Norma Miller - The Halogen Oven Secret

H ALOGEN OVENS HAVE MADE a rapid rise to popularity. This has been helped by their increasing availability on the high street, by press coverage, by word-of-mouth recommendations, and, perhaps more than anything else, by way of the internet and the opportunity of shopping online. And once you have started using your halogen oven it is easy to understand what makes them so widely appreciated.

When you have unpacked your halogen oven and read the manufacturers instruction leaflets, I suggest that the first thing you cook with your new oven is a piece of toast. There is quite a variation between the different models on the market, and this will give you an insight into how your own halogen oven can be handled.

Put a slice of ordinary white toasting bread on the high rack, turn the temperature dial to 250C and set the timer to around three minutes. This is a way of getting used to handling the equipment, and also you will be able to see how quickly the toast cooks. How even is the browning? Has it toasted on both sides? Does it need turning?

Remember, if you are new to halogen oven cooking, it can be fast.

This portable, multi-purpose, table-top oven uses technology that enables food to be cooked using infrared waves from a halogen light source. It cooks up to about 40 per cent faster than a conventional oven, so uses less power and is therefore very economical to run. Halogen ovens will roast, grill, defrost, bake and steam. Conveniently, they just need to be plugged into an earthed mains power socket.

The halogen oven consists of a large glass bowl which rests on a plastic base. The workings are all in the lid which sits on top of the glass bowl. There are two racks: a high rack and a low rack. You can put your food directly onto either of the racks, and each rack can also support dishes and trays.

The lid has a handle which must be used to lift the lid when taking it off or placing it on the glass bowl. The handle also acts as a safety switch; as soon as it is lifted up the machine will turn off. The handle must be flat down for the oven to work it is very easy at first to forget to push it down flat. There are two control switches. One switch is for the temperature, ranging from 20C to 250C. The other control switch is for the time. Select the time by turning the switch in a clockwise direction from 0 to 60 minutes. The halogen oven will not work until the time has been selected. Important the timer switch should not be turned backwards as it could damage the halogen oven. When the oven is switched off, the timer will continue to run and will just tick down back to zero. The halogen light will turn off when it has reached the desired temperature, and then will turn on again when it needs to come back up to the correct temperature. There is also noise from the motor and the hot air circulating.

Advantages

Because the halogen oven uses half the electricity of a conventional oven and about the same as a microwave oven it is very economical.

It is easy to use just plug into a 13 amp earthed mains power socket.

Generally cooking times are shorter. It cooks about 20 per cent faster than a conventional oven on average.

It is compact and so uses less energy to heat up and so less electricity.

It is very versatile and allows you to roast, bake, steam, reheat or defrost.

Foods, especially meat and fish, remain very juicy and moist.

You can watch your food cooking through the glass bowl.

For the health conscious, if you choose to cook meats directly on the rack, any fat will drop to the bottom of the oven to be discarded.

Limitations

The size of the machines may be too small for the number you want to cater for.

The hot air circulation causes liquids to swirl round, so its not ideal for soups or very liquid dishes. And they would have to be covered.

Some vegetables dont cook more quickly than in a conventional oven, so you have to take this into consideration when planning your cooking.

Rice, pasta, grains and beans are best used pre-cooked, either cooked on the hob whilst you prepare the rest of the dish, or use canned or frozen.

Points to consider when buying a halogen oven:

Look at the models available and find out as much as you can. You will find lots of information.

How will you use the halogen oven? Will it be used alongside your regular kitchen equipment, the oven and the hob and microwave? Or will it be used as a replacement for your oven? Maybe you will use it on holiday, in a caravan or self-catering apartments, or in student accommodation.