Tip of the Day: How to cook with a convection oven

Many people buy ovens, ranges, and microwaves with convection capability but don't take advantage of that feature. If you've shied away from using your convection oven, here's how to become a confident convection cooker.

In standard ovens, there is radiant heating of the interior, and air movement is relatively slow. In convection ovens, a fan constantly circulates and mixes the air within the cavity. As a result, convection ovens heat more quickly and cook faster. Note that some convection ranges run the fan more slowly for baking and faster for roasting.

Heating can be uneven in standard ovens because the temperatures might not be uniform throughout the cavity. But with convection ovens, the fan is supposed to make the temperature more uniform throughout the cavity and result in more evenly cooked food. (That's not always the case, as our tests over the years have shown.)

The best way to become a confident convection cooker is to try out your favorite recipes using the feature. Read your owner's manual or look on the manufacturer's Web site for specific cooking guidelines. And consider these convection-cooking tips from Jenn-Air:

BAKING
• Lower the temperature indicated in the recipe by about 25°F but cook for the indicated time.

• For cookies and cakes, use shiny, bright aluminum or steel pans. They reflect heat and allow for more delicate browning.

• For breads and pies, use dark or dull aluminum or steel pans. They absorb heat and result in darker browning.

ROASTING
• When roasting meats, cook according to the indicated temperature but cut cooking time by about 25 percent.

• Use pans with low sides so the circulating hot air can work its magic. Otherwise food won't brown as well.

• Don't use a lid. It prevents the circulating air from reaching the food.

When cooking in a full oven, pay attention to how the food browns, as you might still have to rotate the pans to ensure even cooking.—Kimberly Janeway

Essential information: You'll find ranges with convection ovens in our latest report and other cooking time-savers in our coverage of cooktops and wall ovens. Tell us about your experiences with convection cooking by posting a comment below.

Comments

[Kathryn Bowlin]

I bought an Aroma convection oven -it is a table top and it is perfect for my teenagers who just cook/bake chicken wings, or pizzas. Helps to not turn on my big oven. The only thing about this table top model is that the numbers and letters rubbed off too easily. Saves electricity!

[Sharon]

I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.

Sharon

http://www.autoloans101.info

[Jay]

I'm intrested in buying a counter-top style convection oven but it's been impossible to find any good product info. or buyers guide on consumer reports or any place else for that matter. I'd appreciate some help if there's any out there.

[Susan J]

I also am looking for product review info on table top (not toaster)ovens in which I can bake pastry products successfully.

[Gary]

We need to replace a combo microwave/wall oven that came with the house. Any recommendations on make and model and convection vs non convection?

[Loran]

Reply to Gary: We bought a built-in Dacor convection/microwave 3 years ago when we remodeled our kitchen. The unit has been wonderful, both for convection and for microwave cooking. There is nothing I bake in a regular oven that I cannot bake in the convection oven -- meats, bread, biscuits, pizza, casseroles, and more. Brief story: About a month after it was installed, my wife tried to hardboil three eggs on the microwave setting. She blew the door off the unit! Dacor couldn't have been better - they covered the parts and labor of a local technician who came out to the house and repaired the unit.

[Terry]

We recently purchased a GE Convection microwave. Find it difficult
to use. We replaced a conventional microwave and the new one is much harder for me to understand. Where can I get help?

[tanisha]

I am interested in buying my first convection oven. I have heard that convections oven are horrible for bread baking. They make the exterior very tough, and fail to adequately brown the bread. I bake my own breads twice a week (No preservatives, more control,) so this is a real issue for me. Can anyone share with me if this is a good idea to buy a convection for baking? Thinking of getting one w/ steam. (Serious baking).

[Paul Butler]

I am interested in a good toaster oven, but do not see any recommendations on your site. Do you know of any site I may be able to find this information?

[Mike Kloster]

I need some help in baking in my GE JVM1490 BH-01 microwave/concection oven. All the cakes I bake seem not to be done in the center and the outer edges seem to be fine. Please someone, give me some answers.

Mike Kloster

[Deborah]

Gary, I know this is almost a month later than your post, but I too am having to replace a microwave/oven (electric) wall unit which I thought was one unit, turns out to be two. My problem is trying to find the 24" oven. Seems there are very few out there. With my dimensions, I think KitchenAid is about the only company that has what I want in an oven (convection), but I have heard such horror stories regarding the company's handling of repairs and customer service, that I am really reconsidering their oven and going with a regular self clean oven by GE or Kenmore. Seems KitchenAid has a problem with the thermal fuse blowing out when you use the self clean mode on many of the ovens, and they won't acknowledge this problem in their products. I suppose it's the same for Whirlpool products as they own KitchenAid, and Maytag, and several other brands
Anyway, if you need a 27" or 30" you will have several options. Let me know which product you chose, and if you are happy with it. Thanks.

[Betsy J. Savory]

I just purchased a GE Halogen - Convection Toaster Oven Model #169104. I bought it new, but it was made in 2007. Does anyone out there have experience with this large counter type stainless steel toaster oven? It is one of GE's products that are made for Wal-Mart. If it is not a good unit, I will take it back. Like to hear from you.

Consumer Reports tested 17 toaster ovens, but no GE products were on the list. Would like to hear from you. Thanks.

[Tammy]

I bought the GE model 169104 just over 2 years ago. Now both halogen bulbs have burned out and I cannot get replacement bulbs. I called WalMart, and they can help you only if it's still under warranty. Then I called a dozen GE numbers, and the final answer I was given was to look in my local yellow pages for somebody who fixes small appliances. YUCK. Unfortunately, this oven went in the garbage.

[Brenda Wilhite]

I recently purchased a Jenn-Air stove with double ovens and one has convection oven selection. Roasted a whole chicken using the convection function. It cooked faster than usual and was super moist and tasted just like a rotesserie chicken, moist inside with a crispy skin. The difference was amazing! I have a counter top oven that is suppose to do convection cooking but there is no comparision.
I think for real convection cooking you need a regular oven that has that capacity.

[Bob Parris]

We just purchased a countertop Black and Decker digital rotisserie convection oven and are enjoying the experience. Our first project was a rotisserie chicken. We read the initial setup instructions and pushed the buttons. First, we did not attach the bird properly so the poor chicken flopped around like he was trying to escape! Lesson: truss with string. Secondly, we assumed the convection cycle was automatic. We ate at 7;00 instead of the planned 6:00PM. Lesson: read the manual. Sunday breakfast we tried the toast function with brown toast. We ended up adding another minute toasting time. Tonight we tried frozen pizza with added fresh tomatoes. Following the presets resulted in a slighly underdone pizza. We restarted for another six minutes and were well pleased. Lesson: not sure how to adjust time setting. Be prepared to experiment. Keep the wine handy..especially Ontario wine!