If you’re the type of person who likes a hot pocket for breakfast (or lunch or dinner), you’ve probably asked yourself this question at least once: Can I cook a Hot Pocket in the toaster oven? And it’s a good question! After all, Hot Pockets are meant to be heated in an oven. So, the answer is yes, you can.
But if you don’t have an oven on hand and want to eat your favorite microwavable sandwich from childhood, can you cook it in your trusty toaster instead? The answer is yes—but with some caveats.
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What is a hot pocket and what does it taste like?
Hot Pockets are microwaveable turnovers with a variety of fillings. Hot Pockets come in four main varieties: ham and cheese; pepperoni pizza; bacon and egg; and chicken teriyaki. All other Hot Pockets are variations on these sandwiches with different types of cheese (mild cheddar or mozzarella) or meats (chicken chunks, hickory ham).
You can find them at grocery stores across the country, usually between $2-$4 per package, depending on where you live. For example, if you’re living in New York City and want to try out some new recipes using leftover turkey from Thanksgiving dinner, then check out this recipe for Hot Pocket Turkey Pot Pie!
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Can you cook a hot pocket in a toaster oven?
Yes, you can put hot pockets in a toaster!
Hot pockets use pie crust dough, which is sturdy and doesn’t dry out as fast as bread dough. The problem with putting them in your toaster oven is that their insides are already cooked when you buy them (they’re frozen). So if you cook one for too long, it’ll burn on the outside while freezing on the inside. If you take it out of the freezer and put it in a toaster oven at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes, then yes—your hot pocket will be done!
You can toast a hot pocket so that the outside burns and the inside freezes. The bottom of the bag cooks more quickly than the top because of the toaster’s top-down heating.
That means there’s nothing stopping heat from traveling from below up through all those delicious cheesy layers until everything is nice and warm except for maybe some chewy bits around where cheese meets crust (we’ve got some tips on how to deal with those later).
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What is the ideal temperature for Cooking Hot Pockets?
The ideal temperature for cooking Hot Pockets is 350 degrees F. Cooking time varies by hot pocket type and toaster oven, but keeping an eye on the hot pocket while in the range is essential. Using a timer will help you ensure that your Hot Pocket is cooked thoroughly so that you don’t end up with soggy bread or gooey cheese.
Conclusion
This article has helped you understand how to cook a hot pocket in your toaster oven. If you have any questions or if something needs to be clarified, feel free to comment below!
