GE Advantium Oven

[RUDisney]

I went to pick out my new appliances for our kitchen yesterday as part of our remodeling. We're going from robin's egg blue, formica cabinets to a mission style kitchen. It was supposed to be the first thing we did after we moved into the house but it has turned into one of the last things that we are replacing... 8 years later.

Anyway, I went to the appliance store to select a stainless steel microwave/vent combo for over the stove and I saw the advantium oven. The cost difference is about $800 between a traditional microwave and the advantium. That is significant, but with all of the features of the advantium, I am debating on whether I'd regret not getting that one if I decided to go with the traditional microwave option.

Does anyone have an advantium who can tell me what they like/dislike about it? I am a big-time gourmet cook at home, so having the newest kitchen things is always fun for me, but $800 is $800. It seems to me that the advantium would be like having a microwave and toaster oven rolled into one without taking up any counter space.

 

[Dan Murphy]

 

[mrsv98]

Well, I don't have one myself, but did look into it. The only thing I can say is that you need to have 200 amp service because it takes a bunch of power to run. In our case, we didn't get one because our house is 30 years old and it would have meant running new electrical service.

 

[RUDisney]

So, that's the only reason you didn't buy one? If you had a newer electrical service, you would have?

At least that's one positive response. My DH thinks we already have the 220 circuit run to that area because there used to be an electric stove there. Even if there isn't, his brother owns an electrical company and he is already redoing all of the lighting for us, so that part isn't a problem for us.

I just don't have friends who are as into cooking as I am and who are into kitchen gadgets as much as I am... so, I'm relying on DIS-friends for advice on this.

 

[ChiTownZee]

What exactly does the Advantium do that's different from a regular oven?

 

[rbuzzotta]

We just bought the GE Advaium oven along with the GE Monogram oven and other GE Monogram appliances for our new home. It was installed last week and all I can say at this point is that is looks AWESOME in my new home!!!

I haven't used it yet because we don't move in until next Thursday but the thought of cooking a 5-7 lb. chicken in about 25-30 minutes just sold me on it!! It is expensive but I believe in today's world of rushing, rushing, rushing....it will prove to be worth it!!! I plan on getting all the information packets tonight and read through them for both ovens because I am hosting Thanksgiving in my new home!!!

If you can wait I will be able to give you more opinions on it!!

Feel free to PM me if you want!!

 

[Disney845]

Not that this is any help but....the new Pillsbury Ready to Bake cookies come with specific cooking direction for the advantiums. I think if a product comes with specific direction for your appliance than that is pretty cool!

 

[RUDisney]

The advantium is an oven & microwave combination, ChiTownZee. You can use it as a "plain vanilla" microwave for making popcorn and for heating something quickly. The added feature is that halogen lights (2 on the top and 2 on the bottom of the cooking box) are used to roast the food, for lack of a better term. So, if you are cooking chicken, you can select what type it is... let's say boneless breasts; then, you select how much they each weigh and how many there are. In the demo I saw, it tells you that the microwave will be on level 2 for 4 6-oz. breasts and the top and bottom lights will be at 10 power. The microwave cooks from the center out and the lights roast the food. That way, you don't eat rubber chicken that is microwaved, it tastes more like it was cooked in a traditional oven. The machine said the 4 breasts would be done in 9 minutes.

Rosemary, I can't wait to hear how you like yours. I don't have to confirm my order until mid-December. The kitchen won't be gutted until January 2nd, at the earliest.

 

[rbuzzotta]

I saw a demo with those ready to bake cookies. Only took about 3 minutes and the cookies tasted like they came from a conventional oven.

RUDisney, I will update you as soon as I figure out how to use my advantium and have the chance to cook dinner in it.