If you’re someone who spends any amount of time online, you’ve likely come across the latest kitchen craze – the air fryer. These gadgets have been featured everywhere from established news sites to quirky Warhammer 40K-themed TikTok videos. They’ve gained fame for their ability to cook quickly, using less oil than traditional frying methods, which some argue makes for a healthier meal. Despite the argument that indulgent foods should be enjoyed in their most delicious form – fried in good old-fashioned oil – the air fryer became a hit.
Many touted the air fryer as a cost-effective alternative to traditional ovens. But just when it seemed like air fryers were the ultimate kitchen gadget, enter the challenger: the Halogen Oven.
This innovative device uses a powerful halogen lightbulb to cook food placed in a glass bowl beneath it. It’s easy to picture the invention of the halogen oven as a lightbulb moment (pun intended) for someone who accidentally discovered the intense heat of a halogen bulb. The typical design includes an external basket to prevent burns, topped by the bulb which heats up to cook the food.
The bulb doesn’t just stay on; it flickers on and off to maintain the perfect cooking temperature, which can vary from 60C to 240C (or 140F to 464F).
Many users have claimed that not only do halogen ovens outperform air fryers, but they also do so at a lower cost.
While air fryers have their fans, the pricier models might not seem as budget-friendly as once thought. This has led many to explore alternatives like the halogen oven. One person shared their personal experience, saying, “I treated myself to a halogen oven to help with Christmas; I only have one shelf in my oven. It is one million times better than the rubbish air fryer I got in the summer.”
Another user echoed this sentiment, advocating for the halogen oven by stating, “Halogen oven is better, healthier, and cheaper than an air fryer.”
Of course, there’s always the traditional oven, the tried and true kitchen staple that comes pre-installed in most homes. But for those looking to try something new or needing an additional cooking device, the halogen oven presents a compelling case as the new countertop king.