Countertop convection ovens can be found in many modern kitchens whether there is a conventional oven available or not. Countertop convection ovens have many advantages because of their small size and diverse functionality. The small size leaves more space is a small kitchen and the efficient heating offers economical energy usage.

But size and efficiency aren’t the only reasons countertop convection oven cooking is gaining in popularity.

People are often attracted to convection oven cooking by the flavor of the food cooked, as well as the need for the space saving features of countertop convection ovens. We’ll address the greater cooking flavors first.

Flavors of Convection Baked Food

Convection oven cooking has been a secret of chefs around the world for many years. Ever wonder why your roast beef tastes so great at your favorite restaurant—nothing like when you cook it at home? And you can’t get the baked potatoes to taste quite as good at home.

Not to mention the “to die for” flakey crusts on the pastries from your favorite bakery—which you can’t get to taste the same baked at home, even when your cousin, who worked there, smuggled you the secret recipe?

What makes the difference in that gourmet tasting food is the commercial convection oven. Chefs have been using for a long time. And chefs that use them love them.

Not only is the flavor of the food superior, the air circulates throughout the oven so the food all cooks at the same speed, regardless of placement in the oven. No more food scorched on the bottom while the tops aren’t browned evenly. And no need to cook cookies one pan at a time to get them uniform and perfect.

One of the best advantages is that convection ovens seal in the meat juices so steaks, roasts, chicken and turkey are more moist and flavorful. Pastries, such as cookies, croissants or pies, will brown evenly regardless of rack placement. Lots of pans in the oven don’t cause any problems.

And, because of the quick, even heat, the flour and butter won’t fuse but flakes to perfection. (that is why the secret recipe didn’t work at home)

Convection Ovens Come Home

So it is easy to see why convection ovens are no longer set aside for high-end restaurants, and are now a sought after addition to modern kitchens or the countertop of scores of home cooks. But what makes them work?

Countertop convection ovens, as well as a full sized convection oven or commercial convection ovens use radiant heat like traditional ovens but add air circulation to cook food more evenly and more quickly. The convection ovens use fans to force hot air all around the food. With the circulation of the hot air, the heat reaches all the foods evenly. The result is that foods warm faster so that less energy and less cooking time is required.

What happens is that the circulating air pushes away the slight layer of air which otherwise surrounds and insulates what you are cooking. This moving air creates a phenomenon somewhat like the wind chill factor you hear of on the weather news, only the factor is hotter because of the “wind” instead of colder.

Another advantage is that food cooks more evenly because the heat isn’t blocked from one dish by another. Your steak, cookies or pizza or other foodstuffs will cook at the same rate no matter where it is placed in the oven. Top, bottom, front, back—no difference.

Convection Cooking is Different

Because convection cooking is different than the majority of home cooks are used to, there is an adjustment period for switching to a convection oven. For a creative cook this is no problem and the results will be the reward for learning something new. Just follow a few convection oven tips and you will have no problems cooking like the pros. In the long run, convection cooking is much easier and more satisfying than conventional cooking.

In a convection oven most foods will cook more quickly, which can be disconcerting when you set a turkey to be ready at 5 pm and it is done to perfection at 2 pm. My daughter complained loudly with her first attempt, but loves her convection oven now.

Countertop Convection Ovens For Convenience

The next plus with countertop convection ovens is the energy and space saving nature. Because convection ovens cook more quickly and at a lower temperature, you can save money and time. It is especially helpful for cooking a small batch when you don’t want to heat up a standard size oven or cooking a large amount of food at one time because you can use all your oven racks.

There are many countertop convection ovens to choose from, as well as commercial convection ovens and combined conventional/convection ranges. You just need to decide which size is best for your kitchen and family requirements and features you want, then find the model that best suits your needs.

Some of the regular features to look for include digital or analog temperature control as well as a choice of settings for roast, broil or bake. Some manufacturers include an automatic shut off when baking is done. This is a great safety feature and especially helpful on the countertop convection ovens and especially for people like me, who need help remembering to check what’s cooking.

Countertop convection ovens are no longer the secret of leading chefs. You can have one too, regardless of the size of your kitchen or family cooking needs. Be sure you get an oven that will be large enough for your needs. Especially in the countertop models as size does vary.

There are many excellent models to choose from. Some of the most popular of the countertop convection ovens are the Delonghi convection oven, Cuisinart, Waring, Hamilton Beach, the Deni convection oven and the Farberware convection oven.

Whether it is the compact size of the countertop convection ovens that attracts you, or the large capacity of the full sized model, the advantages of quicker cooking and reduced energy costs, or perhaps the superior taste are irresistible.