When it comes to meal preparation, there are many kitchen gadgets that make quick work of a weeknight dinner. In recent years, air fryers have certainly been the trendy new appliance – you may have grown accustomed to seeing them on sale for major retailers’ Black Friday deals.
There is another appliance, however, that accomplishes the same task, and may be a better fit for your needs.
Halogen ovens provide many benefits to the user, and are definitely worth the investment if you select one that can meet your specific needs. For those with families of four or less, and/or are often on the go and require quick meals, a halogen oven would be a great investment.
That being said, there are many factors involved in evaluating the purchase of a halogen oven. Below, we’ll discuss in detail the various features of halogen ovens, pros and cons of purchasing, and how to ensure you choose the best halogen oven for your needs.
Are Halogen Ovens Any Good?
To start, it is helpful to understand what a halogen oven is, and how it works. Halogen ovens are made up of a few components.
A large glass bowl (or a bowl made of another sturdy material) is the component that holds the food. Within the bowl, there are cooking racks to support the food items.
The cooking agent is a halogen lamp above the bowl, and a fan circulates the heat produced by the halogen lamp. A control panel allows you to monitor and regulate the temperature of the oven.
There are, of course, various accessories that you can purchase to expand your cooking options, but these are the standard components of each halogen oven.
The main difference between a halogen oven and a conventional oven is that the cooking method of a halogen oven is its halogen bulb, which produces infrared radiation, whereas a conventional oven cooks via heat molecules.
The infrared radiation of a halogen oven passes directly through food particles, efficiently cooking at a faster rate than a conventional oven. This makes halogen ovens very effective appliances for cooking.
Given their efficiency, halogen ovens are a reliable cooking method, and are definitely a valid purchase for those whose lifestyles they fit. There are a few factors to consider, however, when deciding whether a halogen oven would be a good match for your kitchen.
Advantages vs Disadvantages of Halogen Ovens
To start, we’ll review some of the advantages of owning a halogen oven.
1. Cook time
Halogen ovens, on average, cook 20-40% faster than a conventional oven, depending on the meal being prepared. This is because their infrared radiation directly heats food molecules.
Conventional ovens heat the air around the food molecules, eventually warming and then cooking the food itself. For those who often need to prepare meals in a hurry, halogen ovens offer a solution.
2. Size
On average, halogen ovens are fairly compact at around 15 x 13 x 12 inches, which most kitchens have the counter space for.
They are smaller than the average convection oven, and certainly much smaller than a conventional oven. If you are furnishing a small kitchen, a halogen oven could be a great solution.
3. Energy Efficiency
Because halogen ovens use infrared radiation to cook, which passes directly through food molecules, they are incredibly energy efficient.
A conventional oven relies on heat transfer in order to cook food, which will always result in some degree of heat loss.
4. Cleaning
Being that halogen ovens are a countertop appliance, they are much easier to clean than your conventional oven. Dishwashing soap will be sufficient in most cases to thoroughly clean your appliance, whereas cleaning a conventional oven is a much more involved affair.
Some halogen ovens even have a self-cleaning feature to make cleanup even easier.
There are also, however, a few disadvantages when using a halogen oven rather than a conventional oven or other cooking method.
1. Cooking Capacity
While their size certainly is a plus if you don’t have much room in your kitchen, it poses a disadvantage for those who regularly cook meals for more than four people, or who cook large food items.
If you need to cook your Thanksgiving turkey, or are cooking for a crowd, unfortunately, a halogen oven will not be able to meet your needs.
2. Cost
Adding a halogen oven to your collection will require a financial investment up front. There are many halogen ovens on the market, so for the most part, you can find a model to fit your needs at a reasonable cost.
However, if your needs require you to choose one with more features and accessories, it will be more expensive, so it must be worth the investment.
Is It Worth Buying a Halogen Oven?
Now that we’ve evaluated some of the pros and cons of a halogen oven, we can assess whether it is worth it for you to buy one for your own use.
The first factor to consider is family size. Halogen ovens are the best fit for families of four or less. If you have a larger household, or if you regularly entertain, you likely would be better off sticking with a conventional oven to meet your needs.
The second factor would be lifestyle, and there are a couple facets to this; are you often on the move, and do you enjoy cooking? One of the main advantages of halogen ovens is their speediness. If you often have engagements to head to after dinner, it may be helpful to have your meals prepared extra quickly.
However, if you really enjoy the process of cooking, halogen ovens are a rather mechanical way of producing your end result.
Overall, if you are single, have a partner, or a small family and are looking to speed up your weeknight dinners, a halogen oven would definitely be worth the purchase and an asset to your kitchen.
If you have a large family, love to entertain, and enjoy the process of preparing meals, it likely will not be worth the investment.
How Do I Choose the Right Halogen Oven?
If you’ve made the decision to invest in a halogen oven, you must consider your lifestyle, diet preferences, and family size when evaluating how to choose the right one. Below are some of the most popular halogen oven brands and some of their features.
Daewoo
Daewoo is a popular brand, as its halogen oven offers a few handy features at a reasonable price point. This model comes with a timer that automatically shuts off the appliance when the time expires, making it a good choice for those distracted by small children or running errands.
It also includes a self-cleaning feature, which makes cleanup almost effortless. Also accompanied by various accessories to make cooking different foods easy, this model could be ideal for those who are looking to add efficiency into their mealtime routines, particularly when it comes to cleanup.
Nutrichef
Nutrichef offers a few different models of halogen ovens, so there is likely to be one to fit your needs. One, in particular, comes with a mesh cooking tray, offering a baking and grilling capability for healthier meal options.
It also includes an automatic shut-off feature, to ensure the safety of the appliance after it has been in use. For those looking to prepare healthier, fat-free meals, Nutrichef could be a good option.
Rosewill
The Rosewill halogen oven offers its own perks, as well. It comes with an extender ring that increases cooking capacity to 18 quarts, making this model a good fit for those who need to cook larger meals.
The cooking racks and glass bowls are also dishwasher safe – even though this model doesn’t come with a self-cleaning feature, being able to slip the components into the dishwasher is just as easy and hands-free. If you have a small family, the extra room the Rosewill offers could be very useful.
Halogen ovens cook quickly, are compact, and are energy efficient, which makes them a great fit for most households. There are many advantages to owning one, but there are a couple of disadvantages to consider as well. Depending on your lifestyle, a halogen oven may absolutely be worth the investment.