In summary. The fan oven setting, or convection cooking, is widely favoured for its ability to provide even heat distribution, faster cooking times, improved browning, and versatility. It's a valuable tool in the kitchen that can help you achieve consistent and professional-quality results in a variety of recipes.
For most cooking, having a precise set point isn't necessary. Think of the oven temperature as low/slow (250F), medium (350F) and high/fast (450F) and most recipes will work just fine.
The best oven setting for baking cakes is typically 350°F (175°C) on the conventional bake setting. This allows for even cooking and a good rise. Here are a few tips for baking cakes:
With an energy efficiency rating of around 85% (i.e. only 15% of its energy is wasted), induction cooking is generally agreed to be the most energy-efficient way of cooking on a hob. Gas and electric hobs are much less energy-efficient, at around 40% and 75% efficiency respectively.
Microwaves, slow cookers, and air fryers all use less energy than a traditional oven, making them a great option for low-maintenance, low-cost, and low-carbon cooking.
The fan oven setting, often referred to as "convection," is the most commonly used setting on ovens for several reasons. It's a versatile and efficient cooking method that offers many benefits. The fan symbol on a fan oven is typically represented by an icon of a fan.
What is the proper oven rack placement for baking, roasting and broiling? The middle zone is a go-to when baking, and is typically a safe bet for foods like casseroles, cookies and pies. The bottom zone of the oven is ideal for roasting and baking crusty bread or pizza, while the top is ideal for broiling and toasting.
Watts measure the rate at which electricity moves through an appliance. More watts mean more electricity, and ovens at higher temperatures typically use more watts.
Slow cooker
'In terms of appliances, it's one of most energy-efficient ways to cook.
Invest in a convection oven.
You'll use about 20 percent less energy each month using a convection oven, which has a fan that continuously circulates hot air through the oven space.
Convection Bake
Convection ovens and Convection Bake settings use a fan to circulate hot air throughout the oven cavity, promoting even cooking across all racks and faster baking times for certain dishes.
Pre-heating
Avoid excessive pre-heating times to reduce energy consumption. Once your oven reaches the desired temperature, place your food inside promptly to utilise the heat efficiently and turn it off once finished.
Fan Forced Full Bake
This is the highest heat setting that you can put your oven, symbolised by two lines on top and bottom and a fan in the middle.
Conventional oven mode is represented by two lines, one at the top and one at the bottom of a square. These lines signify the two heating elements used in the oven, where heat is diffused by natural convection. This mode is ideal for roasting meat and vegetables.
Conventional heating is great for cakes, while fan-assisted convection (specifically the mode in combination with conventional heating) is better suited for cookies, brownies and blondies. It will take a few trials to figure out which setting and temperature combo works best for your bakes.
Typically, the middle rack is the best location for most foods to cook evenly. But, placing your meals on the highest or lowest rack closest to the heating source can yield faster cooking times and crisping due to the hotter temperatures.
Conventional: The "Conventional" function is the standard setting for most ovens and is commonly used for roasting chicken. It provides top and bottom heating elements that work together to envelop the food with consistent heat.
500° is as hot as most home ovens get. 500°+ is unusual for recipes that home cooks would use. Commercial pizza ovens are like 700°+ though, so you want to go as hot as your oven can get to replicate that.
To preheat your oven, choose an oven setting such as “bake” or “broil” and use your oven's control panel to adjust to the correct temperature. Allow time for proper preheating, and avoid opening the door so the heat doesn't escape. For specific directions on preheating your oven, refer to the owner's manual.
Choose Convection over Conventional
Convection ovens are more energy efficient than conventional ovens because the heated air is continuously circulated, so you can reduce cooking temperatures and times. It's estimated that a convection oven uses about 20 percent less energy than its conventional counterparts.
Air fryers offer advantages, particularly regarding energy efficiency and cost savings. For instance, a typical 4-quart air fryer uses 1,500 watts, almost half the power consumption of a regular full-size oven. An air fryer requires half the electricity, making it 50% more efficient than a full-size electric oven.
Microwaves, slow cookers, electric pressure cookers and air fryers all consume significantly less energy than ovens, so using these instead, if possible, will save you money. “Microwaves are particularly energy efficient,” Dr Reynolds says.