Home chefs can enjoy baking and cooking with a convection oven.
Buying a new range can be a cook's dream come true, and getting one with a convection oven offers an added bonus. Convection ovens include a fan that circulates the area inside the baking chamber, allowing for faster and more even cooking. Does this Spark an idea?
Size And Finishes
Many convection ranges are 30 inches wide, while some may span up to 48 inches in width.
Depth on these appliances varies from 24 to 36 inches.
Stainless steel is a common finish for convection ranges, but they also come in white, black, cream and red.
What's Inside
Most convection ranges have three baking racks, while some double-oven ranges may offer four. The number of oven rack positions also varies; many ranges offer six to seven, but some have up to 13.
The capacity of ovens included with 30-inch ranges is usually 5.6 to 5.9 cubic feet. If the range has double ovens, you may get 6.4 to 6.6 feet of of capacity.
While most ovens have two heating elements (one above the food and one below), some convection ovens offer a third heating element at the back, near the convection fan.
Self-cleaning technology is commonly included with convection ovens.
On The Cooktop
Electric convection ranges usually have a smooth cooktop. Those that cook with gas commonly feature cast-iron grates for pots and pans, but may have "sealed" burners to keep spills from spreading across the cooking surface.
Many convection ranges have four or five cooking elements, ranging in size from six to 12 inches. Some elements offer the ability to accommodate a six-, nine- or 12-inch pot, only heating the portion of the element needed to warm the pot you select. Large ranges may have up to eight burners on the cooktop.
Some convection ranges include an element designed to quickly bring water to a boil. Others include a griddle that can fit over a center burner to provide a flat cooking surface. Some range knobs are dishwasher safe.
Cooking Power and Special Features
Convection ranges are either gas, electric or a combination of the two. Combination ranges usually use gas for the cooktop and electricity to power the oven.
Some less-common features available on convection ranges include the Sabbath mode, which maintains temperatures in compliance with kosher cooking rules.
The ability to program the oven to cook or clean itself at a later time is also available on some models, as is a 12-hour auto shutoff feature and a warming drawer. At least one model offers special settings for slow cooking and for pizza preparation.
Prices And Warranty
Most convection ranges offer one-year warranties on parts and labor. At least one higher-end model offers a limited parts warranty of up to 10 years.
Prices for convection ranges vary depending on their sizes and features. Models with a 30-inch width start at around $765 and increase in price to $5,700. Purchasing a 36- or 40-inch convection range sets you back $1,900 to $7,200. A 48-inch model may cost as much as $9,000. Prices quoted here are for brands commonly available from major retail chains and do not include luxury brands. All prices are as of 2010.
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