Learning how to use your halogen oven when you first get it can be daunting. But it needn’t be. It’s a joy to use and can be really versatile.
One of the great things about it is it is portable. When we went on a caravan holiday my sister took hers with her and we used it in combination with the microwave to cook evening meals. It also cooks things quickly.
If you remember it is just another kind of mini oven it takes away that knotted feeling you may get when you first get one. Yes, there are some differences but the changes are easy to adapt to.
It’s no secret I love to use my halogen oven. The first few months I had it if it couldn’t be cooked in the halogen then it didn’t get cooked. I raved about it so much that my sister got one. I was a bit worried she wouldn’t like using it but she said she loves hers too. I feel quite deflated when others say they hate their oven or don’t use it. But why? I ask. “It’s amazing.” So the articles below are meant to go some way to help stop that so that most people love to use their ovens too.
How to Use Your Halogen Oven
It’s no secret my halogen oven is my favourite go-to for cooking. If it can go in there that’s where it goes with the hob and microwave as assistants.
Maybe it’s the no preheating and its instant warm-up (well pretty instant anyway). Maybe its ease of use or the fact it’s easy, oh so easy to clean compared to a normal oven. It’s faster to cook and can do what a normal oven does on a smaller scale. And it’s portable to boot, not something I need often but ideal if you like to use a caravan or motorhome or even if you like to static home sites.
If it’s like a normal cooker and you can cook like a normal cooker why is it that so many people put things in it and get sure dire results? With everything from uncooked centres of chickens and cakes to dried out and burnt vegetables?
How to Set Up Your Oven
Most halogens are really easy to use and to set up.
Halogens are virtually plug-in and go. However, there are a few things that you need to think about first. Your instructions should take you through your particular oven setup.
You have your time and temperature.
While the halogen is really easy to use and in some way the same as a big oven it also has some differences that you need to think about.
- temperature
- time
- space
- method
It is no different than if you used different shelves in your big oven some things go on the low rack some on the high and some in the middle. It depends on you I read sausages should go on the low shelf but always cook them on the high one.
Use The Correct Temperature & How to Set It
To get the best out of your oven you need to get the right temperature. It cooks quickly, it is efficient and it is small.
When you are cooking most things you can treat your oven like a fan oven. Use that temperature rather than the oven temperature. That covers a lot of areas.
I find with my oven if I am cooking ready-made frozen, chips, pizza, or even not ready-made bacon a temperature of 175C (347F) works well. This may vary from oven to oven but once you have found it is it a good base to start with.
Because of the temperature and size of the oven, larger things do not always cook in the middle. In this case, you need to get a slower cooking time. (see below).
How to Get a Slower Cooking Time With Your Halogen & Why You Need One
Halogens are great for cooking quickly, but for some things that can be too quick they end up with a raw uncooked centre. This is when you need to look at your oven heights and cooking times.
If you are having trouble with things not cooking in the middle there are a few things you can do.
- Use a lower temperature
- Use a lower rack
- Use your extender ring
- put foil on the outside (anchor it down)
- Use a doughnut tin
Oven Space
Space in your oven is at a premium. Some people say they can use them for a whole family of 3/4people while others say not. If you have a family or like to bake then get the larger oven if you can.
Because the oven is small it is really efficient at cooking, however, sometimes you will find what you are cooking is too close to the element. While it slows down the cooking time, in this case, using your extender is a good idea as it slows the time down and stops or lowers the splashing of food and fats onto your element. Maximize your space by using both racks and by using the tins provided.
Methods Used for Cooking
What Do You Use Your Halogen Oven For?
I have a post about the things you can cook in your halogen.
You can use your halogen for pretty much everything
How to Cook in Your Halogen
What to cook
I work on the principle if it can go in the main oven it can go in the halogen and if it can go in the grill the same applies! And if it can be cooked on the hob, microwave, or slow cooker it’s worth a try. Some things are better in the halogen oven than others.
Cooking Basics
Start with the basics then you can create your own favourite recipes.
How to Cook Meat & Poultry in Your Halogen
If your normal oven can cook it. The halogen can cook it. The times are different and some of the handling of the meat but its really doable.
How to cook Beef
How to cook a whole roast chicken
Bacon
For some strange reason, I have only done a general how-to cook bacon post. But bacon works brilliantly.
How to Cook Fish
how to cook salmon in your halogen oven.
How to Cook Potatoes & Chips
The halogen is great for all cooking kinds of potatoes. Chips, roast, baked or part baked work well.
Chips are brilliant in it whether you want to use ready made frozen or make your own.
I like to use the halogen for baked potatoes because it can be quicker than a normal oven and doesn’t use so much electricity and you get better results than just the microwave.
Roast potatoes can be done on their own or as part of a meal
How to Cook Vegetables
Roasting your vegetables – coming soon
Frozen Food
Your oven is perfect for cooking with frozen food. Cooking with frozen food is easy and you can cook all kinds of things like pizza, pizza, frozen meals, garlic bread etc.
Quick & Easy Halogen Recipes
Chicken
This is how to cook your roast chicken again, easy to do and easy to cook your roasties and veggies with it.
Pizza
Pizza includes how to cook it from fresh or frozen and also how to create your own from scratch. Just be aware that soft based pizza slides through the bars and makes a gooey mess!
Salmon Recipe
I often cook salmon in my oven and it works well for fresh & frozen salmon
Baking Basics
How to cook a Sponge cake
Until recently I didn’t think you could bake a sponge cake without a doughnut tin. A really nice lady on the facebook group makes wonderful cakes without it. I am currently experimenting. This post covers the use of the doughnut tin to bake successful cakes.
How to Bake a Sponge Cake in a Halogen Oven
Fear of Your Oven
I don’t know what it is about the halogen oven but when people first get one they fear to use it. This is a very common thing.
My sister’s friend had it and got rid of hers after it had been used twice then sat unused for a year in a cupboard. I had it and so did my sister. I have also read comments many times online where others have it too.
This can result in them never really using it or just use it for a few basics. If this is you, you can get over it in a few simple steps.
Useful Accessories
There are several really useful accessories you can get for your oven. You may have some of them supplied with your oven but if not you can buy them separately. It is quite hard to get normal trays that will fit in the oven so it is well worth thinking about.
How to Clean Your Oven
Probably one of the reasons I love halogen so much is it is super easy to clean. A quick cleaning tutorial.
Keep it clean by using foil or a tray to catch drips or crease and fat.
To Continue…
There’s always something new to learn in the halogen cooking and baking world. I recently did a clotted cream using the halogen. I was floored. It worked! Yay. New posts go up from time to time with different how-tos and new recipes. I will link some of them here.
If you have any questions or there is something not answered here please ask in the facebook group – Halogen oven knowhow (linked if you aren’t coming from the group). I don’t pretend to know everything, far from it but will do my best to find out even if it means creating it and trialling it myself. But that takes time so hopefully, other group members will also chip in with answers.
