What Is The UK’s Best Halogen Oven?
In this guide, we’ll take a look at the best halogen ovens. We’ve compared design, features, energy efficiency and cost to give you our top recommendations.
Halogen Oven Reviews
Halogen Oven Buyer’s Guide
Halogen ovens have become exceedingly popular in recent years, thanks to their fast cooking times, energy efficiency and ease of use when it comes to cooking low-fat healthy meals. But with an increased interest comes a flooding of different models onto the market, and finding the best halogen oven for you can be tricky.
Feeling a little fried trying to navigate the world of halogen ovens? This buyer’s guide will help you work out what’s what.
Capacity
The amount of cooking you’re planning on doing will determine the size of your halogen ovens. A 12-15L capacity is good for families, although if you’re cooking for anymore than 6 you might want something bigger.
If you’re going to be using the halogen oven as a substitute to your regular oven, capacity is less important. Many smaller halogen ovens come with an extender ring. These can usually extend the capacity to around 17L.
Cooking Speed
Halogen ovens generally cook much faster than regular ovens, and they are more energy efficient which will cut your electricity bills as well as save you time. The time it’ll take to cook will generally depend on what you are cooking and what method of cooking you are using – as opposed to the oven itself. However, opt for something that prides itself on efficiency and ease of use to speed up the cooking process.
Self Cleaning Ability
No one likes washing up, and spending hours scrubbing a halogen oven will more than make up for any time you’ve saved cooking! Luckily, most halogen ovens clean very easily, The best halogen oven will be self cleaning, but some have a removable pot which can either be hand washed or put in the dishwasher.
Accessories
The majority of halogen ovens will come with extra accessories such as an extender ring, recipe book and more. Most will have grill racks, baking trays and a steamer tray, while the pricier models might even have a toast rack or frying pan!
Lid
A halogen oven with a hinged lid is one of the safest options, especially if you are elderly or lack mobility. The lid of a halogen oven can get very hot, so you need to be able to lift is securely and easily to put it in the stand. A hinged lid will stay out of the way and doesn’t require you to do any heavy lifting!
FAQs
What can you cook in a halogen oven?
Well, pretty much anything! Depending on the halogen oven you go for, you should be able to bake, roast, grill, fry or steam to your heart’s content! You can also reheat or defrost food without compromising on taste.
Halogen ovens are designed to be able to cook everything you would in a standard oven. Those with an air fryer attachment will allow you to cook chips and other fried food with minimal oil.
How to use a halogen oven?
The best halogen oven will be easy to use and intuitive – you shouldn’t have to pore over an instruction booklet for hours! Once you’ve used it a few times to cook simple food, you can start getting a bit more adventurous.
Ensure you have enough space around your halogen oven so it’s not making contact with any walls or other appliances. Place the food you want to cook on the high or low cooking rack and put this inside the glass bowl. Ensure you always use a rack to cook the food, never put it directly into the bowl.
The low rack is best for baking, roasting and slow cooking, while the higher rack is for toasting, frying or grilling as it’s closer to the heat. Set the timer and the temperature. No preheating is required and the halogen oven won’t turn on until you set the temperature.
When you remove the lid from the oven it will be hot so if you have a detachable lid, place it in the stand that came with the oven and be careful not to burn yourself.
How to clean a halogen oven?
Self cleaning halogen ovens can make the process a lot easier, but it’s always best to give your halogen oven an extra clean every now and again just to be sure. For self cleaning, put a small amount of hot water in a glass bowl and put this on the metal rack. Then set the self cleaner for around 10 minutes.
Be very careful when cleaning the lid as this contains all the heating components. Do not submerge the lid in water, instead just wipe it over. If you can remove the heating elements from the lid, you will be able to wash it properly by hand or in the dishwasher.
Use a kitchen spray on the interior of the oven after self cleaning and wipe down. The exterior can be cleaned with a surface spray.
How does a halogen oven work?
Halogen ovens heat food using a halogen lamp and the infrared light heats the air within the bowl. The air is then circulated using a fan and cooks your food using convection. They can be used to cook virtually anything you would in a normal oven, but much faster!
How long does a halogen oven bulb last?
Halogen lightbulbs have a shorter lifespan than most other bulbs but they can still last a long time in a halogen oven. However, be careful not to contaminate the surface of a halogen bulb, as even clean skin will leave behind oils which can create a ‘hot spot’. This will massively reduce the lifespan of your halogen bulb and can potentially be dangerous. Handle the bulb using a rubber glove if possible.