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Oven that ā€˜steams’ rather than roasts

(35 Posts)
Sasta Mon 17-Nov-25 11:54:20

It’s a right pain in the whatsit. I have a rangemaster double oven cooker, bought years ago purely on looks. If it roasted as well as it looks I’d be very happy but it doesn’t. The smaller oven is too small and I don’t use it. The big oven cannot roast a chicken or any meat, or roasties properly. Huge clouds of steam come out when you open the door, every time I use it. I don’t even bother trying to cook pork with cracking. I’m looking to change and would love recommendations for a nice DRY oven that crisps things properly. I’m heartily sick of soggy chicken etc. Here’s hoping šŸ¤žšŸ¼

Realky Sun 23-Nov-25 10:27:12

I'm bit confused about the steam. Where is coming from? I have an AEG oven which says it bakes with moisture. I don't use the option.

Witzend Sun 23-Nov-25 10:10:35

Talking of jettisoning cookers, a relative of dh with a massive place in France, ordered a new, evidently very expensive, range cooker for the lovely great big kitchen.

Only he forgot to state that he needed one for bottled gas, so it was useless!
In the meantime the next guests, including us, had to try to cook for 16+ on the small, bog standard cooker he found in the meantime.

Sasta Sat 22-Nov-25 06:16:10

butterandjam

sounds like the oven vent is blocked.

Will get this checked next week too, thank you.

Sasta Sat 22-Nov-25 06:13:53

Skodadoda

I had my Rangemaster oven professionally cleaned and the fan was found to be clogged and not working properly. Could this be the problem OP?

Thanks Skodadoda, I’ll check that out when it’s serviced next week.

Sasta Sat 22-Nov-25 06:12:03

MaizieD

Have you tried contacting the manufacturers about this, Sasta?. It does sound like a fault in the oven.

It woold be a shame to jettison a cooker that is fine in every other way without getting it investigated.

I had it serviced twice, but it’s always been like this. I’ve got another service booked next week, this time by a very reputable local company so fingers crossed.

FranP Fri 21-Nov-25 00:49:31

My oven is the same. It is because it seals in the heat. For roasties, I open the door and turn them half way through letting steam out, and 5 minutes before, I just open the door a little and close it again

sazz1 Thu 20-Nov-25 14:14:02

I have a Hotpoint self cleaning fan oven. It's the worst oven I've ever owned! It's completely level but cooks faster at the back than the front. Has been repaired 4 times in the 4 years we've had it, new elements, new thermostat, new motherboard. Also the self clean is pretty hopeless and only cleans part of it. Temperature is often not what it says on the display so takes longer to cook everything. We tested with an oven thermometer. So disappointed as my friend had a self cleaning oven and it was fantastic but a much more expensive make.
DONT BUY THIS MAKE

kittylester Thu 20-Nov-25 07:38:15

I wonder if there is a FB Forum where you can ask about other people's experience?

I am on my 2nd Rangemaster - have never had this issue.

Skodadoda Thu 20-Nov-25 07:01:21

I had my Rangemaster oven professionally cleaned and the fan was found to be clogged and not working properly. Could this be the problem OP?

MaizieD Wed 19-Nov-25 19:00:00

Have you tried contacting the manufacturers about this, Sasta?. It does sound like a fault in the oven.

It woold be a shame to jettison a cooker that is fine in every other way without getting it investigated.

Sasta Wed 19-Nov-25 18:51:28

4allweknow

Have a friend who had what seems to be a very similar oven to you. Just didn't take to it and on moving home had a double electric oven installed.

Mine's all electric 4allweknow.

Sasta Wed 19-Nov-25 18:50:30

georgiejg

I have a rangemaster and can get so much more in the smaller side oven than the main one. I just use that one to store tins in.

Isn’t that odd! You’d think it would be the other way around.

Sasta Wed 19-Nov-25 18:49:27

AuntieE

my oven is a Hƶgklassig bought in Ikea in 2016 - it roasts well, and is fine for baking too.

Thank you! I’m looking at all options.

AuntieE Wed 19-Nov-25 15:11:39

my oven is a Hƶgklassig bought in Ikea in 2016 - it roasts well, and is fine for baking too.

Sago Tue 18-Nov-25 20:01:15

Sasta

I’ve been drooling over the Lacanche range cookers that Sago had. They are the most beautiful pieces of workmanship I’ve ever seen. But sadly I think for me, too expensive. Looks like I’ll be booking a service for the oven and finally looking to get an air fryer. I’m probably one of the last people without one that I know. Thanks all.

Sorry Sasta!
I drooled over them for many years before I finally got one.

georgiejg Tue 18-Nov-25 18:49:26

I have a rangemaster and can get so much more in the smaller side oven than the main one. I just use that one to store tins in.

4allweknow Tue 18-Nov-25 18:02:31

Have a friend who had what seems to be a very similar oven to you. Just didn't take to it and on moving home had a double electric oven installed.

Greciangirl Tue 18-Nov-25 16:05:54

Air fryer all the way.

Cooks anything just as good as a conventional oven in half the time.

Sasta Tue 18-Nov-25 10:15:10

I’ve been drooling over the Lacanche range cookers that Sago had. They are the most beautiful pieces of workmanship I’ve ever seen. But sadly I think for me, too expensive. Looks like I’ll be booking a service for the oven and finally looking to get an air fryer. I’m probably one of the last people without one that I know. Thanks all.

butterandjam Tue 18-Nov-25 10:13:48

sounds like the oven vent is blocked.

Jane43 Tue 18-Nov-25 09:19:57

Sasta

It’s a right pain in the whatsit. I have a rangemaster double oven cooker, bought years ago purely on looks. If it roasted as well as it looks I’d be very happy but it doesn’t. The smaller oven is too small and I don’t use it. The big oven cannot roast a chicken or any meat, or roasties properly. Huge clouds of steam come out when you open the door, every time I use it. I don’t even bother trying to cook pork with cracking. I’m looking to change and would love recommendations for a nice DRY oven that crisps things properly. I’m heartily sick of soggy chicken etc. Here’s hoping šŸ¤žšŸ¼

We hadn’t had pork with proper crackling until we started cooking it in our air fryer and we use it every day, the only time we use our oven is for things that are too big to fit in the air fryer or when we have to cater for more than the two of us.

Witzend Tue 18-Nov-25 09:04:29

Talking of steam, I once asked the chef at my mother’s care home how on earth he produced such meltingly tender roast pork - they’d just had it for Sunday lunch, and I’d been helping my mother cut it up.
ā€˜Steam oven’ he said.

cc Mon 17-Nov-25 15:01:27

As Magenta suggests, an air fryer may be the solution? There are several Ninjas which are large enough for a joint or a chicken, I have a huge one which is intended to be used outdoors and is far better than my oven for roasting.
Alternatively you could also use one to crisp up your crackling or your roast potatoes after they've been cooked in the oven.
Another alternative might be a fan oven? Some of them are designed to be used as air fryers too. I'm very happy with my relatively inexpensive John Lewis oven that I bought after reading the list of recommended ovens on Which.co.uk

Sasta Mon 17-Nov-25 14:45:38

Nor can I Spinnaker šŸ¤·šŸ»ā€ā™€ļø. I mentioned it at the first and subsequent service, and I was told ā€˜it shouldn’t do that’.

Sasta Mon 17-Nov-25 14:16:26

GrannyGravy13

Sasta I have a Rangemaster double oven range cooker, it’s 15 years old.

I get crunchy crackling, tasty chicken, good roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings with a very good rise along with baking cakes perfectly.

I have none of the issues you are saying, maybe get it serviced?

I thought of that GrannyGravy, I was going to get it serviced this year, but as it’s been this way from brand new (about six years old now) I’m thinking whether to bother with the expense and put the money towards a new one. Lucky you to have a really great one!