The question for a full Christmas meal, however, is whether the overall quantities justify turning the oven on. In one pan, I made enough potatoes for myself and my partner with a little to spare – nowhere near enough for Christmas dinner for a larger family, which would have required several pans. I also fried some romanesco cauliflower with chestnuts and garlic in a separate pan for around another 20 minutes, which could have piggybacked in the oven if I"d used it for the potatoes. Add in other vegetables like sprouts and parsnips, Yorkshire puddings and our family"s nut roast and the oven starts to feel like a far more obvious choice in terms of energy-efficiency.