Quicker, More Delicious Food? Yes, Please!

If you’re a fan of better food, saving time, and being more energy efficient, then you’ll be blown away by the results you will get when cooking with a convection oven. It’s just better than cooking the conventional way.

Roasts that are perfectly browned on the outside and juicy on the inside? Yum! How about crisp, yet tender vegetables, or cookies that come out just right?

Ah, the appetizing advantages of convection ovens.

The average lifespan of a residential oven is 10 to 15 years so if you’re due for a new one, or if you’re just ready for a more efficient and effective cooking experience, then a convection oven is the way to go.

The convection oven concept has been around for half a century and has more recently gained momentum among all levels of cooks from professionals to the most basic ‘just get it on the table’ cooks. The superior outcomes in consistency and taste, reduced cooking time, and lower oven temperatures are hard to resist.

Convection ovens are similar to your conventional oven in that it has one or more heating elements that bring on the heat. The difference is that convection ovens use a fan to circulate the heated air evenly throughout the oven. Wherever you position your dish in the oven it will have access to the desired temperature. What you put on the top rack will cook the same as what’s on the bottom rack, and the same from side to side.

The circulated air created in a convection oven is a much more efficient way to heat compared to a conventional oven that heats from the top or bottom only. With uniform heat distribution you can reduce both the temperature and the cooking time for most recipes. Generally, when cooking with a convection oven the rule of thumb is to reduce the traditional temperature by 20-25 degrees. Cooking time can usually also be reduced by around 25%.

We’re seeing more and more options available on the convection oven market so you can find what’s right for you. Many models come with a setting that allows you to turn off the fan so the oven can be used similarly to a conventional oven. This option is useful when cooking items that need to rise, like cakes and quick breads, or for more delicate dishes like custards or cheesecake that could be affected by the blowing air from the fan.

Convection ovens are slightly more expensive than traditional ovens, but that upfront expense is balanced out by the reduced energy costs from the lower cooking temperatures and shorter cooking times. Convection ovens roast gas ovens when it comes to efficiency, especially when considering the short amount of time it takes to preheat a convection oven compared to a gas alternative.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, convection ovens save about 20% of energy compared to conventional ovens that use radiant heat. Your purchase of energy efficient appliances like a convection oven is just another wise and practical way we can partner together to help the environment through improved energy efficiency — while making better food, too!

Are the tasty benefits of convection oven cooking making you hungry? Call us for help finding out if a convection oven is right for you.

Check out this convection oven specific recipe for tasty smashed potatoes: https://www.naturaldeets.com/crispy-smashed-potatoes-in-the-convection-oven/