Saroj Choudhary
An Oven, Toaster, and Grill (OTG) is a compact form of the normal convection oven. It has fewer technicalities, and the mode of heating food is heated coils. It features a thermostat that maintains the temperature to prevent food from overheating or burning. Several companies across India sell OTGs. It might be intimidating and confusing for a customer to pick one out of countless models made by different companies. This is why we’re here to guide you through the buying process and help you select the best OTG for your needs.
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Comparing the Best OTG Ovens
To make the process of evaluating our 10 OTG ovens easier, we’ve chosen to centre our attention on five models that exceed expectations in terms of capacity, power and energy efficiency.
10 Best OTG Ovens: In-Depth Reviews
Based on their features, efficiency, safety, and cost, here are our top 10 OTG ovens in India:
The Prestige POTG is an all-rounder as you can easily prepare different types of delicious meals like tikka, pasta, pizza, cakes, etc. Its 19-liter capacity and simple functions make it the perfect choice for the needs of a small family. A motor of 1380 Watts supports the rotisserie. The rotisserie function, temperature control with timer, and robust stay cool handle are other unique features it offers. Plus, it comprises high-efficiency stainless steel with full-size glass doors. However, it’s a bit difficult to clean this product. Plus, it doesn’t have a rust-free interior like the other products, which might mean a shorter product lifespan. Otherwise, you’re unlikely to encounter any drawbacks when using this product. But in case you do, the 1-year warranty has got you covered.
The Morphy Richards OTG is considered the best for baking with its wattage of 1600 Watts which is more potent than the Prestige OTG. It also has a 28-liter capacity, giving you lots of space to cook bigger food items. With its unique Stay On Function, food stays warm and fresh for upto 2 hours after preparation. The galvanized rust-free interior further improves the Additionally, this OTG comes with its own set of special tongs and 4 skewer rods to give you flexibility in cooking. It features a crumb tray to make clean-up easier, something the Prestige OTG lacks. And with the 2-year warranty, you can’t go wrong!
The Philips OTG’s 25-liter capacity makes it ideal for people with smaller apartments. It features a powerful 1600-watts motor, more potent than Prestige and Morphy Richards. Its optimum temperature technology browns food more efficiently than others. Even for beginners, it is easy to use with its 10 single-tap preset menus, which aren’t in the other OTGs. Plus, the digital display and preheat option add to the overall convenience offered by this model. The 90-minute auto-shut option helps with saving power. However, its door becomes hot while preparing food, so you might accidentally burn yourself if you don’t have gloves on. Moreover, the convection option is not very effective in this OTG.
This user-friendly Wonderchef OTG has a capacity of 19 liters, the same as the Prestige OTG. It only weighs 5600 grams and is excellent for small kitchens. The auto-shutdown timer and alarm are useful for knowing when the meal is ready and preventing overcooking. This feature isn’t a part of the Prestige or Morphy Richards models reviewed here. It has a wide temperature control range of up to 250°C, enabling quick, fresh, and delicious baking, while Prestige, Bajaj, and Morphy Richard offer a narrow temperature range. Its tempered glass window can also tolerate high temperatures, allowing safety while baking. The crumb tray, which is absent in the Prestige OTG, makes it easy to clean all the mess in no time. It will stay as good as new for years because of its stainless-steel body, while the other OTGs like the ones from Prestige may become rusty with time.
This OTG, the Bajaj 2200 TMSS, has a 22-liter capacity that serves 4 to 5 people. It’s larger than the Prestige and Wonderchef OTG. Its rotisserie rods are relatively longer and have 2 forks, unlike other OTGs. However, its temperature distribution is not as uniform as the other models. But having said that, what it lacks is made up for in pricing. The Bajaj OTG has the best value for money and is more cost-effective than the other OTGs.
Having a capacity of 30 liters, the AGARO GRAND OTG is the second most capacious OTG on this list. It is ideal for home baking as it has 6 heating modes that aren’t in the Bajaj, Philips, Prestige, and Morphy Richard models. It also has a wide range of temperatures like the Wonderchef OTG ranging from 90 °C to 230 °C. Its warranty, being 1 year, is relatively shorter than the one offers by some of the other OTGs, but still good to have. The best thing about this OTG is its convection feature, which is much more efficient than the other OTGs.
If you are looking for a multipurpose product to satisfy your cravings while keeping it healthy, then Havells Air Oven is what you need in your kitchen. It is costly compared to the other OTGs, and its capacity is 4.6 liters only, the least out of all of them. However, what it lacks in size, it makes up for in flexibility. It can also work as an Air fryer and Dehydrator with its Toaster, Oven, and Grill modes. The size makes it perfect for small spaces. Moreover, the plastic construction makes it portable enough to carry while the other OTGs use steel. It is also not prone to rust, while the other OTGs might become rusty over time. The medium of heat here is Hot Air which is circulated at 360 degrees, while the other OTGs like Prestige use hot wires as a medium of heating. This feature retains maximum moisture in the food more efficiently. It has a unique LED display which the others don’t have. What makes it even more unique is the bigger rotating drum basket acting as a rotisserie and non-stick rectangle basket.
This OTG, the Borosil Pro, has emerged as a competitor of the AGARO GRAND OTG because of its 6 heating modes and convection heating feature. It has a capacity of 42 liters, surpassing the 30-liter capacity of AGARO. Like the Havells Air oven, Borosil Pro also has 360-degree air circulation, ensuring quick and effective baking. Like the AGARO GRAND, its temperature ranges from 90 °C to 250 °C. It also shares components like an illuminated chamber, rotisserie rod set, grilling, cooking, and crumb trays with some of the other OTGs.
Another Morphy Richards OTG, the 60 L OTG model, as the name states, has a whopping 60-liter capacity, the largest of the rest of the reviewed selections on the list. This also makes it ideal for larger families to cook food in bulk. Like the 28-liter Morphy Richards OTG, it has a galvanized rust-free interior. Another feature that sets it apart from the other OTGs is its mirror-finished door and stainless-steel body. Its chamber is illuminated, and you can easily see your food being prepared, while previous models in the line don’t have this. It is lightweight and has good value for money. However, temperature control and accuracy have been deemed a tad bit inferior to the other OTGs in the line.
This OTG, another one from Bajaj, has all the essential features such as a motorized rotisserie, stainless-steel body, crumb tray, etc., which are also present in most of the OTGs. However, its element selection switch makes it different from competitors. An element selection switch helps one switch between various functions, such as fan heating and grill. Moreover, its powder-coated body provides extra protection over time. These features are not found in the other OTGs. It has a capacity of 16 liters, less than others on the list, but is suitable for the needs of 2 to 3 people. The wattage being 1200 Watts is, however, quite reasonable.
Best OTG Oven in India: Buying Guide
What is an OTG?
An Oven, Toaster, and Grill (OTG) is a mini version of the classic oven with multiple functions. It warms food and grills, toasts, and bakes as well. The mode of heating of OTG is heated coils, which transform electrical energy into heat, raising the temperature enough to bake, grill, and toast perfectly. Grilling requires only the top coil, while both the top and the bottom coil need heating for baking. Plus, the thermostat in OTGs plays a significant role in maintaining the temperature and ensuring effective cooking.
How Do the OTGs (Oven, Toaster, Grill) Function?
The OTG has coils made of Nickel/Chromium metal alloys. It contains 2 filaments, one fixed at the bottom and the other at the top. Electrical energy is converted into heat energy when the filaments heat up. This heat is then uniformly distributed by the fan fixed inside the OTG. This phenomenon ensures uniform cooking of the food item. It has a wide variety of temperatures, mostly from 100°C to 250°C. The temperature knob controls the temperature, and the function selector chooses between the oven, toaster, or grill modes. Different knobs control one filament to grill, both filaments to bake or rotate the rotisserie. You can also set the timer and leave it on the stay-on option to keep food warm after cooking.
OTG and Microwave: Key Differences
- An OTG is a portable version of a traditional oven with heat coils made of Nickel/Chromium metal alloys. They convert electrical energy into heat energy. A microwave oven is comparatively larger yet portable and heats the food through electromagnetic waves called microwaves. The water in food absorbs these waves, turns them into heat energy, and distributes outward, heating effectively.
- Microwave ovens take less than 5 minutes to heat up or cook food, while OTGs take longer to cook or heat food.
- OTGs usually exude more heat in areas where the coils are present, so they do not provide even heat, while in a microwave oven, the heat is distributed evenly.
- In a microwave oven, the temperature is set automatically. However, it can be changed by the user. On the other hand, you can set an OTG’s temperature according to the food type using a temperature knob.
- OTGs can be used for multiple purposes like baking, roasting, grilling, and toasting. Microwaves can also be used for cooking, but they don’t cook much effectively and are rarely used for baking.
- Metal containers cannot be used in the microwave oven, while you can use them in OTG.
Benefits of Buying an OTG over Microwave
An OTG cooks delicious and flavorful meals by conserving food taste, while a microwave oven doesn’t do so. An OTG can cook, toast, bake, and grill a large variety of foods compared to a microwave oven that can cook a narrow range of food items. An OTG has manual temperature control, enabling baking at ideal temperatures depending on the food type.
Limitations of Using OTG Ovens
When it comes to the limitations of using OTG overs, OTGs take more time to prepare food. They lack cooking functionality and consume more energy than a microwave oven. An OTG is more complex to use and more demanding to clean than a microwave oven.
What to Check Before Buying Your OTG Oven
Capacity or Size
OTGs are available in wide capacity ranges. These can go from 4 liters to as large as 60 litres. One must keep in mind the family size and quantity of food and choose accordingly.
Ease of Use
A portable and lightweight OTG is easy to use. Moreover, the usage depends on the purpose of the OTG. If it is required for cooking, then a large capacity one should be easy to use, while heating and defrosting require small capacity ones.
Wattage or Power Consumption
Larger OTGs consume more power, while the smaller ones consume less power. The wattage depends on the frequency of use and should be selected according to cooking needs.
Material Used and Durability
OTGs made of stainless steel, and tempered glass are more durable and long-lasting. Moreover, a galvanized interior would retain more heat.
Weight & Dimension
OTGs of different sizes and weights are available. The heavy and large ones can be used for commercial purposes and baking businesses, while if someone wants them for home baking, you can consider the lightweight ones.
Functions & Features
Every OTG has its unique features which make them stand out. Some have skewer rods, rotisseries with double forks, Fans for even heating, LED displays, a range of cooking, grilling and baking trays. Others have features like auto-shutoff and stay on.
Maintenance
The maintenance depends on the OTG you have. Some products have crumb trays that make cleaning more manageable, and others have self-cleaning options. Simply follow the instructions in the given manuals.
Warranty & Costs
OTGs with a more extended warranty period and a good value for money should be chosen. Most OTG models will come with a 1-year warranty. While some, like the Morphy Richards OTG offers a 2-year warranty.
Using an OTG Oven: Safety Tips and Precautions
- Always use gloves while cooking in the OTG to avoid getting burned. Don’t touch the interior of the oven with bare hands.
- Use OTG-safe utensils to avoid uneven cooking and damage to the utensils.
- Use OTG-safe glass containers for fatty foods.
- Never use an OTG if the door is not closing properly.
- Do not use an empty OTG as its magnetron tube can get damaged by the unabsorbed energy.
- Do not use it for drying clothes, sterilizing baby bottles, heating canned food, and deep-frying.
- Keep checking on the food. Sometimes heat builds up, risking a fire in more flammable foods like popcorn.
Cleaning and Maintaining the OTG Oven
- To clean the OTG, first, ensure it’s unplugged.
- Disassemble the components.
- Clean the interior using a mixture of vinegar, lime juice, or baking soda with hot water.
- Clean the exterior regularly with water and mild detergent, especially the glass doors and trays. You should clean the crumb tray after every cooking session.
- Dry all the cleaned parts before putting them back in their respective places in the oven
- Keep an eye on the parts of OTG. If they become rusty, they should be replaced or rejuvenated.
- The OTG should be taken for maintenance and service if used for a long time to increase its longevity.
Most Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is using an OTG oven healthier than a microwave?
Microwaves use non-ionizing radiation and are harmful to the human body if exposed directly. However, they have a metal shield that keeps the radiation from escaping. It might kill helpful bacteria in milk, and thus it is not ideal for baby milk. Some compounds in plastic containers are carcinogens that can dissolve into food when treated with microwaves and cause cancer, obesity, and thyroid disorders. By avoiding direct exposure and using plastic, they are safe health-wise as they retain the nutrient value of food. An OTG oven’s heat might rarely cause vomiting, bloating, less urination, etc. So, both are safe to an extent.
Is OTG and Tandoor the same?
The traditional tandoor is open from the top, insulated with clay, and has fire at the bottom. However, an electric tandoor is a metallic box insulated with clay and acts by heating the clay via electric energy. You can only use it for baking flatbread, pizza, etc. It is not the same as OTG, which functions by heat coils and can perform multiple functions.
Is OTG better than an Electric Tandoor?
An OTG is better than an electric tandoor as it can cook, heat, and defrost various foods. The electric tandoor can cook limited food items like flatbread and meat.
What utensils should you use when cooking in an OTG?
You should use only OTG-safe utensils in an OTG. Cast iron, stainless-steel utensils, and ceramics are safe to be used in an OTG.
Conclusion
An OTG oven is a great appliance to have as it can help you cook various types of food in one go. It is energy-efficient and easy to use. Always follow safety precautions while using an OTG oven and check the manual before use. Clean regularly for efficient performance, maintain it, and ensure its longevity. You can now make delicious and healthy meals with an OTG oven!
