Don't overlook the toaster oven when it comes to cooking meat such as beef -- this convenient countertop appliance makes sense for cooking small beef portions. Despite its size, a toaster oven is essentially a miniature oven that can bake and roast just like its much bigger counterpart. It's particularly useful when you just want to cook a small meal for one or two without heating up the entire kitchen. Single-serve beef cuts like steak work best in the toaster oven, cooked on the broiler setting to give it that crusty, grill-like sear.

Turn your toaster oven on to the broil setting. Place the toaster oven's baking tray inside the oven to preheat, as well.

Rub your steak with olive oil and season with salt and pepper on both sides. You can also apply additional seasonings and aromatics as you see fit, such as crushed garlic and fresh thyme and rosemary.

Place the steak on the toaster oven's baking tray when the oven is fully heated. The steak should sizzle when it first touches the pan. Close the toaster oven and let it cook for about 7 to 10 minutes on each side, until the steak is well browned and the internal temperature has reached 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a meat thermometer to get an accurate temperature. Serve immediately.