How to Bake Bread in a Countertop Convection Oven

A countertop convection oven, often called a "toaster oven," can be used to cook or bake nearly any dish you would cook in a conventional oven. Convection ovens can bake food up to 30-percent faster than regular ovens because of a fan that circulates hot air during the baking process. When you bake bread in a convection oven, you will need to reduce the baking temperature and time to accommodate this difference.

Things You'll Need

• 1/2 package yeast
• 2 tbsp. water
• 1/2 tsp. sugar
• Mixing bowl
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tbsp. butter
• 1 cup milk
• 3 cups flour
• Towel
• 9-inch by 5-inch loaf pan

Instructions

1. Place the convection oven rack in the lowest position to allow adequate room for the loaf pan.

2. Mix 1/2 packet of yeast with 2 tbsp. warm water and 1/2 tsp. sugar in a large mixing bowl. Let the yeast mixture stand for five minutes. It should appear frothy and foamy after sitting.

3. Add 1 tsp. salt, 1 tbsp. butter, and 1 cup milk to the yeast mixture. Stir well until everything is combined.

4. Slowly stir 2 1/2 cups of flour into the mixture, adding 1 cup of flour at a time and mixing until all of the flour has been incorporated.

5. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of flour onto the counter and knead the bread dough. The dough will absorb most of the flour on the counter as you knead it. Keep kneading until the dough is smooth and has an elastic quality when you pull it apart, or about 10 minutes.

6. Place the dough back in the mixing bowl and cover it with a towel. Set the bowl in a warm place and allow the dough to rise for 1 hour or until it has doubled.

7. Shape the dough into a loaf and place it in a greased 9-inch by 5-inch loaf pan.

8. Set the convection oven to 350 degrees and select the "Convection" function if necessary. Set the timer to 10 minutes to preheat the oven.

9. Place the loaf pan onto the oven rack inside the convection oven and set the oven's timer to 35 minutes. Check for doneness. The bread will be golden brown on the outside when done. Turn the oven off when the bread has finished cooking.

Tips & Warnings

• You can convert most baking recipes for cooking in a convection oven by reducing the baking temperature by 25 degrees. Also reduce the baking time by 1/4 to 1/3 because food cooks more quickly in a convection oven.

• If a standard size loaf pan won't fit in your countertop convection oven, you can divide the recipe between two mini loaf pans and bake in the same manner. Bread baked mini loaf pans will cook faster than in a standard size, so start the timer at 20 minutes and check for doneness often.

References

• "The Victory Cookbook;" Ruth Berolzheimer; 1944
• Hamilton Beach Countertop Oven with Convection Owner's Manual