Remoska OR combi micro?

suki1964

I have my parents live with me and they cook most days for them selves and that usually means the big oven on for a very small meal for them and then if I were to be cooking its on again later - very expensive

So I mentioned the remoska which mother had heard of and seemed to be in favour off - then she came back to me with the notion of a combi microwave - convection over/grill/ micro all in one for about twice the price of the remoska

Right now we have a foreman grill (hardly used) slow cooker (hardly used) micro (used all the time for reheating and some cooking)bread maker (used) and the usual toasters etc

What would be the better option for us? She will buy those chilled ready to cook meat and fish dishes and cook veggies to go with them usually. She also frys a lot of meals and buys ready made pizzas and pies etc She will also bake cakes now and then but thinks nothing of having the oven on for the best part of the day with just one cake sat in it:eek::eek:

I rarely cook at all. If Im eating Id do a pasta or salad as I cant be doing with cooking for one. When husband is home I do cook every day for all of us from scratch - roasts through to quiches

So any thoughts what will be the best for us to buy? Taking into account our eating habits. Im happy to go combi route as she has used one before and would hopefully use it more then the big cooker but I dont know about running costs

morganlefay

Why not have a read of the VERY LONG Remoska thread to see the sorts of things peope are cooking in it, to see if that would be the sort of cooking you would do. Everything I do in my Remoska tastes much better than if I had done it in the oven - no one can explain why. Against it is the fact that the lid gets blindingly hot and you need to be very careful how and where you put it down. Also you can't really put stuff in it and then go out for an hour. I decided it suited people who like a bit of an adventure in terms of adapting favourite recipes and not being quite sure how long things take to cook. But I haven't had my oven on for 2 months now since I had the Moska, and I really wouldn't be without it now ! HTH

juliapenguin

I bought a Remoska and loved it but when I also bought a Panasonic combination microwave/grill/fan oven thingy (as the grill in my cooker doesn't work and can't be fixed) I must admit I've used that far more.

Nowadays I use the Remoska mainly to make low-fat chips - and absolutely divine and perfect they are too - but I wouldn't be without either of them! As morganlefay says, you'll never need to put your oven on apart from at Christmas!

lauren_1

What about

http://www.thanedirect.co.uk/products/housewares/flavorwave-turbo/flavorwave-turbo.php?option_id=11543#ordernow

The boy has just ordered one after watching the pitch on channel 660. There are some freebies offers at the moment too

lizzyb1812

Researching the electricity used by a combi micro thingy and a remoska compared to a regular oven should be fairly easy but there may be other things to consider:

- would your parents use a remoska?
- would they use a combi?
In other words, if you got either of these would the oven actually get used less?
- how much a week, say, does them using the oven actually cost compared to doing everything in a remoska or combi? Is the difference a big or important saving to you?

I think what I'm ramblingly trying to say is that it seems that you would like them to change their habits - but do they want to? Having new kit and it not being used might be even more frustrating than the current situation?

PasturesNew

I love combi microwaves. I really miss mine. As an oven they can heat up in just 3-4 minutes and the nifty timer you have to set to make them work means when the food's finished cooking it pings and turns off.

I hate to say it, but ideal for older people who might get distracted or even nod off.

It is because I don't have a combi oven that I rarely use the oven to cook. I begrudge heating up a whole big oven (takes 30 minutes) just to cook one item.

annie12

I bought my Grande Remoska 8 days ago & haven't used my oven since.
I have defrosted chicken in the microwave, but that's all.
You can cook nearly everything in the Remoska.

HelenKA_2

I love my combi, and we have 6 in our family, I even manage to make dinner for 8 and once 9 without using the proper oven!

And the roast chicken done on combi is so clean/quick/yummy. I also use it at least once a week for a cake or cakes done on combi, fruit and sponge always turn out beautifully.

But I'd agree that the success will only depend on whether your Mum will use it but if she's had one before (I think you said that) then you may be ok.

They do take up a lot of room depth wise - though I did read a while ago that you can now get them with the mechanics at the top rather than at the back so it's height rather than depth if you get me................

Grumpysally

You don't say how old your mother is, but I know my MIL would struggle with something as technical as a combi microwave. ( to be honest those I've seen I think I would too)
If space is an issue I guess a combi would replace your existing microwave, a remoska would have to find a home.
Just my twopennworth

LameWolf

Just my twopennyworth, but I love the micro/combi, for the fact that it "pings" and turns itself off.

Because of mobility issues it can take me several minutes to get myself from the lounge to the kitchen when something has finished cooking, so having the thing turn off by itself has saved me no end of "burnt offerings".

suki1964

Wow thanks for the replies and suggestions

Just to clarify, mother (71) has had a combi before and says she did use it and it was she who suggested the combi after we had been talking about the ramouska.

I think we are heading towards the combi. As a few have mention, mobility is a big issue and leaving things on could become a problem later. I glad to see that it can be used as a proper oven to cook a proper dinner and perhaps I might eat a bit better myself.

So how do I go about working out if it will in fact be cheaper? (thick as two short planks here)
I just thought about the ramouska because of the rave reviews here, but hadnt seen anyone mention their use of combis

I have to say the hot element is something that does concern me when we are talking the remouska