Oven top baking

Graces7

I have lived decades where the people used to have only the fire or range and no oven so all was made atop.

Some wonderful foods; floury bannocks made with beremeal, a special kind of barley... of course Scotch pancakes and ordinary pancakes..

Wondering if anyone here has tried this?

http://www.wikihow.com/Bake-a-Cake-on-Your-Stovetop

Just now I am avoiding using the electric over for expense reasons... But would love home baking.

phormium

Bit suspicious that there is no picture of finished cake

I haven't tried anything like that, I have made griddle scones and griddle bread but not cake as such. Have you a microwave? There are some reasonably acceptable things like brownies that are not too bad made in a microwave.

I use a halogen oven a lot for making scones, might possibly make buns too but I haven't tried it, the heat does not get to the bottom as well as in an ordinary oven. I make crumbles and things in it that need mainly top heat. They are a great alternative to turning on a main oven even for dinner type things. Not too expensive, you'd pick one up for less than €50, I usually watch for special offers on them and get them around €40, I have bought them for practically every member of the family.

My father who is 85 uses his constantly for all sorts of things, he loves his herb crusted salmon cooked in it. Very easy to use as it's on the counter top so no bending and easy on electricity compared to a full size oven.

Dizzyblonde

Bigger Bolder Baking is a great site for microwave mug cakes and mug meals. I haven't tried them myself but they look good

http://www.biggerbolderbaking.com/category/recipes/1-minute-microwave-recipes/

Mug brownie: http://www.biggerbolderbaking.com/microwave-mug-brownie/

Graces7

Lots of ideas! Thank you... Never took to microwave baking... I did buy a halogen but really seeking to use the gas... Will try that site , and there are others, just not too well today...

Wish the oven here was gas. ah well! Used to be an award winning baker.

cruizer101

A dutch oven could be useful. Here is a link to someone baking bread in dutch oven on stovetop http://www.wikihow.com/Bake-Bread-on-the-Stovetop

Traditionally dutch oven would be used with campfire and some coals placed on top, it usually has a well in lid, but they are basically a heavy pot which should evenly distribute the heat even on stovetop. In the above link they recommend placing some buffer material on bottom to stop the direct heat of stovetop burning the base of whatever you are cooking, does mean a pot inside a pot but seems like good idea.

Graces7

cruizer101 wrote: »

A dutch oven could be useful. Here is a link to someone baking bread in dutch oven on stovetop http://www.wikihow.com/Bake-Bread-on-the-Stovetop

Traditionally dutch oven would be used with campfire and some coals placed on top, it usually has a well in lid, but they are basically a heavy pot which should evenly distribute the heat even on stovetop. In the above link they recommend placing some buffer material on bottom to stop the direct heat of stovetop burning the base of whatever you are cooking, does mean a pot inside a pot but seems like good idea.

You beat me to it.. and see this site...

http://www.tastymalabarfoods.com/2016/11/7-stove-top-simple-cake-recipes-no-oven.html

At the Traditional Farms at Muckross House in Kerry they bake soda bread in a bastable.Hangs over the turf fire and they heap burning chunks of turf atop. Never tasted bread like that..

http://www.europeancuisines.com/General-note-on-Irish-recipes

It makes sense as all an oven is is a container heated all around...

And I cook sweet potatoes and squash whole in the slow cooker with no water etc. That again is a container heated all round

Cheshire Cat

I see you have a slow cooker. There are plenty of recipes for brownies and cakes made in the slow cooker. Might be worth a try: http://www.myrecipes.com/holidays/how-to/baking-cake-a-slow-cooker

the beer revolu

OP, have you costed the actual cost of running the oven for the length of time it takes to bake a cake or bread.
I bet it's far less than you imagine.

Also, remember that the oven isn't running all the time once it has come to heat.

Someone here did the sums on an oven vs a slow cooker before. Maybe whoever that was might pipe up.

Loveinapril

You could also bake a few things in the oven at the same time and freeze stuff.

Graces7

the beer revolu wrote: »

OP, have you costed the actual cost of running the oven for the length of time it takes to bake a cake or bread.
I bet it's far less than you imagine.

Also, remember that the oven isn't running all the time once it has come to heat.

Someone here did the sums on an oven vs a slow cooker before. Maybe whoever that was might pipe up.

Thanks; but I am not using the slow cooker these days, just the gas.

An electric oven is like all appliances that heat; eats the power. I have 4 gas bottles and can pay as I use. Far better on a pension.

When I lived on the island I had an all gas stove and even heated water atop rather than use the electric kettle and the difference in cost was amazing.

Using the gas hob now to heat water...

BUT what really appeals is the old way of baking! The traditions! A slower pace too.

And the steamed sponges are excellent.