HALOGEN OVENS

[Linda51]

Has anyone got one of these and if so what are they like. Also can you cook family meals in them. Thanks.

[jomifl]

From a previous thread that I read, it seems that the halogen lamps fail more frequently than conventional oven heating elements, and so can work out quite expensive and inconvenient. I don't know of what advantages that they have but would be interested to hear of any.

[Quizmonster]

Re buying one, my advice is,"Don't bother!" The bulb/element seems to be especially vulnerable, judging by stories about these things, but it is not a case of just buying a bulb 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. I decided to return it and ask for my money back. Clearly, these things are of low quality for one reason or another, as the price nowadays would suggest.
Of course, you will almost certainly get someone else here replying that they are the finest thing since sliced bread. If you're a gamblin' guy/gal, go for it, but my advice if you do is...note how it all fits in with the packaging as you UNpack it and don't throw the packaging away!

I finally invested in a Remoska, a much sturdier and more reliable device. They're quite a bit more expensive, but well worth it, I feel.

[Kaytee26]

Great for oven chips, sausages, bacon and other foods you would usually grill. Had pork loin cooked in one the other day and it was lovely and moist. But I tried chicken casserole with whole chicken breasts and they were raw after 1 3/4 hours.

[DTCwordfan]

certainly stay clear of any stoves in this - they crack and chip easily........and are susceptible to anything dropped - as our electrician did with an ice cream maker - £600 later (for his nickel)..............

[mrs.chappie]

I got one when I was having my kitchen extension built and I had no cooking facilities for several weeks.

I've not used it much. It does nice baked potatoes. I'd like to know if other ABers use it for family meals too.

[ladybirder]

I've had one for well over two years, no problem with blown bulbs, and I love it. It heats up immediately and therefore cooks things quicker than in an oven and of course you are not messing your oven up which is much harder to clean. Great for jacket potatoes, oven chips, chicken pieces and I have roasted a whole chicken with roast potatoes. Daughter was so impressed she bought one and no trouble with that either. Perhaps we've just been lucky. BTW mine is a JML.

[Quizmonster]

So were my two, Ladybirder! However, I'm glad you've been one of the lucky ones.

[lorri24601]

Like ladybirder i have had one for a couple of years with no problems.I use it almost daily and love the results, but having read this thread im now keeping my fingers crossed lol.

[Dee Sa]

I bought one in Asda from the JML stand,, it took up a lot of room in my small kitchen but the food tasted real good, three months down the line the halogen bulb blew, JML didnt want to know but told me to return it to Asda, I did and got my money back without any problem but I decided not to buy another in case it happened again and Asda were out of stock anyway, last time I was in TJHughes they were selling them for £29.99 mine at the time has cost £49.99.

[Quizmonster]

Ah, I'm glad to see you here Dee Saa! I say that because I recall that I posted exactly the same response as my opening one above in reply to YOUR similar question about these ovens. Clearly, you went ahead and bought one anyway, which is perfectly fair...after all you might have been one of the lucky ones!
I'm sorry to see that you weren't, but your response at least confirms what I said about the fragility of the device. Better luck next time but I'd still recommend a Remoska! (I don't work for them...honest!)

[lorri24601]

Hi Quizmaster.After reading this thread and feeling like im in the lucky minority having had more than a few months life out of my halogen, i went and looked at the Remoska. It looks brilliant, i have added it to my favourites for future reference as now i cross my fingers everytime i switch my halogen on lol. Think i have found the replacement for when the time comes, thanks for the recommendation :-)

[Quizmonster]

Oh, I do apologise, Lorri! My first response above was designed to give potential NEW owners pause for thought; it hadn't really occurred to me that I might be causing EXISTING owners worrisome mealtimes! Anyway, I shouldn't worry about it too much...it's not as if they're expensive. Good luck with yours and may you have many more happy years using it.

[lorri24601]

No probs quizmaster, in my book any excuse to go shopping is welcome :-). I shall be paying a visit to lakeland tomorrow for further investigations and to see one "in the flesh" as it were lol