Mini / countertop oven

Blue_Doggy

Does anyone use one of these, and if so, how do you find it?

My 30-year old fan oven really needs replacing (it still works, but the integrated grill is quite slow now to warm up).

I’d ideally like something energy-saving, as it’s daft to heat up the whole oven to cook a small piece of food for one (such as baked fish or cottage pie), and I haven’t always got anything else to put in to cook while the oven’s on.

I use my microwave quite a lot, but for making cakes or bread I need a more traditional type of oven.

AndyCF

It is on my eventual purchase list. However I can offer one small piece of advice, this may or may not apply depending on your purchase method.

If you're buying "online" look closely please at the sizes/dimensions as some of them are absolutely tiny! 9L etc, its difficult to judge when they just nowadays quote in litres for internal capacity.

I'd take a random guess you'd want something 'roughly' say the same size (outside and inside space cavity) as your microwave.

It would be best to at least if possible look at the model you want in the shop aka in person to check this. I'd say don't rely on it having two shelves as there might be precious space between.

The only other thing I can immediately think of before others with more (helpful) information post is you can get them with fan assistance which is probably handy, I seem to recall some have a heating element on either one side or top / bottom or evenly spaced, the latter is better for even cooking obviously (I could be wrong on this 'element' part)

Lastly although obvious I think the top or sides can get quite hot so it would not likely be practical to 'stack' it with the microwave, this was something I'd planned on doing at one point.

MovingForwards

I had one, picked it up second hand and it was great, about the size of my microwave, could cook a small roast in it, do cheese on toast under the grill.

If I ever need to get a cooker in a hurry I would have no issue buying another.

Blue_Doggy

AndyCF wrote: »

It is on my eventual purchase list. However I can offer one small piece of advice, this may or may not apply depending on your purchase method.

If you're buying "online" look closely please at the sizes/dimensions as some of them are absolutely tiny! 9L etc, its difficult to judge when they just nowadays quote in litres for internal capacity.

I'd take a random guess you'd want something 'roughly' say the same size (outside and inside space cavity) as your microwave.

It would be best to at least if possible look at the model you want in the shop aka in person to check this. I'd say don't rely on it having two shelves as there might be precious space between.

The only other thing I can immediately think of before others with more (helpful) information post is you can get them with fan assistance which is probably handy, I seem to recall some have a heating element on either one side or top / bottom or evenly spaced, the latter is better for even cooking obviously (I could be wrong on this 'element' part)

Lastly although obvious I think the top or sides can get quite hot so it would not likely be practical to 'stack' it with the microwave, this was something I'd planned on doing at one point.

Some good points to consider there, Andy, thank you.

Blue_Doggy

MovingForwards wrote: »

I had one, picked it up second hand and it was great, about the size of my microwave, could cook a small roast in it, do cheese on toast under the grill.

If I ever need to get a cooker in a hurry I would have no issue buying another.

That’s good to know. Do you remember the make?

Carrot007

I can recomend the one's aldi do from time to time.


When I moved to this house the oven was near broken with dodgy wireing. I used an aldi one until I could afford to re-do the kitchen.


Though TBH I think they are all much of a sameness. UNless you are looking at really really tiny ones! But you wopuld not make a cake in one of those!


Also consider a halogen. Harder to use (as it does not work like a nornmal oven), but still good for things if you research what you want to do on the internet! (aldi keep calling their's a air fryer these days, nop idea why though!) (yes I like aldi!)

grunnie

I bought a huge halogen oven a few weeks ago. I have a bad back and have trouble bending so it's great for me. I have done just about everything in it. Fish, casserole beef a chicken and baked a cake! Today i made brownies and also did a chinese dish for dinner. A plus for me it came with all the trays and a shelf so you can cook 2 layers of food. It is very easy to clean you just wipe it out so no need to lift it and take it to the sink.

MovingForwards

I can't remember as it was several years ago!

gairlochgal

I have the Sage Smart Oven. Not the cheapest but it will need to last a while till I get my kitchen refurbished so this was the result of my research. Had had it about 4 months and very happy with it

AndyCF

Blue_Doggy wrote: »

That’s good to know. Do you remember the make?

When shopping Just in my own thoughts here from a very quick (30 seconds) search:

The ones in a 'well known catalogue type shop' , they have a few but the prices are not as good as they could be.

Online ones plenty of variation but you cannot judge the size (see next sentence)

Dix/Cur etc, this is actually where I would go, not necessary to buy but to see them "out on display" to see the size, occasionally there are good deals to be had though

BM/HB , can be cheap here however choice is slightly limited. I'd not rely on what is shown online either, I can say my local one has more 'things' that they show online!

Supermarkets also sometimes have them at a really good price, advtage here too is you may be able to check the sizes too in advance. Best option if thinking about this is where there's a choice of the same supermarket, pick the largest one.

If you do buy online: my only though is find the model if you can elsewhere , where you can satisfy yourself it is right, make a note of its number etc then find said identical one online.

Talking briefly online shop again, if you see a model you like in a shop, check its price there *and* check its price online too, sometimes it can be cheaper to get it online even allowing for postages/delivery. Only obvious downside is you have to wait instead of taking it away there and then. I did this with the Microwave last year, it was about £5 cheaper online than in the shop! Same shop, same make+model...

Farway

I've got one from the occasional offer in L1dl.

It has a fan, but not sure if that is more for ventilation than moving hot air around inside. Cool wall so not burned if touching the outside

Only one shelf, and not really big enough to bake a loaf in [I have a BM so no problem there]
Bit of a squeeze to get a l1rge pizza in, fits "sorta"

I think Andy's advice of look in store before committing is good. Mine is OK for one, reheating ready meals etc but it'd be a struggle for a family