Use Trivets
One of the best ways to avoid direct contact with your countertops is by using trivets which can be found on Amazon. These are heat-resistant mats that you put directly under your appliances and then set them down on top of it.
These are great because they can be used for any appliance including a blender, coffee maker, or even an ironing board. So they have many uses around the house other than just protecting surfaces from damage.
Ceramic Tile
Another solution that is widely available and very affordable is placing ceramic tiles on your quartz countertop before placing your toaster oven on it.
These can be purchased at any home improvement store in a wide variety of styles, shapes, colors, and sizes to perfectly match your existing décor or even as an accent piece within the room itself.
They come with a built-in protective coating so they can stand up to daily use for years without showing wear or damage from frequent use.
The best part about these tiles is that you don’t need special tools to install them either which makes it one of the most cost-effective solutions on this list if done correctly.
Simply align each tile around your appliances until you complete all four sides.
Cardboard Or Wood
You could also use another surface such as cardboard if you don’t want to invest in a set of trivets. If you go this route, you would want to make sure to keep safety and aesthetics in mind when making this decision since plastic will melt away fast while wood may stain over time due to exposure levels from the hot appliance sitting right on top of it.
Steel Baking sheet
pans work well on quartz countertops as long the size can fit in your oven and you don’t mind putting them in and out every time.
A good option is using steel baking sheet pans that will not scratch or damage the surface while they remain durable enough to withstand any heat from whatever appliance you may be cooking with at the moment.
If this does sound like a feasible solution, then simply make sure you take into consideration how wide and deep of an item would need to go on top before purchasing one for yourself!
Glass Cutting Board
The last material you could use is a glass cutting board, one of the most heat-resistant surfaces on this list. You would want to take precautions by placing something underneath it just in case—a fireproof mat or some sort of tray that can also protect your countertops from damage due to heated spills seeping into them too fast and causing cracks over time.
Important Tips For Dealing With Heat Burn On Quartz Countertops
- Do not allow food spills onto the quartz slab, especially if it’s liquid that may be burning hot when spilled onto countertops like oil and butter.
- Always use potholders for anything you are doing in the kitchen involving heat transfer (such as taking dishes from an oven) because this can help prevent burns and drop injuries.
- Using potholders is also safer than using towels since towel fibers have been shown to break apart under high temperatures resulting in burn risk too!
- Use dryer sheets that will absorb any microwaves coming off heated counters so there is no residual damage done by them.
- Don’t set anything with a hot surface onto quartz counters. This includes things that have been in an oven or toaster because they can reach high temperatures and damage the countertop when placed directly on it.
- For cleaning purposes, only use nonabrasive cleaners like dish soap as well as microfiber cloths designed specifically for delicate surfaces such as marble or quartz counters. Using harsh products may scratch and mar these types of materials reducing their heat resistance.
