Halogen Ovens

I know quite a lot of you have these now and I love them. I have 4 for using at the workshops and they have really made life much easier.

For those who don't have one or are thinking of getting one I do recommend them.

You need to buy a 12 litre one, I haven't seen any bigger than that, and an extension ring to raise the lid and element up higher, just to be on the safe side.

It works by means of a light bulb element in the lid. You set the timer and temperature and it does it's own thing AND (what I think is a big boon) it turns itself off when finished!! The light goes on and off as it regulates the temp so no overheating or underheating.

I set min for 130C and 8-10 mins cooking time. The pieces feel quite hot when they come out but nothing has melted. Always test a new oven on a spare piece to find the best time and temp for you. Oven thermometers give a false reading so no need to use one. The oven heats up instantly and the temp guage can't catch up fast enough.

I put the low rack in the bottom covered by one or two of my flour sacks. I have heard others say you don't need the rack just the cloth. I make sure the kit doesn't touch the glass sides, I worry that might melt them and off I go.

They are portable too so if you have not got a room you keep for reborning they can be put away when you have finished and don't take as much space as a small oven. In dry weather you could also stick it outside to cook on an extension lead if you prefer not to have it indoors (take care with that) or indoors use it by an open window or door.

You won't get a huge toddler kit in it probably but as I only do something that big once in a while I don't mind using my kitchen oven on the odd occasion (having made porcelain dolls for years and all the health hazards with that I think I am poisoned anyway LOL)

For a larger kit you may need to bake the head and limbs separately but they are so easy to use it is no hassle and you get such consistent results I think they are worth looking into

Thanks for all the info Ceinwen, I have been looking at these of late, it was the fact that they are smaller than an oven that first tempted me as they take up far less room.
They have 4 different types in Argos now, I noticed them as I was glancing through the new catalogue last night, I think they are all the same size just different makes & prices.

check on ebay too, you can buy them without the ring and buy that from elsewhere not sure if there is much saving doing that if you have to pay p&p though

err that was me, was logged in as Admin cos I was fiddling with things LOL

I followed your advice ceinwen and I´m very happy with mine.The only thing is I had to buy the ring because mine hadn´t got it.

I just ordered one of these today. I had one a couple of years ago so I could use it in the garden shed so the fumes wouldn't be in the house. My son then bought a motor bike and I couldn't get in the shed for it so I sold it. Recently baking a kit in my kitchen oven the fumes were really strong and I could still smell them when I put the chicken in for dinner. My son told me I was going to poison everybody so I thought I would get a halogen one.

I bought one last week and the temp gauge goes from thaw then jumps to 150 degrees upwards, i tried to guess what 130 was and put it just after the thaw button but im still not sure this is right, i tried a test piece and it bubbled the head but then i realised i had put it on the high rack, silly me, has anyone else got a temp gauge ilke this, if so what do you put it on? sorry to be a pain girls

mine has the temps marked so not sure what to advise other than experiment with the spare part. Once you have it right leave the dial there or Mark where it is

I love my halogen oven, best thing I bought, I use it upstairs in my hobby room and just open the windows, not that there is much smell from it. Mine starts with temp showing 150deg. so I just go below, the same difference away from the 150 in opposite direction as the 170 mark shows, hope this makes sense.
hugs Doris

Thanks doris I will try that hun, Ihave been to nervous to try it again, but i will use a spare part to test it again.
hugs sandra

I love my Halogen, bought it on e- bay for £39.99 postage free and it included lots of extras including the extension ring. The temp gauge starts at 125 degrees, here is a link if you would like to see the one I have. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-ARRIVAL-12L-Halogen-Oven-Cooker-75-14PCS-GIFT-DHL-/150499682748?pt=UK_HGKitchen_SmallApp_RL&hash=item230a7ae9bc

i love mine best thing i have bought it works great & i got a extender ring off ebay

sue

Thanks for the link adel, I have bought one,
Look good and lots of extras, Hoping to try it out this week
Linda