Guardian Service Oven Roaster

[rp2813]

I this worth $20?  The lid  doubles as a serving platter.  The size (width) is 12" I.D.

 

Also, is this the stuff  I've read about here that doesn't require liquid for roasting -- or something like that?

 

It seems I either lost my barely used Magnalite Professional roaster when we moved a couple of years ago, or I may have sold it at the moving sale, or gave it away.  If it's even around here somewhere, there's no telling where or when it might reveal itself.

 

Any suggestions for cleaning up the lid?

 

 

 

 

[petek]

I see those passing through the aisles of thrifts stores every so often. I think they're aluminum and by that, not dishwasher safe, which is a no go for me. I could be wrong so don't quote me.

 

[rp2813]

Thanks Pete.  Yes, definitely aluminum.  I have the Guardian Service version of a 10-quart National Presto pressure cooker, which is also aluminum.

 

The Magnalite Professional is not machine washable either, and since I use something like this so seldom, hand washing isn't a deal-breaker, but I hear you loud and clear.  I'm all about cookware that I can run through the dishwasher.   In this case though, I'm willing to compromise.

 

[combo52]

Cleaning burned on grease etc from cast aluminum

I just run it through a good self-cleaning oven cycle then hand wash, polish the smooth parts with a soap-filled steel wool pad and rinse.

 

John L.

 

[rp2813]

Thanks John.  How do you accomplish this with oven racks removed?

 

I'm still debating on whether it's worth $20 to me.

 

 

 

[circlew]

Ralph, it looks to be in nice condition, so I don't think that's a bad price for it at all. It's not a turkey sized roaster, but even small ones are expensive. Large heavy duty roasters sell new for over $100.

My mom had some Guardian Service pieces, but not the roaster. She did put them in the dishwasher, and of course the finish turned a dull darker gray.

 

[gredmondson]

About putting aluminum in a self cleaning oven--I tried this with aluminum grates from a Sunbeam waffle iron. The oven got so hot that the aluminum grates melted just a little--enough so they would not fit in the waffle maker after the cleaning. They were clean, though!

I have seen Guardian Ware often at thrift stores, too. I admire the thickness of the aluminum and know that it would be a good conductor of heat.

Is it worth $20.00 to you? I am sure it is worth $20.00 to enough people for that to be a reasonable price, though, at a thrift store, given its very good condition, I would like to see it for $12.00. Get it, Ralph, and I will help you shine it up with Brillo.

Then, I want to see a pot roast in that with potatoes, carrots, and lots of gravy!

 

[rp2813]

Tom, thanks for your input.  I've decided it's worth 20 of today's dollars.  It's easier to justify when you consider you're getting a platter out of the deal too

 

Thanks George!  I'll see if I can go after it tomorrow.  I was wondering about how it might fare through the 900+ degree self-cleaning process.  If it's ever safe to socialize again and I don't get to it first, we can have a Brillo party and then make pot roast!

 

 

 

[mikael3]

I have that pot and I love it.  It is excellent for brazing.  Mine has a glass lid which rises up higher that the metal lid. 

 

Believe it or not, all the old women I knew years ago called in a “possum pot”, because a skinned possum was just the right size to curl up inside with some sweet potatoes.  They may have been telling me a tale, but I wonder.

 

[rp2813]

Better a tale than a tail!

 

I do like that the lid on this one doesn't have a handle on top, not only because it allows for use as a platter but also because it's better if vertical space is limited in the oven

 

Looks like I'll be picking this up on Sunday, providing the seller follows through.  Only if I come across the Magnalite Professional around here somewhere in the meantime would I pass up this Guardian.

 

[combo52]

Cleaning Cast Aluminum A SC Oven

I have had a SC oven once or twice that was running too hot slightly melt or distort an aluminum, if you are unsure of your SCO test it with a piece of aluminum you don't care about, mind you this has happened twice out of cleaning over 100 hundred cleaning cycles in over 100 different SCOs.

 

As to leaving the racks in the SCO why won't you, I have never had a SCO that I did not leave the racks in, almost every manufacturer says it is OK.

 

John L.

 

[twintubdexter]

<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">I think if that was on The Antiques Roadshow they'd say don't clean the lid...that's called a "patina". I like it!</span>

 

[rp2813]

John, the 2008 Electrolux ICON professional range we left behind when we moved wouldn't even allow the cleaning cycle to start unless the racks were removed.  How it knew they were still in place, I don't know, but it actually had a "Racks" jewel light that flashed red if they were still in there when the selector was set for self-cleaning. 

 

Back when we had a 1990 JennAir dual fuel range, the racks turned a dull charcoal shade and didn't slide as easily after the first time we used the SC cycle.  The owner's manual instructed to remove the racks to avoid this, so it was our fault.  I have been removing racks prior to SC ever since.  I have my doubts about whether the solitary rack that Gaggenau provided with the current POS oven that came with the new house would even survive the SC process.

 

Joe, if only this was some kind of family heirloom that I was scoring for a measly $20.  Then I'd surely not even attempt to clean it up, and apply for the next AR show that came to the Bay Area!  I guess nothing like that will be happening anywhere anytime soon.  Just what we need.  Even more of the cheaply produced reruns and re-visiting of AR shows we've already seen.  I don't even tune in anymore.

 

 

 

[retro-man]

In my Whirlpool sc oven the manual states to remove the racks. Well I didn't since I never had in any other stoves which I did. I found out why. After that cleaning, the oven never reached or held the temp correctly. I had to call for service and they came and replace the temp probe in the oven to the temp switch. They told me that the coating on the "chrome" racks comes off and attached itself to different surfaces in the oven. This is what covered the temp probe. Once this was burned off the racks no more problems, I leave them in now all the time. The first time I cleaned it, I took the racks out. The second time with them in and that's when I had the problem. The stove was bought back in 2012.

Jon

 

[combo52]

Reply #13

Hi Jon, The coating came off the racks and coated the temperature probe [ sensor ]

 

That is total BS, the temperature sensor is sealed in a SS tube, the chrome coating does not vaporize at 900F and recoat the sensor or anything else for that matter.

 

You simply got a bad sensor that couldn't take the heat, as a Whirlpool tech for over 45 years I have never heard such a ridiculous story, oven sensors are very rugged they take all kinds of food soils, oven cleaners and we very seldom ever replace them.

 

Yes oven racks will discolor the first time they are cleaned, to make them slide easily the range instructions suggest rubbing a little cooking oil on the two outer rails after cleaning.

 

Some [ silly ] high end ranges that have racks with ball bearing glides built into the racks require you to remove them prior to running a SCC, there is a micro-switch that keeps you from starting a clean cycle if the racks are in place. [ just more work for the owner and more service calls for us, LOL ]

 

John L.

 

[rp2813]

OK KAREN,

Our Electrolux ICON dual fuel was a kick-ass range in every respect and was a joy to use, never giving us a single problem.  The ball-bearing racks were a huge selling point (along with its deeply discounted floor model price tag) and by comparison, traditional racks seem downright primitive.  I really miss that range, but bringing it to the new house wasn't feasible.

 

The term "silly" is arrogant and insults the intelligence of both me and my partner of 35 years who have always made mutual decisions on major purchases, and implicates those who find an allegedly "silly" feature appealing.  I will continue to remove racks prior to running a self-clean cycle.  No oiling required.

 

SMH over this demonstration of authoritarian entitlement and the knowledge that it will simply be laughed off. 

 

 

[petek]

I seldom use the self-clean feature which ended up being a problem with our previous KA. I used it once about 10 years after purchasing and when it cooled down the door wouldn't unlock come hell or highwater. The service guy came in and unlocked it from the back and replaced the mechanism which was iirc all sticky from lack of use. He told me if I wasn't going to use the feature, or as seldom as I did, then to just turn it on and quickly off again occassionally to keep the locking mechanism from seizing up again. I've not used the feature in our 1.5 year old GE Profile yet either.. The racks in it are not chrome or shiny, they're coated in the same stuff as the oven walls and made to be used in the cleaning cycle which is fine by me if'n when that ever comes to be, maybe never.

Next door has a fancy Kenmore, all touchpads, not sure if it's an Elux , it has the rolling racks. She does a lot of broiling etc and her oven gets filthy. She'd put them thru the dishwasher which seems to work. When she got the Bosch dw last year she was sort of upset they didn't seem to fit, but I showed her how to remove the top rack and angle them in and all's well that ends well. Oh.. her MIL visited last year from the UK and went to cook a roast. MIL put the roasting pan on a tray on the bottom of the oven and ruined the finish... geeze is she some upset about that, but couldn't really say anything..

 

[tomturbomatic]

Congratulations on your roaster!

Those Guardian Service roasters were made to roast on top of the range, too.

I have included a link to a salesman's brochure and the Tested Recipes cookbook for downloading.

 

[mattl]

I've got one of those "silly" Electrolux ovens with the ball bearing racks, would not have anything else.  Not that big of a deal to remove the racks when cleaning.  Due to that I've cleaned things on my gas grill, cover them with foil and crank up the heat for an hour or two, works quite well.