Can a countertop convection oven replace a conventional oven?

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post #1 of 5

2/5/12 at 9:06am

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BBSLM

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This is probably the opposite of fine living but I'm looking at a studio apartment rental, and I like almost everything about it except the fact that it doesn't have a conventional oven and range; just a counter-top convection oven (it looks like like a microwave) and a cook-top.

I'm not a chef, and I don't need to cook a thanksgiving dinner, but I do use my oven just about every other day. Nothing exceptional; mainly baked chicken, veggies, potatoes, or to finish off a steak.

The consensus on foodie forums is that convection ovens are good, but I can't tell if the ovens these people are using are counter-tops or full-size versions. I suspect that maybe full-size convection ovens are really good, but the counter-tops versions are glorified microwaves that destroy food.

Does it sound like I could live with a convection oven?

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post #2 of 5

2/5/12 at 9:12am

curzon

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Quote:

Originally Posted by BBSLM

Nothing exceptional; mainly baked chicken, veggies, potatoes, or to finish off a steak.

You 'Mercan? The chickens there are enormous. Guess it's all about fit. You may have to halve it. Or go with a Cornish game hen.

Convection ovens brown food, but read up on it because some pans are less effective.

post #3 of 5

2/5/12 at 9:28am

impolyt_one

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There are countertop convection ovens from Asian brands that do everything - traditional oven, convection, steam oven, and microwave all in one box (these are common in fact) - but I don't know if they're in America. They start at about $200 and work their way up to about $1000, but none of them get really hot (like bread baking hot) because they're electric and small, and none can fit a roasting chicken, as was mentioned.

post #4 of 5

2/5/12 at 9:35am

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BBSLM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by curzon

You 'Mercan? The chickens there are enormous. Guess it's all about fit. You may have to halve it. Or go with a Cornish game hen.
Convection ovens brown food, but read up on it because some pans are less effective.

Sorry, not whole chickens; chicken breasts.

But yea, our 'Mericun chickens are mutants.

Quote:

Originally Posted by impolyt_one

I'll find out the brand/model when I look at the unit today, but judging from the picture in the rental ad it looks like a standard GE or whatever consumer brand they're using these days.

post #5 of 5

2/5/12 at 4:43pm

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