OTG oven or Oven Toaster Grillers is an inevitable item of our kitchen. The question is what factors do we need to see when buying an Oven Toaster Griller or an OTG?
Oven toaster grillers are used since old times and therefore, old is gold. Till today, the result which we get out of OTG ovens can never be compared to technology-packed microwaves.
Professional bakers, baking shops and cooking studios use for top results. The only thing which makes a difference between an OTG and a microwave is that OTG takes more time than a microwave but gives awesome results.
We buy an OTG oven for various usages like baking, grilling, and toasting. You can make cake, meat, chicken and heat your food.
Choosing the right kind of OTG oven, you should consider some factors in your mind like what size you need and what price range you can go for.
Today we will be discussing how to select & buy the Best OTG in India.
Hence, before we begin the selection process let’s have an overview of the product.
OTG is an abbreviation of Oven, Toaster, Grill. It’s a compact kitchen appliance that uses heating coils/rods as induction material. These coils or rods are strategically fixed at the bottom & the roof. To cook the food these coils/rods generate heat.
The biggest advantage of using an OTG is it requires less time to cook. Although this may be true, still one needs to learn to operate this appliance. To control the temperature inside an OTG is equipped with thermostat material.
This way it maintains the required temperature & cooks delicious food in no time. Cooking trays, skewers & tongs are a few accessories that accompany an OTG.
Using an OTG, you can bake, toast & grill food items at home. For instance, you can make cakes, cupcakes, muffins, biscuits, etc. Not only this but you can also cook lunch & dinner items in it. A step further, you can grill chicken, potatoes, corn, brinjal, shrimps and much more.
Surprisingly, a simple task like melting chocolate can be done in less than a minute in OTG. On the contrary, it requires more than a minute to melt chocolate conventionally.
I guess by now it’s clear why OTGs are a popular choice amongst users. Okay, now we know what an OTG is let’s compare it with the microwave.
There’s an important point to realize while comparing OTG with a microwave. A microwave operates using a totally different technology. You will agree to this if using a microwave oven. Let’s dig a bit deeper here.
A microwave oven is more advanced compared to an OTG. Not only this but it also has sophisticated features apart from heating & boiling. The point where a microwave differs from an OTG is the energy it uses to cook the food.
The microwave emits electromagnetic waves. These waves further oscillate the food particles causing heat. Additionally, the heat distribution is more even in the microwave. Now that you have a brief idea about the microwave let’s compare it with OTG.
Having said that, there are certain points where OTG & microwave oven goes hand in hand. Despite that, it highly depends on your personal preferences. If you want to cook fast or you don’t know certain recipes then a microwave oven is good for you.
But if you are looking for an affordable option that bakes, toasts & grills while saving electricity bills then go with an OTG. There’s one more thing to share here.
If you are a home chef or someone who is learning to cook or bake then buy an OTG. First, learn the technology. Try some recipes. Once you are thorough with an OTG thereafter buy a microwave oven.
Having said that, let’s begin the buying guide to purchase the Best OTG in India.
Click on the brand name to read the complete product review.
Capacity /Watt | Rotisserie | AutoCook Menu | Accessories | Warranty | Check Price | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bajaj Majesty 1603 T | 16 Ltrs /1200 | No | No | Baking Tray, Grill Rack, Tong, Crumb Tray, Skewer Rods | 2Yrs | ||
Bajaj 2200 TMSS | 22 Ltrs /1200 | Yes | No | Cooking tray, Wire grill cum barbeque tray, 4 Skewer rods, Tong for the cooking tray, Crumb tray, Extra-long rotisserie skewer rod with 2 forks, Tong for rotisserie, | 2Yrs | ||
Prestige POTG 19 | 19 Ltrs /1380 | Yes | No | Crumb tray, Solid tray, Grilling tray, Rotisserie spit, spit fork, spit holder, grill tray handle | 1Yr | ||
Morphy Richards 24 RSS | 24 Ltrs /1500 | Yes | No | Baking tray, Crumb tray, Rotisserie rod set, Rotisserie tong, Wire rack, Tong | 2Yrs | ||
Wonderchef 63152143 | 19 Ltrs /1280 | No | No | Chromed wire rack, Baking and grilling tray, Tray handle | 2Yrs | ||
Morphy Richards 18 RSS | 18 Ltrs /1380 | Yes | No | Baking tray, Crumb tray, Rotisserie rod set, Rotisserie tong, Wire rack, Tong | 2Yrs | ||
Lifelong | 16 Ltrs /1200 | No | No | Skewer rods for grilling, Cooking tray, Crumb tray, Wire grill cum barbecue tray, Tong for the cooling tray | 1Yr | ||
Inalsa MasterChef | 16 Ltrs /1300 | Yes | No | Wave Wire Grill Tray, Enameled Baking Pan, Crumb Tray, Tray Handle | 2Yrs | ||
Usha | 29 Ltrs /1600 | Yes | No | Skewers, Rotisserie, Baking Tray, Wire Rack, Crumb Tray, Rotisserie Tongs, Grill-Bake Tray Tong | 2Yrs | ||
Philips HD6975/00 | 25 Ltrs /1500 | Yes | Yes | Baking Tray, Grill Rack, Tong, Crumb Tray, Skewer Rods, Indian Recipe Book | 2Yrs | ||
AGARO Majestic | 19 Ltrs /1280 | Yes | No | Bake pan, Tray handle, Rotisserie rod, Rotisserie handle, Barbeque grill | 1Yr |
Since you know about OTG, you must also know about various factors to consider while purchasing it. Let’s take a look at them.
Although cooking is an art, still there’s a lot of science involved in there. Heat distribution is mandatory in OTG. The convection OTG models have fans to equally disperse the heat. An excellent diffusion of heat energy through coils/rods will cook the food nicely.
Having said that, let me add this too. I have Bajaj 22 ltr OTG without a fan still my food items cook exactly the way I want. I know it sounds contradictory. What I did is found out the ideal time & temperature. The question is HOW?
The short answer is trial & error. After a series of failures, I got to know that my OTG requires 5-7 minutes (180°C) to preheat. The baking time is 10-12 minutes (160°C) for cakes, cupcakes, muffins, etc. On the other hand, to grill a marinated chicken my OTG takes around 20 minutes (150°C-160°C).
My point is you will need to experiment a lot if you are totally a newbie. Different recipes & ingredients demand distinct methods of cooking in the OTG. Just find out yours. That’s the science behind cooking.
The capacity of your soon-to-buy OTG depends on what’s the purpose. It is very important to realize, what is your aim behind buying an OTG. Do you want to start a cake baking business? Do you need it for solely household purposes? Are you planning to start a fast food shop?
If you plan to use an OTG for commercial purposes then you need a bigger one. For instance, a 60-litre OTG. After all, you don’t want your customers to be waiting for their orders.
On the contrary, if it is for household use then a 20-22 litre OTG is enough. You can easily bake an 8-inch cake. At the same time, you can quickly grill 1kg non-veg item. Henceforth, your OTG capacity depends on the purpose of usage.
Believe me when I say a 20-litre OTG takes only 5-7 minutes to preheat at 180°C. It’s tried & tested. But if the OTG is bigger in size it may take up to 15-20 minutes at 180°C to preheat. This will considerably increase the overall cooking time.
All in all, the time & temperature settings depends on the capacity of OTGs.
No matter whatever OTG brand we choose to buy, it must be user friendly. Now here’s the thing. Normally, small size OTGs lack auto functions. Don’t take it otherwise because they are designed for household purposes.
Above all these appliances come with manual controls & settings. In short, you are on your own if you buy a compact OTG. Professional ovens are larger in size & carry value-added features. For example, digital display, motorised rotisserie, preset cooking modes, etc.
All these functions make your task easy & quick. The only issue with these kinds of OTG is the price. Yes, they are expensive. The range starts from INR 10000 onwards.
The money that you pay for your first or next OTG is of paramount importance. The cost depends on the capacity & functions of the appliance. Moreover, the cost varies from model to model & from brand to brand.
For example, the cost of Prestige OTG is approx Rs.4600 in the 19-litre capacity. Whereas the same 19-litre capacity Wonderchef OTG is around Rs.4000. The difference of Rs.600 is upfront. WHY?
The reason is Prestige OTG has a rotisserie feature. Therefore, the price heavily fluctuates depending on the features & functions. Remember, the cost must not be the decision making factor.
Generally speaking, there’s a 2-year warranty for almost every model. Now the term warranty is subjective here. You need to be very specific with the dealer in terms of the warranty. The body parts & accessories don’t fall under the warranty.
Ask whether or not they have a dedicated service centre in your area. If not then which is the nearest service centre from your location. Last but not the least, inquire about the availability of spare parts. Imagine where will you buy the heating coils if it needs replacement.
Rotisserie function is ideal for cooking meat. If you are a vegetarian, you can go for an OTG without the rotisserie function. However, if you prefer cooking meat in an OTG, look for a Rotisserie function for sure.
There are 3 major control settings in an OTG immaterial of the size. Time, temperature & heating. OTGs normally have 200°C to 250°C temperature settings. However, 200°C is enough.
The timer setting is usually 60 minutes. That’s ideal & sufficient for baking, grilling or toasting. Now let’s discuss the heating part. There are a total of 3 settings in the heat selector viz up, down & both up & down.
It refers to the heating rods or coils affixed on the top & bottom. These are the basic controls in your OTG & almost every manufacturer provides them.
Hence, after addressing the responsible factors let’s move on to the common queries. Here we go.
This particular section will help resolve your common queries regarding OTG. Therefore, let’s begin answering them.
The food cooked in OTGs is safe to eat. The OTG cooks food using heating elements at the top & bottom. In short, it is completely safe.
Absolutely yes. The technology is designed to make your cooking stress free. OTGs are completely safe to use & operate.
You can cook lunch & dinner items in your OTG. Not only this but you can also bake cookies, cake & cupcakes. There’s a rotisserie feature in OTG to grill meat & vegetables. Hence, cooking in OTG has endless possibilities.
Rotisserie is a style of cooking meat using rotisserie accessories in OTG. There are stainless steel skewers to skew the meat. These skewers rotate over the heating elements & roast the meat. All this together is called a rotisserie function is an OTG.
Accessories like a baking tray, crumb tray, grilling rack, skewer rods, tongs, and rotisserie set come with an OTG.
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Factors like preheating, power consumption, cord length, warranty period and price are important factors to choose the best OTG.
Brands like Prestige, Morphy Richards, Bajaj, are the best brands in India.
Preheating is important before cooking. The reason is to give a uniform temperature to bake, toast or grill from the beginning.
We use a crumb tray, baking tray, BBQ tray cum wire grill, and baking tray tong.
Mode selector knob helps you to select a wide variety of cooking options. There are options like defrost, rotisserie, toast, bake, and convection modes. Select the appropriate one according to the recipe.
One can use an aluminium mould or non-stick baking tray to bake a cake in an OTG.
Yes, you can melt chocolate. Just take care that the vessel used must be oven friendly. IT must not melt or crack due to heat.
Yes, you can grill a sandwich using a grill metal stick.
Let’s look into the minute details of each OTG oven.
2 years warranty & attractive price only amazon can provide. Even Bajaj online site is selling the same product for a high price.
Tried baking a cake in the rectangular tray. The cake was continuously getting burnt from the inner corner. This implies the heating isn’t uniform.
The product is very good. It bakes a grill or toast evenly. It has nice functionality and cooks for 3 people to go.
Accessories are NO Stainless STEEL, Rust is covering the accessories even after nicely drying up after cleaning.
I bought this item on great India sale. It works like a charm. Go for it, without doubt.
Its a good product but the outer casing of it is very thin so keep this in mind while buying but on the other hand in this price range its a good product.
I have been using it for the last 1 week. Tried multiple dishes including veg and non-veg all looks great. I would rate this product 5.
The door of the OTG is not closing completely. There is a small gap on the left side ( towards the knobs). The knob panel is little curvy and the glass door is not.
Very nice product. Even quite easy to use, but for any new user, it will take a few weeks’ time (in some cases – a few months) to get accustomed to using the OTG.
Baking quality is very poor. I am truly disappointed. If you set temperature in high inside it won’t bake properly. If you set it for medium or too low it will only roast outside, middle part leaving inside unbaked.
Good product for home baking. Cakes, pizzas and pita bread bake well.
Worked for two weeks and failed. An indication that Morphy Richards standards are going down in India. Company warranty service response was prompt but pathetically un-coordinated.
Have made pizzas and garlic bread so far and they turned out to be good. It is a bit small for a 3 member family if you want to bake cookies/pizza/garlic bread so keep that in mind while choosing the size.
It normally takes about 6 minutes in a conventional oven for 12 cupcakes but this takes 20 min. I tried to bake 2 different recipes.
It’s a great oven. Cooks everything from cakes to tandoor.
Its small & there is no light inside. Its not possible to place 2kg cake mold.
Has a good finish even though the top external metal cover seems a little too thin. Strong knobs.
Oven body is very poor.
Digital display is super easy to use.
Temperature or time set button is not working.
Automatic cut off and reminder bell is added advantage. We tried baking, we loved the capacity.
No proper manuel explaining the usage given.