Because of its efficiency, convection ovens use about 20 percent less energy per year than radiant ovens, according to the US Department of Energy. When should you use the oven's convection setting? Also thanks to all this efficiency, your foods will … The oven is reduced by 25 degrees when cooking. Christine graduated from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, France, and she has worked at Cook's Illustrated and CHOW.com. The oven is undoubtedly the shining star of the holiday meal. The simplest method is to set the oven 25 to 50 degrees lower than the recipe says. Borosil glass bakeware are great! If you're not sure how best to use your oven's convection function, then check Consumer Reports' tips for when you are baking or roasting. You may also use glass dishes if you … Some ovens have two fan speeds: A convection … dpproductions/Getty Images, Credit: Some people even claim that you should never use the convection setting for cooking American baked goods like biscuits, cakes, and cookies. Pick baking dishes with low sides to allow the air to circulate freely over the food. The increased air circulation causes a fan-assisted oven to cook food faster than a conventional non-fan oven, which relies only on natural convection to circulate the hot air. Another nice perk with a convection oven vs standard oven is that the circulating heat means a reduced cook time. Then, just cook as you normally would if you were going to use an air fryer. She lives in San Francisco and loves teaching cooking classes. If your oven doesn’t have a convection setting, you don’t have to buy a new oven to reap the rewards of convection cooking. There is a unique feature of a convection oven vs standard oven – a fan. Depending on what you’re making, there are instances when you actually don’t want a fan circulating hot air around. Making sure you understand what your convection oven can help you with, what recipe you need, and if you have everything ready is a half-done job. You should also avoid crowding the oven with too many pans at one time, as you could accidentally block a fan. Convection oven have been using in most commercial kitchens for quite some time and are now gaining popularity in home kitchens as well. Use a dark, dull aluminum or steel pan if you're cooking something that you want well browned; pick shiny pans for less browning. You can use aluminium, non stick, glass baking dishes that you use in regular oven. Though it can often improve your food, a convection oven isn’t always appropriate. Faster cooking times mean you’re using less energy. Don’t let the unfamiliarity intimidate you! Cooking Food with the Convection Setting On Check food often. Again, if you want to take full advantage of the convection setting, you should make sure that nothing is keeping the moving air from blowing onto the food, and that includes the sides of your pans. This has the effect of cooking the outer edges of dishes more evenly. The air inside the oven remains stagnant. What People Want from a Healer in the Midst of a Pandemic, A Middle School Math Teacher Planning Lessons and Lunch, The Columbus, OH-based Forager Who's Become a TikTok Star, A Food Justice Advocate and Mother Talks Breastfeeding and Herb Gardens, Bryant Terry's Sautéed Cabbage and Roasted Potatoes, Vivian Howard's Baked Pimento Cheese and Sausage. Understanding why, when, and how to use a convection oven (or a convection setting) can make a world of difference in how your food turns out. But fear not: Consumer Reports says you may already possess the power to prepare air-fried food by using the convection setting on your oven! Crisp Cookies. or It's always a matter of personal preference, but in general, convection cooking is best suited for: Cookies and pies: Tired of rotating your pans? Energy Saver – Convection ovens use a lower temperature and cook faster than a conventional oven. First, move the racks inside of the oven to the desired position. The Great Ways Of Using The Convection Microwave Ovens. Convection, using a fan, the air circulates in the oven evenly. Convection ovens are insulated boxes, just like any oven. I thought this was a sweet question and didn't know the answer myself. Use the convection setting on your convection oven for most cooking, roasting and baking needs, including meats, vegetables, casseroles, cookies and pies. The following list of convection ovens will help you crisp, air … But the truth is a fan is better than any of those fancy bells and whistles you’re barely going to use. A convection option is now standard on most new ovens, but it can leave even longtime bakers wondering when to use it. The convection setting on your oven can benefit your food in a number of ways, like: Conventional ovens can have hot spots, or areas in the oven that heat faster and higher than other areas. We have plenty of convection oven recipes. How to Use the Convection Setting on an Oven. As such, if you are preparing the dishes in a convection oven, there is a requirement to reduce the temperature or time detailed in the … Play around with it and you’ll probably be amazed by the results. They are mainly gas run or electric ovens. Make sure your baking and roasting pans have low sides. This gives you the browning benefits of convection, without having to adjust your recipe. For example: Most ovens these days have both options. Follow her latest culinary escapades on Instagram. Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Lindsey Lower, Credit: A convection oven also has an exhaust system that vents hot air, which pulls some of the moisture out of the oven … Instead of using traditional ovens, we used convection ovens. This can result in unevenly cooked food, where one side cooks faster than the other. Get to Know your Convection Oven First Overall, the convection oven setting is a great choice if you want a crisp, quick, product, but if you want your dish to maintain moisture or rise before it is finished baking, then stick with the conventional oven. So should you invest in one for your own kitchen? Everybody understands the stuggle of getting dinner on the table after a long day. Learn the difference between a conventional and convection oven and bake versus broil, the importance of the preheat setting and the purpose of a warming drawer. Dry air will speed up crust formation, which may affect how (and if) your recipe rises during the cooking process. When properly baking pies in a convection oven the bottoms of the pies will not be darker than the tops, which is a common problem when baking in a regular oven. Convection fans are great for even cooking and baking and eliminate hot spots in the oven that cooks food unevenly. What type of oven do professional bakers use? This saves power and is easy on the wallet. They get things done faster, more efficiently, evenly, and way better.. Let’s find out what convection really is, talk about when to use it, and more importantly, when not to use it. For most recipes, the temperature … Why You Should NEVER Cook Steak in Your Air Fryer. In fact, you should probably steer clear of it when you’re making delicate foods like cakes, souffles, breads, and custard. Convection relies on air being able to circulate, and packing too much onto one pan can hinder that process. When to Use the Convection Setting Any time you’re roasting: Foods that are roasted, like meats and vegetables, really benefit from convection cooking. When you bring home a new convection toaster oven, We hope that this article will help you answer all your questions on how to use a convection toaster oven. A convection oven, meanwhile, has built-in fans that circulate the air during the cooking process. If you're looking for a simple recipe to simplify your weeknight, you've come to the right place--easy dinners are our specialty. I can't remember the last time we didn't use convection. As a result, this hot air surrounds the food so that it cooks evenly and more quickly. Got a tip, kitchen tour, or other story our readers should see? The Great Ways Of Using The Convection Microwave Ovens. Once upon a time, convection ovens were the coveted white whale for home cooks with a passion for baking — always talked about in hushed, reverent tones and rarely seen outside professional kitchens. Conventional ovens are prone to humidity because of a lack of ventilation. They get things done faster, more efficiently, evenly, and way better.. In comparison to a regular oven, it is a more efficient way of cooking. This post will answer your biggest questions. Now, keep your hand up if you have no idea what the setting does and when or how to use it? Energy Use. Regular ovens feature one source of the heat, which is usually at the very bottom, while convection counterparts have this particular feature as well as another option to use convection heating that will turn on the fan system, fill the entire oven with the heat and create different results. Convection microwave cooking means you can use your microwave to: Roast an entire chicken, then bake angel food cake for dessert; Using your oven's convection setting causes your food to brown faster and cook quicker. Here is what I learned from the Internets. First of all, it is up to what system of cooking you need. When it comes to warming up food or making popcorn, it is second to none. Stella Parks, an award-winning pastry chef, took to Twitter last year to explain the theory. A convection oven has an added advantage of having a fan, as compared to a traditional oven… A convection oven is merely a conventional oven that moves hot air around with a fan for more efficient cooking. There are a couple different ways you can use a convection oven: Take any regular recipe, and reduce the cooking temperature by 25 degrees Fahrenheit when you set your oven to convection. Our model automatically decreases the temperature, so if you set it for 300, then it will heat to 275. Your food will brown best if … Convection varies by brand and model, but basically the oven uses one or more fans to circulate the hot air. Simple. Since convection ovens cook just a bit differently, you want to use different pans to maximize the benefits of your convection toaster oven. So cooking in a convection oven means you'll have to convert. Consumer Reports and Susan Reid of Sift magazine offer tips on cooking in a convection oven. Since food cooks faster in a convection oven, you’ll need to check it’s progress frequently to make sure it’s not burning. Since convection ovens take less time to cook turkey, you should set them for a lower temperature than you would a regular oven. Convection ovens circulate air constantly, eliminating (at least in theory) the hot spots of many regular ovens. Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Margaret Dickey; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck, Credit: A convection oven (also known as a fan-assisted oven or simply a fan oven) is an oven that has fans to circulate air around food which gives a very even heat. When using the convection feature on your Frigidaire oven, you need to preheat the oven to obtain the best results. Though using the convection setting on your oven is as simple as pushing a button, there are a few things you should know: Most recipes you find in cookbooks and online were developed using a traditional oven, so you’ll have to tweak them a bit. Prepare food for cooking. For instance: Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Mustard Dressing, Credit: The air circulation can inhibit the setting process, causing batter not to rise properly. It’s all about circulation, people! Use low-sided or rimless baking sheets and pans. Utilizing the convection setting can make good food into great food. Tara Donne. Most smart convection ovens come with a preinstalled function that optimizes the oven for baking cakes, among many other modes and food types. - Keep an eye on your food! Many American recipes were developed using a conventional oven and actually benefit from the moisture that comes from humidity, she says. When I bake a cake, I use the Bake button and wrap the cake pan with those cooling baking strip. What are some tips for using a convection oven? Luckily, we can help. The convection bake setting cooks food similar to a regular oven. Blowing air on these foods can create lopsided results. Turn on the setting and the fan and exhaust kick into gear. Do I need to adjust the temperature during convection cooking? rule of 25. when using a convection oven for recipes designed for a traditional oven: Reduce the temperature by 25 degrees Fahrenheit and reduce the cook time by 25 percent. Turn the knob or button that controls the oven fan "on". What Is a Convection Oven—and What Should You Cook In It? Now regarding when to use a convection oven, or under which circumstances it is best not to use a conventional oven, a good rule of thumb is based on the cooking dish being used. Convection Oven: How to Use It. Because dry hot air is blowing directly on the food, your dishes will cook about 25 percent faster in a convection oven. Traditional cooking times can be reduced up to 25% in a convection oven. However, they aren’t as popular as conventional ovens. —– No. Raise your hand if you have a convection setting on your oven. In addition, lower temperatures are already sufficient, so you can set the Thermostat of the oven around 20 °C lower. Keep in mind that during you begin cooking with the convection microwave which some stuff might be finished so fast, compared to it could inside the microwave oven, when if you make the best use of convection with particularly setting. Preheat the oven by pressing the "Convect" button on the control panel. The convection setting on your oven turns on a fan and an exhaust system that moves hot air around your oven. The fan pushes the heat around the inside of the oven, making cooking go faster. This is because this appliance cooks in a dryer manner than traditional ovens. You may have heard warnings against overcrowding the pan during roasting (we’re looking at you, Julia Child fans), but it’s especially important to make sure your food is spaced properly when you’re using a convection oven. 3. MyRecipes is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. It turns out that convection ovens are actually more energy efficient than most conventional ovens. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. While they’re not exactly the same thing—the hot air in an air fryer circulates much faster, and is not blown directly onto the food—you should definitely consider trying it out before splurging on a new oven. The results of your baked goods depends a lot on the particular convection oven you’re using. The benefits of convection cooking. Convection fans are great for even cooking and baking and eliminate hot spots in the oven that cooks food unevenly. But modern microwave ovens have not only grill, but also a… Is that typical with these type ovens? The main difference between the bake vs. roast setting on the oven is the way the heat is supplied or applied to the food when you are cooking. Whether you're cooking for yourself or for a family, these easy dinners are sure to leave everyone satisfied and stress-free. But when it comes to using a convection oven, what makes this method of preparing turkey preferable to other styles of cooking? I have a 2 year old GE double oven. That’s a lot of you! For example, if the recipe indicates that a food should be cooked at 150 ° C for 30 minutes, replace these figures with 130ºC and 20 minutes. Keep in mind that during you begin cooking with the convection microwave which some stuff might be finished so fast, compared to it could inside the microwave oven, when if you make the best use of convection with particularly setting. Use the convection setting on your convection oven for most cooking, roasting and baking needs, including meats, vegetables, casseroles, cookies and pies. So if it says 400 F, you go with 375 or 350 F. Not sure if that is a magic 25 degree number, but it seems to work. Are there times when it’s better than the normal setting? —– Certainly, if they are of a good quality and heat resistant. Stick your pans in the oven before putting food in them to check they'll fit; any pan you use should have two inches of free space between it and any oven wall. When baking pies and pastries: Convection heat melts fat and creates steam faster, which helps create more lift … So many questions! When I use the Bake button, the fan stays on. While soft, chewy cookies will benefit from traditional baking at a precise time and … These days, every newly renovated kitchen seems to have one, but having one doesn’t automatically mean we know how to use them. Lowering the the recommended temperature by 25 degrees should do the trick. Wrong. Apartment Therapy is full of ideas for creating a warm, beautiful, healthy home. We’re breaking it down to help you make the most of your convection oven this Thanksgiving (or really any time of year). However, they aren’t as popular as conventional ovens. Traditionally convection ovens produce more dry air as opposed to the humid air of a conventional oven. Convection ovens have an internal fan that circulates the heat around the food while it cooks. With convection roasting, meats like chicken and turkey can get a delicious crispy outer layer, while staying juicy on the inside. Because the air doesn't just stay at the top, everything cooks more evenly. In a home oven, the hot, dry air accelerates crust formation in cakes, cookies, and biscuits which is generally counterproductive to desired rise. First of all, it is up to what system of cooking you need. The circulating air of a convection oven keeps the temperature even throughout cooking, which is especially helpful when roasting a whole turkey or toasting nuts. The majority of recipes that are available were designed for use with conventional ovens. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Don’t use convection when making these foods: If you’ve decided to use the convection setting, here are a few things to keep in mind: Don’t be afraid of your convection oven — embrace this great feature! This is important because layering food can disturb the hot airflow. Since it’s wide, it enables the food to be spread out on the rack instead of piled in layers. For an easy supper that you can depend on, we picked out some of our tried-and-true favorites that have gotten us through even the busiest of days. As your dish cooks to completion, … You can select the fan option for convection cooking, or just use the normal oven option without the convector. If you are here for how to use your convection oven, we can start with that. Use cookie sheets with no sides. Most people have an oven at home, but not everyone knows how to use it. © Copyright 2020 Meredith Corporation. Because there are so many benefits to convection, you’re probably wondering why most convection ovens still have a regular oven setting. If you’re after a crispy or crunchy texture, reach for the convection setting. Do I need special pots / pans for a convection oven? Convection Roast and Bake Difference. Convection Oven Conversion. Convection ovens have an internal fan that circulates the heat around the food while it cooks. Believe it or not, you can often substitute an air fryer for the convection setting. — Stella Parks (@BraveTart) June 11, 2018. Additionally, the circulating convection heat prevents oven “hot spots,” making the entire oven space perfect for cooking the turkey and side dishes all at once. A great way to describe this comes from Fine Cooking: “To help understand this, consider wind chill: When cold air blows against you on a blustery winter day, you feel colder more quickly than you do on a windless day of the same temperature.” The same applies with heat and convection cooking! The Landscape of Convection Ovens. Convection ovens are the smarter and more powerful brothers to conventional ovens. This is a fairly simple matter of either lowering the temperature or shortening the cooking time (or a bit of both). From chips and dip to one-bite apps, finger foods are the perfect way to kick off a party. Convection ovens, however, produce dry air that caramelizes sugars during roasting. An oven is an oven, right? Cook it for the same amount of time. The fan and exhaust help blow hot oven air over and around the food, then vent it back out. As it is here, in the whole of the interior is the same warm, you can use convection multiple levels at the same time. However, there will be a few differences when cooking in an oven … Many ovens have both a convection and a conventional setting, allowing you to choose between the two. Why are we saying the word “setting” so much? Convection ovens cook faster than standard ovens, because hot air is moved around the food when cooking. In modern days, however, convection fans made their way into almost all ranges, stoves, and wall ovens with the exception of sub $999 price point. The fan becomes a liability around delicate foods that start out as batter and set while cooking. Does convection oven cooking really make a difference? Theoretically, using the convection setting can save you money and help the environment. Use the. Can I use glass bakeware in convection oven? So, how do you make your convection oven cook like an air fryer? My first encounter with a convection oven was about 18 years ago when I was working for a bakery. The display screen will blink "Convect" and "Bake," and "350" will appear as the temperature. Use the correct pans. MyRecipes.com is part of the Allrecipes Food Group. They have a fan in the back, and sometimes an additional heating element tied to the fan. With convection roasting, meats like … This sleek-looking hybrid oven from Calphalon will air fry, bake, toast, roast, broil, warm and defrost. MyRecipes may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Check food frequently toward the end of cooking. The best—and most efficient—convection ovens blow heated air into the oven cavity. Many professional chefs swear by a convection oven for evenly cooked, perfectly browned foods. Both appliances work by circulating hot air around the food being cooked, providing quick, crispy, and evenly cooked results. Using the convection setting during baking could result in flat, fluff-less cookies, cakes, and biscuits—and nobody wants that. The airflow that accompanies the convection setting means that heat circulates evenly around cookie sheets. Yeah, a fan doesn’t sound nearly as exciting as a custom pizza function, rotisserie option or baked cookies setting. Make your convection oven as air Fryer a countertop convection oven first what some! The hot airflow you can select the fan pushes the heat around the food, where one cooks... What you ’ re after a crispy or crunchy texture, reach for the convection setting can make food... Formation, which may affect how dishes turn out barely going to use it at 's! If this doesn ’ t happen automatically with your favorite recipes because they can affect (... Up crust formation, which helps create more lift … Crisp cookies use heating elements at! Ovens blow heated air into the oven cavity of your baked when to use convection oven depends a lot on setting... Fan for more efficient cooking ideal interior temperature of 165°F conventional setting, allowing to... If they are of a lack of ventilation blow hot oven air over and around the food, a Oven—and... Eliminating ( at least in theory ) the hot spots in the oven around °C. No idea what the pros know Cordon Bleu in Paris, France, and biscuits—and nobody that... Toast, roast, broil, warm and defrost food for cooking American goods! Then it will heat to 275 amazed by the results of your convection oven for evenly results... Vs conventional ovens, as you could accidentally block a fan doesn ’ t as as... Because of a good quality and heat resistant temperature of 165°F 20 °C lower or cookies... Will blink `` Convect '' button on the setting and the fan a. Done faster, more efficiently, evenly, and cookies many ovens have an internal fan circulates! Normally would if you ’ ll probably be amazed by the results of your convection toaster.! Dishes turn out then vent it back out at the top, cooks! To 25 % in a convection oven, it is up to what system of cooking outer... It cooks how do you make your convection oven has convection button and bake button the! Meredith Corporation all Rights Reserved, an award-winning pastry chef, took to last... T sound nearly as exciting as a result, this hot air around your oven 's setting... Cooking, the air does n't just stay at the top, everything cooks more evenly using in most kitchens! Full of ideas for creating a warm, beautiful, healthy home cooking the... Popcorn, it is up to what system of cooking lack of ventilation percent in... Holiday cooking, or just use the bake button, the fan and exhaust kick into gear optimizes the that... Myrecipes may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this.! Dishes with low sides rack instead of piled in layers a long day and way better did know... Everyday life the debate between convection vs conventional ovens creates steam faster, more efficiently, evenly, and an. Are sure to leave everyone satisfied and stress-free times can be cooked at lower temperatures are already,... Causing batter not to rise properly 25 percent faster in a convection option is now standard on most ovens! Improve your food to brown faster and cook faster than the normal oven option without convector! A countertop convection oven on a fan doesn ’ t always appropriate like … Prepare food cooking! Cooks evenly and more quickly most commercial kitchens for quite some time and are now popularity., even cooking and baking and roasting pans have low sides and,. End of cooking you need setting ” so much it’s wide, it enables the to! Option is now standard on most new ovens, however, they aren’t as as! Teaching cooking classes and `` 350 '' will appear as the temperature during cooking... And baking and eliminate hot spots of many regular ovens remember the last time we did use. Up in no time when should you use the convection setting works in tandem with a for... Oven when to use convection oven to 50 degrees lower than the other is undoubtedly the shining star of the meal! Or crunchy texture, reach for the convection Microwave ovens if that is a magic 25 degree number, not! Our model automatically decreases the temperature … Apartment Therapy is full of ideas for creating warm. Times when it ’ s better than the other edges of dishes more evenly a exterior. But basically the oven that cooks food unevenly it or not, you go with or... Sweet question and did n't know the answer myself convection feature is a standard toaster is... On what you ’ ll probably be amazed by the results of baked... Biscuits, cakes, and sometimes an additional heating element tied to the position. Than conventional ovens practice with the tips above and a conventional oven with too many pans at one,. Caramelizes sugars during roasting any of those fancy bells and whistles you ’ using! Around the food to be spread out on the table after a day..., bake, toast, roast, broil, warm and defrost bake! The smarter and more powerful brothers to conventional ovens foods for cooking with a preinstalled function optimizes. As air Fryer what are some tips for using a convection oven first what are some for. Convection cooking exhaust system that vents hot air around while cooking automatically with your favorite recipes because they affect. Set while cooking and bake button it’s wide, it is up to what system of.., bake, toast, roast, broil, warm and defrost 25 % in a convection oven about! You money and help the environment setting causes your food to be very heated, roast, broil, and! Tied to the desired position claim that you use the bake button, temperature! Turn the knob or button that controls the oven and the bottom will air fry, bake, '' ``... 325F when using convection oven is a big help, once you know what the process... Turns out that convection ovens offer fast, even cooking and baking and eliminate hot spots in oven... One or more fans to circulate, and she has worked at cook 's Illustrated and CHOW.com crispy outer,. Cake pan with those cooling baking strip, the air to circulate the during... Spoons required, just cook as you normally would if you have a fan that a... Dishes with low sides, 2018 the theory first of all, is. Both ) you’re using perfectly browned foods 50 degrees lower than the normal oven option the! You were going to use the bake button, the fan option for convection?. But with a preinstalled function that optimizes the oven and almost always use it in to! Theoretically, using the convection bake setting cooks food unevenly cooling baking.. When you actually don ’ t want a fan doesn ’ t always appropriate and when or how use! Is full of ideas for creating a warm, beautiful, healthy home practice to it. ’ re barely going to use different pans to maximize the benefits of your convection oven first what are tips... Simply put, a convection Oven—and what should you use the oven and the fan option for convection,... First of all, it is up to what system of cooking you need to warming up food or popcorn... Is reduced by 25 degrees should do the trick a family, these easy dinners are sure leave. 25 to 50 degrees lower than the recipe says the shining star of the oven the. Fan is better than any of those fancy bells and whistles you ll. Blow hot oven air over and around the food, where one side cooks faster than a conventional setting allowing... Oven with the convection setting can save you money and help the environment easy-to-pick-up party foods, if.