Convection Vs. Standard Oven
Convection cooking can be convenient and superior to standard or radiant cooking. However, many people who have convection settings on their ovens don't know how to use it. Many new ovens have the option of cooking with convection by simply pushing the convection button on the range. Does this Spark an idea?
-
What is Convection
-
Convection is the transfer of heat by the movement of the heated material. Convection currents can be found in the atmosphere, the oceans and even in something as small as a cup of coffee. Convection occurs when a shallow layer of air in contact with a hot surface warms by conduction. It then acquires buoyancy, which happens because warmer air is less dense than colder air, and rises, taking with it the energy that it stores. The process of convection is a natural occurrence on Earth that can be used in cooking.
Convection Ovens
-
In a convection oven, heat is transferred by the movement of the heated item. A fan located in the back of the appliance, then circulates the warm air. A convection oven can cook food at a lower temperature because hot air is constantly circulating through the oven. In fact, most ovens will automatically adjust the temp to be 25 degrees lower than that of a standard oven. For example, if you set your convection oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit the convection oven will automatically set itself to 375 degree Fahrenheit.
-
Standard Ovens
-
Standard ovens, or radiant ovens, have a heating element in the bottom of the appliance. Basically, this heating element gets hot and transmits heat throughout the oven. Because air is not circulating in a radiant oven and air movement is relatively slow, food cooks slower and unevenly.
Convection Cooking
-
Convection cooking often delivers superior results than standard or radiant oven cooking. Because of the constant circulation of heat through the oven, food cooks more evenly as well. In addition, it takes less time to cook food in a convection oven and you can cook food at a lower temperature. Therefore, convection cooking saves time and energy.
Considerations
-
Before purchasing a convection oven, be sure to read reviews on different products available. Consumer Reports is a good resource for product reviews and ratings and can guide you in your purchase.
-
