Korean Job Discussion Forums

[littlelisa]

Next year I am moving to a smaller apartment closer to my school. The layout of the kitchen area doesn't really leave any room for my full size oven, so I am selling it (to someone I know, it's not available for sale). But I bake a lot, so I'm looking for a good convection oven for baking. Not just a cheap crappy thing with a temperature dial, but something I can actually bake things in. Probably something about 30L. I don't just bake cookies, but tarts, layer cakes, bread and other things. I've even baked a yule log in this oven.

I am here at least another two years, probably longer, so I don't mind spending decent money on this. Does anyone have a great model that I should check out, or suggestions or something? I am also open to buying one used, but think I'm unlikely to find something like that here for sale on Dave's. I'm mostly looking for suggestions, I guess.

[paulandamy]

I have the Magic Steam Convection Oven - EON-C301S.

When I bought it about a year and half ago, it was one of the top models of convection ovens and so I paid something like 550,000W for it.. I think it might be around 400,000 these days.. but I love this thing. It's big enough to do a pot roast, or a decent sized chicken... and the steam function is PERFECT for breads... to boot, it has a microwave built in which is a big lifesaver... my life is definitely better in Korea because of it.

The only thing is again, size. It takes awhile to do a full cookie recipe b/c you can't stick the entire batch in at once.

[kiwispanker]

you can check out this recent post on dave's: http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=174039

it's a smaller one that can still cook larger items. the picture shows it baking a water bottle on the seller's picasa album. but check before you buy cuz s/he said that the top burner may not work.

anyways, it's only 40,000 which is good enough, i think, to hold you off until you can find a good deal. there is always someone selling an oven on here.

good luck anyway.

[bassexpander]

We have a Samsung table-top oven (one of those that costs about 400,000 won new) with steam function that also looks and works like a microwave.

We wish we would have purchased the competing LG model.

For one, and this is a small and somewhat annoying thing, the clock only shows military time -- no possible way to set it to standard. Drives my wife nuts.

Second, our new model was shipped to us with a broken faceplate. The Samsung service guy told us just to send it back (on our own dime) and my wife royally chewed the guy out because it was obvious that he didn't know how to fix it. He admitted that he was "kind of afraid" to repair it, because he hadn't been trained on that new model. He implied that he wouldn't be responsible for any damage that might come about if he attempted it.

Boy, you should have heard my wife rip both him and Samsung service a new ---hole on the phone.

[littlelisa]

Kiwi, a full size oven won't fit in my new place (at least not in a way that makes any sense, thanks to the kitchen area layout), and anyway I won't move there until the end of February. I actually have a full size oven now, but will sell it when I move at the end of Feb to a friend. I'd rather buy a good countertop oven.. that toaster oven is definitely smaller than what I'm looking for..

Paulandamy, The Magic Steam Convection oven looks interesting, I'll check it out. Thanks!

Other suggestions are welcome; that's the kind of thing I'm looking for, I think.

[bassexpander]

This is what we have:

http://shopping.naver.com/detail/detail.nhn?cat_id=00011000&nv_mid=5446463455

Search through here to see other models. Some have steam, others don't (but look identical, mostly):

http://shopping.naver.com/search/all_search.nhn?query=%BF%C0%BA%EC&fbm=&default_query=&adchk=&usf=true

[littlelisa]

Thanks, Bassexpander. Which model did you get, and what's the LG model?

Have you used it yet for baking?

I hope that they repair it OK, that really sucks that they shipped it to you already cracked.

Edit: Hahaha, you post too quickly for me.

[bassexpander]

That's the exact model you see in the first link. The guy ended up coming back and fixing it the 3rd time around. I forgot to mention he'd forgotten the part the 2nd time, and that's when he started saying we should just exchange it (he was trying to save face).

Here are several LG models:

http://shopping.naver.com/search/all_search.nhn?query=%BF%C0%BA%EC&iq=lg

The cheapest ones probably don't have steam. If you want a special color, that's probably more expensive.

You can see the manufacture date there, and I'm sure that affects prices too.

[bassexpander]

Newest LG model with steam:

http://itempage.auction.co.kr/detailview.aspx?itemNo=a525956542

[bassexpander]

This one is cheaper but doesn't have steam, and has a spinning tray (something I miss):

http://itempage.auction.co.kr/detailview.aspx?itemNo=a530388595

[littlelisa]

Thanks, Bassexpander, that's really helpful!

[mattvenick]

Have you thought about Costco? They have lots of great kitchen appliances.

[paulandamy]

Yeah - thinking about it - mine was broken when I got it.. but I bought it at Hi-mart and they replaced it right away.... There's a lot of these on the market these days - but definitely get one with the steam function if you bake breads - it creates a nice warm and moist environment. Also, the space inside is about the same for all of them. If you have time, just go to Hi-mart or a department store to check them out - they usually have most of the useful models in the same area and you can price compare. Best of luck!

[bassexpander]

Look at the liter size.

The LG models are longer than they are wide. The Samsung models are closer to square-shaped. Magic models are closer to square, if memory serves.

My suggestion is that you go to Hi-mart or E-mart and look at the different models, then purchase online. You'll save around 50,000+ online, if you buy from the right vendor. Have a Korean help you make sure that vendor is large enough and has a good reputation.