Anyone good with Halogen ovens?

I think it would be perfect for a moussaka. Perhaps place at lower level for longer time. Also good for reheat a portion or to brown the top if placed nearer the bulb. Microwave is good for reheat of something like lasagne/moussaka but the halogen gives it the crispy top.

I must look out for the hinged lid... very useful.

My latest oven has a hinged lid so I don't need to put it on strand or hang on hook etc
Nonnie you can do your moussaka in a dish in the oven or even directly in it if you want.

How do you cook oven chips in it, and could I do a moussaka in it please?

I am fond of my halogen. I did a big declutter of worktop recently, the foodprocesser put into cupboard but halogen sits in corner where used to have microwave.(it is elsewhere in kitchen, less central). I never liked using electric grills on main cooker but love the level of control a halogen offers for all grilling needs. Easy to see what is going on with bright light and see thru glass at near eye level and the timer ticking back is a good safety feature.

As for washing? it does not need too much for most jobs. A wipe with kitchen towel while still bit damp ( most food generates some steam that condenses) otherwise a couple of inches of water and detergent and turn it 'on' to wash cycle.

Recipe book: I got one online but did not find it any good, just ordinary recipes really. Youtube is good for showing you how they work.

Favourite things?: easy to do toasted cheese tho I toast bread first in ordinary toaster... suppose could use Halogen to do that as well? I use it to brown a shepherds pie, do small portion of oven chips, grill fish open or leave in the cooking bags, grill lamb steaks. Also very useful as supplement to main oven if overloaded. You can use to keep items warm, even warm plates.

I got mine in Harvey Norman electrical outlet. Visicook is the brand. The bulb 'blew' after about 6 months and they gave me a new oven. The present one is regularly used over two years now. I often see them in Aldi/Lidl for good price and mean to grab one as a replacement for when the present bulb gives out.

It does all the things an oven will do but is especially useful for small things. You will get used to using a tongs to lift out items and I have few metal dishes that are perfect containers for food. The lid needs to be treated carefully when in use and the hook overhead is a good idea... I think I have used the cupboard knob but now have a wooden board to rest it on. They supply a metal stand for it but it is a bit fiddley and something else to store about the kitchen.

Hi, I love my halogen and like Brupen am on my third one. I use it for everything. I picked up a book on halogen cookery from a cheap book store, that has been invaluable for oven times.It makes great air dry chips and equally good cakes.

I bought Argos Cookware one. Lid that you lift off, I have a hook under a shelf and hang it there while turning things over. A tool to lift things out of the oven so no burnt fingers. Then just bought a extender ring and extra cooking dishes. I have even bought one for the motor home now.
Made a lovely shepherds pie in mine last night topped off with mash potatoes and grated cheese.

Yes you can do cheese on toast in a Halogen. I cook crumpets with cheese on in mine also.

I am on my third halogen oven. Absolutely love it and use it most days. Ideal for roast potatoes . I think one of the best parts is the cleaning. Wait till its cooled down then put the oven in the sink and wash ! No more on the knees doing the conventional oven !

I have been thinking of buying one. Can anyone suggest a make that they are really happy with please.

blueskies that made me smile. I read that as well. Strange how we feel compelled to do the opposite when advised not to, I'm a bit like that in life, and have been known to go round roundabouts the wrong way just because it's 3am and there's nobody about.. and I can........

I gave mine away. The manual said not to look at the "light".
The "light" was very intense and my eyes were so drawn to it I found I had to leave the room when it was on. I only used it a couple of times and was concerned about the safety of my vision.

Have managed perfectly well with a mini oven, boiling ring and microwave oven. Still make my bread.

Nonnie1
To do a leg of lamb, first make sure it will fit in your halogen oven, some don't!
Take excess fat off meat, make slits in meat and pop rosemary sprigs and sliced garlic into them
Rub oil (I use coconut) onto lamb, but only lightly, it's fatty enough!
Put lamb on low rack and cook at 200c for 20 minutes, reduce heat to 180c and cook for a further 50-60 minutes, obviously adjusting according to the size of the joint.
I put a foil dish under the low rack to catch all the juices and fat from the lamb, it makes clean up much easier!
Enjoy using your 'proper' oven again!

oznan

I don't eat meat but my family do so I have to cook it, but when I do I try to do my best !

I have one and the few things I have made worked well. The best thing I have bought for it though is the air fryer. Its like a garden sieve with handles either side. It cooks oven chips and home made ones to perfection. I think you would need an extender ring to get the heat source away from the chips, but otherwise a really useful thing. I use my combination oven almost exclusively however, which is much cheaper than putting the main oven on. For one person, I really now only need a hob and the microwave/convection.By the way, some good cookery books on halogen cooking on Amazon.

I can't comment on the meat cooking as I am vegetarian but I absolutely love my halogen cooker.You can do cheese on toast in them easily sunseeker.Mine came with a recipe leaflet and special tongs for lifting out the dishes/trays/food.Using these,I have never managed to burn myself,despite my usual clumsiness.It's great fun to watch your cakes rise as they are cooking too!

Juggernaut, thanks.

i did put the lemon in and rub it with herbs, but I didn't put it breast side down. I'll have another go before I consign it back to the garage as the glass for the oven arrived today.

How would you roast a leg of lamb using the Halogen oven?

Nonnie1
Try a chicken again at some point, the halogen makes a lovely job of them, with a bit of practice.
I stick a lemon cut in half in the cavity, then rub the skin with butter and sprinkle with herbs, dried will do.
Put the chicken breast side down on the low rack, cook at 240c for 25 minutes.
Turn chicken breast side up, put heat down to 210c, cook for a further 40 mins.
Obviously the timings depend on the size of the bird, but this is right for a medium/large chicken.
The thing to remember is start it off breast side down, so the juices run into the breast, keeping it moist.
You should also b able to make your gravy from the fats and juices collected in the bottom of the bowl.
If you're on Facebook, there are groups you can join, some folk come up with great ideas!
Good Luck

Well it cooked the chicken but I found it hard to remove since they get so hot so I had to use two cooking spoons to lift it out, and the timer got stuck as well so the bird was well roasted.

Much prefer the oven, but it was a good alternative and I'm glad I've got it.

I think as with a lot of things you buy - to know it is to love it

I've had two - the first one is brilliant and cooks chickens, joints and anything else really well - it grills cheese on toast too. The second one has a rotating basket and although it works well it's not as good at the other one as it doesn't seem to have enough room in it. The other has the extender ring on it so plenty of room for a chicken.

Thanks Hilda, will look, never thought of looking on line

Loads of recipes online numberplease.

Please don't grill Sunseeker! ?

Our daughter bought us one a few years ago, to use in the caravan on holiday. It was brilliant for what we needed it for, no big meals or roasts, but we/I did pies, sausages, beefburgers, frozen chips and roast potatoes, and cooked filleted chicken breasts okay. Haven`t used it since selling the caravan, waiting till I can get a full cookbook for it.

I haven't had good results with grilling sunseeker re cheese on toast . In fact I'm not great fan of halogen ovens, even after reading good reviews. I sort of gave up on mine after burning my wrists muliple times...having to reach into the bowl to retrieve the roast ...or whatever. Haven't heard anyone mention that so maybe it was just my clumsiness. I've now bought a top-of- the-range work top cooker to avoid having to turn on a ginormous oven for just me. It does all I want it to do ...even cakes and bread.