Vintage Westinghouse Roaster Ovens

[launderess]

Anyone ever use these?

Seem to remember a period of time when they were "hot" on Fleabay. Bought a modern version by Rival for use during the summer months, but haven't really used it much.

IIRC the vintage roaster ovens really pulled in power! From reading a vintage Westinghouse Roaster manual, they were pretty useful things to have. But not sure why or how they replaced a full sized oven. Many older friends have told us of fond memories of their mothers or other female relatives making things like apple crisps or meals for a crowd (such as on holidays), but again seem rather cumbersome compared to a regular oven. The only savings I can see is keeping the kitchen cool by not using a full sized oven.

For those that do not know what a Westinghouse Roaster Oven looks like, follow the bouncing link:

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[kenmore1978]

ovens

My remembrance of those was people using them not so much as ovens, but as HUGE pots for making stews, soups, chili, and other such things for large crowds or parties

 

[chachp]

Nesco

Looks like a Nesco to me. My friends mother always made her Thanksgiving turkey in the Nesco. It was alwasy good an moist but wasn't browned like you get in the oven.

 

[kenmore1978]

Roaster Ovens

Nesco did (and still does) have a version, but the Laundress's link is definately a Westinghouse

Nesco link below

Probably no where near the quality of the old Westinghouse ones.

http://www.nesco.com/products/?category=700&subcat=100&id=66

 

[bethann]

Westinghouse roaster

I have two. Use them all the time for Turkeys and Ham. Frees up the oven for other things ( not that I don't have enough damn ovens). I've made chili in them, used them for chafing dishes you name it! Quite handy. The dials on mine don't look like that though, their not completely red, just in the center.
They say you can even bake a cake in them!

 

[appnut]

Bethann, I've got a modern Nesco. I bought it as a compromise that I'd never have my dream kitchen, but still have two ovens. I've used mine to make pound cakes (in a bundt pan) and two loaves of bread at a time. I just bake them for longer than recipe says o the sides brown nicesly. It also makes great meatloaf. I'll put a whole bunch of chicken breasts in a pyrex covered dish and prepare as I usually would and bake or roast with the lid ont he dish. Very moist. A friend of mine used theirs to make my birthday dinner last year--New England Pot Roast that he slow-cooked all day long. Definitely paradise on earth. I've not had good results with cassaroles because they come out to liquidy, but I guess that's cuz I didn't follow suggestions about reducing liquids. I"ll even fire it up for a small pizza and set it a bit higher for the cripiness. A great way to not fire up the whole oven in the summer time and keeps hte heat just in my laundry room. And yup, I use it for the bird or similar every year.

 

[goatfarmer]

Mom still has a Westy Roaster like the one on EPay,but like BethAnn's,the dial is black,with a light in the center.We still get them in for repair on a regular basis,some of the vintage ones,and some newer ones.Someone else still makes them,is it West Bend?

kennyGF

 

[launderess]

Every House Needs A Westinghouse

Quick stroll over to my cookbook/recipie shelf produced the "Tasty Tempting Roaster Recipies for the Westinghouse Electric Roaster and Broiler-Grid"

This must be from the 1940's or so because it shows pictures of women and men enjoying all sorts of various meals prepared in the Westinghouse Roaster,which is front and center in all pics. Most funny picture is of a husband (complete in frilly pinafore)cooking/dishing out a meal from the roaster while his wife (sitting down, sans pinafore)gazes lovingly.

Let's see what sort of tempting things I can make:

Baked Ham in Blanket
Chop Suey
Curried Lamb
Liver and Bacon Loaf (that would not go over well in this house, liver I mean)
Shirmp and Mushrooms Baked in Tomatoes
Salmon Loaf

But wait there is more!
Apparently one can create entire meals in the Westinghouse Roaster.

Suffed Breast of Lamb, Scalloped Potatoes and Minted Apple Sauce

Beef Pot Roast, Browned Potatoes, Havard Sauce and Date Pudding
Lima Beans and Smoked Ham Shank.

Let's see what they have for afters:

Peanut Butter Bread
Fruit Bread
Cocoanut Cream Pie
Chocolate Chiffon Pie

And finally the star of every nursery dinner:
Apple Crisp Pudding

Hmm, may give a few of these a try for Sunday dinner.

Have to go now, suddenly have a craving for a apple crisp!

Launderess

 

[appnut]

Laundress, I'd love to see the recipe for the baked ham in blanket as well as bread & pie recipes.

Now the pot roast sounds good, hmm that pudding is probably the only date I'll ever have.

 

[richm]

this brought back great memories

Both my mom and aunt had the westinghouse roasters, this one looks exact. They both baked a lot of cakes, etc. in these roasters because each had old gas stoves with no temp. regulators on the ovens. Only cooked roasts, turkeys, etc. in the gas ovens because there were no temp. settings. Anything requiring precise oven temps were done in the westinghouse.

Rich

 

[kenmore1978]

West Bend

Does not currently have a roaster in their line. I DID notice that they re-designed the Stir Crazy Popcorn Popper and that they've apparently succumbed to the "China Syndrome"

 

[kenmore1978]

RIVAL

has quite a lineup of models of roasters. I'm surprised.

http://www.rivalproducts.com/eStore/category.aspx?CategoryId=1178

 

[launderess]

Rival's oven seems to do the job, mind has a broken glass window in the lid, so it needs replacing. Last time I contact Rival they told me to bring the entire unit to any Walmart, and they would replace the entire unit as they were out of stock on new lids. Since there aren't any Walmart stores near us, have had to make due with several layers of heavy duty aluminum foil replacing the glass. Will have to see if our local appliance repair will custom cut "oven" glass to fit.

Appnut:

Did you want the recipies emailed or posted? Which breads/cakes? Mayhaps will see if I can get the entire booklet scanned, so can upload as my contribution to the group. Some real great recipies in the Westinghouse booklet, of course all are before the days of "No Carb" diets and dinner was not a dinner without a meat and one or two vegs.

Personally like roasts,meats and heavy meals. A hard working man deserves a hot cooked meal on the table when he gets home. Serving the man of the house cold cuts for dinner wouldn't fly!

Launderess

 

[petek]

I see both the Nesco and the Rival brand roaster ovens quite often in different stores. Nesco makes a few different sizes as well as an optional fan equipped lid for convection roasting and buffet inserts. The woman who runs the community hall we hold events in swears by her Nesco model.

 

[tlee618]

I went a bit crazy a few years back with Nesco Roasters, you know how addictive QVC can be.LOL Over a couple years I bought three of them. 1st was a 4 quart model that I have ended up using the most. 2nd was a 6 quart oval model with the convection air lid and finally a 18 quart model with the convection lid. The convection lid is a wonderful feature. You would not believe what a beautiful turkey you can turn out with one of these. So moist and a beautiful golden brown color. It is also great for air broiling chicken pieces. They never came out with a convection lid for the 4 quart model. They all have the non stick lining which helps so much with clean up. Have also used them for baking cakes, pies, and such. Terry

 

[maytagbear]

We use them at church a lot

They're great for tomato-meat sauce or chili, and for keeping mashed potatoes at a nice serving temperature.

I'd like one, but not sure where I'd put it. This is a large place for a one bedroom, but still....

I like the vintage Westinghouse ones with the optional cabinet the best. However, the new ones with the serving inserts have an appeal, as well.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[launderess]

Westinghouse Had Servers

And lift up grills as well. In fact the modern variations on these models offer a few upgrades, but basically are about the same.

Just so you know, when vintage MIB Westinghouse servers/insets do pop up on Fleabay, it's every man/woman for themselves.

Here is what the complete (stand and roaster)unit looks like.

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[appnut]

Laundress, you can email (in profile) the peanutbutter bread and the chocolate & coconut chiffon pie recipes. Tho, scanning and posting all the recipes might be yumm!! I do enjoy using my roaster. Hmm, Terry, you may have to inspire me a bit more.

 

[launderess]

Give me a couple of days Appnut. IIRC most of the recipes are short, so I may be able to crank them out fast.

You may wish to consider peeking on fleaBay for a vintage Westinghouse roaster recipie booklet. The craze for these items seems to have waned, so you may be able to get one for only a few dollars.

That "ham in a blanket" does sound good, doesn't it?

Launderess