So Over The Oven
The home oven has been a staple of kitchens up and down for countless decades, though in recent times these huge, clunking bastions of heat have perhaps become the home’s main source of chagrin when it comes to having to clean, spray and scrub away caked-in, burnt on, grease-laden messes from inside. It’s reassuring then that in an era of rapid kitchen advancements, there are some adequate alternatives to the slow, sometimes clumsy conventional oven.
• AIR FRYERS - Air fryers are, essentially, mini-ovens that work by using an electrical element generating heat. This is then circulated around the container, cooking food from the outside in. It means fried food can still have that satisfying crunch, without all the nastiness of oil. Indeed, air fryers use up to 80% less fat, and users can enjoy much shortened cooking times, usually by about a third, thanks to the smaller space and more concentrated cooking process. Best for price: Instant Vortex Air Fryer, from around £70 Best for quality: Ninja Foodi Maxi Health Grill & Air Fryer, from around £275 • HALOGEN OVENS Halogen ovens are typically bigger in size and use light to cook food. The halogen bulb emits a red and an infrared light. The red light can be seen by the naked eye, the infrared radiant light cannot. Food is placed in a durable glass cooking bowl, with the heat from the halogen bulb coming from above. Within is a circulating fan which ensures that heat is kept moving and that, in turn, guarantees that the food is cooked. 36 | Please mention Use Locally when responding to adverts
Best for price: Cookworks Digital Halogen Oven, from around £35
Air-fryers and halogens as practical alternatives to the oven.
Best for quality: Cooks Professional Halogen Oven Rotisserie, from around £120 HOW THEY COMPARE TO CONVENTIONAL OVENS Both air fryers and halogen ovens are smaller than conventional ovens. They use far less oil and energy than conventional ovens, cook food quicker, and price-wise are much more affordable. You’ll also find they’re able to handle everything from full-on roasts to chips and vegetables, and in the case of the halogen, even pizza or a perfectly cooked slice of toast. However, space is an issue, and if cooking for more than two people – even when factoring in additional shelves that can be added to halogens – you may struggle to cook everything in one go. Finally, as far as cleaning goes, the days of sticking your head inside a big oven with a toxic spray cleaner, are gone. Halogen ovens have a self-cleaning mode, and while an air fryer should be wiped clean on each use, both are easy to put in the sink for general washing with a sponge or cloth.
