You should never use the halogen glass bowl for cooking your food. This bowl is meant to hold the baking dish while the food cooks. It also helps regulate and hold the temperature of the oven so your food cooks evenly. 

How can you cook in a halogen oven? Is it okay to bake goodies like cookies and cakes in a halogen oven? If you want to know all there is to know about a halogen oven, then you came to the right place! 

How Do You Cook With a Halogen Oven?

Cooking with a halogen oven requires you first to prepare your food and select your dish of choice. Halogen ovens use a halogen heating element that works best with either foil, tin, or pyrex glass. Use the menu on the heating element to select the proper temperature and cooking time. 

Halogen ovens use an intense heating lamp with halogen technology. Halogen lighting uses a system similar to traditional incandescent lightbulbs, with the addition of a fan that blows the heat over the food. 

This creates a compact heating zone that is much faster and energy efficient than an oven. And, since it is so compact, it is a uniform heating system for all the food inside. This is a step up from the microwave for several reasons, including even heating and a crisp exterior. 

Microwaves often leave certain portions of the food cold and may make your food rubbery. This is not an issue with halogens and thus makes food crisp and thoroughly warmed. This heating system makes the way you cook your food extra important. 

To cook in your halogen oven, you must: 

1. Select the appropriate cooking dish
2. Prepare your food
3. Select the defrost setting on your machine if necessary 
4. Follow the recipe 
5. Select the appropriate cooking time 
6. Select the appropriate temperature 
7. Observe the progress through the glass cooking dish 
8. Remove carefully with gloves or tongs 

You can cook with a glass oven-safe dish, which is a preferred dish of many halogen oven users. These are great because they compliment the see-through nature of the oven, allowing you to watch your food cook. 

However, you can also use a baking tray, sheet, or disposable cooking container. As long as they fit the halogen perfectly and are oven safe, they are perfectly fine for your halogen oven.

What Can You Cook in a Halogen Oven? 

You can cook almost all of the same foods in a halogen oven as you would in a traditional oven. However, they are not as large as conventional ovens and may not be able to accommodate all types of traditional oven-baked dishes. 

Precooked, prepared frozen foods warm and cook very quickly in a halogen oven. However, you can also bake homemade meals such as pies, chicken, lasagna, quiche, etc. But, you must be mindful of the size of the dish you wish to prepare. 

Halogen ovens come in a variety of sizes, but most do not accommodate the quantity of a large oven. You can bake pastries and baked goods such as cookies in a halogen, but it may not be efficient.

Unless you only want to make a few at a time, otherwise you can bake a couple of dozen cookies in a traditional oven rather than only a few in a halogen. 

Therefore, if you want to make a bulk meal to feed several people, it is better to use your larger oven. But, you can cook the same foods in a halogen oven as in a traditional oven with some minor alterations. 

Do You Need to Preheat a Halogen Oven?

There is no need to preheat your halogen oven as you would in a conventional oven. Halogen ovens warm much faster than other ovens and do not become warmer once they reach the set temperature. Since they warm so quickly, your food will not cook any better when preheated. 

Although preheating your oven is unnecessary, you can use the defrost option on the halogen to thaw your food. This will help you cook your food evenly or season it properly once it is thawed. 

It is especially useful for seasoning meats such as chicken, steak, and pork chops. This is because it thaws the food and prevents the meat from becoming burnt while the inside cooks completely. 

You can also use this setting for cooking frozen vegetables. It’s especially useful since it prevents the vegetables from becoming too crisp on the outside while remaining mushy and frozen on the inside. 

Can You Put Tin Foil In a Halogen Oven?

You can use tin foil in a halogen oven, especially for cooking meats and greasy foods. Tin foil and aluminum foil can be used to wrap your food or cover the cooking dish to prevent your oven from getting dirty. It can also help ensure your foods are cooked thoroughly on the inside. 

It is best to add foil either directly under the food, wrapped around the dish, or wrapped around the food itself. You will not want the foil to get caught in the wind draft of the halogen oven and blow about while cooking. 

It helps keep both the oven and the cooking dish clean. Or, if you want to cook hard vegetables such as yams, potatoes, or yucca, you can wrap the foil around it to keep the insides warm. It will also prevent the exterior from becoming too crisp while it bakes. 

What’s a Halogen Oven Good For?

Halogen ovens are a convenient method of cooking small or personal meals. They are quicker and more efficient than conventional ovens and bake more evenly than microwaves. They use less power than traditional ovens and do not require you to preheat them. 

Halogen ovens can be used to: 

• Bake
• Fry 
• Dehydrate 
• Steam 
• Roast 

While the foods you choose to bake may not cook as well as others, halogens are versatile and capable. To fry your foods in a halogen, you will need only to do light frying. They cannot handle deep-fried foods, and you should never add a pool of oil inside of a halogen oven. 

Dehydrating foods like mushrooms, peppers, and tomatoes can help you save perishable foods for years. Never turn the temperature above 300 degrees Fahrenheit (149 degrees Celsius) when dehydrating your food in a halogen. 

If you turn it up higher, you will only have burnt foods rather than dry, preserved foods. Beef jerky and turkey jerky are also popular dehydrated foods for halogen ovens. Just remember dehydration takes longer than baking due to the slow, drying process. 

However, halogen ovens can experience issues over time and fail to turn on, which is typical for commonly used gadgets.

Your halogen oven won’t turn on basically due to a power supply problem or a malfunctioning part in the oven. It could be caused by the light bulb not working, a blown fuse, damaged wiring, a faulty thermostat, or a malfunctioning control board. Like all other appliances, frequently used halogen ovens are prone to tear and wear.

Fortunately, you can use a few steps to identify and resolve any issues your halogen oven may be experiencing. If you’re interested in learning more, continue scrolling!

Reasons Why a Halogen Oven Doesn’t Start

Below is a list of things that can cause your halogen oven to stop working.

1. Faulty Power Supply

If your halogen oven doesn’t turn on, you should check the power supply first to verify if a circuit breaker might have tripped or if the power plug is loosely connected to the power outlet. You have to ensure that the oven receives power and that the outlet puts out enough voltage before disassembling it.

To ensure there isn’t an issue with the power supply, try inserting another device into the outlet where the oven is plugged and verify if the socket receives power. If the breaker tripped, turn it on, and your oven should turn on.

The issue is usually electrical if the power cord and the circuit breaker are all functional — this calls for further diagnosis.

2. Halogen Bulb Quits Working

The next thing to examine is the halogen bulb. The halogen bulb is an essential component of the halogen oven that emits heat circulated by a fan to cook food. The halogen bulb is easily damaged when roughly handled, thus causing startup problems with the oven.

For this reason, you will need to change the heating element, which entails simple steps. After determining what kind of bulb your oven requires, start by removing the glass bowl that houses the bulb. Then, unscrew the dysfunctional bulb and replace it with the new one.

 After changing the bulb, turn on the oven to test that the bulb is heating up correctly and fully operational.

3. A Blown Fuse

A thermal fuse may blow off in case your halogen oven overheats and consequently disables power to the oven. A halogen oven with a blown fuse cannot turn on. 

A blown fuse is not a common occurrence. It must be replaced, however, because it cannot be reset. You should check the fuse for continuity using a multimeter and see if it is broken. 

If the thermal fuse lacks continuity, you can remove and dispose of it for a new fuse with similar power ratings. Consider referring to the manufacturer’s guidelines to avert possible mishaps that alter the functioning of the oven.

4. Burnt-Out Wire Connection

Burnt-out wires are also a common problem related to halogen ovens. These wires frequently catch fire when fixed close to the heat source. A burnt-out wire cannot supply power to the oven. 

These wires will frequently be scorched and require replacement. You need to inspect the cables that connect to the halogen oven to see if any are visibly burnt. Replace the cord and test to see if your oven turns on.

5. A Faulty Thermostat 

The thermostat is attached to the temperature sensor and turns the light on and off in the oven to maintain a balanced temperature. If the thermostat fails, you cannot turn on the oven.

This is not a typical day-to-day problem; hence, check more frequent sources of failure before replacing the oven thermostat. If none of those parts are broken,  consider replacing the thermostat.

Note that it is difficult to test the thermostat for malfunction if you think it may be broken. And so it is advisable to seek guidance from a technician when the common parts are well off yet the halogen oven doesn’t turn on rather than speculating and doing it yourself.

5. A Defective Control Board

The faulty control board may not transmit voltage to the heating components. Sensor input relays on the control board send power to the halogen bulb circuits and thus power it on. 

Before thinking of replacing the control board, you need to test the heating element first. You can replace the oven control board if you find that all the heating components are in good operating order. 

Additionally, inspect the board for shorted wires as it is hard to test the control board for defects.

Can a Halogen Oven Be Repaired?

Getting the most out of your halogen oven is challenging for those unfamiliar with halogen ovens and how they operate, especially when it comes to malfunctioning. Thus, there are a few things you should bear in mind. 

A halogen oven can be repaired since it comprises various simple parts that are easy to locate and repair. In most cases, the repair is done to minor issues that won’t affect the overall performance of the oven.

For instance, a blown fuse indicates a shorted or failed component, and the issue must be fixed. The internal parts may get damaged due to a wiring or component issue. 

Better yet, most ovens that employ fuses list the circuits each fuse will affect; therefore easy to diagnose and repair the parts.

Understanding the causes is always the first step in dealing with the situation. Keep in mind that every device will offer a unique combination of components and additional alternatives to consider when diagnosing. Repairs are warranted for a smooth running of the oven.

Can You Replace the Light Bulb In a Halogen Oven?

You can peep through the glass of your oven to see if your casserole is browning when the light bulb is working correctly. If not, heat is released when an oven door is opened to check on your meal, impacting how long the food takes to cook. That being the case, light is a necessity.

You can replace the light bulb in a halogen oven when it is burnt out or broken. A standard light bulb is screwed out in a few steps; hence you should feel comfortable even if you have never replaced a halogen oven bulb.

You must first turn off your oven and wear thick work gloves to protect your fingertips from shattered glass. With needle-nose pliers, grab the side of the remaining halogen bulb and slowly remove it from the socket.

Remember to put the damaged lightbulb in a paper towel, wrap it up, and carefully dispose of it. Halogen bulbs should not be disposed of in regular trash because they contain a small quantity of mercury. Instead, look for a recycling facility in your area that will take fluorescent bulbs.

The risk to safety from ovens is more significant than that from many other home equipment. As a result, it’s crucial to ensure an oven repair is done correctly. The best course of action is to consult a qualified professional if unsure about any step.

How Long Do Halogen Ovens Last?

The answer to this question varies significantly depending on how they are maintained. Generally, halogen ovens are intended to last for 10 to 12 years or more with regular maintenance. 

A conventional oven may last longer than a halogen oven because the halogen oven is made up of electrical components and lightweight materials like plastic that are less durable.

Often, your oven becomes dirty from roasting and baking, which reduces its effectiveness and lifespan. You need to clean it often to avoid dirt that can lead to oven failure, and try to minimize drips inside the stove to extend the time the oven serves you.

Also, take into account that different brands have different service times. Variables like the type of bulb play a significant role in predicting how long the oven will last. Always choose renowned halogen brands.

What Appliance Can Replace a Halogen Oven?

Below are some appliances that can replace a halogen oven:

• A Slow cooker is a great tool you can adopt in place of a halogen oven. It’s great if you want to cook soup, baked chicken, or even roasts. Simply put the items in the slow cooker; the appliance will cook your food for a while. It enables a relatively hands-off approach that serves you conveniently as you go along with your tasks.

• An air fryer uses convection cooking, which uses a fan and exhaust system to circulate hot air across the food before venting it back out. It takes less time than conventional cooking and ensures that your food stays moist while browning on the exterior because an inbuilt fan distributes the hot air evenly across the food.

These appliances fry various foods, including fresh baked cookies, roasted veggies, homemade french fries, and frozen chicken wings.

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.

Because halogen ovens are not as popular as your traditional conventional oven, many people may not know how to use them or know the safety guidelines to follow? 

Can you put aluminum foil in a halogen oven? 

It is completely safe to use aluminum foil in a halogen oven. Using foil may result in different cooking results than a conventional oven as the time, and temperatures with halogen are different. It can both aid and hinder the cooking process depending on what you are making.  

You don’t have to use foil in a halogen oven, but you absolutely can. It can take a bit of getting used to if you have never used a halogen oven before as the settings for cooking fluctuate from recipe to recipe.

We will go over the different situations where foil is beneficial to use when cooking with a halogen oven.  

Putting Aluminum in a Halogen Oven 

The most immediate concern you may have with using aluminum foil in a halogen oven is safety. When secured properly, foil is absolutely safe to use in the oven and can help with the cooking process.

Because the oven uses a fan element, there is a chance that foil that is not tightly sealed around the food could blow off.  

In the event that foil does blow off during cooking, there could be potential damage to the heating mechanisms if it comes in contact with the foil. Make sure that the foil is well-situated on the dish or food to prevent this. Other than this issue, you shouldn’t have any safety concerns in using foil with this technology.  

There are a couple of reasons that using foil can be helpful when working with a halogen oven:  

• Prevent burning: A halogen oven uses a bright light to heat up food, and this could put your top layer at risk for burning. Using foil to cover the food will still generate the same amount of heat, but it provides a buffer between the light and the food directly.  

• Clean up: Lining your dishes with aluminum foil can also make the cleaning you will have to do easier. Especially if you are working with oily food or something that might stick to the dish, you can avoid major scrubbing with the protection of foil.  

• Full cooking: Foil may also aid in the process of making sure the food is cooked all the way through. Although if you are following the halogen oven directions correctly, you will most likely not need foil. Some recipes may not be cooked properly with the addition of foil because the heating instructions assume you are not using it.  

Using aluminum foil in ovens has been commonplace for a long time, and people are used to doing it. We recommend following the halogen oven recipe and see if it calls for foil.

If it doesn’t, you shouldn’t have to add it to the dish. When baking something with a top layer that will brown faster than the inside, it could be a helpful solution.  

Other Helpful Tips for Using a Halogen Oven 

Now that you know that foil is safe and can be beneficial in a halogen oven if used properly, we want to provide you with some other tips when using the oven.

These will help to make your experience more successful in cooking your food properly and keeping the machine and yourself in good condition!  

Keep these ideas in mind when using and setting up your halogen oven:  

• Cleaning the oven: Unlike most conventional ovens, the halogen oven will not be able to clean itself fully. There may be a self-cleaning option, but it doesn’t do the job to the extent you would want it to for a proper clean. Keeping the oven clean will allow it to operate at full capacity for much longer. Clean the lid carefully, making sure to not submerge heating components.  

• Follow halogen instructions: The heat settings and timing will be different from normal oven settings. You will need to make these adjustments for a full cook, especially when working with meat. Check out this guide for getting started with temperatures and cook time on a halogen oven.  

• Try a tray: Cooking food on a tray and allowing the heat to fully cook from all directions can be more beneficial than having something heat up in the glass bowl directly. This will prevent you from having to flip something over for a proper cook.  

• Use normal cookware: As long as it can fit inside of the oven, you can use any oven safe dishware. This means you won’t have to buy new equipment when switching to this type of oven. 

Working with a halogen oven can be really convenient, but most people do not have experience with it, making it a bit confusing to beginners.  

How Do You Use a Halogen Oven?  

Understanding how the halogen oven works will make it easier for users to understand what they can do with it and how to both keep themselves safe and properly cook their food.

A halogen oven is a smaller portable device that uses a halogen bulb to bring up the temperature of the oven. A fan system distributes this heat to cook evenly.  

People like using halogen ovens because they heat and cook items much faster than a conventional oven, and they are portable and small. Halogen ovens are pretty straightforward and easy to use once you have it in front of you.

The primary difference is the amount of food you can cook at a time and the cooking instructions.  

These are the steps to cooking in a halogen oven:  

1. Follow recipe instructions: If you are using a halogen recipe (yes, there are separate recipes available), you can follow it exactly as written. You will need to make conversions if following conventional oven recipe. This will be changes to time and temperature.  

1. Preheat: Not all recipes call for preheating the oven because they heat up so quickly, but you will achieve the most consistent cooking results if you preheat it.  

1. Place dish inside: You should try the rack solution to give ample space between the bottom and sides of the oven. This will result in the most even cooking.  

1. Adjust time and temperature: These are usually turn knobs with designated numbers. You will want to have the lid sealed, and some machines have additional safety mechanisms that need to be in place before starting.  

1. Remove food: You may be given a tool to help you get the food out of the oven. Make sure your hands are protected as food and dishware will be hot.  

1. Clean: Make sure you clean the oven so that it remains in peak condition after you are finished cooking, and the machine is completely cooled.  

Using a halogen oven is not much different from other ovens. It just requires a bit more care for cleaning and a small space to work with.  

Feel Free To Use Foil in a Halogen Oven 

You do not need to stress about using foil in a halogen oven because it is safe as long as it is secured. The fan is not blowing at an incredibly vigorous rate, so foil does not need to be secured at an extensive level to prevent major problems.

Aluminum foil’s primary benefit is its ability to prevent burning with a strong light hitting your food.  

Be sure to use proper safety equipment and protect your hands and surrounding areas when working with the oven. High temperatures can easily lead to injury if the oven is not handled properly, especially when removing food after cooking.  

Can you use roasting bags in a halogen oven? Maybe. If your halogen oven is a full-sized wall oven, then yes. If, on the other hand, it is a countertop version, then the answer is no. Cooking bags are only intended to be used in full-sized ovens – not counter-top ovens, whether they be halogen, convection, microwave, roaster, toaster, or otherwise. Using an oven bag in an oven that the manufacturer considers to be too small puts you in danger of melting the bag onto your food, or worse, starting a kitchen fire.

Let’s learn more about your halogen oven, how you can safely use it, and some of its benefits.

How Halogen Ovens Work

Do you remember your childhood and yearning for that Easy-Bake Oven? Well, that was a miniature, primitive version of a halogen oven. But they have come a long way and today’s halogen oven isn’t your inefficient plastic childhood toy no more.

Whereas standard cooking practices use conduction or convection to heat your food, your halogen oven uses infrared heat. Similar to a microwave, it relies on a radiation process (as in heat was radiating off of the sidewalk – not harmful radiation) to transfer the infrared heat to cook the food.

As the infrared energy penetrates the food, the food molecules vibrate, produce heat, and thereby, cook your meal. Because the radiation heat absorbs through the food to the molecular level, food doesn’t take as long to cook.

Benefits of Halogen Ovens

You might be thinking, “Well, if I can’t use a roasting bag in your countertop halogen, why have one at all?” Before you go there, let’s look at a couple of reasons as to why halogen ovens are beneficial:

You don’t need to preheat your oven because the elements heat nearly instantaneously.

Do you ever forget to turn your conventional oven on ahead of time, and then when you’re ready to put your food in the oven to cook, you have to wait another ten minutes or so? You don’t run into that issue with your halogen oven.

You save time.

Halogen ovens cook as fast as a microwave, but you don’t have to worry about the uneven cooking and hot spots you get from your microwave.

You get the benefit of the time saver, and you get the even cooking you would get in a conventional oven.

You don’t have to defrost first.

Due to the effectiveness of the cooking method, you can take your meal straight from the freezer and put it directly in your halogen oven with excellent results.

You save money.

Since you don’t have to spend time preheating your oven, and because your halogen oven cooks so much faster than your conventional oven, you save money on electricity. In some cases, your halogen oven may use up to 20% less electricity than your conventional oven. Over time, those savings could add up.

Halogen ovens also tend to cost less than some of the other alternative countertop oven cooking methods.

You save space.

If you live in a place with a small kitchen area, you know that space is at a premium. If you’re in an efficiency or studio apartment that may not have a full-sized oven, a countertop halogen oven will take up less space than a countertop conventional or convection oven will.

They’re quick to clean.

One reviewer told of an experiment she performed during which she wanted to roast a chicken and vegetables and then immediately after a cook a bread pudding. Once her dinner was finished cooking, she emptied out the juices from the chicken and immediately paced the pudding in the oven.

She was adamant there was no transfer of smell or taste of the chicken to the pudding and that after the second dish was finished, the oven components – dish and racks – were a breeze to clean.

No burning.

Because the halogen oven uses hot air to cook your food, you won’t need to worry about burning your food or setting off the smoke alarm. It’s true, you may overcook, and potentially dry out your food, but it won’t burn.

Countertop Halogen Ovens

Most people who have halogen ovens have countertop halogen ovens meant to make cooking meals faster and more convenient. Here are some examples of top-selling countertop halogen ovens and their features:

• COSTWAY Infrared Halogen Convection Oven – 12.68–18 Quart

As of the writing of this article, this model costs about $70 and offers three different cooking methods: an air fryer, a toaster, and a convection process.

It has temperature options that range from 200 – 450 degrees Fahrenheit. This model comes with two stainless steel cooking racks that let you have three different layers of cooking for efficient meal prep. This model will take about a 14-inch square of space on your countertop.

• The Sharper Image 8217 Super Wave – 16 Quart

This model is just over a foot square and costs about $75. The Sharper Image has adjustable temperature settings, a 60-minute timer, two stainless steel cooking racks, and stay-cool handles to keep you from burning yourself should you transfer the appliance to a different location while it’s hot.

• Classic Cuisine 12–17 Quart

This version comes with a 12-quart bowl that includes a 5-quart extender ring – thus getting it to the 17-quart capacity. If you prefer Celsius temperatures, this is the model for you.

It heats to between 125 – 250 degrees Celsius and has a 60-minute timer. You’ll need about a 14-inch square space on your countertop for this model, which currently sells for about $58.

There are tons of options on the market. These are simply a few that have four-plus star ratings out of a possible five. There are also some higher-end countertop options that sell for over $150.

Cuisine Possibilities with a Halogen Oven

It’s interesting to learn, but you really aren’t limited as to what you cook in your countertop halogen oven.

Although the cooking process is much faster than a conventional oven, you can still use your countertop oven for baking cakes or cookies, roasting poultry or vegetables, or to simply make some toast.

There are plenty of cookbooks available to help you learn how to use your new tool since this is a very different cooking method than you may have grown up using. Here are a couple of examples:

• The Halogen Oven Everyday Cookbook

For about $16, you can learn how to cook everything from soups to desserts. This option even includes some suggested weekly menu plans to help you get started.

• Everyday Cooking with the Halogen Oven, The Revolutionary Way to Cook Meals in Half the Time

Even though they went a little long with their title, this $14 cookbook shares tricks and tips for baking, grilling, roasting, steaming, and many other cooking methods.

So, Where Do You Go from Here?

Even though you shouldn’t plan on using roasting bags in your counter-top halogen oven, you can rest assured that you will be able to perfectly roast your meat and/or vegetables without one.

Halogen oven owners also swear by the easy clean-up process of their countertop halogen ovens, so you probably won’t even miss those oven roasting bags while you’re cleaning up after your quickly made gourmet delights.

Bon Appetit!

Do halogen ovens use a lot of electricity? Halogen ovens do use a lot of electricity per unit of time when compared to conventional ovens. However, because they cook more quickly than conventional ovens, they end up using less electricity to cook any given meal.

The average (or standard) halogen oven runs at about 1300 watts. Running a halogen oven at 1300 watts for an hour a day at the average US rate of 13.19 cents per kWh would cost about 65$ per year.

That’s one hour per day, which is more than most people use their halogen ovens.

If you’re interested in getting a halogen oven, of course you want to make sure that it doesn’t consume too much electricity. It’s worth the effort to learn a little bit about halogen ovens so that you know how they work and consume electricity. This way, you can make an informed choice.

What Is a Halogen Oven?

A halogen oven is a kitchen appliance that is meant for cooking. It uses a bright halogen light to create heat. The oven also includes a fan, which spreads the heat throughout the oven and cooks your food.

The oven also includes a thermostat, so it can keep track of the temperature in the interior. This means that it has the capability of shutting off the light when it gets too hot.

Many people like halogen ovens because they are a lot smaller than conventional ovens and take up less space. Additionally, they have the capability to cook your food almost three times faster than a conventional oven would.

What Makes Halogen Ovens So Efficient?

Halogen ovens can cook your food significantly faster than conventional ovens in most cases. Why is this the case? It has a lot to do with the way halogen ovens operate.

Generally speaking, a halogen oven is composed of a glass bowl, a lid, halogen bulbs, and a fan. When you put it on, beams of far-infrared radiation are released from these bulbs. These waves produce heat, which ultimately cooks your food. The fan functions to circulate hot air around the food, which cooks it quickly.

When the food is exposed to the radiation within the halogen oven, large amounts of energy are transferred to the food in short periods of time. The energy provokes water molecules and organic compounds within the food, including fats, proteins, and starches, to start vibrating and rotating.

This produces heat, which kills microorganisms within the food and gives the food a crispy and sometimes brown surface.

The radiation in a halogen oven not only cooks food quickly, it also is almost sure to disinfect the food. In fact, infrared waves are used in the food industry as a means of thermal disinfection.

They can inactivate agents, including spores, bacteria, mold, and yeast, in different types of solid and liquid food.

Halogen ovens utilize dry heat, as opposed to moist heat that is used by devices such as pressure cookers. Moist-heat cooking uses steam and water as the medium, whereas dry-heat cooking uses either air or the fat that is within the food. To learn more about how halogen ovens cook food, click here.

How Much Electricity Do Halogen Ovens Use?

Halogen ovens are still relatively uncommon. Because of this, there isn’t a whole lot of data available about how much energy they use. However, the Centre for Sustainable Energy in the United Kingdom has produced some numbers that can help answer this question.

If you’re cooking a whole chicken three times a week, a halogen oven will cost less than an electric oven, but more than a gas oven. It consumes more kWh of electricity than the electric oven, meaning that the hourly consumption of electricity is higher.

However, because the cooking time is shortened so significantly, the halogen oven ends up consuming less electricity than the electric oven would consume for the exact same task.

You should keep in mind that halogen ovens are usually significantly smaller than conventional ovens. Because of this, if you are cooking large amounts of food at a time, you might end up using more electricity and spending more money with a halogen oven. The efficiency really depends on how much food you are going to be cooking.

It’s a good idea to remember that halogen ovens consume quite a bit of electricity per hour. However, because of the shortened amount of time that is involved in cooking projects, you might end up consuming less electricity overall. This could be very good for your electric bill in the long run.

If you want to read a little bit more about halogen ovens and efficiency when it comes to electricity consumption, click here.

What Are Some Things to Keep in Mind When Using a Halogen Oven?

In addition to electricity consumption, there are a few things that you should keep in mind with a halogen oven. Whether or not it saves you on your electric bill, you want to make sure that you’re taking care of it so that it has the longest lifetime possible.

One thing you need to do with the halogen oven is to make sure that you keep the heating element safe. A lot of halogen ovens will include removable heating elements, and you need to take care of these in order to extend the life of the oven as long as possible.

You can keep the element in a grill tray rack for safe storage, since a lot of these ovens come with lid stands that are somewhat flimsy.

You also need to make sure to clean the lid on your halogen oven. This is where the largest amount of cooking grease buildup is going to occur. You should wipe it down with a wet cloth after each usage.

A lot of halogen ovens will also come with extender rings, which allow you to cook multiple different types of food simultaneously. These can also help make sure that your food isn’t overcooked. This can be very useful when you’re trying to cook large items, such as roasts or whole chickens.

Overall, the upkeep that comes with a halogen oven isn’t nearly as much as what you need to do with a conventional oven. This is due to the smaller size of the oven, as well as its unique structure.

Also, you can cook quick, simple, and healthy meals in one of these devices, as long as you make sure that you know how to use it.

Final Thoughts

If you’re interested in getting a halogen oven, it could be a good investment. Even though these ovens consume quite a bit of electricity per unit of time, they often more than make up for it with quick cooking times. This way, you are using less electricity, and you will find that your meal is ready much more quickly.

There are things that you should keep in mind if you want to get a halogen oven. For example, you need to maintain it properly for it to continue to work. However, as long as you are willing to do what is necessary, a halogen oven could be a very good addition to your kitchen and routine.

Halogen ovens aren’t very common just yet, but there are plenty of good reasons to use them. If you get one for yourself, you can see just what these devices have to offer.

You can even compare your electric bill when you were using a conventional oven to the one that you get with the halogen oven, and you can see for yourself which one is higher.