Convection Oven Cooking Guide

Convection is the process in which heat is transferred from one point to another, with the help of electric current flowing through the medium such as liquid or gas.

Convection Oven

These ovens are slightly different from the regular ovens that we use. Hot circulated air is used to cook food in these ovens. Air circulation in convection ovens takes places with the help of a fan. As heated air is in continuous circulation, there is no scope for an air-insulation to develop around the food material.

The oven saves heat as well as the time taken for cooking. Reduction in cooking temperature is around 30^o Celsius, and also the time required in cooking is about 25% less.

The food in this oven gets cooked evenly which is an advantage, unlike conventional ovens, in which the food near the heating element is overcooked.

The 'wind chill' example may help us in gaining a better idea of, how the oven works. When we face a wind chill, our body temperature dips quickly. This happens because, the continuously flowing cold air doesn't give time to maintain our body temperature. Thus, wind chill absorbs heat at a faster rate.

Another modified version of convection ovens is a Convection Microwave Oven. These ovens give users a double advantage; the ovens match the microwave and convection ovens in terms of speed and browning respectively. Here browning means that the bread should have a perfect brown color. The bread should neither be overcooked nor partly baked.

Cooking Tips

Here are few tips before you start using the oven. Take care that the pan used shouldn't have its sides taller than the regular pan. This is because, taller sides block the 'air flow' which is the USP of these ovens. (USP is the abbreviated form of Unique Selling Proposition, that means the specialty or uniqueness of the product on sale.) Initially, ovens should be heated to 50^o Fahrenheit, above the desired temperature. At the time of placing food in the oven, bring down the temperature to the desired one. Check the ideal temperature that would be best for the food to be cooked, and in case of uneven cooking lower it by 25^o Fahrenheit. Keep the oven clean and maintain a minimum of 2 inch gap between every shelf.

Temperatures and Timings for Recipes

• Pie: Things that may influence your 'pie cooking' are sugar, butter and size of the pie. Preheat the oven to 325^o Fahrenheit and bake the pie for 45 minutes.
• Cheesecake: Baking at 200^o Fahrenheit for about 4 hours.
• Cookies: It needs to be baked for 15-20 minutes at 300^o Fahrenheit.
• Biscuits: Ten minutes of baking at 350^o Fahrenheit is essential in preparing biscuits.
• Bread: It takes about 35 minutes to bake biscuits at 325^o Fahrenheit.
• Pizza: The recommended time for pizza is 25 minutes, while the temperature needs to be 425^o Fahrenheit.

Convection Oven - Advantages

The time factor is discussed earlier in this article. Here are a few more advantages of the convection ovens.

• Convection ovens help increase the speed of chemical activities taking place at the time of cooking.
• Food prepared in convection ovens shrinks lesser as compared to that in other ovens.

Convection ovens till recent times were used only for commercial purposes. Nowadays, their prices have lowered and can be used in home kitchens. So it's time for you to get one!