Cooking In An Infrared Halogen Oven – What Can I Cook In A Halogen Oven?
Have you recently invested in an infrared halogen oven? If so, you’re in for a treat! Cooking in a halogen oven is like nothing you’ve experienced before. With its powerful infrared technology, you can bake, roast, grill, and steam your favorite dishes with ease.
No more slaving away over a hot stove, no more heating up the whole kitchen just to make a meal! The halogen oven is compact, portable, and efficient, making it a game-changer for home cooks everywhere.
Not sure what you can cook in a halogen oven? Don’t worry, the possibilities are endless! With its high and low racks, you can prepare a variety of foods, from delicious baked goods to succulent roasts to healthy steamed vegetables. And, the best part? Your dishes will come out perfectly cooked every time, with flavors that are intense and delicious.
So, get ready to say goodbye to your old oven and hello to a world of tasty possibilities. In this article, we’ll explore the world of halogen oven cooking, and show you just what this amazing appliance can do.
Contents
What Can I Cook In A Halogen Oven?
An infrared halogen oven is a versatile appliance that can be used for a variety of cooking methods, including steaming, baking, roasting, and grilling.
With its high and low racks, you can cook a wide range of foods, from vegetables and meats to baked goods and more.
The appliance is compact and portable, making it easy to use in any kitchen, and it uses less power than a traditional oven, making it an energy-efficient option for cooking.
So whether you’re looking to whip up a quick meal or prepare a full feast, you’ll be able to cook a variety of foods in your infrared halogen oven.
Here is a list of dishes that you can cook in a halogen oven:
- Roasted chicken or turkey
- Grilled meats like steaks and burgers
- Baked potatoes
- Grilled vegetables
- Roasted root vegetables
- Casseroles and baked pasta dishes
- Fish fillets
- Desserts like cakes and cookies
- Grilled sandwiches
- Whole roasted fish
- Stir-fry dishes
- Homemade pizzas
- Broiled meats
- Toasted bread or bagels
- Hot and crispy French fries
- Slow-cooked stews and soups.
What I Can Not Cook In A Halogen Oven?
As much as a halogen oven is a versatile appliance, it still has its limitations. Just like any kitchen appliance, it’s important to know what it can and can’t do.
Some dishes and cooking techniques are simply not suitable for a halogen oven, and it’s essential to understand these restrictions and pros and cons in order to get the most out of your appliance.
In this list, I’ll take a look at dishes that cannot be cooked in a halogen oven and the reasons why
- Fried foods that require deep frying, as halogen ovens do not have the capacity for deep frying.
- Foods that are too large to fit into the oven, as it has limited space.
- Foods that are sensitive to high heat, such as delicate pastries or baked goods that need to rise.
- Certain dishes that require constant attention and stirring, such as risotto or sauces, may not work well in a halogen oven as the stirring process may be hindered.
- Some dishes that require an even, low heat, such as slow-cooked stews, may not cook evenly in a halogen oven.
- Foods that give off strong odors, such as fish or certain spices, may not be suitable to cook in a halogen oven as the odor may linger.
- Foods that require a high level of humidity, such as bread dough, may not rise properly in a halogen oven.
Meals That Turn Out Great In A Halogen Oven
Meat
If you are a meat lover, then you will appreciate the halogen appliance. You can make roast dinner for the entire family.
There are a couple of things to keep in mind before you start cooking in infrared oven. You need to place the meat on a rack and ensure enough space for air to flow around it.
For best results, let the meat cook slowly. It will come out tender both on the inside and the outside.
Red meat
I discovered that pork and beef are sure to come out tasty when you prepare them in the infrared oven. The meat comes out with a crunchy taste challenging to achieve even when using a microwave oven.
A friend made me some steak from her oven, and I can say that it was one of the most delicious foods I’ve ever tasted in my life.
Chicken
Most people with halogen ovens can tell you that one of the foods they like cooking in them is chicken because of how tasty it comes out.
You can cook chicken breasts in the oven or the whole chicken.
The roasted chicken will have a golden brown color when fully cooked, and it will be moist and with a crispy taste. I realized that many people do not use the ‘cook faster’ option to be fully cooked on the inside.
Fish
You can cook fresh fish such as Salmon and cod in your oven.
The best part is that you don’t have to fry them. You’ll notice that you won’t use excess oil. Place your seafood on foil, add some seasoning, and cover the foil. Please place it in the appliance and wait to enjoy your meal after 25 minutes.
Processed Meats
If you like processed meats, then you are lucky to have a halogen oven because you can grill your sausages in it.
If you are looking for something simple, tasty, and easy to prepare, you can do burgers in the oven, especially if there are kids around.
Hotdogs and bacon are other processed meats you can make in your oven. Processed meats taste better when cooked in a halogen appliance compared to when using traditional methods.
Vegetables
You can prepare your vegetables on their own or with your meat.
Simply cover them in foil, and put them in the steaming tray in the oven. Place some water in the bottom of the halogen appliance to provide steam. Peas, potatoes, cauliflower, asparagus, and cabbage are vegetables that people like to cook in their halogen ovens.
Potatoes
You can bake your potatoes in the oven. The outer part of the tubers will be crispy, and the inside will be soft. You can’t get these results with a microwave oven.
There are various methods of roasting potatoes that you can apply depending on your preference. You can also prepare your stuffed mushroom in the cooker.
Roots and Tubers
Root and tubers vegetables also do well in halogen cooking. Examples of root vegetables include parsley root, carrot, beet, salsify, and jicama. Dahlia, cassava, potatoes, and yams are examples of tuber vegetables.
You can consume most of the root and tubers vegetables (except jicama) raw. However, you can also cook them through boiling, roasting, grilling, and frying. A halogen appliance performs most of these processes.
Baking
The halogen cooker can be used for baking. Examples of foods you can bake include bread, tarts, cakes (muffins), cookies, buns, and even an apple pie.
The baking tray or dish you use should fit inside the oven. Use the same recipes for your cakes, buns, cookies, and bread that you usually use with the regular oven.
Bread
The first step towards baking bread is preparing your dough. You will then place it in the pan, which will go into the oven.
Give it about 30-40 minutes, and you’ll notice that the color will turn golden. This means that it’s ready.
Cakes, Buns, and Cookies
I have seen people buy a doughnut tin for cooking their cakes. The cakes get enough heat because of the hole in the middle of the container.
It is essential to make sure that the tins you are using for baking buns, cakes, and cookies are clean.
Pizza
If you enjoy pizza, then you will have a fun time with your halogen cooker. The pizzas come out differently from the ones prepared using a microwave. You’ll notice that the edges are firm and crispy, and the rest of the parts are fantastic. If you are trying out halogen cooking, then you must try preparing pizza.
Frozen Foods
If you have frozen foods, you don’t need to worry about thawing them or pre-heating them. Just put them in the cooker in their frozen state.
If you are a busy person, this is perfect for you because you’ll spend less time cooking.
Examples of frozen foods you can prepare in the cooker include burritos, sausages, vegetables, and pizzas.
If you have large meat joints, you may need to thaw them first.
Leftovers
It is normal to have leftovers because most of the time we prepare more food. Many people keep their scraps to be eaten later on. If you have a halogen oven, all you need to do is put the leftovers on the heat.
The foods that you should probably not reheat are fried and scrambled eggs.
You will be surprised at how good your leftovers will taste. No need to throw away food anymore.
Conclusion
A halogen oven is one of the best investments you will ever make. It is convenient, efficient, and straightforward. It would be a great appliance for dorm settings if more universities would allow it.
One of the great things about the infrared oven is that you can prepare various foods in it. You can prepare your meat, chicken, sausages, vegetables, and even pizza. It is excellent for baking, roasting, slow cooking, and grilling.
The infrared oven is that one item that does everything for you. Another thing you’ll notice with the appliance is that you’ll be using less oil than you’ve been using. The cooker cooks thrice as fast as the traditional oven.
What’s more? Foods taste better with the halogen cooker compared to other traditional methods.