What is a Convection Oven

What is a convection oven and what are its uses? Read the article for a detailed explanation about convection ovens and microwave convection ovens.
Whenever we go out shopping for appliances in our house, we tend to find out information and reviews on specific models and their manufacturers. And whenever the purchase is slightly bigger than let's say, a coffee grinder, the decision tends to become more accountable. Keeping this in mind, we shall move on to the article at hand; understanding what is a convection oven. In your search for that perfect oven, you might be asking yourself the same question. Traditionally, a convection oven was used for commercial purposes for fast, and even convection oven cooking in bakeries and restaurants. But today, the same convection oven technology has made its way to several households in both full-sized and countertop ovens.

Workings of a Convection Oven

Before we venture on to convection ovens, first we shall see what a traditional oven is. In such ovens, the temperature inside the oven is raised by one or more heating elements. Once the air heats up, it rises upwards to the top of the cooking area or chamber. The issue with the mechanism is that when this heat gets collected in the bottom, closer to the heating elements, and at the top, the food gets uneven heating, making it difficult for exact placement.

As for convection ovens, the heating elements are similar to the traditional ovens. How to use a convection oven? The only difference is that convection ovens have a fan inside that circulates the hot air within the cooking area or chamber. By circulating this air, food is cooked even and the heat is transferred faster. The temperature of the food also changes once the hot, moving air keeps passing around the oven. To understand this concept, think about wind chills and how it affects the body. Now instead of the wind chills, substitute it with heat and you can deduce what a convection oven is and its benefits.

Of course, circulating hot air around the cooking chamber isn't the only benefit you can get; there are other advantages of a convection oven. The convection oven helps save a lot of time, money, and energy when used properly. And if you wish to get all the benefits from your convection oven, just follow the tips mentioned below.
  • For best results (in cooking and saving energy), always keep the door closed as much as possible. The temperature inside the oven can alter drastically when the door is opened and that will affect cooking time and results. Whenever you wish to check on the food, use the oven window.
  • As convection ovens work best for cooking lots of food at the same time, make sure you space the food properly inside the oven. Each vessel, bowl, or casserole should have about an inch of space between the wall and the food. This will permit even airflow for cooking.
  • You can use the convection oven for cooking food fast and can do so at low temperatures as well. And to find the correct balance between cooking time and the quality of food, go ahead and experiment once in a while with your recipes.
Convection Oven Microwave

A microwave convection oven is a combination of traditional microwave oven and the convection oven. It cooks food fast and make it crispy brown (for those recipes which needs it), similar to a convection oven. You can even preheat a microwave convection oven and bake cakes whenever you wanted, unlike traditional microwave ovens. So with microwave convection ovens, you're getting two appliances in one. It has a larger cooking space and gives you more power than any traditional countertop model.

As convection ovens have been around the market for a while now, not to forget the traditional pizza ovens here, recently the entire concept of using convection ovens in homes has changed a bit. Redefining the terms means becoming more specific to consumers' needs and multi-powered. So if you are planning on purchasing a new convection oven, take a chance with one. You might just be surprised with the results.
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Published: 8/11/2010
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