Definitely not a turkey

When I first got the Black and Decker InfraWave oven, which cooks using infrared light and is supposed to get food from freezer to fork 50 per cent faster than a conventional oven — and use about 35 per cent less energy than a traditional toaster oven — I didn’t actually think I’d use it much.

Then I found myself frantic — at 2 p.m. on Thanksgiving Monday — unable to fit the extra turkey breast I’d bought to feed unexpected guests into the oven with the big bird.

So I bunged it in the Infrawave (no preheating required), and had a perfectly roasted breast within an hour. Used it since then to quickly roast small potatoes (about 15 minutes), bake a salmon steak, re-heat pizza and cook chicken wings.

My son James (aka the boy who never stops eating) can also use it by himself to make after-school snacks, such as fries and pizza pockets.

I haven’t even begun to explore all the 50 pre-programmed settings. There are two sizes; the smaller sells for about $140, while a large format model goes for about $190. I think I’m a convert – at least until the next gadget comes along!