Convection in the oven: what is it and what is it for
When choosing home appliances in a store, we are always offered the one that has a lot of advantages and is more expensive. There are functions that are extremely necessary, and there are those that serve only as a marketing ploy. Convection in the oven: what is it and why is it needed? Not every housewife knows about this. The editors of the online magazine homemaster.techinfolux.com/en/ have tried to understand this issue in as much detail as possible.
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Convection in the oven: what is it
The word "convection" itself comes from the Latin convectio, which literally translates as "delivery". Convection is a special type of heat exchange process, the transfer of internal energy of which occurs in directed jets. Previously, in our kitchens there were standard ovens, almost no different from each other. The bottom was equipped with a double bottom, inside which the burners were located. After warming up oven you could put baking trays in it. The upper part of the pie or roast goose browned only due to the movement of the heated air masses. At the same time, a fairly common case when dishes were unevenly baked or burnt. Sometimes you had to turn the baking sheet, risking spoiling the dish.
In modern kitchens, ovens with convection function are increasingly common. In most cases, they have two or more heating elements at the top and bottom. But even in such models, food sometimes burns and is not baked. So what is convection mode in the oven? After all, the quality of cooking depends on him.
Convection is the process of movement of heat masses inside the enclosed space of the cabinet.The attentive reader will certainly understand that even in the old type of technique it is necessarily present, since this process is absolutely natural. The movement of heat energy allows food to bake faster. How evenly and efficiently this happens is another question. It is this problem that manufacturers of modern technology are trying to solve.
Convection types
There are two types of convection:
- free;
- forced.
Free, as we found out earlier, any oven can boast. Forced is considered an additional function and differs in that the movement of air inside the chamber occurs automatically due to the rotation of the fan blades.
Advantages and disadvantages of convection ovens
Going to the store, it will be better if the buyer familiarizes himself with the advantages and disadvantages of modern technology in advance. This will allow you not to overpay for useless functions. Let's highlight the pros and cons of free and forced convection ovens in a pivot table.
Oven type | Advantages | disadvantages |
---|---|---|
Free convection | Availability in every model; Low cost of equipment. | Uneven baking and roasting; Possibility to cook only one dish; Slow heating to a certain temperature. |
Forced convection | Fast heating of the oven; The ability to cook several dishes at the same time; Uniform baking and roasting. | Relatively high price. |
Modern ovens have comparatively more advantages. It's all about their structure.
How the convection oven works
Having dealt with the question of what the term "convection" in the oven means, let's go directly to the structure of the device. So, this one differs from a conventional oven by the presence of a fan, which is called a convector. It is he who sets the hot air in motion.
The convector can be:
- simple;
- complicated.
The first one performs only the function of blowing, while the complex one complements the technique with additional functions:
- provision of additional heating due to the presence of a heating device - heating element;
- fast preparation of dishes due to the built-in amplifier;
- the possibility of steam cooking with a steam generator.
Thus, the forced convection mode is necessary if you often cook in the oven, like the oven.
Oven convection mode icon and other pictograms
Already in the store, one cannot fail to notice various icons on the equipment panel that indicate a functional range. It's easy to guess what exactly the icon means. So, the dashes indicate the heating elements, the teeth indicate the grill function, and the convector is drawn in the form of a fan. By setting the desired mode, you can either fry the dish or make it crispy. Below is a description of the pictograms, among them in the photo and the convection icon in the oven.
What convection gives in different types of ovens
Today the assortment of the market offers to choose the model that would suit the hostess in everything. Ovens are divided into two main types:
- electrical;
- gas.
In addition, they can be either built-in or free-standing. The most common are those that are inseparable from stoves. If the stove and oven are fueled with natural gas, the convection function is activated by connecting the device to the mains. The auto-ignition system works on the same principle.
What is convection in a gas oven for?
Gas stoves with convection of a gas oven are in demand due to the fact that this fuel is cheaper than electricity. Outwardly, they are no different from ordinary ones, but a fan is built into the back wall, which ensures uniform heating. The main advantage of a convector in gas stoves is an increase in the heating rate, because, as a standard, with them you have to wait much longer for heating to the desired temperature than with electric ones.
It is also sometimes advisable to purchase separately slab surface for cooking and a separately built-in gas oven with convection. The convector can be equipped with a steam blower function. Such a model will cost more than a standard stove, but it will add the ability to cook healthy steamed dishes.
Why do you need convection in an electric oven
So what is convection in an electric stove oven, and what is it for? Electrical cabinets are considered more powerful than gas ones. If in the latter the maximum temperature level is fixed at around + 230-250 ° C, then electric ovens quickly and easily heat up to + 300 ° C. In this regard, the question often arises, is convection necessary in an electric oven?
The answer is quite obvious: for those who bake a lot, do it professionally, like to cook meat, fish, conduct experiments at home, this function is simply necessary. It will create uniform air heating inside the chamber. The device is available as part of an electric hob, when combining a combination of a gas hob and an electric oven, as an independent built-in cabinet, operating exclusively from the mains. You can also buy a mini electric convection tabletop oven if space allows.
Important! Knowing what convection is in an electric oven, it is easy to guess that most models of equipment consume a large amount of electricity. Do not install devices where the wiring system is outdated. Electricians prefer to lay a cable with a cross section of 4 mm for them or proceed from the power already acquired.
Related article:
What is the best electric built-in oven: reviews. Built-in products that are easily placed inside the kitchen unit are becoming more and more popular. How to choose the right built-in electric oven, read the special publication.
What is convection in an oven with a grill function for?
Modern technology is often equipped with the function grill... It happens:
- electric;
- gas.
When cooking meat on gas, its taste will be close to that of cooking on charcoal. This compares it favorably with the electric one, which, by the way, is more convenient to use. The blow-off function allows you to activate one of the additional buttons:
- airfryer;
- turbo grill.
The airfryer allows you to achieve excellent results and crispy crust without a skewer due to uniform heating. Turbo means the operation of all heating elements and a fan, which allows not only to evenly distribute the heat, but also to cook the dish faster.
Convection oven recipes are often included with a household appliance.
Microwave function operation
For a small family, the microwave can be a good substitute for the oven. Modern models are even equipped with a grill.
The essence of the convector's operation in this case is no different from the standard: the fan creates the pressure of the air masses, achieving their uniform distribution. Once the goal is reached, it turns off. If the temperature drops slightly, the function is automatically reactivated. The cooking speed is approximately halved.For students, a family of two or singles, a modern microwave is a great alternative to an expensive oven. You can also buy an inexpensive electric tabletop oven with convection after reading the reviews.
Related article:
Oven with microwave function. What it is, characteristics, selection criteria, an overview of the most popular models with owner reviews and prices - read the publication.
Consumer reviews
Before opting for a particular model, you should pay attention to the reviews.
Review of Zanussi ZLB 331:
Review of Gorenje BO7454DX:
Feedback on the VitekVT-2490W mini-oven:
Pastries, juicy meat, grilled fish with vegetables, baked potatoes - all this is the merit of ovens and mini-ovens equipped with a fan. They make life easier for housewives and allow you to diversify the menu. It should be noted that the prices for ovens and stoves with this function are not much higher than the cost of middle-class appliances without such a function. On average, the stove will cost 25,000 rubles.
If you have any questions, be sure to ask them in the comments. We will be happy to answer them and help you choose the perfect appliance for your home.