Convection ovens are not rare, but only a few experts know how to use this feature properly. Convection heating is different from regular heating in that the former uses a fan to circulate hot air inside the oven chamber.
There are plenty of convection and non-convection ovens out there. Some are affordable while others are quite expensive to procure.
It should be noted, if you are not aware already, that the convection feature in almost all ovens is an independent feature that can turned on and off. Therefore, this gives you ability to test out newer recipes with the convection feature while still having the regular functions.
There are so many recipes custom built for convection ovens ranging from roasting to baking. In this article, however, we will look at the best convection ovens for baking.
We will judge the ovens based on their price value, their features as well as their overall customer satisfaction.
Also Read: What is a convection toaster oven?
Top 3 Convection Ovens for Baking
4.9/5
[Best Overall]
This is a simple convection toaster oven that can fit about 6 slices of bread.
It has three simple manual knob selectors one for setting the timer, one for setting the mode and the last for setting the temperature. The timer and temperature go up to 30 mins and 450 degrees Fahrenheit respectively.
4.8/5
[Best for the Money]
The digital controls not only add to the ease of use factor of this oven, they also help in giving you much more precise control over your cooking.
You can set the temperature and timer through the buttons and the LCD screen just as you would on a typical microwave oven.
4.7/5
[Best Large Double Rack]
If you are looking for a large option that has the capacity to bake not just one, but two 12″ pizza on its dual rack, then this will appeal to you.
It comes with dedicated cake pans as well as other accessories so that you can start baking from the get go.
List of Best Convection Ovens for Baking in 2023
We find the following ovens from different price ranges to be excellent for convection baking.
- Hamilton Beach 31123D – Affordable Manual Convection Oven
- BLACK+DECKER TO3280SSD – Digital Budget Option
- Hamilton Beach 31103DA – Large Double Rack
- Cuisinart TOB-260N1 – Premium Convection Oven
- Oster French – Extra Large Convection Oven for Baking.
1. Hamilton Beach 31123D – Affordable Manual Convection Oven
A small, convenient and an affordable option for baking about a 12 inch of pizza or equivalent recipes.
First up we have a convection oven that is as basic as it can get. This is a small and a compact option for those who either have a limited kitchen counterspace or for those who are looking for an economical option overall.
This is a simple convection toaster oven that can fit about 6 slices of bread. Therefore, as far as the size, this is as small as it can get too. Anything smaller than this i.e 4 slice or 2 slice ovens, do not feature the convection fan as they are too small to accommodate one.
Keeping in line with the theme of simplicity, this oven offers no fancy controls. It has three simple manual knob selectors one for setting the timer, one for setting the mode and the last for setting the temperature.
The timer and temperature go up to 30 mins and 450 degrees Fahrenheit respectively. It should be noted that baking and convection are two different modes and cannot be selected together. You basically need to be an expert at convection baking yourself to use the convection feature for preparing cakes. muffins, pizza etc.
If you're looking for a no-frills convection oven for baking, this is the perfect choice. This toaster oven is not only visually appealing, but it's also easy to clean, making it a great addition to any kitchen.
With three of these ovens already in my possession, I can attest to its functionality and efficiency. Toasting is a breeze, and the results are always perfect.
Not only does it work better than expected, but it's also more efficient than my stove. So, if you're in the market for a toaster oven that can also heat up pizza slices, this is definitely worth considering.
2. BLACK+DECKER TO3280SSD – Digital Budget Option
This is a digital oven with a stainless steel body available at a rather affordable price tag. Can accommodate 6 slices of bread or similar sized food.
Like the previous oven, this too is a compact one with a capacity to fit about 6 slices of bread. However, what separates this from the one above is that this is a digital oven.
Hence, you will notice that is also much more expensive than oven above.
The digital controls not only add to the ease of use factor of this oven, they also help in giving you much more precise control over your cooking.
You can set the temperature and timer through the buttons and the LCD screen just as you would on a typical microwave oven.
It should also be noted that the oven has dedicated preset buttons for common food items such as toaster, pizza and frozen snacks. It also has buttons for selecting modes that include toast, broil, back, reheat and of course, convection.
Unlike the previous oven, this has a long 120 minutes timer as such, you should be able to cook recipes that take a bit longer to prepare.
Moreover, this oven has three rack positions instead of just two as found on the previous model. The three rack positions means that this oven has a taller cooking chamber that is capable of accommodating larger food items for baking or roasting.
If you're looking for a compact and visually appealing digital option, then this convection oven is the best choice for your baking needs. It's incredibly light and portable, making it easy to store away when not in use.
It heats up quickly, just like a toaster oven, and is perfect for making sandwiches. The oven is well-made, with user-friendly dials, and does exactly what it's designed to do.
3. Hamilton Beach 31103DA – Large Double Rack
A larger convection oven for baking that can accommodate 2 x 12 inch pizza on its dual racks.
If you are looking for a large option that has the capacity to bake not just one, but two 12″ pizza on its dual rack, then this will appeal to you.
In addition to meat dishes, this oven has exceeded expectations when baking non-meat items such as cookies, cobblers, slow-bake cream pies, bread loaves, and cornbread.
The compact design is perfect for those with limited counter space, and you can confidently place items near it without worry.
As far as the price is concerned, this is one the lower end of the range for its size. Why? because like its smaller counterpart above i.e Hamilton Beach 31123D, this too is a simple convection oven with no over the top features attached.
It has three minimal knob selectors for selecting time, mode and the temperature. It comes with dedicated cake pans as well as other accessories so that you can start baking from the get go.
Other than the size, one very critical feature it also offers is the rotisserie function. Rotisserie, if you are unaware, is a mechanism that rotates mounted chicken or other food so that it cooks evenly from all sides.
If you love baking and roasting family-sized meals, this convection oven is the best choice for you due to its reasonable price tag. It does an excellent job of finishing steaks started in a skillet and can even handle a turkey.
Overall, this convection oven is an excellent investment for anyone who loves to bake, as everything comes out perfectly cooked.
4. Cuisinart TOB-260N1 – Premium Convection Oven
Premium option that offers an extensive range of smart and digital features. Offers a whopping 15 cooking presets for almost all cooking styles including baking.
With this oven, we venture into the realm of premium ovens. These are expensive, but calling them mere ovens is an understatement.
Cuisinart TOB-260N1 is a multi-cooker. Not only does it have the convection baking feature, it has 15 other presets that allow you to cook myriad of food items AUTOMATICALLY ranging from cupcakes to roasting whole chicken.
Very few ovens offers such a large range of automated presets. The presets basically allow the oven to set the time and temperature by itself. It uses sensors as well as independently controlled 5 quartz heating elements to distribute the right amount of heat.
Another important function that relates to the cooking preset is the dual cook function. You can basically set two functions at the same time. For example you can set a first stage of quick heating and then a second stage of slower cooking at the same time.
This is a powerful oven, rated at 1800 W, which is towards the upper range. Combined with its convection feature, it can speed up cooking and baking without requiring preheating.
The unit has received glowing reviews, with many customers stating it's the best appliance they've ever purchased. I was able to prepare entire meals, including meat, vegetables, and potatoes, all at the same time, and in less than 20 minutes.
However, the oven cooks evenly, even more so than the two appliances it replaced. It has completely changed how users prepare meals - making it quick, easy, healthy, and fantastic.
All in all, if you are looking for a decent sized comprehensive cooking appliance, then this is the best convection oven for baking and more. Unfortunately, it is expensive.
5. Oster French – Extra Large Convection Oven for Baking.
An extra large oven that can bake even the largest of your pizzas. It can fit 2 x 16″ pizzas and has digital controls for ease of use.
Finally, we have one of the largest convection oven that you can find for baking. It has the capacity to accommodate two standard large sized 16″ pizzas with enough room to space.
On top of that, this is also digital oven. Hence it has ease of use feature such as presets and easy start buttons. While this isn’t an intelligent and a comprehensive multi-cooker as the Cuisinart TOB-260N1 above, it does have a few important functions.
The oven features automated defrosting, toast, broil, bake, keep warm as well as convection baking modes. Another peculiar feature it has is the dehydrator function.
The dehydrator basically turns any food items into dehydrated snacks and ingredients that can last for a long time. This is possible since it has a long 6 hours timer. Dehydrating takes a long time.
To top it all up, this oven feature the rare french doors instead of the common pull down doors. French doors not only look great, they make the oven easy to access and trays easy to reach to.
If you're in the market for a spacious convection oven, we highly recommend this option. However, as expected, the larger size does come with a heftier price tag.
however, my wife and I are big fans of this appliance as it efficiently maintains heat and its French doors add a touch of class to our kitchen. Plus, we find the French doors to be safer than pull-down doors.
Though we're still experimenting with it, we're thoroughly enjoying it so far. For the price we paid, we feel like we got the best deal. The oven's size is a game-changer and can easily accommodate our pizza screens. Speaking of pizza, the oven gives our pies a beautiful, crispy crust!
What is Convection Oven?
A convection oven is a basically an oven that uses a fan to circulate heat in the oven chamber.
A regular oven heats in a linear fashion. As such, the surface of the food that is most exposed to the heating element tends to cook up faster.
Convection oven circulates heat inside
The convection oven, on the other, heats up the food from all direction quickly and evenly. This is because the fan quickly blows the air within the oven chamber so that all corners of the food are exposed to the same heat.
Regular ovens emit heat in a single direction.
Convection feature can be found on regular ovens as well as microwave ovens. In regular oven, the primary heat is generated via the heating elements. In microwave oven, the heat is generated via the magnetron.
Also Read: Best non convection toaster ovens
Difference Between Regular Baking and Convection Baking?
TRUE convection ovens have a visible cavity where a fan is installed.
There are quite a few glaring differences that you will need to take note of when baking in a convection oven vs a regular oven.
- A convection oven cooks much faster. It takes about 25% less time to bake something in a convection oven as compared to a regular oven.
- A recipes for a regular oven when translated to on a convection oven would regular about 25 degree Fahrenheit lower temperature.
- Since convection ovens are fast, there is a chance of burning or overcooking, particularly the surface, if left unmonitored.
- While convection baking is a bit tougher if you are a novice, it is based used for browning, roasting and for recipes that require quick baking.
Also Read: What can you make in a toaster oven?
Final Words
In this article we looked at the best convection ovens for baking. As you may have realized, not all ovens are created equally. While some are small, other are quite suitable even for largest baking recipes.
Furthermore, you should note that some are more feature rich as compared to others. For example, while manual convection ovens may require a bit of monitoring, digital smart ovens can do the cooking jobs for you.
FAQs:
1. Do professional bakers use convection ovens?
Yes, professional bakers often use convection ovens. Convection ovens cook food more evenly and quickly than traditional ovens, so they are a popular choice for busy bakeries.
2. When should you not use a convection oven?
There are a few instances when you should not use a convection oven. If you are baking a cake, for example, you should not use a convection oven because it will dry the cake out. Additionally, if you are making something that needs to be browned on the top, such as a roast, you should not use a convection oven because it will not give the same level of browning as an oven with an element on the top.
3. Can you use aluminum foil in a convection oven?
Yes, you can use aluminum foil in a convection oven. The foil will reflect the heat and help to cook the food evenly.
4. Should I bake a cake on convection?
Yes, you can bake a cake on convection. Convection baking circulates hot air around the food, which cooks it more evenly and quickly than regular baking.
5. How do I choose a convection oven?
When choosing a convection oven, you should consider the size of the oven, the features you need, and your budget.
Convection ovens come in a variety of sizes, so you should choose one that is the right size for your needs. If you only need to cook for a small family or a few people, then a small convection oven will work well. If you need to cook for a large family or group, then you will need a larger oven.