How to cook meat in a convection oven?

Using an oven can be daunting for many. Ovens are not reliable in terms of even cooking, they say. We disagree. Ovens can be your best friends in the kitchen, but the oven has to be of the right kind. There is a team of professional chefs who swear by the advantages of a convection oven. You get evenly cooked, properly browned food each time.

Just like any other gadget around your house, you need to understand how and when to use a convection oven. It will change the game for you, we promise!

How is a convection oven different from a conventional oven?

A conventional oven cooks food by heating the air inside it. The air that is heated remains stagnant. So, you can never be sure of the ven cooking. However, with a convection oven, the air inside the oven is heated plus circulated by the built-in fans. It ensures that the food gets cooked evenly from all sides.

Why choose a convection oven over a conventional oven?

Simply put, it is better in all the ways. However, to clarify let us put together some pros of the convection oven:

1. You must have often noticed that with a conventional oven, the food gets cooked faster at one part as compared to the other. Or, you may end up with a part of the food being burned while the other is just well-cooked. It is because a conventional oven may have hot spots due to stagnant air inside it. With a conventional oven, the built-in fans circulate the air, therefore, giving you perfectly cooked food each time.
2. Convection ovens cook food up to 25% faster than conventional ovens. It is because the hot air is directly blown on the food. Thanks to the fans again.
3. With a convection oven, you get crispier and browner food. It is because a conventional oven tends to create humidity because of a lack of ventilation. However, with a convection oven, the fans ensure proper air circulation and ventilation.
4. Convection ovens are energy efficient. If the food gets cooked faster, it will save energy.

When not to use a convection oven?

Everything comes with a pack full of pros and cons. A convection oven is no different. Just like a team of professional chefs who swear by the benefits of a convection oven, there is another team who claims not to use a convection oven for delicate baking like cakes, cookies, biscuits, bread, and custard. The reason behind this is that the air circulation can inhibit the setting process that may cause the batter to not rise properly.

Stella Parks, an award-winning pastry chef tweeted,

In American baked goods, convection should never be used unless a recipe specifically calls for it. In a home oven, the hot, dry air accelerates crust formation in cakes, cookies, and biscuits which is generally counterproductive to the desired rise.

In simpler words, a convection oven does not give the humidity needed for the proper baking of these delicate foods.

Some key points to remember while using a convection oven:

1. If using a traditional cookbook recipe, make sure to tweak the recipe as it is usually developed keeping in mind the conventional oven. Just lower down the temperature by 25 degrees and check your food a little earlier than the mentioned time as a convection oven cooks food faster.
2. Keep it breathable for your food. Since a convection oven relies on the proper circulation of air, make sure your food is spaced properly and evenly. Avoid over crowding as it may suffocate your food ;)
3. Use low-sided or rimless pans or baking sheets. Again, the air needs to circulate. High-sided or rimmed pans may hinder air circulation

How to cook meat in a convection oven?

Roasting meat is so easy and so rewarding. You can just put in a slab or cut pieces of meat, some seasoning, and put it in the oven. It will cook, it has to cook!

Just be careful about which meat cut you are using. For tender cuts or small pieces adjust your oven accordingly as a convection oven cooks and browns food faster. For tougher and thicker pieces you may need to sear the meat first.

The key is to understand the cooking time and temperature of your oven. You will get the hang of it in no time, we know!

Just a parting tip, If you are convinced about buying a convection oven, check out Shtraders. They offer the best convection oven prices in K-town.