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Is It Time To Ditch Your Air Fryer And Embrace The Halogen Oven?

Published by: Maria Kelley • Updated: January 10, 2024 • Checked By: Chef Matty Riedel


In the ever-evolving world of kitchen appliances, halogen ovens and air fryers are popular alternatives to traditional cooking methods, promising quicker, healthier, and more efficient meal preparations.

While they may seem similar at first glance, each boasts distinct features and benefits that cater to different culinary needs. In this article, we’ll delve into the nuances of both devices, comparing their functionalities to help you make an informed decision for your kitchen.

Halogen Oven Vs Air Fryer

You can now prepare nutritious and tasty meals much more easily than traditional cooking methods allow. The new appliances are innovative and highly efficient. They come with tons of benefits that you can’t ignore.  

You might be wondering which of the two gadgets to purchase. This article gives a detailed review citing the differences and similarities of each appliance. The thoughts come from expert reviewers and users of the gadgets. So, hold on to get a good insight into the details of each device.  

Our Favourite Appliances:

Best Halogen Oven – Livivo 17L Halogen Oven Cooker
Best Air Fryer – Ninja Dual Zone Air Fryer

What Is A Halogen Oven?

  • It’s faster than an air fryer
  • more versatile
  • has a larger cooking capacity and,
  • You can see the progress of your meal
  • It’s cheaper

A halogen oven, also known as a halogen convection oven, is a countertop kitchen appliance that uses a halogen lamp as its primary heating element. Here’s a brief explanation:

The halogen oven combines the power of halogen lighting with the principles of convection cooking and infrared heating to cook food. The halogen lamp produces infrared radiation, which directly heats the food, while a built-in fan circulates the hot air around the food, ensuring even cooking. This combination allows for faster cooking times compared to traditional ovens.

One of the main advantages of halogen ovens is their efficiency. They can cook food up to 40% faster than conventional ovens and are often more energy-efficient. Additionally, their transparent glass bowl design allows users to easily monitor the cooking process without opening the oven, retaining heat and preventing heat loss. 

halogen oven vs air fryer

How Does It Cook?

The halogen oven comprises a glass cooking bowl, a circulating fan, and a light source. Food is placed inside the cooking bowl, the light source emits enough light to cook the food gradually, and the fan keeps the food moving to ensure even cooking.  

Once the halogen is lit, it emits infrared rays that produce heat to cook food. Halogen ovens utilise all three light transmission techniques: convection, radiation, and conduction. You can use the halogen oven to cook many types of dishes, including pizza, roast joints, boiled potatoes, chips, rice, casseroles, and cakes. 

Benefits Of A Halogen Oven 

  • Easy to clean – the cooking bowl is easily removable and dishwasher safe. Depending on the brand, some have a self-clean function.
  • Time-saving – halogen ovens cook food quickly. 
  • Air frying capability – most halogen ovens come with an air fryer attachment. You can use it to do air frying. 
  • Health-aspect – a halogen oven that uses little or no oil makes food healthier. You get all the original nutrients and vitamins. 

PROS

  • Self-cleaning function
  • Cooks quickly
  • More versatile
  • Larger cooking capacity
  • Cheaper
  • You can see the progress of your meal

CONS

  • Uses more electricity 
  • The halogen bulb has to be replaced
halogen oven vs air fryer

Air Fryer 

An air fryer is a fan-assisted oven. The air fryer serves the same purpose as deep fat fryers, although it uses 80 % less oil. Food cooked in an air fryer is healthy.  

An air fryer can cook various foods, like chicken, roasted veggies, home-baked cookies, and French fries. When you cook food with this appliance, it becomes crispy. Although it uses air frying technology, you should apply oil to the food to make it crunchier.  

How Does An Air Fryer Work? 

An air fryer produces heat that is moved around the food at a very high speed to penetrate and cook. The swirling hot air allows the food to cook evenly, and food cooked with an air fryer has even crispiness.  

Air fryers cook a variety of recipes. You can fry chips, crisps, chicken, and chocolate chip cookies. 

Benefits Of Using An Air Fryer 

  • Healthy food – unlike traditional deep frying, an air fryer uses little to no oil, thus making its food healthier.  
  • Easy to clean – compared to deep fryers, even the best large air fryers are very clean due to the minimal oil used.  
  • Uniform cooking – since the air goes around the food, cooking it uniformly 
  • No smell – since an air fryer cooks food in an enclosed chamber with minimal oil, food emerges without a single odour.  
  • Energy-efficient – air fryers heat and cook fast, thus using less energy. 

PROS

  • Energy efficient 
  • Space convenience 
  • Healthy meals

CONS

  • Small basket size 
  • Some models are noisy

Halogen Oven Vs Air Fryer: What Are The Differences? 

1. Size 

Halogen ovens are generally larger than air fryers, making them a good choice for larger households.

2. Ease Of Cleaning 

A halogen consists of a cooking glass bowl with heating capability. Compared to an air fryer, a halogen oven is easy to clean.  

3. Cook Time 

A halogen oven cooks food faster. You thus use less time to cook food than the air fryer. 

 

What Are The Similarities Between A Halogen Oven And An Air Fryer? 

1. Price 

Halogen ovens like the Quest 43850 Multi-Function Halogen Oven are similar in price to the cheaper end of the air fryer market. 

2. Diversity 

Both appliances have a wide range of uses. They can be used to cook many recipes. 

3. Kitchen Space 

Both appliances occupy a decent amount of space on your kitchen bench.

4. Ease Of Use 

Air fryers and halogen ovens are very user-friendly. The “learning curve” is similar.


Halogen Oven Vs Air Fryer: Summing Up

Both the halogen oven and the air fryer are marvellous devices for your kitchen.

The most common factors to check are;

  • range of meals you can make
  • size of the appliance
  • the cost

If you want to prepare large meals, get the halogen oven. Smaller households are probably better off with an air fryer. If you are cash-strapped, an air fryer is generally cheaper. Choosing between a Halogen oven and an air fryer depends on your needs. 

Lastly, both gadgets have great features, such as a timer, to make the cooking operation seamless and accurate. Both gadgets give quality food and save a lot of time and electricity.  

Maria Kelley