Convection and conventional oven: What’s the difference

Shopping for an oven? Before you start comparing brands, models, features, and pricing, there’s one important thing to consider: the difference between convection and conventional ovens. Understanding this difference between the two will define how to bake, roast, or reheat food in your kitchen.

A convection and a conventional oven both serve the primary purpose of cooking food. However, the difference lies in how they do it and knowing this difference will help you make the right decision when choosing the next oven for your home. Here are the key differences between a convection oven and a conventional oven.

Convection and conventional oven: What you need to know

Let’s start with the conventional oven, which is also called a traditional or regular oven. A conventional oven features stationary heating elements on the top and bottom of the cavity, allowing heat to radiate through the cavity. This warms your food from the outside in and works well for most cooking needs, but the heating can be uneven.

In addition to these heating elements, a convection oven also features a fan that helps circulate hot air throughout the oven cavity. The addition of a built-in fan allows for hot air to be distributed more evenly, and it helps eliminate hot and cold spots commonly seen with a traditional oven and also helps reduce cooking time.

ALSO READ: Best microwave oven brands in India

Heating method

In a conventional oven, the heat radiates from a stationary heating element at the top or bottom. This design creates uneven heating zones, and heat is not evenly circulated inside the cavity. A convection oven, in contrast, distributes heat evenly by circulating hot air using a fan, resulting in consistent heating.

Cooking time

A convection oven cooks food faster than a conventional oven, and some brands estimate that the former is capable of between 20 to 25 per cent faster cooking time. The faster cooking means a convection oven is better suited for time-saving cooking or for roasting or baking multiple items at once.

Temperature adjustment

Since convection ovens deliver consistent hot air movement inside the cavity, they require a lower temperature setting. This means you will need to make changes to the temperature settings for your recipes, and often lower it by around 20°C.

ALSO READ: 5 best microwave ovens for office settings

Texture

When compared to conventional ovens, which have hot or cold spots, a convection oven produces a crispier or browner exterior. This attribute makes them a great choice for roasting vegetables or baking pizzas. However, the softer texture produced by a conventional oven is better for moist cakes and desserts.

Flexibility

Modern convection ovens are both flexible and versatile, with the option to switch the fan ON or OFF. This means you can use the convection setting for quick, even cooking, while conventional ovens are better for dishes needing gentle heat.

For most people, a conventional oven would be the best choice since it is great for baking and recipes that require gentle heat. However, if you want faster cooking, crispier texture, and even heating, then you should opt for a convection oven. Whether you choose a model with a fan or one without, knowing the difference between convection and conventional ovens will help you cook faster and smarter.