Before we can determine whether or not a halogen oven is safe, we must first define what a halogen oven is.
A Halogen Oven is an oven that employs Halo Genesis as its primary heating source, a halogen lamp. The majority of the time, this kind of oven is utilized for cooking. So, what exactly is a halogen lamp?
A tungsten filament is enclosed in a small, clear envelope filled with inert gas, iodine, or bromine combination in a halogen lamp type.
Now that we know what a Halogen oven is, we can determine whether or not cooking in this oven is healthful. Halogen oven implies fry heat and utilizes air or cooking materials’ inner fat.
During this process, the temperature goes above 110° C, which causes a chemical alteration of foods, processes the contaminants, and makes the food safe for consumption.
This oven can cook food at a temperature of 50° – 250°C. And it can be compared with the temperatures given in the table below. So it can also be said that some process contaminants may still be present in food prepared by this oven.
The temperature of dry-heat cooking methods:
Type of Cooking | Cooking Temperatures |
Oil less Deep Frying | 160°C – 180°C |
Air Based Baking | Up to 230°C |
Charcoal based Grilling | Up to 350°C |
Gas/Electric Grilling | Up to 300°C |
Halogen Cooker Pros and Cons:
However, a Halogen oven emits infrared radiation, which reduces the cooking duration and, in turn, reduces food contamination.
No matter how good a product is, there are always some pros and cons associated with the said product.
- A halogen oven can be put on top of a countertop, and one can cook while standing.
- This can be a great advantage for people who easily forget. Because the halogen oven has a timer, even if they forget, their food will not burn since the oven will automatically turn off after the timer ends.
- The halogen dish is also transparent. So one can see their food at a glance.
There are always some disadvantages, no matter how good the product seems.
- The halogen oven takes up quite a lot of space on the countertop. So if you have a small counter, working with the oven on the way could be a little hard.
- The glass dish can be quite heavy. So it has a slight possibility that it can break easily.
- The light can be a struggle when it’s time to change it.
Does Halogen Oven Cause Cancer
A halogen oven can produce crispy food similar to baking or a conventional oven. Previous reports stated that consuming foods cooked in a halogen oven may increase the intake of carcinogens (aka substances that can create cancer in the cells), which also can be formed similarly if the food is cooked by Grilling.
Which is Better: Halogen Oven VS Air Fryer VS Microwave Oven
When it comes to cooking at home, many appliances are created to shorten cooking time, more efficient and healthier. But when hundreds of appliances are available in the market, it can be hard to differentiate between them.
Home cooking has become more familiar with families and people who want to cut back on expenses regarding eating out.
Now more and more families are thinking of buying some of the numerous small kitchen appliances that fit on top of the countertop. Although they can’t completely replace the traditional oven, they can certainly come close to it. Which is also one of the main reasons these became popular.
From these appliances, two of the most commonly bought over-the-counter kitchen appliances are microwave ovens, air fryers, and halogen ovens.
When comparing these three appliances, some questions may occur. For example, What’s the difference between an air fryer and a halogen oven? Which appliance is better? Is a halogen oven safer than a microwave oven?
No matter which brand the air fryer was purchased in, they all work the same way. Each uses a coil similar to the traditional oven and a fan. The coil is heated to the desired temperature, and the fan helps circulate the hot air around the chamber.
This makes the heat evenly distributed and helps in cooking the meal properly. To ensure the food is cooked, the fan circulates the hot air in a circular motion. The food in the air fryer can be cooked with air and oil.
If you want greasy, crispy food, brush a bit of oil before cooking it. And if you still want crispy food without the extra grease, just cook it in the fryer like normal.
When deciding which is healthier, an air fryer and a halogen oven, it depends on how you measure the healthiness of your meal. A halogen oven is a way to go when you want to cook a large healthy meal.
But when you want a crispy fried meal but don’t want the extra fat or greasiness, an air fryer is the way you go.
When it comes to cooking abilities between a microwave oven and a halogen oven, it can be said that the food cooked in a halogen oven is more likely to have less cold spots than a microwave oven.
One of the main problems an owner of a microwave faces is dried-out food. Sometimes it is also seen that the food is cooked unevenly, sometimes overcooked, while some parts remain cold. So to get a better quality meal, a halogen oven is the way to go.
Overall we could say that all appliances have their own advantages and disadvantages, but that does not mean one is better. However, this can be said about some appliances.