What’s the Difference Between a Convection Oven and a Conventional Oven?
Is this all-the-rage range right for you?
Highlights
Convection ovens use a fan to circulate hot air throughout the oven cavity.
Conventional ovens heat food using a bottom heating element.
Because of the cooking method, convection ovens cook food faster and more evenly.
Convection ovens tend to be more expensive than conventional ovens.
With the tides turning against the conventional gas range, and the rapid ascent of the air fryer, the typically staid world of the oven has been in turmoil. The words “convection” and “conventional” look similar, but they are two very different styles of cooking in an oven. As you explore ranges for your home, consider whether a conventional oven is right for you or if you’d like the added benefit of having a convection oven, which can cook quicker and more evenly at a lower temperature.
Convection Oven vs. Conventional Oven: Key Differences
Ovens have been around for centuries. Some of the earliest were simply pits filled with hot coals. Technology has made great strides, of course, and now our ovens self-clean and can be controlled by WiFi. In addition, some of them have convection heating technology, which is a special feature on many newer ovens. There are also some standalone convection ovens; these are usually smaller, countertop models.
The key difference between conventional ovens and convection ovens is the way they heat food. Conventional ovens use a fan and exhaust system to blow heated air evenly throughout the oven to cook your food, while a normal or conventional oven has one source of heat from the bottom of the appliance.
Some cooks like convection ovens because they cook food faster and more evenly. Because the fan circulates the heat around the oven, the temperature stays more consistent than in conventional ovens, which can have areas of warmer air or, conversely, cold spots.
What Is a Conventional Oven?
If you have an oven in your home, it’s likely a conventional oven. A conventional oven uses tried-and-true technology: a heat source, usually located on the bottom of the oven cavity, fills the space with hot air to cook food. Many ovens are also able to heat from the top if you wish to broil.
Modern ovens are usually fueled by either natural gas or electricity. When an oven is part of a complete stove range, the fuel used for the oven could be the same or different from the fuel used for the burners on top of the range. Many modern units also have convection cooking functions, giving you lots of flexibility in the kitchen; these units do tend to be more expensive, however, so you should consider if convection cooking is a method you will use frequently enough to justify the cost.
Almost all recipes that require an oven assume you have, and are using a conventional oven.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Recipes are often written with conventional ovens in mind | Uneven cooking |
| Familiar cooking method | Longer cook times |
| Gentler for delicate cakes and quick breads | Smaller capacity |
| Less expensive | Higher energy costs |
| Smaller size | Requires more monitoring during cooking |
Best for:
Home cooks who are hesitant to adjust to different cooking methods
Homeowners on a budget
Homeowners with limited space
Pros of Conventional Ovens
Many recipes assume you have a conventional oven, which takes a lot of the guesswork out of cooking. Most homeowners have used conventional ovens; they are familiar appliances. New models might have more bells and whistles, such as WiFi connectivity, but overall, they are user-friendly and easy to adapt to any recipe.
Some food items cook better in conventional ovens. Delicake cakes, custards, and quick breads often benefit from the bottom-up heating method.
Finally, conventional oven ranges tend to take up less space than ones with convection technology and are more wallet-friendly.
Cons of Conventional Ovens
Compared to convection ovens, food takes longer to cook in conventional ovens since there is no hot fan circulating the air around. As a home chef, expect to check your food more often, too, as conventional ovens often leave hot or cold spots in the oven cavity; your food might not cook uniformly.
Since conventional ovens are smaller, they can’t accommodate as much food, and they require more energy to cook, as you need to set the oven to a higher temperature than you would for a convection oven. This can result in higher energy bills.
What Is a Convection Oven?
A convection oven uses a fan to circulate hot air throughout the oven cavity. This distributes heat evenly throughout the oven, allowing for consistent, evenly cooked food and eliminating the hot or cold spot problem that conventional ovens have. Convection ovens also cook food much faster than conventional ovens, despite often using a lower temperature. Because of this, home cooks often need to adjust recipes to adapt to convection ovens.
Some convection ovens might be labeled as “true convection” or “European convection.” These ovens have a third heating element in addition to the fan, which creates even more reliable cooking.
Many modern oven ranges have convection cooking as a feature; these ovens give you the best of both worlds, allowing you to cook in a conventional way when you need to but have the option of using convection. There are also many countertop convection ovens that can complement an older, or less elaborate, traditional range.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Faster cooking | More expensive |
| Even cooking | Recipes must be adapted |
| Energy-efficient; lower temperature required | Learning curve for home cooks |
| Food requires little monitoring | Noisy |
Best for:
Homeowners who want to save on energy bills
Home cooks who want faster, more reliable cooking
Pros of Convection Ovens
For most people, the greatest benefit of a convection oven is its ability to cook food quickly and evenly. You don’t have to worry about hot or cold spots that might cook one side of your lasagna faster than the other; convection ovens blow hot air on all sides of your food to cook it uniformly (and with perfectly crispy edges, if that’s what you’re after).
Because of the way they cook food, they often require a lower temperature. This can save you money on your energy bills (and keep your house cooler in the summertime).
Cons of Convection Ovens
Convection ovens are often more expensive than conventional ovens. Many conventional oven ranges are under $1,000, while convections are $1,000 or more.
Some home cooks might also find themselves frustrated having to constantly adapt recipes for convection cooking; remember that convection ovens cook faster even with a lower temperature, so there might be some trial-and-error, even with recipes you’ve cooked a dozen times.
Finally, some foods, such as custards and quick breads, don’t cook well in convection ovens. Delicate baked goods are better suited for conventional ovens.
Conventional vs. Convection Ovens
Both cook food, but due to their different cooking methods, there are key differences to note between conventional and convection ovens.
Cooking Results: Convection
Convection ovens cook food quickly and thoroughly, with no hot or cold spots to worry about. Many dishes, such as roasted meats and vegetables, that benefit from a crispy exterior and moist interior, will do well in a convection oven.
Energy-Efficiency: Convection
Convection ovens require less heat, which requires less energy. Cooking at a lower temperature not only saves you money on your energy bill but keeps your house cooler during heat waves.
Price: Conventional
Depending on what features are included, many conventional ovens cost less than $800; convection ovens, on the other hand, tend to be $1,000 or more.
User-friendliness: Conventional
Most recipes are written for conventional ovens, so you won’t have to determine a different setting and cooking time as you would for a convection oven.
Maintenance: Conventional
Convection ovens require more frequent cleaning of the fan for proper airflow. Conventional ovens require periodic cleaning of the interior and exterior.
Installation: Tie
Convection technology doesn’t change how your oven is installed; what matters is if you have a freestanding or slide-in unit, and whether you’re using gas or electric. Talk to a few nearby appliance installation companies to get installation quotes and understand the process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Convection ovens are not ideal for cooking custards, quick breads, and other delicate desserts. Many other baked goods cook well in a convection oven; light and flaky crusts bake up perfectly, and convection ovens, with their dry heat, can be used to dehydrate or toast ingredients.
No; all cookware can be used in a convection oven. That said, some cookware performs better than others. Bright aluminum or light-colored pans are best for convection ovens, as bakeware with an anodized finish can cause food to brown too quickly. Ceramic and some glass dishes are not as effective at directing heat, so they work better in conventional ovens.