A convection oven is one of the best appliances to have in the kitchen. It has a fan that allows the circulation of hot air, and hence, cooking food faster. Speed and efficiency are two of its biggest benefits compared to a traditional oven. All of these benefits, however, will be apparent only if you choose the right product.
Wondering about what is the best convection oven that is available in the market? In the rest of this post, we will briefly tackle some of the best options you might want to consider. We will also look at some of the most important considerations that will be critical in making the right decision.
Benefits of a Convection Oven
Still not convinced that you need to invest in a convection oven? Below are some things that could possibly give you a change of mind:
- Speed: One of the best things about cooking in a convection oven is that it saves time. This is because it is equipped with a fan that aids in the circulation of hot air inside the oven. Compared to traditional oven, it is believed that convection ovens can cook food in a manner that is 25% quicker.
- Energy-Efficient: Time is not the only thing that you will be able to save with a convection oven, but also energy. It preheats and cooks food quickly, which means that it can be used without using too much electricity.
- Versatility: You will also love convection oven because of the multiple functionalities that they can deliver. You can use them not only for reheating, but even for roasting, baking, toasting, and broiling, among other things.
Choosing the Best Convection Oven
To easily narrow down the possibilities, the following are some of the most important factors you have to take into consideration:
- Price: Start by setting a budget in mind, which will allow you to limit the options based on what is suitable for how much money you have. However, do not make the mistake of choosing one product only because it is the cheapest in the market.
- Reviews: To evaluate the good and the bad about each product, take time to go online and search for feedbacks from other users. With their experiences and insights, you will learn about different products and what you can anticipate with their use.
- Size: Consider your countertop space to decide what size of oven is the best for the kitchen. Also, think about the members of the household or the quantity that you will often cook to decide on the appropriate size.
- Ease of Use: The convection oven must be filled with features that will make it user-friendly. There should be controls that are easy to access. A timer will also be convenient. It will also be good if there is a digital display. A transparent door is also better since it will make it easy to monitor the progress of cooking.
- Interior Construction: Take a look at the materials that are used in the interior. Aluminized steel is the most common and affordable. Porcelain will be beneficial in the reduction of bacteria. Meanwhile, stainless steel is durable and can resist corrosion.
- Versatility: Choose a versatile convection oven, which will allow it to do more. In a single appliance, a convection oven must be able to perform other functions, such as broiling, baking, and roasting, among other things.
- Ease of Cleaning: Through the years, it is inevitable that the oven will show signs of wear and tear. Pick one that will be effortless to clean and maintain. Having a drip tray is good to minimize mess. Also, the exterior and interior should be non-stick and should be easy to clean even with just a cloth.
- Ease of Cleaning: Through the years, it is inevitable that the oven will show signs of wear and tear. Pick one that will be effortless to clean and maintain. Having a drip tray is good to minimize mess. Also, the exterior and interior should be non-stick and should be easy to clean even with just a cloth.
- Style: Do not forget to consider the aesthetics of the oven that you will choose. This is one appliance that is often exposed in the kitchen, which is why it is important to make sure that it is stylish and will complement the look of the entire space.
- Warranty: What if the product becomes defective after a few months? What if some parts require a replacement? It will be good if there is an extensive warranty coverage, which can provide you with peace of mind.
Tips in Using your Convection Oven
To make the most out of your convection oven and to achieve the best outcomes all the time, below are some of the most important things to keep in mind:
- One of the most important is to use the right cookware. This will ensure the even distribution of heat in the food. Shallow utensils are the best. The low sides of the pans will improve the circulation of air.
- It is also important to lower the temperature by as much as 25 degrees Fahrenheit. This is because it is highly-efficient, and hence, the temperature is already naturally high compared to conventional oven.
- If you are baking breads, it will be good to place a pan filled with water in the center of the oven. This will create steam. In turn, the latter will create a crispy and thin crust that crackles with every bite.
- On the other hand, if you want to roast, dry brine and refrigerate the meat before putting it in the convection oven, which will help to optimize its flavor.
Below is a short video that shows more tips on how to use a convection oven:
Top Picks for the Best Convection Oven
Below are the products that can provide the best bang for the buck. To help you decide, we will also look at some of the features that give them an edge above many others in the marketplace, as well as their pros and cons.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2021-11-29 at 14:26 PST - Details/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- Easy access to food and countertop, easy to clean food can’t spill on door
- Bake, broil & toast functions, convection circulates air for faster, even cooking, removable crumb tray
- 30 minute timer with ready bell and optional stay-on setting
- Includes bake pan and bake rack with two rack positions
- Fits a 9 x 11 inches bake pan, 12 inches pizza, or 6 slices of toast, dimensions (H x W x D) 9.41 x 18.74 x 15.24 inches
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2021-11-29 at 14:26 PST - Details/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- 1800-Watts with 7 functions: air fry, convection bake, convection broil, bake, broil, Warm, toast
- 0. 6 cubic foot non-stick interior with oven light. Dimensions (L x W x H): 15. 50 x 16. 00 x 14. 00 inches
- Capacity: toast 6 slices of bread, air fry 3lbs of chicken wings, bake a 12-inch pizza or roast a 4 pound chicken
- Adjustable thermostat with 60-minute timer/auto shutoff, toast shade selector-timer.UC Cubic Feet: 3.249 lb
- Includes: oven rack, baking pan, air fryer rack/basket. Mc cubic feet: 3. 390
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2021-11-29 at 15:57 PST - Details/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- DIGITAL CRISP CONTROL TECHNOLOGY: Precision-controlled temperature, heat source, and airflow for ultimate versatility and optimum cooking performance.
- 8-IN-1 VERSATILITY: The ultimate meal-making machine with 8-in-1 functionality: Air Fry, Air Roast, Air Broil, Bake, Bagel, Toast, Dehydrate, and Keep Warm all in one powerful, 1800-watt appliance.
- LESS FAT: Eat all of your air fried favorites guilt-free with up to 75% less fat when using the Air Fry function vs. traditional deep frying. Tested against hand-cut, deep fried French Fries.
- FASTER COOKING: Cooks up to 60% faster than a traditional oven on Air Roast; 60-second preheat; full meals in as little as 20 minutes.
- LARGE CAPACITY: 45% larger usable pan cooking area vs. the flat surface area of the Cuisinart toa-60 and toa-65 pan. Fits a 13" Pizza, up to 9 slices of toast, or 6 chicken breasts (6–8 oz. each).
- RECLAIM YOUR COUNTER SPACE: Takes up 50% less space when you flip it up and away to store against your kitchen backsplash.
- SELECT TOAST DONENESS: Toast and bagels done the way you like with a toast darkness selector to get it just right.
- EASY CLEANING: Includes a removable crumb tray and an easily accessible back panel for deep cleaning.
- WHAT’S INCLUDED: Countertop Oven, Air Fry Basket, Sheet Pan, Wire Rack & Removable Crumb Tray.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2021-11-29 at 13:56 PST - Details/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- The Breville Smart Oven Pro with Element iQ System is a high performance countertop oven; Reduce your cooking time by up to 30% using the convection setting and choose from 10 cooking functions as an interior oven light guides you to perfection
- Element iQ System: Using 5 independent quartz elements, smart algorithms steer power to where and when it's needed to create the ideal cooking environment for perfect results every time; Fast 1800 Watt preheat gets your meals on the table more quickly
- Convection Powered: The Smart Oven Pro's convection setting reduces cooking time by up to 30%; An inbuilt fan circulates the hot air within the oven which speeds the cooking process by stripping away the cold air that surrounds your food
- 10 Cooking Functions: versatile countertop oven with 10 cooking functions to guide you to perfection: Toast, Bagel, Bake, Roast, Broil, Pizza, Cookies, Reheat, Warm and Slow cook
- Smart Oven with Slow Cook Function: Take your time to tenderize and develop complex flavors using the slow cook function, designed for long cook times at low temperatures; Slow Cook for up to 10 hours before the setting automatically turns to keep warm
- Large Capacity: Large 18.5 x 15.7 x 11.1 inch interior with enough room for 6 slices of bread, 13 inch pizza, roast chicken and a 9 cup muffin tray and even for slow cooking with a 4.4 qt Dutch oven
- Interior Oven Light: Integrated oven light automatically turns on at the end of the cooking cycle to help you see inside; Auto shut off and independently controlled button; Replaceable componentry like your regular large oven.
- LCD Display: LCD display to easily access the built in smart functionality, choose from 10 cooking functions; The LCD also indicates when pre-heat has completed and automatically begins to count down on the cooking time for perfect results
- Included Accessories: One Oven Rack; 12 x 12 inch Enamel Baking Pan; 12 x12 inch Enamel Broiling Rack and 13 inch Non-Stick Pizza Pan
- Warranty: 1 Year Limited Product Warranty; Power: 1800 Watts; Voltage: 110 to 120 Volts
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2021-11-29 at 14:26 PST - Details/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- Single door pull opens both doors with 1 hand ease and convenience
- Digital controls provide precise cooking time and temperature to take the guesswork out of cooking
- Turbo convection baking technology cooks faster and browns more evenly
- Two racks provide maximum cooking flexibility; This oven control allows you to slowly cook your food at a preset temperature of 150°F for an adjustable time of upto 6 hours
- Extra large interior accommodates 2 16 inches pizzas; Preheat setting gets oven temperature up to where you need for precise cooking
- 90 minute timer with signal turns oven off automatically
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2021-11-29 at 14:26 PST - Details/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Conclusion
Indeed, the best convection oven will make an excellent addition to your roster of kitchen appliances. It is versatile, compact, and efficient. It can deliver an abundance of benefits, but only if you choose the right product.
If there is one that stands out from the products that we have briefly discussed above, it is Breville. It can deliver multiple functionalities and has an elegant design. It is also intelligent as it automatically adjusts temperature based on what is needed.
