Conventional Ovens Vs Convection (Fan) Ovens

What Are the Benefits of a Convection Oven?

Convection ovens offer a large range of benefits, especially compared to more traditional-styled ovens. If you’re wondering whether to purchase a convection oven, these are some of the benefits they offer: 

• Faster Cooking: The circulating hot air in convection ovens cooks food faster than traditional ovens, often reducing cooking time by up to 25% (in some cases, 70%).

• Improved Energy Efficiency: Due to quicker cooking times and lower temperature requirements, convection ovens can save a significant amount of energy compared to conventional ovens.

• Even Heat Distribution: With fan-driven air circulation, convection ovens eliminate hot spots, helping food cook evenly across the entire cooking surface.

• Improved Flavour and Texture: Convection heat can crisp and brown foods beautifully, ideal for roasting meats and vegetables, as well as baking pies with a golden crust.

• Better Multi-Rack Cooking: The even heat makes it easier to cook multiple dishes on different racks simultaneously, especially useful for large meals or batch baking.

Versatile Cooking: Convection ovens handle a wide variety of cooking methods, from roasting to baking, making them a flexible choice for many different culinary tasks.

A conventional oven is widely regarded as a “traditional oven”. Conventional ovens are fitted with two heating elements inside the oven cavity; one is found at the top, delivering intense top-down heat, and the other is found at the bottom, acting as the primary heat source.

Conventional ovens are great for certain types of foods, with large cuts of meat - such as beef or whole chicken - roasting particularly well near the bottom heating element. The top heating element is effective for browning or grilling foods, such as casseroles.

Unlike convection ovens, conventional ovens do not feature a fan, meaning the hot air inside the oven cavity does not circulate, which can sometimes lead to hotspots in your food. The placement of your food will indicate how quickly it cooks, with food placed closest to the heating source cooking the fastest.

What Are the Benefits of a Conventional Oven?

Conventional ovens are a reliable choice for many households, due to the following advantages they provide:

• Simplicity and Familiarity: Since conventional ovens have been the most commonly used for a long time, they are widely understood and easy to operate. 

• Cheaper Models: Conventional ovens are typically slightly cheaper compared to other oven types, making them a popular choice for budget-conscious buyers. 

• Temperature Gradient: Depending on where dishes are placed in the oven, you can achieve different results, improving control and flexibility when cooking meals which require different temperatures or cooking times. 

Conventional and convection ovens each come with unique functions and settings that suit different cooking styles and needs. Let’s take a look at the most distinct functions of both types of ovens:

Convection Oven Functions

•  Convection Bake: Uses the fan and exhaust to circulate air around the food, ensuring even cooking and browning; ideal for pastries, cookies, and tray-bake meals.

• Convection Roast: This mode is excellent for roasting meats and vegetables, as it ensures a crispy, golden-brown exterior while keeping the inside tender and flavoursome.

• Dehydrate: Some convection ovens offer a dehydrate setting, circulating dry air at a low temperature to remove moisture from foods like fruits and vegetables.

•  Proving: Some convection ovens have a proving function, providing a warm, controlled environment for rising dough, ideal for bread baking.

•  Air Frying: Many modern convection ovens come with an air fry feature, which uses high-speed fans to achieve crispy textures similar to frying but with less oil.

•  Self-Cleaning: Many convection ovens feature a self-cleaning mode that uses high heat to burn off residue, known as pyrolytic cleaning.

•  Pizza Function: A specialised setting that combines top and bottom heat with convection for perfectly baked pizzas with a crispy crust.

•  Defrost:  Uses low heat and a steady airflow to safely defrost frozen foods for consumption without cooking them.

•  Eco Mode: Designed for energy-efficient cooking, using lower temperatures and reduced energy consumption.

Conventional Oven Functions

•  Conventional Bake: Heats from the bottom, providing steady and even heat for baking items like cakes, cookies, and casseroles.

•  Fan-Assisted Bake: Some conventional ovens may have a fan to help distribute heat, although not as intensively as a convection oven.

•  Grill: Uses top heat to quickly brown or crisp food surfaces, ideal for finishing dishes like steaks, vegetables, or gratins.

•  Keep-Warm: Keeps food warm at a low temperature, perfect for holding dishes at the desired serving temperature.

•  Self-Cleaning: Like convection ovens, some conventional ovens offer self-cleaning functions for easy maintenance. 

It is important to note that because many convection ovens can operate using both heating technologies, your oven may feature a symbol to activate convection or conventional cooking methods. 

How can you tell if you have a convection or conventional oven?

The biggest giveaway is the presence of a fan within the oven cavity; if it has one, then it is likely a convection oven. Additionally, check your user manual or technical specifications, as convection ovens will usually state that they have convection features. 

What type of oven cooks food faster?

Many convection ovens are capable of cooking food up to 25% faster than traditional conventional ovens due to their fan-driven heat, which circulates around the food. However, some innovative models, such as Smeg’s Omnichef range, can cook up to 70% quicker!

Which is best for baking cakes?

Conventional ovens are often preferred for baking cakes, as they provide gentle, consistent heat that helps cakes rise evenly without risking browning the tops too quickly. However, convection ovens can also be used successfully for cakes if adjustments are made.

Do I need to adjust recipes for a convection oven?

Yes, you may need to adjust cooking times and temperatures when using a convection oven. Keep an eye on the food as it cooks, as convection ovens can vary in performance. Use a thermometer or temperature probe to assess the progress of your meal until you’re more familiar with the timings and temperatures of your favourite foods.

Are convection ovens more expensive than conventional ovens?

Convection ovens are generally slightly more expensive than conventional ovens due to their additional features and technology. However, convection ovens offer long-term cost savings through reductions in energy bill expenses since these appliances are more energy efficient.

Can I use both conventional and convection settings in one oven?

Yes, many modern ovens offer both conventional and convection settings, allowing you to choose the best cooking method for your needs. You can switch between modes depending on the dish you are preparing.

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