Could we get rid of ovens?

My oven broke down almost a year ago. Haven’t missed it not even over Christmas. I use my ninja air fryer, microwave oven, slow cooker, hob, and occasionally my deep fat fryer. I may never buy another oven.

Doodledog

I'm not sure I'm ready to get rid of the oven (plus I'd have to remodel the kitchen), but I think it's the way ahead.

I have a Ninja at home and a Tower Air Fryer at the lodge in the Lakes, and try to use both as often as possible to save fuel. My husband remains unconverted though.

I think an oven is always going to win for batch cooking - a joint of meat, roasties, a sponge pudding and a tray of scones won't all fit into even the biggest Ninja at the same time; but for those who don't cook like that now our families have grown they are a great standby, although running both at once can mean that there are space issues. Ninjas have to be left out, as they are too large and heavy to be put in a cupboard between uses.

I have found a slow cooker great for sponge puddings (and rice pudding).
I wouldn’t put the oven on for that!

The microwaved cakes do need eating quite quickly, though. Whether that is a plus or a minus is up to you

You've just reminded me - I've used my microwave for a few cakes over the last year.
I wouldn't risk it for an 'expensive' or an 'important' cake, but the results, after a bit of practice regarding timing and temperature, have been very acceptable for the family, and so quick to cook.

Doodledog, thanks. That's what I did but... the cake, in a silicone loaf tin just wouldn't cook!

The air fryer works perfectly for meals but this was my first attempt at baking in it. I think I ended up cooking the cake for something like 90 minutes instead of 45-50. I also turned the temperature up by five degrees every fifteen minutes or so until I have no idea of what I actually did! Let's say that the end result, although just... edible was rather 'soft' (i.e. barely held together)!

I wondered what on earth I had done wrong/what could be done better. It certainly saved using an oven but unless I improve my method, I couldn't rely on this for guests etc.

Use my oven once a month to batch bake. The rest of the time, airfryer, micro, and three compartment Morphy Richards steamer hob for egg dishes and stir-fry

doodledog Doesn't the steam function need the steam lid? How do you steam the air fryer lid please? Mine is a bit mucky behind the element.

Candelle, the advice is to reduce both the temperature and the cooking time by 25%.

Nope. Never had an AirFryer, and only had a microwave when we lived in the States, and it came with the place we rented.
I use our oven daily.

I have quite a big airfryer with lots of functions and I love it. I use it for everyday meals for two of us but typically you have to cook in two parts, say roast potatoes then chicken joints as they need different times/temperatures.
However if you want to do a complicated meal for more people an oven is essential. You can't cook it all at once and couldn't keep the separate parts on hold for roast beef and all the trimmings for example.
Also even my large airfryer couldn't take a full sized pizza, and it will only take a 1.2kg chicken if it's spatchcocked.
I think that an airfryer would be great instead of an oven if you don't cook much though, for someone like a student in a bedsit or an older person in sheltered accommodation where most meals are provided.
It cooks scampi and chips brilliantly!

Love my airfryer but also use the ovens for baking (both ovens are now 'on the blink' so I am thinking hard whether to replace them - or not).

I have not successfully baked in the airfryer: could someone please advise the secret of successful baking in it?

I tried baking a ginger cake and turned the temperature right down (as I thought was recommended) but the blessed thing took hours to cook.

Do you follow your normal recipe temperatures using the airfryer or adjust them?

If the latter, is there a rule of thumb to follow?

Many thanks if you can help!

Beanutz2115

Marydoll, I bought a Ninja foodi 14-1 last month, I love it but the one thing I want to know is how you clean it as it is all enclosed

If you mean how to clean the element, you can put a dishwasher tab in the pot with water and set it to steam.

If it's not too dirty, steaming with some bicarb and lemon juice will do the same job less violently.

I have a Sage Airfryer type mini oven. It's brilliant. When it's just DH and me, we have no need use the big oven. It will take a large chicken, no problem.

I would never dream of getting rid of my oven!

We had an air fryer and disliked it, so it went to the charity shop.

I am saving by making the whole meal in the oven if it is to be on. Roast plus roast potatoes, a casserolle with everything in it, vegetables warmed in the oven for the last five minutes or so, if they are tinned.

I will get back to you. My daughter knows the answer!

Marydoll, I bought a Ninja foodi 14-1 last month, I love it but the one thing I want to know is how you clean it as it is all enclosed

I don't have an oven, I do have a 2 ring hotplate, needed to cook veg or to boil an egg. I have a combi microwave and I did have an air fryer but just changed this to a Ninja multi cook which can, bake, roast steam, dehydrate, slow cook, pressure cook and more all in one machine.

My oven is my ‘friend’. I love baking of all sorts, and have never had a microwave.

I’ve got a ninja 15-1 a ninja soup maker that does loads of things and a single plate hot plate don’t have a oven and don’t need one lol much cheaper with my ninjas

I don't have a full sized oven, just a very good combi microwave oven (big enough to cook a small turkey) and a Ninja Foodi - the best crispy bacon ever, with no smoke or splatters.
The microwave grills, bakes and roasts, the Ninja roasts, bakes, grills, makes yoghurt and is also a pressure cooker.

Since I have lived alone for the past thirty four years I have only had a mini oven. Make bread and cakesetc. Since I have been unstable on my legs I have managed with a microwave , the mini oven and slow cooker and cook everything from scratch. Cannot be bothered to try all these new gadgets.

@Marsha 4 x jacket spuds in microwave for 8 mins (give them a fork stab). Take out and spray with oil and add salt and airfry for 10 ish mins for crispy skins.

M0nica

last night we had a pasta bake for supper. Once made and in a bowl I put cheese and breadcrumbs on it and popped it in the oven for 10 minutes. I cannot get it under the grill in my current cooker. I love cheesy crispy bits on top of made dishes.

Those crispy cheesy bits are the best bit, to me.
After cheese on toast has been made, I'm the one scraping off and eating any lovely golden bits of cheese that have fallen or run off the toast into the grill pan. Mmmm!

last night we had a pasta bake for supper. Once made and in a bowl I put cheese and breadcrumbs on it and popped it in the oven for 10 minutes. I cannot get it under the grill in my current cooker. I love cheesy crispy bits on top of made dishes.

Come to think of it - I hardly use my oven. It’s my hob that gets used. I don’t bake. I don’t do a Sunday Roast like I used to.
So really, I don’t particularly need an oven.