The Oven Starter Guide: Convection or Conventional?
January 8, 2018Ready to get a new oven for your restaurant? This essential piece of kitchen equipment plays a central role in much of your cooking and baking, so it’s important to choose something that’s right for your restaurant’s needs.
When it comes to ovens, one question frequently arises: “Should I choose a convection oven or a conventional one, and what’s the difference anyway?”
Many people are in the dark when it comes to the best uses for each kind of oven. Well, today we’re going to dive into it so you can decide which kind of oven should join the rest of your kitchen equipment.
The one feature that sets convection ovens apart
If you can’t tell the difference between a convection and a conventional oven, you’re not alone. In fact, both types of kitchen equipment are very similar. They each have a single source of heat (typically at the bottom of the oven), but convection ovens have one feature that conventional ovens don’t have.
That feature? An extra fan and exhaust system. This system blows the hot air evenly through the whole oven during cooking. This gives rise to several benefits that many chefs love, making the convection oven a handy piece of kitchen equipment. However, it’s not for everyone. Check out our convection oven pros and cons before deciding on your new kitchen equipment.
What We Love about Convection Ovens as Kitchen Equipment
- Evenly cooked dishes. Because convection ovens fill the entire space evenly with heat, commercial kitchens using convection ovens produce more evenly cooked or baked dishes.
- Faster cooking. The consistent heat and lack of cold and hot air pockets make convection ovens efficient pieces of kitchen equipment. Most dishes cook faster in a convection oven.
- Food is crisper. A convection oven’s exhaust system vents moisture out of the oven, making your dishes nice and crisp. It’s a great piece of kitchen equipment for cooking dishes like crisp vegetables, oven fried chicken and potatoes.
What We Don’t Love about Convection Ovens
Convection ovens aren’t perfect for every recipe. It’s important to note this when choosing your new kitchen equipment. Here are a few downsides of convention ovens.
- Irregular rising. A convection ovens isn’t the best piece of kitchen equipment for recipes that involve rising. The surrounding heat can cook the outside of your bread or muffins before they are done rising, resulting in bumpy textures and lopsided batters. A conventional oven is a better choice if you do a lot of baking in your commercial kitchen.
- Drier food. The venting system we mentioned earlier is great for creating crisp fries and vegetables, but it’s not good news for moist foods like bread and soufflé. The lack of moisture within the oven can result in dried-out dishes. So if you cook dishes that need to rise or stay moist, a conventional oven is the best choice for your kitchen equipment.
When buying your next oven, think about the kinds of foods that make up your menus, and whether a convection or conventional oven is best suited to the job. Both types of ovens can come with electric or gas stoves, so you have the freedom of choosing what works best for you in both departments. If you need help deciding, we at Tipton Equipment are always happy to help.
Why Your Restaurant Needs an App
We know, you’re a restaurant owner, not a developer or programmer. Let other people worry about apps, you just want to run your restaurant! The truth is if you want to have a successful establishment, you have to take advantage of the technology that brings people in....
Choosing the Right Sink for Your Restaurant
There are many, many pieces of kitchen equipment that are vital but often taken for granted. The kitchen sink is one of them. This workhorse of the back of the house handles a lot of jobs. Sinks give you running water as well as a place to wash either food or dishes....
Restaurant Supplies You Need to Add Delivery
Delivery services are becoming more and more popular, and that’s generally good news for restaurants. The ability to order online and receive food in the comfort of home drives up sales and that’s good for revenue. And when these sales don’t require additional tables,...
Should You Add a Salad Bar to Your Restaurant?
New Year’s is a prime time for resolutions – and one of the most common is to eat healthier and lose weight. In fact, for 2018 45% of Americans said they wanted to lose weight or get in shape for the new year. The new year might have you eyeing new options for your...
How to Overcome the Seasonal Rollercoaster
Are you tired of having huge swings in your business throughout the year? Do you wish you could just have consistent, easy-to-predict income? If so, it’s time for you to get off of the seasonal rollercoaster. You might think there’s nothing you can do to overcome the...
The Restaurant Supplies and Strategies You Need in 2019
Are you ready for the new year? If you’re like many restaurant owners, you’re thinking about how to get through the holiday rush – both in your restaurant and in your own life. However, you can’t overlook planning for the future. It’s vital to make sure you have the...
2018 Cooking Equipment Holiday Gift Guide
Do you know someone who loves to cook? Or are you looking for a new, special piece of cooking equipment for yourself? Whether you’re interested in home cooking or you run a restaurant, you can benefit from these gift ideas. These great cooking items will thrill...
Accommodating the Keto Diet at Your Restaurant
The keto diet – a low-carb, high-fat combination – has been gaining a lot of traction in the last couple of years. As a restaurant, it’s vital that you are able to accommodate your diners’ needs. More than that, having popular options on the menu can help bring people...
Restaurant Supplies You Need to Prepare for a Power Outage
It happens to all of us. You’re going on, doing just fine, and suddenly…Dark. The power is out. And of course, you have no idea how long it will last. Fortunately, you have the restaurant supplies and process in place to weather the storm without losing your...
Considerations when Converting a Food Truck to a Restaurant
Your food truck has been successful, and you have a loyal following. So loyal, in fact, that you struggle to serve them all each day. Customers have started to ask you when you’re going to open a restaurant. It started as a teasing suggestion, but it’s become more...
How to Incorporate Curbside Service in Your Restaurant
Are you looking for creative ways to grow your business without also growing your expenses? Are you interested in strategies that can start making a difference today, not just a year from now? If so, then
Tips for Great Plating & Why it Matters
You may have heard that we “eat with our eyes” before we physically eat food. That’s why pictures are so important – on menus, in cookbooks, online, and more. It isn’t just a gimmick – the truth is that the way food looks and smells actually changes our experience of...
Be Proactive: Assess and Address Risks in Your Restaurant
As a restaurant owner or manager, you have a lot on your mind. You want employees to show up on time and ready to give great service. You want your food to be well-stocked, high quality, and ready to use. You need cooks to be attentive and customers to be clear in...
How to Reduce Noise From Restaurant Equipment and More
Having a popular restaurant is wonderful. You have a lot of guests, tables turn over quickly, and you and your employees make a lot of good money every night. However, sometimes popular spots can get low ratings for a simple reason – they’re too loud! It’s not an...
Foodservice Equipment Gone Wrong: When the POS Crashes
The point of sale (POS) system that you have helps you keep your restaurant running smoothly. It helps you track inventory, sales, and revenue. It allows your staff to create checks, swipe cards, and keep tables turning. The POS is a lifesaver – until it isn’t. Maybe...