22 Great TIPS to help with your Halogen Oven Cooking!

1. Get over Halogen Panic – By using your oven as soon as you can and as often as you can when you first get it.
2. Experiment and build up confidence with your new oven
3. Cook at a lower temperature than a normal recipe says about 20 degrees for most things.  Or cook at fan temperatures
4. Wear longer gloves – this protects you from the edges of the oven and getting burns
5. For hinged lids, lift up the lids beware of steam rising
6. Keep an extra eye on your oven while cooking as it will cook faster than you think
7. If you haven’t bought one yet you can improve confidence by researching more on your possible choice of halogen oven here.
8. Use the extender ring as this keeps the food further from the bulb which prolongs the bulb’s life
9. Pop some silver foil or a tray in the bottom to catch fat drips
10. If cooking chicken pieces in silver foil open up top halfway through cooking for a faster cook time
11. Check your pizza sizes and that they will fit into your bowl
12. Get bowls and tins that fit easily into your cooker.  Remember that you will potentially be sliding your hand down near the edges of hot glass
13. If you are cooking buns you can use the paper bun cases directly on the tray so you can cook many more buns than a small bun tin. (this didn’t even occur to me, my sister suggested this)
14. Do not leave your cooker unattended as it is so fast your food may finish cooking when you are not looking.
15. Put water in the bowl for when you are steaming
16. Never put water in a hot bowl to prevent cracking
17. Use a “doughnut” shaped rice and cake tin for larger amounts to guarantee cooking in the centre. See how to cook sponges
18. Do not use silicone unless your manufacturer’s leaflet says you can
19. use a soft sponge to clean the metal on the lid
20. As a guide use your oven at about 20 degrees less than recommended for cooking or at fan temperature as a general guide
21. Cut baked potatoes into four.  To save time pop them into the microwave for 4 minutes (one potato timing) before cooking then instead of 50 minutes the potatoes will only take between 15/20 minute to cook.
22. The video shows some alternative ideas on how to store after use.  I admit mine doesn’t get stored as it is nearly always in use and I don’t have the room to store it.  But if you do this might help.