Convection oven - a compact kitchen appliance that allows you to cook a variety of dishes by convection. This means that the food is blown by a stream of hot air, which is directed by a fan from the heating element.
A good convection oven can replace many household appliances (steamer, kebab cooker, toaster, fryer, microwave oven, etc.), because it allows you to cook soup or bake chicken, smoke fish or fry nuts. It is a glass round flask with a lid into which a fan and a heating element are embedded.
The undoubted plus of such a kitchen appliance is the ability to cook without the use of oil and fat, while the excess fat from the food itself flows into a special pan. In addition, convection oven allows you to cook several dishes at the same time, without mixing smells and children in the room.
Main characteristics of convection oven
Having evaluated all the advantages of such a modern household appliance, one can proceed to the choice of a specific model. At the same time, you immediately need to decide for what purposes you will need a convection oven.
If you plan to use it only in order to occasionally bake meat or fish, then the budget model with a minimum set of functions is quite suitable. And for housewives who need aerogril for exquisite culinary experiments and baking, just need a multifunctional device with a set of accessories.
When choosing a convection oven (regardless of its functionality), pay attention to three main parameters:
Pan volume
This parameter is indicated by two digits. For a small family, a convection oven with a volume of 8–12 l is quite suitable, where 8l is the standard flask volume, and 12l is the maximum (increased with the help of special rings). Standard aerogrills have a volume of 10–14 liters, and appliances with a large pan (12–16 l) easily hold a whole goose or glass jars for sterilization.
Instrument power
Average values for the air convection oven are 600–1700 W, while the more powerful the device, the faster the food will be cooked in it. But too powerful a device will consume a lot of electricity, and some dishes in it can be overdried.
Type of electric heater
Most of the low-cost models are equipped with halogen heaters, and more reliable and high-quality models are equipped with a metal tubular electric heater.
But so that the dishes prepared in this modern kitchen appliance will always delight you, you should pay attention to other characteristics of the convection oven before buying it.
And it is equally important to pay attention on...
- Control method (mechanical or electronic). In simple models, two rotary knobs are usually provided, allowing you to set the desired temperature and cooking time. And in more functional aerogrills, a modern touch control panel with a set of cooking programs is used (grill, baking, stewing, etc.).
- Cover design. It can be removable (requires additional space for placement) or mounted on a bracket - more convenient to use.
- Fan speed In inexpensive devices, the fan is not regulated, and in modern functional models, the fan can operate in one of three modes.
In addition, pay attention to the presence of additional functions (including self-cleaning) and auxiliary equipment for the preparation of various dishes.
Popular convection ovens
The Russian market has a wide range of low-end models ($ 70- $ 140) for manufacturers such as Unit, Polaris, Sinbo, VES, Smile. These simple devices are designed for cooking simple dishes and have a mechanical control type, a removable lid, a halogen heater and one fan mode.
The aerogrills with improved functionality are equipped with an electronic control system, a hinged lid and a metal heating element. The price of such models starts at $ 150, and among well-known manufacturers can be noted companies such as Tefal, Bosch, Vitesse and Philips.
The most common mistakes when choosing a convection oven
In some cases, the purchase of this modern kitchen appliance does not bring satisfaction, since:
- Having decided to save, you bought a convection oven with halogen heating elements. Its maximum lifespan is 3 years, and the minimum of cooking modes and irritating eyes are unlikely to please you. Therefore it is better to stop on the device with a reliable metal heater.
- In the model purchased, the grille, which prevents direct exposure to the flow of hot air on the dish, is fixed and made of wire. In such a convection oven, most dishes will burn or dry out, and it will be very difficult to clean it. The best option is a metal removable grille with round holes.
- The total weight of the thick glass pan is often 4–8 kg, so it will be quite difficult to wash it yourself. As a rule, even models with the self-cleaning function have to be manually cleaned.
Now you know how to choose a high-quality convection oven that meets your needs, and avoid the most common mistakes when buying such a kitchen appliance.
