This is a detailed review of the Ronco 5250 EZ Store Rotisserie Oven, including PROs and CONs. We’ve owned a different version (5500) for over 8 years, we’ll highlight the differences.
Ronco 5250 EZ Store Rotisserie Oven Review
Right before our big move cross-country from Florida to Nevada, I purged nearly 80% of my kitchen small appliances and gadgets. There were only a handful of my “must-haves” that I kept, which included a Vitamix blender, Panasonic toaster oven and the Ronco 5500 (which is a larger, older version of the rotisserie)
We only use the rotisserie for 2 things: Rotisserie Chicken and Best Ever Prime Rib, which is my 1-step never fail prime rib method that I’ll show you here.
We made our prime rib in this new 5250 version to test out the machine.
Stores so much easier
The older and larger version, the 5500 machine, is just too big. I have trouble finding a storage spot for such a large “small” appliance. We had to customize our shelves in the pantry so that the 5500, which is over 14″ tall, would slide in on the floor, under the first shelf. It’s one of my biggest complaints about the 5500.
The 5250 Rotisserie disassembles to become half its size, about 7 3/4″ tall.
PRO: Stores easily!
Easier to clean
The 5500 was a b* to clean! The glass door is not removable, and cleaning it meant using glass spray or kitchen grease spray, neither which I feel good about using on an oven that cooks my food.
PRO: The Ronco 5250 Rotisserie Oven disassembles fast, and you can put the glass door in the sink to wash with hot water and soap.
Before:
After dishwasher:
CON: The spit is easy to clean in the dishwasher, but the drip tray and splatter heat shield didn’t do well in the dishwasher (even though those items are dishwasher safe). I think it’s best to scrub by hand, while the metal is still a little warm to make it easier to get grease off.
Ugh, those gloves again
CON: Included with the machine are those unwieldy rubber gloves that make you feel like you’re doing an evil science experiment. Unfortunately, those gloves are NOT heat resistant, and when you are trying to remove the 400F metal spit, it’s not only clumsy, but your hands will still get hot. I get why they are rubber – if you had fabric oven-mitt type of gloves, the hot oil would seep and stain into the fabric.
Simple to use
The informercial is famous for saying, “set it and forget it,” and it’s exactly true. The machine has just a couple of settings.
- Time
- Roast, sear and no heat.
PRO:The simplicity of the R0nco Rotisserie is what makes it brilliant. No extra and unnecessary buttons or settings.
Other quick thoughts
The drip tray is about half the size of the 5500 Rotisserie. I actually use the drip tray to roast vegetables, like onions, chunks of potato, tomato halves, etc. The smaller size means no roasted veggies.
The oven of the 5250 is smaller than 5500. It’s not often that I cook that big of a meal in the rotisserie, so for me personally, it’s no big deal. But if you want to cook a massive prime rib roast to feed 20 people, a small turkey, or 2 fat chickens, I’d get the 5500.
Best ever prime rib roast
It’s fool-proof, just set the timer – 16-18 minutes per pound.
It don’t look like much now….but just wait.
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*We haven’t tested the original Ronco Rotisserie, that sells for $95 on Amazon. But given the choice between the 4000, 5500 and 5250, I’d choose the 5250 just for storage options AND removable glass door.
Ronco 5250 EZ Store Rotisserie Oven Giveaway
