Convection ovens utilize heated air for cooking and processing food by warming up the air in the oven. The air rises and it warms the cool air that flows in. A convection oven also has a fan responsible for distributing hot air in the entire chamber. Most models have 3 cooking trays and are commonly used for heating, grilling, dry frying, and even baking.

Ge Microwave

How heating occurs

Ge Microwave

Depending on the model, heating starts from the rear or bottom of the chamber. Heating allows the constant flow of hot air for more even cooking. Heat is also capable of penetrating the food better compared to conventional ovens for faster cooking.

Regular convection oven

This type produces heat from a bottom heating element. It solely relies on convection fans for distributing hot air in the chamber and it also has fewer heat settings and a small capacity.

True convection oven

This type has an extra heating element surrounding the rear fan. It utilizes the bottom element to help in the distribution of hot air within the chamber but it cannot produce heat by itself. True convection ovens can also cook large capacities but they require more power, which makes them more expensive to operate.

Choosing your convection oven

Convection ovens should be checked for their controls, materials, construction, and visibility of the food. Choose an oven with a door observation window so you can monitor the cooking of the food without opening it. Make sure it has interior lights for a better view or for additional heating to speed up the cooking.

For faster heating and easy clean-up, the convection oven should have a porcelain enamel cavity. Choose one with an insulated door handle. It should also have power levels and preset temperature for different food types. A basic one should have at least low, medium, and high heat settings, while others have programmed cycles for dry fry, baking, and other processes.

Convection Ovens - The Most Versatile Ovens for Processing Food

Ge Microwave