Methods of cooking products are constantly being improved. Mankind has come a long way from cooking on fire to microwave ovens, allowing you to heat or cook food in a few minutes. However, sometimes old and proven cooking methods turn out to be the best. A convection oven is one of such successful examples of a combination of new technologies and time-tested cooking methods. These furnaces will be discussed in this article.
The history of convection ovens
A convection oven is a logical extension of a conventional oven. This technology appeared only at the end of the twentieth century in the USA, and quickly gained popularity not only as a professional equipment for restaurants, but also as a home device. Such furnaces operate using the principle of convection - the process of forced air exchange and heat distribution from the built-in tubular electric heaters.
The circular fan installed in them allows you to heat the product as evenly as possible. This is what distinguishes a convection oven for home or for a restaurant from a conventional oven.
The use of furnaces
As with the cooking process in the oven, in a convection oven you can cook, and fry, and bake and just heat the food. A convection oven is ideal for baking flour products or for sterilizing products. Since the cooking process is due to the influence of hot air - cooking is possible without the use of oil, fat and other things - this is extremely important for all lovers of a healthy lifestyle.
For the same reason, convection ovens have become indispensable in the kitchens of any restaurants. You can cook or heat food in such ovens in any heat-resistant dishes, which can be found in any kitchen. Due to the speed and uniformity of air flows in convection ovens, any cooking process takes place at an increased speed, saving the cook’s time.
The advantages of convection ovens
Many will not find it convincing for choosing this appliance that the convection oven, in fact, is an oven with a powerful fan. However, the difference in cooking is very significant. A convection oven for the home has several advantages - the main one being the cooking speed. Yes, convection ovens heat food more slowly than ordinary stoves, but cooking in it goes much faster than in a conventional oven.
For those who prefer to cook without excess oil and fat - this is an ideal option. The energy consumption of conventional ovens is also very small, and pre-set timers and cooking programs can simplify the process of cooking at times.
Cons of convection ovens
There are very few pronounced shortcomings in such devices. They can be attributed only to the need to allocate a separate place in the kitchen. The following problem arises from this - the relatively small volume of most convection ovens for the home. The larger volumes of food you need to cook at a time, the more space a stove in the kitchen will occupy. Prices can also be attributed to the minuses of such devices. Due to the industrial orientation of most furnaces, the abundance of functions and their general popularity and indispensability - such furnaces do not differ in cheapness.
Steam convection ovens
Home steam convection ovens are more advanced versions of conventional convection ovens. The main difference, as the name implies, is that during the cooking process, hot steam is also fed into the oven. Depending on their complexity and high cost, they have additional options for cooking, and the ability to set a precisely defined humidity makes it possible to conduct culinary experiments. Such furnaces come with manual water supply or automatic.
Steam convection ovens provide undeniable advantages over conventional ovens or ovens - because of moisture, the food does not dry out, a wonderful icing crust forms on baking, and vegetables and fruits more fully retain their beneficial properties. However, their main disadvantage is the price - the more complex the device, the higher the price you will have to pay for its purchase. However, on the market there are plenty of options for stoves for the home and with the function of steam humidification and with many others and at very reasonable prices.
How to choose a convection oven for the home?
When choosing convection ovens, it is important to pay attention to their basic parameters. Of course, the first thing to do is decide where the oven will be placed, and take measurements to know what maximum size it will fit. Next, you should pay attention to its power and capabilities. Furnaces with large capacities will not necessarily be better than those with more modest parameters. Many convection devices are designed for food production and their capacity will be redundant for ordinary kitchens.
The same applies to the functionality - a huge number of functions of a convection oven for the home may not be used in everyday life, so you should carefully study all of its modes and capabilities. Well and most importantly - pay attention to the manufacturer. Large manufacturers that have proven themselves in the market usually offer a much better product with longer warranty periods. And the last - it is worth paying attention to the door. In high-quality furnaces, the glass in them is usually double - this improves the performance of thermal insulation and prevents burns on hot glass.