What is a countertop convection oven?

A countertop convection oven is a small-scale oven you can place on your countertop without it occupying a lot of space. It is equipped with a fan that circulates air and keeps the temperature inside steady, enabling the food to cook evenly. Although every oven (even the one you currently own) has certain “convection currents” that circulate hot air, not all of them have a fan to help distribute that air. Most countertop convection ovens bake or roast the food faster because of that fan. This might sound great, but the fan doesn’t have the same impact on all foods. Meat products will be perfectly delicious and baked faster, while cookies and bread can lose their softness because the fan tends to dry out the air inside. However, most convection ovens have the option of turning the fan off.

Advantages of countertop convection ovens

  • It can bake or roast the food faster because of the fan
  • The fan also allows the food to be baked evenly so that the bottom isn’t burnt to a crisp, while the top is raw.
  • Everything that can be cooked in a regular oven can be cooked in the convection oven.
  • The meat is juicier.
  • Meat has a higher yield, which means it shrinks less during the cooking.

What do you need to take into consideration before buying a countertop convection oven?

  • Pan Size and Capacity

Pan capacity will likely be one of the most significant numbers for you to consider, as it will determine how much you can bake in your oven at one time. Get an idea of how many pans worth of products you'd like to bake in one batch and make that a key factor to consider while you shop. The max pan size that your countertop convection oven accepts is also something to consider. These ovens will often accept half-size pans and smaller, while there is a selection that can accept full-size pans. The smallest ones can only accept quarter-size pans and smaller.

  • BTU and Watt Rating

BTU, which stands for British Thermal Unit, is a way to measure the amount of heat produced by gas-powered equipment. The higher the BTU rating of a given oven, the more powerful it will be, but the more gas it will burn. Wattage is a similar measurement for electric equipment. Higher-powered equipment can cook foods faster and will have shorter recovery times, meaning that they will come back up to the set baking temperature sooner after you add cold product. High-powered equipment is preferred if you'll be cooking a lot of chilled and frozen food. For finishing and reheating, a lower-powered option will probably work just fine.

  • Controls

Digital controls provide more customization for setting baking temperature and time. Most countertop convection ovens with digital controls are also programmable, with the ability to store cooking times and temperatures for common items which can be recalled with the push of a button. This feature reduces the chance for operator error and can prevent having to throw away products because they've been baked at the wrong settings. Still, many operators prefer the simplicity and familiarity of manual controls, which are also available on these ovens.

The location of controls is important, too. Excessive heat from surrounding equipment can damage the electrical equipment. Indeed, one of the most common causes for repair calls is heat damage to the control components, so it pays to plan in advance so you can keep the controls of your oven away from the heat from other equipment like ranges, charbroilers, and griddles. You will find ovens with controls on the left side, right side, or near the bottom of the unit.

  • Additional Considerations

While it is common for manufacturers to build the interiors of their countertop convection oven with steel or aluminum, some coat theirs in porcelain. Porcelainreflects heat from the burners or elements, spreading it out across the baking chamber and providing a more even bake to everything in the oven. Also, because porcelain is smoother than bare metal, it is easier to clean than steel or aluminum and should last longer, since there is no potential for corrosion as long as the enamel stays on.

Most countertop convection ovens have only one door, but the ones with two will have either dependent or independent ones. Dependent doors both open when only one handle is pulled. On an oven with independent doors, each door opens separately. Dependent doors can make it easier to get pans in and out, but independent ones can conserve energy if only one is opened at a time.

Where to buy commercial ovens?

You can search on the Internet and find the nearest store around you or shop online.

Why choose WebKitchenStore to buy commercial ovens?

As a professional manufacturer of commercial kitchen equipment, WebKitchenStore keeps improving the quality of products and services in accordance with the concept to safeguard the security and healthiness of catering service to better satisfy the customer’s needs and demands. 

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