Oven that ‘steams’ rather than roasts

I cannot do anything about your oven but my tip for great crackling is first to cut the whole lot off the joint, leaving as much fat off the crackling as possible. The cut it into thin strips, and just before putting it into the oven salt both sides. Put a really tiny amount of oil on the tray (to prevent sticking) and place the strips fat side down. I cook mine at 180C with a fan. I also check after about 10 minutes and poke any strips that are stuck - they curl up if they are OK. You definitely will need a sharp knife for all the cutting.

Perhaps a separate oven would be the answer. My air fryer has an oven feature which works pretty well. I never cook meat but I would say it is dry heat which works well for roast potatoes. Another advantage is that it is much quicker than a conventional oven. I think you can get ones that are big enough to roast meat in.

Similarly, I could not get food to crisp or even colour much when roasting. A chance article led to a purchase of a toughened Le Creuset roaster pan. Problems solved! Perfect roasted veg with crust and colour and in relatively less time.
Yes it is expensive but it will outlast me and be passed on via children. Worth every penny.

Thank you. I had no problem prior to this cooker, I used to do lovely cracking too. It doesn’t make any difference what I roast in or on, I use Le Creuset most of the time. I use the convection in my microwave to do chicken now but I’d still like a nice dry oven. It’s cooker recommendations I’d like if anybody loves theirs.

If you’re happy to spend a lot of money Lachance ranges are outstanding.
I sold mine with our home 6 months ago but I really miss it.
I had a fan oven, static oven and a small static oven, all 3 had a grill too.
I think they retail about 6/7K but are worth the money if you cook a lot.

Thank you Sago, that sounds amazing. It must have been so tough leaving that behind. I thought I’d never need another oven after buying the Rangemaster, but thank you for your recommendation, I’ll certainly look them up.

Sasta I have a Rangemaster double oven range cooker, it’s 15 years old.

I get crunchy crackling, tasty chicken, good roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings with a very good rise along with baking cakes perfectly.

I have none of the issues you are saying, maybe get it serviced?

GrannyGravy13

Sasta I have a Rangemaster double oven range cooker, it’s 15 years old.

I get crunchy crackling, tasty chicken, good roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings with a very good rise along with baking cakes perfectly.

I have none of the issues you are saying, maybe get it serviced?

I would agree with GG13 re getting it serviced. I have a Rangemaster which is a couple of months short of 20 years old and it's still knocking out perfectly cooked roasts, crackling etc. I can't understand why it's producing steam ?

GrannyGravy13

Sasta I have a Rangemaster double oven range cooker, it’s 15 years old.

I get crunchy crackling, tasty chicken, good roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings with a very good rise along with baking cakes perfectly.

I have none of the issues you are saying, maybe get it serviced?

I thought of that GrannyGravy, I was going to get it serviced this year, but as it’s been this way from brand new (about six years old now) I’m thinking whether to bother with the expense and put the money towards a new one. Lucky you to have a really great one!

Nor can I Spinnaker 🤷🏻‍♀️. I mentioned it at the first and subsequent service, and I was told ‘it shouldn’t do that’.

As Magenta suggests, an air fryer may be the solution? There are several Ninjas which are large enough for a joint or a chicken, I have a huge one which is intended to be used outdoors and is far better than my oven for roasting.
Alternatively you could also use one to crisp up your crackling or your roast potatoes after they've been cooked in the oven.
Another alternative might be a fan oven? Some of them are designed to be used as air fryers too. I'm very happy with my relatively inexpensive John Lewis oven that I bought after reading the list of recommended ovens on Which.co.uk

Talking of steam, I once asked the chef at my mother’s care home how on earth he produced such meltingly tender roast pork - they’d just had it for Sunday lunch, and I’d been helping my mother cut it up.
‘Steam oven’ he said.

Sasta

It’s a right pain in the whatsit. I have a rangemaster double oven cooker, bought years ago purely on looks. If it roasted as well as it looks I’d be very happy but it doesn’t. The smaller oven is too small and I don’t use it. The big oven cannot roast a chicken or any meat, or roasties properly. Huge clouds of steam come out when you open the door, every time I use it. I don’t even bother trying to cook pork with cracking. I’m looking to change and would love recommendations for a nice DRY oven that crisps things properly. I’m heartily sick of soggy chicken etc. Here’s hoping 🤞🏼

We hadn’t had pork with proper crackling until we started cooking it in our air fryer and we use it every day, the only time we use our oven is for things that are too big to fit in the air fryer or when we have to cater for more than the two of us.

sounds like the oven vent is blocked.

I’ve been drooling over the Lacanche range cookers that Sago had. They are the most beautiful pieces of workmanship I’ve ever seen. But sadly I think for me, too expensive. Looks like I’ll be booking a service for the oven and finally looking to get an air fryer. I’m probably one of the last people without one that I know. Thanks all.

Air fryer all the way.

Cooks anything just as good as a conventional oven in half the time.

Have a friend who had what seems to be a very similar oven to you. Just didn't take to it and on moving home had a double electric oven installed.

I have a rangemaster and can get so much more in the smaller side oven than the main one. I just use that one to store tins in.

Sasta

I’ve been drooling over the Lacanche range cookers that Sago had. They are the most beautiful pieces of workmanship I’ve ever seen. But sadly I think for me, too expensive. Looks like I’ll be booking a service for the oven and finally looking to get an air fryer. I’m probably one of the last people without one that I know. Thanks all.

Sorry Sasta!
I drooled over them for many years before I finally got one.

my oven is a Högklassig bought in Ikea in 2016 - it roasts well, and is fine for baking too.

AuntieE

my oven is a Högklassig bought in Ikea in 2016 - it roasts well, and is fine for baking too.

Thank you! I’m looking at all options.

georgiejg

I have a rangemaster and can get so much more in the smaller side oven than the main one. I just use that one to store tins in.

Isn’t that odd! You’d think it would be the other way around.

4allweknow

Have a friend who had what seems to be a very similar oven to you. Just didn't take to it and on moving home had a double electric oven installed.

Mine's all electric 4allweknow.

Have you tried contacting the manufacturers about this, Sasta?. It does sound like a fault in the oven.

It woold be a shame to jettison a cooker that is fine in every other way without getting it investigated.