Could we get rid of ovens?

Doodledog, thanks. That's what I did but... the cake, in a silicone loaf tin just wouldn't cook!

The air fryer works perfectly for meals but this was my first attempt at baking in it. I think I ended up cooking the cake for something like 90 minutes instead of 45-50. I also turned the temperature up by five degrees every fifteen minutes or so until I have no idea of what I actually did! Let's say that the end result, although just... edible was rather 'soft' (i.e. barely held together)!

I wondered what on earth I had done wrong/what could be done better. It certainly saved using an oven but unless I improve my method, I couldn't rely on this for guests etc.

You've just reminded me - I've used my microwave for a few cakes over the last year.
I wouldn't risk it for an 'expensive' or an 'important' cake, but the results, after a bit of practice regarding timing and temperature, have been very acceptable for the family, and so quick to cook.

The microwaved cakes do need eating quite quickly, though. Whether that is a plus or a minus is up to you

Doodledog

I'm not sure I'm ready to get rid of the oven (plus I'd have to remodel the kitchen), but I think it's the way ahead.

I have a Ninja at home and a Tower Air Fryer at the lodge in the Lakes, and try to use both as often as possible to save fuel. My husband remains unconverted though.

I think an oven is always going to win for batch cooking - a joint of meat, roasties, a sponge pudding and a tray of scones won't all fit into even the biggest Ninja at the same time; but for those who don't cook like that now our families have grown they are a great standby, although running both at once can mean that there are space issues. Ninjas have to be left out, as they are too large and heavy to be put in a cupboard between uses.

I have found a slow cooker great for sponge puddings (and rice pudding).
I wouldn’t put the oven on for that!

My oven broke down almost a year ago. Haven’t missed it not even over Christmas. I use my ninja air fryer, microwave oven, slow cooker, hob, and occasionally my deep fat fryer. I may never buy another oven.

No, I tried a Halogen cooker which was useless, have a slow cooker in winter but couldn't live without oven and hob.

Im trying to only use the oven a couple of times a week, and make sure its as full as possible to make the most of the energy. The rest of the time I'm using the Remoska, the slow cooker and the microwave.

I used to try and get as much in the oven as possible at once to save electricity. Nowadays our electricity comes from PV panels on the roof so I can use it as I like, as long as I don't have it on simultaneously with the dishwasher or washing machine. I prefer to use the oven rather than the frying pan, e.g. meatballs, or any meat, really, so it's not so fatty. I don't bake cakes but a quiche or a pie is not the same done in a microwave.

I confess to using the oven frequently. Apart from a microwave I don’t have any of the other gadgets mentioned. I love the flavour of roasted and baked foods. I roast a lot of the vegetables we eat. I know it isn’t the most economical but we try to cut down in other ways.

@Kateykrunch
I recently bought a 7 in 1 ninja. Between that and microwave, I have not used my oven in 8 weeks.

Take a look at this book, it might change your mind. Also, only one cooking vessel, a chopping board and a knife to wash up and no stirring, to boot! www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B08DSS7GNR?ref=ppx_pt2_mob_b_prod_image&tag=gransnetforum-21

From what I remember in my physics lessons at school, to achieve the same temperature food, different nethods of cooking use up the same overall amount of electricity.

They would if they were all cooked in the same sized cavity, but a Ninja, for example, will make a casserole in a pot-sized vessel, which is all that needs heating up, whereas you would have to heat the whole of the oven, which will use more fuel to bring to the same temperature (unless I'm missing something, which is perfectly possible ).

Similarly a slow cooker used for rice pudding will just heat the pot that it's served in, so again, you don't need to have the whole oven on.

What I am saying is that where the oven comes into its own is that you can cook them both at the same time and maybe a tray of scones as well, so much of whether someone would want to get rid of the oven (for financial reasons, at least) depends on how often they cook with it full.

I can't imagine getting rid of mine any time soon, but I do love kitchen gadgets, and use the majority of the ones I have (the spiraliser being the most useless, so far).

We don't have an airfryer. Not sure we even want one. Though I'd happily get rid of the deep fat fryer my SO loves!

I wouldn’t like the extra space taken up on the work surfaces by other ‘equipment’. My slow cooker is used all the year round for example a gammon joint yesterday, so not just in winter. If the oven is on, it’s for multiple items, like a roast.

All my appliances live on the surfaces, except for the Instant Pot which lives on top of the freezer between uses. It makes it a lot more likely that they will get used, and I do use them all year round.

I think that's why some people talk about getting rid of their ovens - to free up the counter space for the gadgets. I've seen photos of Ninjas on top of the cooker (with the glass lid down, obviously!).

Thanks everyone, just off for Fish and Chips lol x

It's hot and we should have a nice salad but DH is going out to fetch fish and chips in a minute!

Enjoy

Having given the matter some thought. I would sooner do without all my other cooking appliances; microwave, slow cooker small airfryer than do without my range cooker with its 2 ovens, 5 burners, grill and griddle.

I wouldn't like to do without any of my appliances. I do use them all (we won't talk ab out the spiraliser ), but I do a lot of cooking and enjoy experimenting.

I am trying to use the Fryers where I can though, to see if they make a difference to fuel bills. I can't remember if it's been said, but they are absolutely not just for frying - air frying, roasting and baking are the same thing in one of these things. Whether the food comes out fried depends on whether you add oil or not - otherwise it's all the same - the term is a bit of a misnomer, really.

Me and my husband are planning to remove our oven and hobs.

We have a tower air fryer and an instant pot. But we are going to buy a portable induction hob. Then we will fit a dishwasher when we remove the oven as we don't have a dishwasher.

I don’t use my oven but I do use a little George Foreman grill.

I use my oven almost every day, it's not going anywhere anytime soon.

I haven't had an oven since January, when I moved into this apartment. I have a microwave, an omelette maker, a toaster and a soup maker - and an intelligent oven Thing, that I haven't dared use yet. It was supposed to be a substitute for my air fryer that died, must get to grips with it.

Yes, I have no need of an oven!

I have a Tower air fryer oven, and as I mostly only cook for one now it’s ideal so I only use my main oven when the family come round. It has shelves which means that you can cook meat and veg at the same time, and it will also cook things like shepherds pie, a lasagne or vegetable bake. It makes nice roast potatoes and scones, too. But today, the slow braised short ribs of beef in red wine I will be cooking for four hungry people will have to go into the oven so that they come out stickily delicious and falling off the bone…...

I use my Halogen pot a lot and it's great. So with that and my microwave I think I could manage without an oven if I had to.
But I am on the verge of buying a new oven , strangely!