What Can You Cook in a Countertop Convection Oven?

You’re probably already familiar with a conventional oven, but have you tried cooking with a countertop convection unit? If you’re curious to know what dishes you can cook with this appliance, we’ve got your back.

You don’t even have to buy the expensive kind; just make sure it has all the right features, and you can cook almost anything in it. Like any new device, though, it would help if you learn about how it works and how to use it to its full potential.

What Is a Countertop Convection Oven?

A countertop convection oven has a fan that evenly distributes the air around its cavity, providing a well-balanced heat to cook food faster. It typically offers a steady temperature coming from heating elements from either the bottom, top, or both sources.

Its biggest selling point is the fact that it cooks food in less time but in a lower temperature setting. This is thanks to the hot air that circulates inside. In addition to quick and even cooking, a convection oven offers a wide range of benefits and cooking options that you can enjoy.

Cooking With a Convection Oven

If your recipe is set for a traditional oven, remember to adjust both the temperature and cooking time. We suggest lowering the temperature by 25 degrees so as to prevent overcooking the food. As for the time, cut it by at least a third of the recommended setting.

Another important thing to remember is to use the appropriate pans. It will allow the hot air to freely go around the food during the cooking process. Consistent airflow is part of the convection oven’s cooking process, so it is highly advised that you don’t cover the dish unless necessary.

Always keep an eye on the food you are cooking, especially if you are new to convection cooking. Check the doneness of whatever you are cooking 10 minutes before your set time ends to see if you need the additional cooking time or not.

Food You Can Cook in a Countertop Convection Oven

While you can cook almost any dish in a convection oven, not all of them will turn out successfully. As with any recipe, there are specific dishes that are best cooked in a traditional oven. Cakes, for example, come out flat and dense when cooked in a convection oven because the air inside sucks the moisture out.

Here are some foods you can cook in a countertop convection oven that will produce excellent results:

Meat

We are talking about all kinds of meat. The circulating air in the oven can roast the meat perfectly, producing a crispy skin with juicy meat inside. You can also dehydrate thin strips of meat faster in a convection oven.

Pies and Cookies

Baking cookies in a convection oven results in uniform doneness and color. Additionally, pastries come out fluffy and flaky.

Fruits and Vegetables

The natural sugars of fruits and vegetables caramelize faster because of the rotating hot air, providing crispy edges with concentrated flavors in the middle. Thinly sliced fruits dry out faster in a convection oven.

Nuts and Grains

Toasting nuts and grains in a convection oven produces a golden color and only takes around three to seven minutes to complete.

When To Use the Convection Setting

Most modern ovens have a dedicated button for the convection cooking function. This is because some dishes don’t require the rotating hot air while cooking. Here are the only times you need to utilize the convection setting on your countertop oven:

Roasting

Turn on the convection function every time you are roasting meats and vegetables. The food is cooked evenly in less time with crispy and caramelize exteriors.

Baking Pies and Pastries

The rotating hot air creates steam and melts the fat quicker, which is essential in lifting the dough in pies and pastries.

Baking Cookies

Utilizing the convection setting in your oven allows you to bake several trays of cookies with uniform results.

Cooking a Covered Dish

If you are cooking something that needed covering with a lid or a foil, it’s better to use the convection function to speed up the process.

Toasting or Dehydrating

Toasting or dehydrating means removing moisture from the food. Use the convection setting to turn on the fan and exhaust system of the unit to speed up the process.

Cooking in a Countertop Convection Oven

Are you aiming for the “crispy outside but juicy and tasty inside” kind of cooking? Then you have to utilize that convection setting in your oven. Cook your family’s favorite dishes faster and with impressive results using this versatile countertop convection oven.

This countertop appliance is the perfect choice for cooking small batches of food with its multiple preset options for your everyday dishes. What’s more, it uses less energy and does not emit too much heat during the cooking process. With a wide range of choices, you can pick one that suits your cooking needs.