Advice on halogen ovens please

[lyall]

Hello. I have limited space in my kitchen (that’s the wrong word, ‘box’ describes it better!!) there is no room for a cooker (even if I could afford one) standing room and storage space is extremely limited, I haven’t even got room for a microwave as it takes up too much room. I’m thinking of buying a halogen oven but not sure if it will suit my needs and can't seem to find anyone who has one to ask about their experiences. There is only me to cook for, I want to be able to cook something that lasts one meal no more than 2 meals at the most, which reading the literature does seem possible if I get one of the smaller ovens. It says that you can cook pizza's and pies in it, I’m dubious as not sure how that would work but willing to give it a go. What’s putting me off is I have a lot of tined soup, small tins of baked beans and fish/veggie fingers (I usually fry those but want to have a bit less fat in my diet) would I be able to cook 1 tin of soup or beans in it without it boiling dry and burning to nothing, looking at the pot neither soup or beans would cover the bottom of the pot, and how would 4 fingers cook would they be crispy or soggy? I don’t want to waste my money on something that ultimately I would be able to use for olny half the stuff I eat. Maybe a mini table top oven/grill would be better the sort suitable for caravans. I have a slow cooker which I’d be lost without.

[Valeriea]

I would buy a halogen oven. They are great, take up little space, and you can make great food in them. I am onto my 2nd one now. The 1st one lasted 9 years. They are excellent and I advise many people to buy one. Hope this helps. Also I forgot to say you can defrost food in them in about 3omins.

[Quizmonster]

I'm delighted that Valeriea has had a good experience with hers but my advice is,"Don't bother!" These things are getting cheaper and cheaper for a reason...ie they're not very well made!
For a start, if the bulb/element goes...and they do...it is not a case of just buying a replacement and popping it into a socket. It is not something the owner can do...unless, I suppose, you are an electrical technician of some sort.
I bought one and it came with part of the plastic base weighing about three ounces broken through. Did I just have to send that back? Oh, no! I had to repack the entire thing and send it all.
Fair enough, I got a replacement and was just getting used to and enjoying cooking with it, when the bulb/element blew a few weeks later. I decided to return it and ask for my money back.
As ever, one person thinks a product is the best thing since sliced bread and another wouldn't give it house-room! If you're a gamblin' guy/gal, go for it, but my advice if you do is...note how the items in the box need to be repackaged and don't throw anything away!
In the end, I bought a Remoska, which is a similar but much more substantial device, though quite a bit more expensive. Worth it, though.

[wendilla]

I have not used my main cooker for over a year for myself . Only when the family come . I live on my own and would not be without mine. Use it just like an ordinary oven . Get small dishes to cook things like chicken breasts in a sauce. I jar of cooking sauce is too much for 1 so freeze the rest in small containers. Put you soup in a bowl and beans in a small dish. I had mine from Argos but would not go for the very small one ,I do a whole dinner in mine for 1 Roast patatoes ect just leave the yorkies till last they don't take long.

[what..the?]

http://www.amazon.co....128453&pf_rd_i=468294

I saw this on amazon the other week, don't know if this is useful?

[redman41]

You could do with finding space for a Microwave Dual purpose Oven as in Link below.


http://www.cheapstain...e-dual-purpose-ovens/

[lyall]

Thank you all for your answers. I totally agree Quizmonster one person loves something another other hates it, a bit like Marmite I suppose!! Thank you for being honest, it’s useful to know its pitfalls. How spooky I was looking at a Remoska yesterday in Lakeland, I was impressed, but it’s slightly out of my price range for the time being, which is why I went back to the halogen oven. wat..the the Whirlpool microwave looked promising from the picture but it is too large (35 cm deep). My problem is I don’t have a proper work surface/cupboard top call it what you will it’s just a glorified shelf I suppose and its only 25 cm deep, if anything wider was to be put in I’d not be able to get in the kitchen with ease! Yes it really is that narrow and tiny. Wendilla I never thought of putting things in pots I just assumed that everything had to go straight into the main pot. Once again thank you for your honest and varied answers. I will have a ponder.

[Giggsie]

If you have a makro store near you they are selling them this week at a special price. £23.99 that includes the vat. And that is the large one very good buy.