Technology Tuesdays: Energy Efficient Cooking Part III Convection Ovens

Hello Partners!

We have yet another exciting energy efficient technology for your kitchen this week:

Convection ovens.

We touched on convection ovens very briefly in last week’s article when we discussed 5-in-1 ovens. A 5-in-1 oven is special because it has many different capabilities. Specifically, they are a convection oven, a toaster oven, a warming/proofing oven, a precision cooking oven, and a microwave. This can be a time saver as well as a space saver, alleviating the user from having many different appliances. Instead, they have one appliance that serves many different purposes.

On the other hand, a 5-in-1 oven may just be too much function in one appliance. It may just be too much of a departure from a traditional oven than some people would prefer. For example, a 5-in-1 oven is so efficient because it utilizes microwave oven properties. Therefore, it is not advised to use foil or other metals in it in any capacity. For those of us that like to bake certain dishes using foil to help lock in moisture, this can be a significant adjustment. Additionally, you would have to convert all of your bakeware to ceramic or glass. As with many things, this is an amazing technology, but it may not be the right solution for everyone.

Not to worry, there are still energy efficient solutions for those who may not want to take the leap to a 5-in-1 oven. A convection oven may be a better option. What is a convection oven and what makes it so special?

The efficiency with a convection oven is due to its fan technology. A convection oven operates just the same as a traditional oven. However, a convection oven employs a fan that blows the hot air around the food instead of simply heating the cooking space. This results in faster cooking times which, on average, will save roughly 20% on your energy bills. Therefore, if you are looking for a more energy efficient solution without replacing a number of appliances that already exist in your kitchen as well as all of your metal bakeware, the convection oven may just be the perfect fit for you.

Convection ovens are not a new technology and are the most widely used in commercial kitchens. This is understandable because of the energy efficient component as well as faster baking times. Since convection technology has been on the market longer and is more widely used than the 5-in-1 oven, the price point may also be more favorable for more people.

As we are closing in on the Holiday season, it is also a good time to think about how efficiently your kitchen appliances are working. If you find yourself looking to upgrade your oven, consider a convection oven, it will save you money and time in the long run.

The savings never stop!

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Sources:
https://www.constellation.com/guides/appliances/energy-efficient-ovens-stoves.html#:~:text=The%20short%20answer%20is%20yes,quickly%20and%20at%20lower%20temperatures.
https://www.energystar.gov/products/commercial_ovens