If you purchased a new oven in the last ten years, it’s likely that convection has been an option or already included. Do you make use of it? Do you know how to use it? When we say baking and roasting, convection ovens aren’t usually what come to mind.I’ve had convection in my ovens for many years, but it’s been an afterthought. Why is this the case? Is it just me who feels this way? Let’s look at the advantages and drawbacks of Convection vs Traditional Oven to see if they make a difference for me, since I have two identical ovens to choose from.
Is it true that the convection oven is ideal for every purpose? Is it necessary to discard all conventional oven settings in favor of a convection oven? This might lead you to wonder when and where each of these choices should be utilized. Let’s take a look at both to see how they perform and where they’re ideally suited.
What is the definition of a best oven for baking, and how does it work? Simply said, it’s an oven with fans that distribute air throughout the chamber. This improves heat transfer and speeds up the cooking process, ensuring more consistent results. All of this while using less power! The oven in my house has a function that changes recipes to convection, even when I didn’t select it.
Even if we aren’t aware of it, ovens cook in distinct ways. To demonstrate this point, I conducted the same experiment using the identical recipe on two identical wall ovens. Convection cooking takes away the cooler air layer that surrounds food when it is first placed in a standard oven and distributes heat equally around the dish.
What a fantastic concept! Why not transplant it to everything else? Examine how a standard oven works. Heat is pushed out of the wall in a conventional or traditional oven. Food is cooked as the heat reaches it in this manner. So, how does convection baking compare to regular or traditional baking?
Assume you have two identical ovens. You put the same dish in each at the same moment, set to 475 degrees Fahrenheit, and expect them to be cooked at the same time. Convection cooking works because it makes use of a strong heat and fan combination.
WHY USE A CONVECTION OVEN?
- Faster Cooking –Convection cooking is 25 percent faster than conventional techniques.
- Even Cooking –In a convection oven, food cooks and browns more uniformly. Hot spots may cause misaligned cooking in an ordinary oven. This is apparent when different cookies are baked before others in the same batch. A convection oven generates greater heat uniformity since it circulates air.
- Better Browning –Because it circulates all around, the outside of the turkey cooks more quickly and uniformly, ensuring that the centre remains juicy.
- Energy Saver – Convection ovens cook food at a lower temperature and in less time than conventional ovens. When preparing meals, the temperature of an oven is lowered by 25 degrees. If you don’t want to do it yourself, update your settings automatically. In convection mode, reduce the temperature of a 350F oven to 325F.
WHEN TO USE A CONVECTION OVEN?
- Cookies – This method worked well for me since it helped my convection oven and conventional oven perform much better. Cookies were baked faster, more consistently, and darker brown after I utilized this approach.
- Roasting –I’ve cooked a pork roast, chicken, and vegetables before, and they were not only more blackened, faster, and juicier on the inside than normal oven roasting but also browner. With the outside of the roast being buffeted by the wind, you can’t always achieve that with an ordinary oven.
- Pies and Pastries–Pie dough and pastry dough will cook more flaky and lighter as a result of the high fat content.
- Cupcakes, Cakes and Breads –Cakes, cupcakes, and bread are all more debatable. I compared the results of baking cupcakes in both types of ovens, and while they appeared to be identical, the convection oven delivered superior outcomes.. Different characteristics distinguish different breads. Some claim that the interior of the bread will be drier. Please remember to reduce the
- Braising and Covered Casseroles –You may improve the cooking time by 30% if the lids are on or the foil is wrapped securely. I’d use a conventional oven if these come into contact with heat.
- Toasting and Dehydrating –It is highly recommended to use a dehumidifier that works effectively since all of the moisture in the air will be eliminated; however, employing a wet vacuum may speed up the process. To save time, use both of these processes at the same time.
WHEN NOT TO USE A CONVECTION OVEN?
- Custards or Flans –The roots of this plant may rot, causing it to die.
- Souffles and Wet Cakes and Cupcakes –Angel food cakes and other cakes with a wetter batter than normal should be avoided. Souffles and cakes may be sent flying by the fan, resulting in an unpleasant incident.
- Quickbread, Sandwich and Sweet Breads – This is just because you’re reading, with no additional information provided.
Why not give it a go if you don’t want to invest in a new convection oven? Begin with modest objectives and work your way up as you use a convection oven for more baked and roasted items. I’ve rediscovered an old passion for myself! Is that correct, we may all agree on?