When you see a halogen oven for the very first time, it’s highly probable that you’re going to be highly unimpressed.
To be fair, it is a relatively low-tech kitchen appliance and one that most of us in the UK haven’t even heard of yet. I say low-tech because on first impression, it’ll literally seem like you’re cooking your Sunday roast in a glass bowl.
However, there’s a lot more to this than what meets the eye at first glance. While we’ll discuss the functionality aspect in detail a little bit later, it’s important to note that this appliance uses halogen-heating elements to cook the food. As a result of the heat intensity, the food can be cooked thoroughly and very quickly when compared to your conventional oven.
There are several advantages of these cookers and again, these will be discussed shortly.
If you’re reading this guide, then your main aim is to find the best halogen oven available to buy in 2022.
In order to rate the best cookers, our team tested almost every halogen cooker available on the UK market. We also took account of several reviews shared to us by current and past users.
As a consequence, we ranked the top 5 halogen models as outlined below. Along with the overall quality, we also considered which oven offered the best value.
Let’s take a look at the results.
Comparison Table of our Top Halogen Ovens Picks
| PRODUCT | POWER | CAPACITY | WARRANTY (YEARS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew James 12 LTR Premium | 1400 Watts | 12 Litres | 2 |
| Russell Hobbs 18537 | 1400 Watts | 16 Litres | 3 |
| Abode 12L G2SHO6001B | 1400 Watts | 12 Litres | 2 Years |
| VonShef 07/021 Premium | 1300 Watts | 12 Litres | 2 Years |
| VonShef 07/022 7-Litre Premium | 1300 Watts | 7 Litres | 2 Years |
* At the time of publishing
2022 Top Picks:
Following the UK Government decision to phase out Halogen ovens in 2021, fewer manufacturers are releasing new brands. Below are some you can still find in the market in 2022;
| Product | Capacity | Power | Check Price on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic Cuisine 12-17 Quart 1200W Halogen Tabletop Oven | 12 – 17 Pounds | 1200 Watts | Check Price |
| Rosewill Infrared Halogen Stainless Steel | 12 – 18 Pounds | 1200 Watts | Check Price |
| Nuwave Oven Pro Plus with Stainless Steel Extender Ring | 14 Pounds | 1500 Watts | Check Price |
| Oyama TRO-110C Turbo Convection Oven | 12 Liters | 1 Watt | Check Price |
| NuWave Oven Pro, Plus (no extender) | 10 Liters | 1500 watts | Check Price |
| Nutrichef PKAIRFR48.5 | 13 Quarts | 1200 watts | Check Price |
| Sahomwell Halogen Oven | 18 Quarts | 1300 watts | Check Price |
7 of the Best Halogen Oven Reviews
1. Andrew James 12 LTR Premium
(4.7 / 5)
If you haven’t heard of Andrew James before then you should note that this is a UK-based brand and their products are almost always associated with excellent quality.
In addition to this, they always seem to receive near perfect reviews. This can also be said for this halogen oven.
When it comes to the build quality and design, this model was one of the best we came across. It seemed to be quite sturdy and certainly made from high quality materials.
One particular advantage to note is the fact that this model comes with a hinged lid. This means that there shouldn’t be any problems or strain commonly associated with lifting and putting away a relatively heavy glass lid.
The design was in resemblance to the other cookers though you do get a choice between black, white and red colours. This choice of colour might make the decision a bit easier for some individuals.
In terms of performance, this model is particularly impressive. Usually, a halogen model has various advantages over a conventional oven. One of these is the speed with which the food is cooked. This is something that we noticed greatly with this model.
You can literally cook anything that you’d normally put in the oven but at a far greater speed and that too without compromising the taste and quality of the food.
We found the heat and digital settings to be extremely accurate and the oven could be warmed up to the desired temperature within minutes.
In addition to the excellent performance that saved time and money, the overall appearance and taste of the food was excellent. The combination of these factors really impressed us.
This halogen cookier will also save a lot of space in the kitchen as you could actually get rid of some of your other kitchen appliances, as this will confidently replace most of them.
One particular problem that we anticipated was the cleaning aspect. However, this was made simple with the self-clean feature that allows the machine to wash and dry itself in the most perfect manner.
In overview, you’re looking at possibly the best halogen oven that’s available right now and is probably a lot cheaper than most other fancy appliances. We were really impressed by the performance and some of the features that will bring about a great degree of convenience in the kitchen.
2. Russell Hobbs 18537
(4.2 / 5)
Just like the Andrew James cooker above, the Russell Hobbs 18537 is another top performing product. While this is just as powerful, the capacity is actually 11 Litres. However, you can increase this to 16 Litres by way of an included stainless steel expansion ring. I’d consider this attachment as important but you need to ensure that it’s placed securely.
In terms of the design, this is a relatively attractive halogen oven though it does have some flaws. Firstly, it’s only available in a white colour so you don’t have too much choice as you did with the Andrew James model above.
In addition to this, the lid is unhinged. This means that moving a fairly heavy glass lid can be problematic. You do get a stand for this but again placing it into this stand can be problematic for a new user though you’ll eventually get used to this.
In terms of the performance, this is an efficient product that’ll enable you to do all kinds of jobs. You’ll be able to make your Sunday roast much more efficiently while baking and grilling can also be done with this product. However, when baking, the bread didn’t come out as we’d hoped.
Other than this, we were quite pleased with this particular halogen oven. Again, it has a self-clean feature so this was an easy task after finishing up. An appliance like this will not only save you space in the kitchen but will also be portable enough to move around.
At the end of the day, it’s a very affordable appliance that will successfully conduct all kinds of tasks. It’ll save you time and money on your bills. Due to these factors, I’d say that this would be especially beneficial for those who regular make simple meals and in as little time as possible.
3. Abode 12L G2SHO6001B
(4.1 / 5)
The Abode G2SH06001B is the halogen oven that takes third place on this top 5 list. On initial inspection, you can easily see that this product is made from high quality material. I personally liked the glossy appearance.
It’s important to note that this product is only available in black colour though this is my favorite colour for kitchen appliances – it just makes your kitchen look a bit suave.
When it comes to the performance, this oven was good but not as amazing as the Andrew James halogen model that took first place.
Firstly, this is less powerful than the previous two models. On top of this, like the Russell Hobbs 18537, this comes with an unhinged lid. This may feel heavy when you’re filling up the glass bowl.
While testing this, we did find it to be quite effective in cooking pretty much everything. But again, the fact that there is less power may delay you just a little bit.
In addition to the power, this particular model doesn’t come with a self-clean feature like the previous two products. This may make the cleaning process a little more challenging. You can always clean it by hand or wash the attachments in a dishwasher though this will require a little more work on your part.
Even though it seems like there are quite a few flaws with this halogen oven, it’s important to note the difference in price between this and the other products. I would consider this to be quite cheap and this is arguably the best halogen oven at this price, but whether you buy this or not will depend entirely on you and your budget.
4. VonShef 07/021 Premium
(4.1 / 5)
The VonShef 07/21 is another halogen oven that has received some terrific reviews from critics and customers alike. It certainly performed well enough to impress us.
After comparing it to various other products, we noticed that this model was the cheapest one from others with the same features and specifications.
We found the design to be quite plain and it’s certainly not going to stand out as being some kind of latest hi-tech kitchen appliance. The good thing is that it will still get the majority of your cooking done. It even comes with a recipe book that will provide you with some insight on what to try.
Regardless of whether you’ve got a baking, frying, roasting or steaming task assigned to you, you can be confident that this will perform the task quite efficiently. This will be aided by some excellent settings that include a defrosting feature, which will enable you to place food into the cooker straight from the freezer.
For such a cheap halogen cooker, we were pleased to see that the capacity of the bowl was excellent and stood at 12 Litres. Additionally, this is quite a powerful unit, another factor that pleased us.
Perhaps one of the bigger advantages we noticed was the self-clean function. This was absent in the more costly Abode model above so this was quite a surprise. Most customers will certainly appreciate it as it makes the cleaning process very easy and timesaving.
In overview, this is one of the best halogen cookers we came across especially after we considered how cheap it was. It looked quite good, performed very well and comes with a wide range of additional accessories.
5. VonShef 07/022 7 Litre Premium
(3.9 / 5)
The final halogen oven on our list is the VonShef 07/022, a model that’s perhaps unsuitable for most families. In fact, this only has a 7 Litre capacity and we’ve only included this for individuals who may not want a large-capacity oven.
As you can expect due to the size, this is quite cheap but at the same time, it’s still a top product.
In terms of performance, this cooker is very easy to use and comes with a 2-year warranty. It also uses less energy than other models, which will be beneficial for your bills.
To be honest, in terms of appearance and performance, the 07/022 is very similar to the VonShef 07/021 we’ve discussed above.
The main difference is the smaller size and this should make it more suitable for a family of one or two people. After all, if you’re alone or have a small family, why would you want to waste your money on higher bills associated with a large conventional oven?
It’s something to think about because this cooker will essentially do the exact same job as a conventional oven. The best part is that it’s extremely affordable and the build quality is good enough to ensure that it lasts for at least a few years. If it doesn’t then at least there’s a 2-year warranty to protect you!
6. Classic Cuisine 12-17 Quart 1200W Halogen Tabletop Oven:
If you want a Quart-based Halogen tabletop oven, you’ll really like the Classic Cuisine 12-17 Quart 1200 W oven which was released to the market some 5 years ago in 2017. As of this update in November 2022, this brand is currently on the top 100 best-selling convection oven brands on Amazon and it currently has a decent rating of 4.4/5 from over 300 customers.
In terms of design, this 12-quart bowl and five-quart extender ring offer enough space to cook a 16-pound turkey. I really like the design of the ring since it’s easily detachable for quick cleaning. The unit also comes with a roasting/baking rack, tongs, and a lid holder for your convenience.
The clear tempered glass lid is another feature that I really like because it allows you to monitor the cooking progress without having to open the oven door (and let all the heat out).
In terms of performance, this oven uses a 1200-watt heating element to circulate hot air around food for even cooking. There are two fan speeds (low and high) and you can set the timer up to 60 minutes. The unit also has an automatic shut-off function for safety.
One thing to note is that this oven is not for everyone. It’s quite large and it weighs almost 15 pounds. Despite this large size, this oven goes for less than $60 although its currently on offer on Amazon.
I really like that this model is non-stick but the limited color choices leaves you with one just one color – white. I do like white but had hoped there would have been more color options to choose from.
Compared to other brands on this list, I like that this Classic Quart model offers an extended warranty that you can purchase for an additional $7. This will extend your warranty beyond the standard 1 year and from customer feedback I found, the extended warranty option gives you the ability to claim repairs or replacement of parts for up to 3 years from the date of sale.
One customer who bought this extended warranty noted that it was worth it in the end.
7. Rosewill Infrared Halogen Stainless Steel
Rosewill Infrared Halogen Stainless Steel is one of the top-selling halogen ovens on Amazon, with a rating of 4.3/5 from almost 2,000 customers.
This oven is a bit different than most because it uses infrared technology to cook food. The company claims that this results in faster cooking times and more even heating.
I was intrigued by this claim, so I decided to do a bit of research on infrared halogen ovens.
According to this article, infrared halogen ovens work by using “a quartz bulb that emits infrared radiation.” This radiation then heats up the food directly, rather than heating the air around the food like a traditional convection oven. 
I found this claim to hold up. Not only does this brand cook faster but it also uses less oil as well.
The unit comes with a few accessories, including a baking tray, grill rack, tongs, and an extension ring. The company also offers a 2-year warranty, which is double the industry standard.
One thing to note about this oven is that it’s lighter than most units on this list, weighing in at almost 9 pounds making it easy to carry it around compared to the 18-pound Classic Cuisine model above.
I love that this brand provides everything you would need to bake or cook, such as tongs, 2 stainless steel cooking racks , and an extender ring to increase total capacity. With the grill on the high rack or roast/bake on the low rack, this oven is perfect for larger-portion meals.
I prefer uncomplicated controls for all electrical appliances and kitchen tools in my house. With just two dials, you can set the cooking time and temperature, or refer to the cooking chart on the lid. Cook foods until they’re perfect while keeping an eye on progress at all times through the transparent glass bowl.
As of this update in November 2022, this brand is also on offer for close to 30% off and goes for less than $70, a bit higher than the price of the Classic Cuisine model above. It’s unclear if the oven manufacturers are offering discounts to get rid of these ovens or if the sale is seasonal as the last two models now have big discounts.
FAQs
What is a Halogen Oven?
A halogen oven is a type of convection oven that uses halogen lamps to heat food. These lamps are usually located on the top and bottom of the oven chamber and they emit infrared radiation. This radiation heats up the air in the oven, which in turn cooks the food.
The utilization of the halogen light bulb to cook food was first patented to General Electric in 1963 when they submitted an invention of an Electric lamp with a single-ended pinch seal. This Tungsten Halogen Oven Bulb invention patented in 1970 is the first true ancestor to the modern-day halogen oven. The 1970s invention was awarded to GTE Sylvania Inc. which was later dissolved.
The Halogen oven bulb invention involved a tungsten halogen lamp in hard glass with a temperature gradient that keeps the top of the envelope at 200* C. The halogen not only prevents the glass bulb from clouding but also reacts with impurities in the tungsten to condense them out on the top of the envelope. To ensure the proper operation of the halogen cycle, the supporting conductors for the filament are made small enough to operate at incandescence at the designed current. This is in contrast to ordinary incandescent lamps, where wires have much larger diameters and comparatively low resistance and voltage drop.
Below is a sketch of the first Tungsten Halogen oven lamp in 1970.
What are the benefits of using a Halogen Oven?
There are several benefits to using a halogen oven:
1. They cook food quickly and evenly.
2. They use less energy than other types of ovens.
3. They are easy to clean.
4. They are compact and lightweight, making them easy to store.
5. They come in a variety of sizes to suit your needs.
Are halogen ovens and air fryers the same?
The main difference between an air fryer and a halogen oven is that halogen ovens areusually bigger, use more energy, and tend to be more expensive. However, air fryers are gaining popularity because they offer more cooking options and compartments tocook different foods compared to Halogen Ovens. Halogen ovens cook by using radiant heat whereas air fryer uses super-heated air.
What can you cook in a halogen oven?
You can cook almost anything in a halogen oven that you can cook in a regular oven. However, there are some things that are better suited for halogen ovens, such as:
1. Roasting meats and vegetables.
2. Baking cakes, pies, and cookies.
3. Cooking fish and seafood.
4. Making pizzas and flatbreads.
5. reheating leftovers.
What are the disadvantages of using a Halogen Oven?
There are a few disadvantages to using a halogen oven:
1. They can be more expensive than other types of ovens.
2. They use more energy than other types of ovens.
3. They require more supervision than other types of ovens.
4. The light emitted from the halogen lamps can be harmful to your eyes.
Are halogen ovens being banned/being phased out?
To help the UK become more environmentally friendly, the government has put a stop to the manufacture and import of several light bulbs effective September 2021. This includes Halogen R7 bulbs, Halogen spotlights (12V), Compact Fluorescent Helix bulbs and Halogen Capsules (G9/12V). It is true that Halogen ovens are being phased out but you can still find low-energy models on the market. Read more about this ban on the Independent here.
As of late 2022, the US Government hasn’t indicated that banning halogen bulbs is in its climate action plan to reduce emissions and no halogen oven brands are banned in the US. It is worth noting that companies that already had stock of halogen ovens in the UK by the time the ban went into effect in September 2021 were allowed to still sell the ovens but are required to phase them out and stop manufacturing them altogether.
How do Halogen Ovens work?
Halogen ovens work by using radiant heat to cook food. The halogen lamp emits a beam of light that is then reflected around the oven by a mirrored surface. This causes the food to be cooked evenly on all sides. The heat is circulated throughout the oven using a fan and the temperature in the oven is regulated by a thermostat.
Halogen oven often comes with an extension ring that can be used to increase the size of the cooking area. This is useful for cooking larger items such as a whole chicken or a roast. They also come with a pyrex type bowl on a stand with a lid and a fan.
With a clear and transparent glass bowl, you can see your food being cooked in the halogen oven. The fan ensures that there is an even cooking temperature throughout the glass bowl.
You can cook with or without oil in a halogen oven and no preheating is required. This makes it a very versatile appliance to have in your kitchen.
What are Halogen Cookers and how do they Work?
In simple terms, this type of cooker is a counter-top oven that does exactly the same job as a conventional oven. In addition to this, it’s a very affordable kitchen appliance and one that will cost very little to run. It’ll certainly be more efficient than a proper large-size oven.
In terms of the design, we typically have a glass bowl with a lid that has a halogen bulb integrated into it. Once the lid is closed off, we can use the settings to turn the system on. This will light the bulb thereby generating infrared waves that heat the air within the glass bowl. The consistent circulation of this hot air will ensure that the food is cooked thoroughly and evenly.
This function will allow the cooker to resemble a conventional oven. In fact, it holds several advantages over a conventional appliance.
Firstly, we’re all aware of the energy-saving efficiency that will allow you to save quite a bit on bills. The good thing is that a halogen oven will still allow you to cook a meal for up to 6 people at a time and at a quicker rate.
Even better is the fact that you can place different ingredients into the bowl and they’ll still cook nicely. This feature will ensure your Sunday roast is simple and very quick to make!
We also need to remember that this is a very compact appliance that won’t take up too much space in your kitchen. Heck, you can even move it around if you wish!
Another positive point about these handy gadgets is that they can make all kinds of foods. This means that you can roast, grill, bake and even steam your food. It really is an all-in-one appliance. How convenient right?
Perhaps the best part is the extremely affordable price though! At a time when kitchen appliances are costing hundreds and even thousands of pounds, it’s good to know that the Andrew James model that topped the list will only cost you around £49.99!
Halogen Cooking – Is it Safe?
There are two different ways of looking at this part of the argument and we’ll discuss both of these now.
Firstly, you might be curious about any ill effects of cooking food using infrared heating. There’s been a lot of scientific research carried out regarding this and the good news here is that there hasn’t been any links to health problems. This means that you can use the halogen oven without worrying too much about the safety aspects.
However, you do need to worry about how you handle the appliance when it’s in use. It’s important to exercise caution and use gloves every time you handle any part of the halogen cooker. The lid is one part that can burn your fingers when it’s hot.
Furthermore, when there are children at home, you need to ensure that the cooker is appropriately stored and no one mishandles extremely hot areas of the cooker.
Summary
So are halogen cookers any good?
Well, essentially you’re looking at a relatively new appliance and one that oozes convenience, time and energy efficiency. On top of that it’s extremely affordable.
So yeah, they’re pretty good!
But which one should you go for?
In my opinion, the Andrew James 12 LTR Premium was the one that impressed us the most. It was extremely efficient and cooked food almost perfectly. The feature that edged it for this particular model was the hinged lid that’ll ensure that everything goes smoothly in the kitchen. We found it to be the best halogen oven out of all of the different options that we tested.
At the end of the day, all of the products on the list can be associated with excellent quality and an great affordability factor. Choosing the right one will depend entirely on how much money you’re willing to spend.