Understanding True Convection Ranges

If you’re considering a new range, you may have already decided to go for an electric model rather than a gas range. But, your decision is not yet fully made, as you will need to decide whether to choose a traditional or true convection range.

Many people are unaware of the fantastic potential of true convection technology that could revolutionize your cooking experiences. True convection can elevate your cooking skills as it offers efficient, accurate and consistent cooking. If you can become familiar with true convection, you can make an informed decision about whether it is a good choice for you.

The True Convection Basics:

If you’re interested in kitchens and cooking, you may be aware that new technology is continually being developed that can step up your home cooking game. True convection technology incorporates powerful exhaust systems and fans for even heat distribution. This moves the hot air around the oven cavity to keep steady temperatures and avoid those problematic hot and cold spots. True convection or as it is sometimes called European convection offers better heat control and distribution so your dishes will be cooked more evenly and browned better for more delicious results.

True Convection vs Traditional Convection:

If you’ve already used a traditional convection range, you may be wondering whether true convection is the same. The key difference between these technologies is in how the hot air is moved around the oven cavity. With a traditional convection oven, the air is moved just using a fan, but a true convection range has both a fan and an exhaust system.

This combination provides more efficient and precision heat distribution for faster cook times and greater consistency in the results. This is why many professionals and enthusiastic home cooks consider true convection to be a massive upgrade to the cooking experience.

Enhancing Your Cooking Experience:

When you use true convection range technology you can make significant cooking changes. You can enjoy control and precision in your kitchen, making meals that are almost as good as you would get in a fancy restaurant. The technology does take a little bit of getting used to, as dishes will cook faster. So, initially, you do need to be careful about overcooking your meals. True convection can cook your food quickly and evenly, so you can enjoy delicious meals and cook with confidence.

The Advantages of True Convection Ranges:

The main advantage of true convection technology is that it provides consistent temperature distribution. This leads to more even cooking as you won’t have areas of the oven cavity that are cooler or warmer than others. While this is offered with conventional convection ranges, the use of a powerful fan together with an exhaust system creates even more effective results.

This combination also offers quicker cooking times. The food is heated up more quickly due to the air movement from the fan. So, you can not only enjoy your favorite dishes faster, but you’ll save energy as the cook times are reduced.

True convection can revolutionize your cooking, as it can deliver crisp, golden brown foods that may be difficult to achieve with a conventional oven. Whether you like to cook traditional dishes or enjoy baking cakes and bread, the even temperatures and heat distribution can provide more impressive results and save time to impress your family and guests.

The Potential Disadvantages of True Convection Ranges:

Although true convection technology is impressive, there are a couple of potential disadvantages that you will need to assess to determine if this type of range is best for your home. The main disadvantage of true convection is that these ranges tend to have a higher price tag initially. While you may enjoy energy savings in the long term, you will need to be prepared for a higher initial cost. So, if you don’t cook regularly, you will need to think about whether it would be beneficial to pay more for your new range if you’re not going to get the full benefits of this technology.

Another potential disadvantage is that there is a learning curve associated with true convection ranges. While this technology does offer faster results, you will need to get used to cooking in this way. You may have tried and true recipes that you cook regularly, but you may find that the food is over-dried if you don’t recalibrate your timings. You may need to do a little trial and error to refine your recipes to suit this type of cooking.

You also need to be careful when you’re cooking particularly dishes such as meats, as the constant air circulation does put them at risk of being dried out if you don’t cook with sufficient moisture or carefully monitor the cook.

Choosing the Best Range for Your Kitchen:

If you’re thinking about a true convection range, there are a few key things that you’ll need to consider before you make a purchase decision. As with any new range, you should check the size of the oven and cooktops to ensure that they are sufficient for your needs and will fit in your current kitchen layout. True convection ranges are available in a variety of sizes with oven capacities that vary from 4.6 to 6.2 cubic feet. This makes it easier to find a model that will fit in your kitchen and provide adequate space for your typical cooking practices.

You will also need to assess the cooktop arrangement. Most true convection ranges will have an electric cooktop, but this could be a standard cooktop or induction. But, some models may be offered as a dual fuel range. This means that you’ll have true convection ovens, but with gas burners. This type of range is only suitable if you already have a gas hookup or are prepared to have one installed. You will also have a choice of four or six burners. Think about how you typically prepare meals and whether you would benefit from having access to more burners.

Finally, look at the features and functions offered with each model. Some range models have exclusive functions such as quick preheat or self cleaning, which can make cooking and the clean up afterwards easier and more enjoyable.

Getting the Best From True Convection in Your Kitchen

Since true convection differs from conventional technology, there are a few things that you can do to arrange your kitchen to get the best results.

Bakeware and Oven Racks:

Since the air circulates around the oven cavity, true convection does provide fairly consistent and even temperatures, so you will need to think about your rack placement. You may need to move the racks around to get the best results for particular dishes or foods. This does require a little trial and error, but the finished results should be worth the effort.

You should also assess your current bakeware. Thin walled, lighter colored trays and pans tend to work best with this type of oven, as it allows the heat to better penetrate the food. You should avoid using dark, heavy bakeware that may block the heat and impede the cooking process.

Temperature Adjustments:

Since true convection uses a fan to circulate the hot air, you can reduce the cooking temperature to achieve similar results to conventional oven cooking. You may be able to reduce the cooking temperature by 25 to 50ºf, but you will need to experiment with different temperatures to work out which one is best for specific dishes and family favorites.

Cook Time Modifications:

Even if you reduce the cooking temperature, you may still be surprised at how quickly your food is cooked when you use true convection. When cooking in a true convection range, the cook time could be reduced by 10 to 25%, so you should watch over your food and check it is done several minutes early to ensure perfect results.

Maintenance and Cleaning:

As with any range, your new true convection range will need routine cleaning to keep it looking and working at its best. If there are any smudges or spills on the exterior of the range, use a damp cloth to wipe them away as soon as possible. You can also use a mild soap to clean the walls and shelves of the oven. You should avoid using abrasive chemicals on the oven surfaces as they could cause damage.

In most cases, even sticky or stubborn food spills will be easier to clean when the oven is still slightly warm. You should avoid trying to clean the stain immediately as you could suffer an injury. But, before the oven has fully cooled and the spill has time to set, use a damp cloth to wipe up the mess.

If your oven needs a deep cleaning, you should take out the racks and wash using a degreaser. If there are tough stains or residue inside the oven cavity use a specialized oven cleaner product that is compatible with your range according to the manufacturer recommendations. Finally, wipe the gasket that is fitted around the oven door to remove any food debris and keep it sealed, which will prevent heat loss.

You can also prolong the lifespan of your new appliance by checking and replacing the door seal as needed, inspecting and cleaning the heating elements and fan. You should also refer to the manufacturer’s instructions to update the software or firmware to ensure the best possible performance.

If you’re considering a new convection range, you can explore your options with this online collection or speak to one of our home appliance experts for additional help and guidance.