What's the Difference Between a Microwave Oven and Convection Oven?

by Kimz

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Kimz

Kimz is the founder of this website, kimzhouse.com who lives in Malaysia. A stay-at-home mother of young kids and move into a new house recently. She took a lot of time to source and compared the kitchen & home appliances for her new house and sharing it on this website. The opinion is solely based on her testing or intensive research with customer feedback around the most popular shopping platform such as Shopee and Lazada.

Quick heating

Quick heating is one of the most lauded advantages of microwave ovens. These fast-acting appliances are able to heat food much more quickly than a traditional oven or even a convection oven, usually taking no more than three minutes to heat up a meal. This quick heating ability makes them ideal for times when you’re short on time and need something ready to serve in no time at all. Plus, they offer better control over how hot your meals get, as well as how quickly they cook which allows you to tailor your cooking experience exactly according to your needs. The fact that it takes mere seconds—and sometimes just minutes—to prepare meals with a microwave means that busy families and individuals can enjoy larger portions of warm home-style cooking without having to wait forever for it!

Safe to operate

Achieving superior cooking results can be taxing when it comes to using an oven, but with a microwave oven, you won’t have to worry about that. A key advantage of using a microwave oven is its safety; the low temperatures they use mean there’s no risk of making contact with hot surfaces and burning yourself. The control buttons on the outside also allow you to set precise temperature levels so your food doesn’t overcook or burn. Plus, many models come equipped with child-safe locks for added protection from potential accidents. With all these features combined, you can enjoy safe and comfortable cooking experiences in any kitchen setting.

Affordable

When it comes to choosing a kitchen appliance, many homeowners look for something that is both practical and affordable. Compared to other types of ovens, microwave ovens are relatively inexpensive; they usually cost around $50-$100 depending on the brand and features you choose. Additionally, because microwaves use less energy than convection or conventional ovens, your electricity bill will be lower with each use. That makes them an attractive option for those who want to save money without sacrificing quality!

Versatile cooking options

Regarding versatility, microwave ovens are an excellent choice for any kitchen. Microwaves offer a variety of different ways to get your food cooked and ready quickly. Whether you’re in the mood for reheating leftovers or preparing frozen meals, a microwave is ideal for quickly heating items up in minutes. If you want to cook multiple dishes at once, some microwaves even offer built-in multi-stage cooking which lets you cook several dishes simultaneously without adjusting temperatures or timings. Other features available on some models include convection cooking where air circulates around food and grilling capabilities that let you cook crispy snacks like bacon or paninis with ease.

Energy efficient

When it comes to energy efficiency, microwave ovens are the clear winner. Microwave ovens use electromagnetic radiation to heat food quickly, which minimizes electricity usage and helps reduce electrical bills. Convection ovens require more energy since they use hot air circulation and heating elements that need to be kept running for longer periods of time. They also require preheating before cooking can begin, further increasing their power consumption. In contrast, microwaves only take a few seconds to warm up and start operating so they don’t draw as much power in comparison.

Limited space

When you are restricted by space, a microwave oven can be the perfect solution. It takes up less room than a convection oven due to its compact size and is easy to install in small places like apartments or houses with limited countertop space. The walls inside microwaves also help to direct heat more efficiently, meaning it heats up food faster. Another advantage of using a microwave oven when you are restricted by space is that some models come with additional features such as grilling which allows you to make multiple dishes within the same appliance.

What is a Convection Oven?

A convection oven is a type of oven appliance which uses specially designed fans to circulate heated air throughout the cooking chamber. This hot air evenly distributes heat more quickly, resulting in dishes being cooked faster and more efficiently. These types of ovens are capable of temperatures much higher than traditional microwaves or conventional electric stoves; they can be as high as 500°F (260°C).

Convection ovens also offer other advantages. One major benefit is that food will cook more evenly, with no hot spots or areas not receiving proper amounts of heat. Another advantage is that you can use them for meat roasting, baking cakes and muffins – things you would normally have to do on a traditionthatovetop or in an ordinary electric baking oven. You can even make toast or broil foods such as fish fillets!

Advantages of a Convection Oven

A convection oven is an ideal choice for people who are looking to cook food faster and more evenly – so check out all the benefits it offers and see why you should consider getting one in your kitchen!

Uses hot air to heat food more evenly

One of the advantages of using a convection oven is that it uses hot air to heat food more evenly than other types of oven. This makes it perfect for cooking meats and vegetables at high temperatures, as the hot air circulates and cooks them quickly and evenly. Additionally, since convection ovens cook food with circulating hot air they can also provide even crispiness throughout whatever you are cooking—whether cookies or roasted chicken breasts.

Cooks food faster

Cooking in a convection oven is up to 30% faster than cooking on an ordinary stovetop. The hot air that circulates inside the oven efficiently and evenly cooks food quickly, so you can get dinner on the table much sooner than if you were using a standard oven. Plus, there’s less of a chance of your food burning because it’s cooked more evenly due to the circulating hot air.

More even cooking

One of the advantages of using a convection oven is that it uses hot air to heat food more evenly than traditional ovens. The fan inside the convection oven circulates hot air around the food while cooking, ensuring that no cold spots remain and every part of your dish is cooked through without having to move or re-arrange dishes during baking. The even distribution of heat also prevents overcooking certain areas and ensures uniform tasting results throughout. Convection ovens are especially great for baking cakes, bread, pastries, etc., as they give them a light and fluffy texture with an even crust all over. This type of heated air circulation helps ensure better quality results in less time compared to conventional heating methods.

Flavorful food

Cooking with a convection oven can be especially beneficial because of its ability to evenly and quickly cook food. In addition, one advantage of using a convection oven is that it can help add flavor to your dishes. By circulating hot air around the food, you’re able to produce crispy foods which also help in releasing flavors from spices and herbs. This makes for perfectly cooked meals without extra effort from the user as all they have to do is preheat the oven and set their desired temperature before adding their ingredients.

Crispier finish

A convection oven is ideal for anyone who wants to achieve a crispier finish to their food while cooking. This can be especially helpful when making baked goods like cookies and pies where a crispy outer layer is desired. The hot air blowing into the oven helps create this effect by evenly distributing heat throughout the food being cooked which gives it that extra crunchiness.

Disadvantages of a Microwave Oven

Though usually a convenient and energy-efficient option, microwaves have their own set of drawbacks; read on to learn more about how they compare to convection ovens.

May cause “hot spots”

Microwaves use waves to heat food, and this type of cooking can sometimes cause parts of the dish to be hotter than others. This occurs because microwaves have difficulty penetrating deep into the foods they are heating. The result is that certain spots in the dish become superheated while other spots remain cooler. Food safety experts advise consumers not to rely solely on a microwave oven’s timer as an indicator that the food has cooked evenly throughout. Instead, make sure you take: stir, rotate or rearrange your food during cooking whenever possible–particularly if you’re dealing with something thick or dense like a steak or a potato–to ensure even heating and prevent hot spots from occurring.

Can’t produce the same crispiness as a convection oven

One major disadvantage of using a microwave oven is that it cannot produce the same crispiness as that of a convection oven. This can be especially disappointing when trying to make dishes such as roasted vegetables, fish, or chicken because they don’t come out with the same texture and flavor. Additionally, microwaves can cause food to become soggy due to uneven heat distribution which also affects its texture and taste. The inability to achieve maximum crunchy results are one factor why many people prefer other types of cookers over microwaves for certain recipes.

Cannot be used to bake or roast

One disadvantage of microwaves is that they cannot be used to bake or roast food. This means that if you are looking for an oven to cook roasts, cakes and casseroles with crispy edges and golden brown surfaces, then a microwave will not suffice. Microwaves use high-frequency electromagnetic waves to heat up the food quickly but they do not give proper baking or roasting results as convection ovens do because they lack direct thermal energy which gives baked foods their texture.

Disadvantages of a Convection Oven

Though the convection oven may have its drawbacks, it’s still worth considering if you’re looking for an efficient and low-maintenance way of cooking. Read on to learn more!

More expensive than a conventional oven

A convection oven is typically more expensive than a conventional oven, and this can be seen as one of its major disadvantages. Depending on the model you purchase, they may cost up to three times as much. While this extra expense can be off-putting for some people, it’s important to keep in mind that it has many benefits that make this additional cost worth it. The hot air circulation from the fan reduces cooking time significantly and yields better results due to even heating throughout the appliance.

Plus, convection ovens use less energy than traditional ones because their fans help to use heat more efficiently during baking or roasting cycles. For those who want higher-end features like digital displays with timer settings and meat probes for perfect roasts every time, you may need deeper pockets when selecting a new model over just settling with the basic range at your local department store.

Requires additional preheating

Convection ovens require a few minutes of additional preheating, compared to traditional models. This is due to the more efficient heating methods used by convection ovens. Preheating your convection oven means that you need to turn it on before you place the food inside so that all the air in its cavity reaches a consistent temperature and then starts circulating around the food evenly. The amount of time needed for preheating will depend on how quickly your oven heats up, but most models should reach their desired temperature within 10-15 minutes or less. Additionally, some convection ovens offer rapid preheat settings which can cut down this time significantly while still ensuring optimal performance when cooking with hot air.

Cannot be used to cook certain dishes

When it comes to convection ovens, there are certain dishes that cannot be cooked with them. Some foods require precise temperature regulation and even distribution of heat in order to be cooked properly, which a convection oven may not provide. For example, delicate desserts like custards or mousses need low temperatures and slow heating in order for the texture to remain intact while baking.

Likewise, some batter-based dishes such as pancakes or waffles should never be baked in a convection oven because their batters will not cook evenly due to the hot air distribution inside an oven like this. Dishes such as these are best when prepared using other methods or appliances – like steaming food instead of baking it – since they’ll retain their moisture better this way. Finally, deep-fried recipes have been known NOT work well when adapted into baking form in a convection oven; the dish’s characteristics won’t remain consistent without proper oil temperature adjustments and frequent stirring during cooking time.

Conclusion

Choosing between a microwave oven and a convection oven is ultimately up to you as the homeowner. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, so take some time to weigh each option against your particular needs. Microwave ovens are quick, easy-to-use, affordable, energy efficient and provide limited space options while convection ovens are better for even cooking with enhanced flavors but require additional preheating. From heating up leftovers to baking an entire meal – either of these two options will get the job done!

What’s the Difference Between a Microwave Oven and Convection Oven?