Install a counter convection oven with less effort than a full-sized version.
You do not need to have space for a wall oven to take advantage of cooking in a convection oven. Countertop units are available for smaller spaces. If you are thinking of buying a half-size convection oven, carefully weigh the advantages and disadvantages of owning and using this appliance to ensure you are getting the cooking device you need. Does this Spark an idea?
How Convection Ovens Work
Convection ovens cook food faster than conventional ovens. A fan inside the convection oven circulates the heated air inside the oven, eliminating hot and cold spots and more quickly cooking the food inside. These ovens encourage browning more than conventional ovens, but their powerful fans make them damaging to delicate foods such as meringues or souffles.
Half-sized Convection Oven Options
Convection ovens to fit atop the counter are available in varieties based on the cooking method used. Simple convection ovens are smaller versions of larger convection ovens. Combination convection and microwave ovens use both convection and microwave for even faster cooking than convection ovens alone. Look for a countertop model to fit your largest baking pan.
Advantages of Counter Convection Ovens
Counter convection ovens are used the same way as wall convection ovens, but preheating is faster than a full-sized convection oven because the smaller cooking chamber of the counter model heats faster. Because the ovens preheat and cook faster than wall ovens, they use 25 percent less energy than a conventional oven, according to "Energy Tips: Coping With Energy Problems in a Power Hungry Culture." Countertop convection ovens do not require making a space in the wall for installation; just set the oven on a counter and plug it into an outlet.
Disadvantages of Countertop Convection Ovens
Countertop convection ovens are not perfect. Like other ovens, the space around a counter oven can get hot. Half-sized convection ovens can burn your food if you do not make adjustments to the temperature or cooking time. Try reducing the cooking temperature 25 degrees less than your recipe requires or shortening the cooking time by one to two minutes. The fan in the oven can blow meringue toppings apart. Select a model with an option to turn off the fan. When cooking in the smaller convection oven, ensure that your largest baking sheet fits into the oven with at least 1 inch of space on all sides to allow for air flow.
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