Review of Hisense HOM45D mini oven

Size is key, especially in the limited space of a standard kitchen. We want to find out whether it is possible to effectively combine the functionality of defrosting and reheating, the power of a conventional oven and the capacity of an average quality oven. To do this, we will look at the experience of using the Hisense HOM45D mini oven.

* Contrary to popular belief, this is not the time limit after which the device will necessarily break down. However, after this period, the manufacturer ceases to bear any responsibility for its performance and has the right to refuse to repair it, even for a fee.

The Hisense HOM45D mini-oven arrived for testing in a large cardboard box with a discreet, elegant design, the main inscriptions on it are in English.

The turquoise lid clearly highlights the brand and model name, and on the sides there are images of the oven itself, its touch panel, intended dishes and a list of benefits, main characteristics, as well as barcodes and recycling rules in a compact layout.

Inside the box, the mini-oven is carefully protected with foam trays and polyethylene. Removing and unpacking the device requires considerable effort, since the box does not have convenient slots or handles for carrying, which complicates the process of manipulating the device.

The package includes:

• Mini oven
• Chrome grille
• Tray handle
• Baking tray
• Crumb tray
• Set for spit (spit, forks, handle)
• Instructions and warranty card

Comparing the Hisense HOM45D mini-oven with a microwave is quite logical, although the former is noticeably larger. For installation, sufficient space must be provided around the appliance, allowing for 10 cm of free space on all sides for proper air circulation. However, it is worth noting that the mini-oven looks elegant and organic not only in the kitchen.

Carrying the 11kg Hisense HOM45D was quite comfortable. We chose a wide window sill in one of the rooms at a sufficient distance from the outlet to provide all the necessary conditions.

The touch control panel and small display of the Hisense HOM45D mini-oven look modest and informative. Made of heat-resistant tempered glass, the panel remains cool to the touch, which allows the cat to avoid the operating device, but does not pose a danger to children. The oven door is also made of the same material and opens downwards, ensuring safety during use. The door handle prevents it from touching the table and ensures comfort when opening and closing.

Inside the Hisense HOM45D mini-oven there is a neat chamber made of light gray steel with installed upper and lower heating elements. They visually look strictly parallel, with an imperceptible retreat between them. On the walls of the chamber there are ventilation holes, mounts for a spit and a bright lamp for lighting. There are also standard grooves for installing a wire rack or baking tray on three levels.

On a thin parallelepiped spit, you can install special additional forks by screwing them on. This is done quite simply and does not require specialized skills.

The connection point for the electrical cable is located on the rear panel of the device, which is typical for most similar devices. The mini-oven easily connects to a regular electrical outlet. There are also ventilation holes and an information sticker on the back panel. The stove is installed on four rubberized legs, ensuring stability and a secure position.

Hisense HOM45D offers easy cleaning with a removable bottom crumb tray, making cleaning the oven quick and easy. The set also includes high-quality accessories: wire rack, 307 mm deep baking tray, tray handle and spit. All parts are of high quality, mobile and easy to use.

The user manual for Hisense HOM45D is a voluminous white monograph. It contains basic information in thirty languages: equipment, technical specifications, safety measures, description of the control panel, main programs indicating preheating time, self-diagnosis, button functions, operation process, troubleshooting, as well as storage and maintenance instructions.

There are 15 icons on the Hisense HOM45D touchpad. 8 of them are a schematic designation of automatic modes:

• pizza
• baking cookies
• toasting
• grilling meats such as steaks and chops
• roasting chicken
• pies
• defrosting
• heating

The Hisense HOM45D control panel has 7 buttons designed to set the oven’s independent operating mode:

• Start, pause and cancel button.
• Select heating mode: top, top and bottom, bottom.
• Convection mode.
• Setting the timer.
• Temperature setting.
• Reducing temperature/time.
• Increase in temperature/time.

A simple control method is to select automatic mode, where the temperature and time are already preset.

If we choose a longer path, then the algorithm changes as follows: press the start button, which also serves to select the heating mode, and select the desired mode. Then we go to the temperature setting button, using the control keys to select the desired value. All information is displayed on the display. After this, press the timer setting button, using the increase/decrease keys to select the required time. Finally, click the start button to start the process.

To reset the selected settings, you must hold the start/pause button for 5 seconds. After selecting a function, the corresponding indicator and preset time will appear on the display. If you do not perform any actions for a minute, all settings will be reset.

During the toasting program, the display will not show the time, but 5 degrees of doneness. If you hold the Decrease/Increase buttons for more than 2 seconds, the process will be accelerated in 1 minute increments.

A low sound signal will notify you of the start and end of the oven operation.

Before use, we removed the device from the packaging and placed it in the chosen location. Traditionally, we wiped all components, as well as the body outside and inside, with a damp cloth. The manufacturer reminds you that care must be taken when working with the heating device, and the oven lid should not be used as a shelf for kitchen towels, paper or utensils. Children may only operate the device under adult supervision.

Hisense HOM45D operates silently and does not exhibit any foreign odors, which is as expected, especially when keeping the inside of the camera clean.

The oven grate and baking sheet are practically weightless and can be easily inserted into the corresponding grooves without additional effort. The bottom crumb tray was a great find and made cleaning the oven easier. And both handles — for removing the baking sheet and spit — are convenient and comfortable to use, even without gloves.

The touch control panel quickly becomes familiar, but some difficulties arose when resetting selected modes: it was not always possible to immediately press the start/pause button for exactly 2 seconds.

Automatic modes sometimes perfectly correspond to the usual cooking modes, but it is worth paying attention to the modes for cooking meat and baking pies. Here a lot depends on the quality of the product, since the machine only takes into account weight.

The indicated temperature conditions are close to our measurements, with a deviation of only a few degrees. The Hisense HOM45D mini oven quickly reaches the desired temperature in accordance with each of the specified modes. Time and temperature conditions can be easily adjusted; if necessary, you can refer to the program table in the instructions.

The oven chamber is well illuminated, and the lighting turns on automatically. During operation, you can make changes to the time and temperature conditions, if provided for by the program. However, the selected automatic mode and heating mode can only be changed after stopping operation.

Separately, it is worth noting the operation of the heating and defrosting programs: they fully comply with the declared characteristics. Although the time is a little longer than that of a powerful microwave, the quality of work is not inferior.

At the end of the program, the inscription “End” appears on the display, accompanied by sound signals, after which the settings outline disappears and the lighting automatically turns off. Before turning off the power, let the mini-oven cool down. Wipe or rinse the grill and baking tray thoroughly, depending on the degree of contamination. Then remove the bottom crumb tray and easily clean it. This is very convenient, considering that often the problem when cleaning stoves and ovens is cleaning the bottom of grease, crumbs and stains.

When using detergents, you should prefer mild, non-abrasive products and avoid scrubbing the walls with hard sponges. To eliminate unpleasant odors, it is recommended to use a container of lemon water. Place it inside the oven, set the temperature to minimum and set the timer for 5 minutes. After this, wipe the oven walls with a soft cloth.

For 1 hour of operation, the device consumed 1.022 kWh of electricity, with the maximum consumption recorded by the wattmeter being 1733 W.

The heating process in the furnace does not occur continuously: when the set temperature is reached, the heating elements are temporarily turned off and then turned on again. For example, at a set temperature of 200 °C, the heating process for the baking tray is as follows:

• 200 °C -> 203 °C
• 201 °C -> 206 °C

The body temperature in different parts of the furnace is as follows:

• Top: up to 51 °C
• Left side: up to 50 °C
• Right side: up to 50 °C
• Door glass: up to 53°C

For the dough, we have prepared a simple but effective recipe using ready-made Roman dough. On top we placed tender pieces of pear and fragrant parmesan. The pear was cut into thin slices, and the cheese was grated and placed on top a little larger, seasoning everything with small ground nuts. Before starting the baking process, we preheated the oven and set the temperature to 210 °C, selecting top and bottom heating with convection. Interestingly, the Hisense HOM45D has an automatic pizza mode, which differs from our choice by just one minute.

We decided to make puff pastries, and for this we chose a ready-made frozen set. In our experiment, we even partially defrosted the workpieces directly in the oven. We then preheated the oven to 180 °C, selected top and bottom convection heating and set the timer for 15 minutes. However, after 13 minutes we interrupted the process because this brand of croissants cooked faster — different brands have different requirements for temperature, baking mode and time.

We decided to prepare a traditional Vologda delicacy, similar to cheesecakes, but with potatoes. Instead of rye flour, we used regular wheat dough, which we wrapped in film and let rest for half an hour. While the dough was resting, we boiled the potatoes and mashed them. Then they rolled out the dough into thin circles, added potato filling, pinched the edges of the bagel, brushed it with egg, sour cream and sprinkled with bread crumbs. The oven was already preheated to 180 °C, we set the heating mode on top and bottom using convection and baked the rollers for 20 minutes. The finished bagels were delicious both hot and after cooling.

For a quick and tasty treat, we used ready-made dough, in which we put berries and sprinkled with sugar. The size and shape of the pies may vary depending on preference. After preheating the oven to 210 °C, we selected the top and bottom heating mode and baked the pies for 15-20 minutes. Hisense HOM45D also has an automatic mode for baking cakes, which offers longer time and lower temperature. However, the choice remains with the cook, depending on his preferences and time.

We decided to try out the automatic chicken roast mode on the Hisense HOM45D along with the rotisserie function. After preparing a hefty carcass weighing almost 2 kg — washed, dried, salted and seasoned — we preheated the oven and selected the indicated mode. It includes heating from above and below, convection and rotation of the spit for 30 minutes at a temperature of 230°C. The chicken cooked evenly, remaining tender and juicy. For those who prefer a more golden crust, you can increase the time. However, we decided to stay with the result obtained and enjoy the taste without additional roasting.

For a quick and satisfying dinner, we cut the potatoes into thin slices, add salt and chopped mushrooms. Then sprinkle with grated carrots, pour over sour cream and sprinkle with grated cheese. Bake for 15-20 minutes at 210°C using top and bottom heating with convection. Finally, add cilantro on top and you're done! This dish is ideal for unexpected guests and for every day.

For a quick dinner, we quickly brown some ground beef, slice the potatoes thin, and chop the greens. Place a layer of potatoes in the mold, then minced meat, herbs, another layer of potatoes, pour in a small amount of cream and sprinkle cheese on top. Bake in a preheated oven for 30 minutes at a temperature of 210°C, using the bottom and top heating mode.

Family chided us for often choosing recipes with potatoes to test. They are right, and to add variety, we suggest testing the oven with zucchini, chicken fillet and 20 minutes at 150°C. Place on a baking sheet greased with melted butter in layers: first zucchini, then fillet, then zucchini again. Season with a little cream, lingonberries and cheese for flavor. From the start of preparation to serving it will take no more than half an hour.

We couldn't pass up another test that promised multi-level cooking. This is a feature declared by the manufacturer, and it automatically solves one of the most common problems — how to reduce cooking time. We specifically chose dishes of different natures: we put a chicken drumstick in one baking bag, and placed vegetables on a baking sheet: potatoes, zucchini, onions, carrots and sprinkled with grated cheese and cream. We set the temperature to 210°C and the time for 25 minutes, and selected the heating mode from below and from above with convection. Vegetables were placed on top. The oven coped with the task easily and without problems.

Hisense HOM45D is a smart and practical solution for your kitchen. With an abundance of programs, five operating modes and intuitive touch controls, it becomes an indispensable assistant. Additional functions of defrosting and heating make it even more attractive. Although it requires some space to fit, the stylish design softens the impression of its size. This oven encourages culinary experimentation and can save you in case of unexpected guests.

Pros:

• nice design
• possibility of multi-level cooking
• good equipment
• simple and logical touch controls
• silence when working
• high power
• good range of modes

Minuses:

• not detected