Counter top Halogen oven - anyone used one?

[Downfall]

Thinking of getting this sort of thing

Our integrated oven broke about 6 months ago, and we've managed with a hob and slow cooker, but winter baking is calling me.

We can't afford a replacement oven, and want to redo the kitchen next year if funds ever allow, so thought this would be an ok stop gap.

Reviews on amazon seem good, anyone here got any experience?

Bump

My parents had one as a supplement to their v bad oven where you had to guess how hot it might be! They thought it was pretty good for the two of them. Things like chicken portions and oven chips did fine in them. I think the negatives were that it took up a fair amount of worktop space and storage, it got hot on the outside (touched their toaster and melted a bit of the side) and probably for any more than two it struggled (but guess it depends on the size you get).

Ah, thanks cocoplops. I did wonder about the capacity. I think for the price it will be worth a try.

You'll need one with an extra 'collar' attachment and be prepared for the bulbs to go and they can get rusty very quickly. My mum loved gets but they break too really and bulbs are 20 quid a pop iirc.

Thanks Valium. For £30 I wasnt expecting longevity tbh.

It seems to be marketed at the older folks then? That's two MNers who's parents use them, and it was my parents who suggested it...I'd never heard of one before!

The other thing is they are huge, you'll need a big kitchen counter and enough room to open the thing up without bashing into the cupboards above.

Personally I'd go for a slow cooker.

Sorry, just realised you already have one!

What do you want to cook that you can't in the slow cooker?

We have one. Love it :) much more efficient than normal oven as no heating up time. The glow when it's on is lovely too!
Definitely get the extender ring though.
Ours is 3 years old and still on original bulb.

Ooh, schlurbop an expert! Would you manage with it and not need a conventional oven? Can you roast a joint and fit in say potatoes and yorkshire puds? Can you bake properly?

valium it's the baking I'd like it for - cakes, mince pies, pizza, occasional lazy fish fingers and oven chips. Also the slow cooker doesn't properly brown things like lasagne and cauli cheese.

I'd be inclined to spends a bit more and get a microwave with a grill, have you looked into that OP?

I have one and I love it, meat comes out very juicy and tender. Never tried potatoes or anything else in it but it can roast a whole chicken no problem.
I also have a microwave with a grill which is a bit shite. A friend of mine has a microwave which also has a proper oven and grill and she loves it.

Thanks everyone for the replies. I'll have a look at the micro option too - good idea.

for 30£ you can even get a counter top oven

Our oven is pretty pap so we use it a lot. Not sure we could fit a joint, potato's and Yorkshire in it - used it for a chicken and that was good!

Only thing I found it not so go for was jacket potatoes - although that does just seem to be me. Everyone else manages them ok ")