Food
Fact-checked

At WiseGEEK, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

What Is a Fan Oven?

Dale Marshall
Dale Marshall

A fan oven, also called a convection oven, is an electric or gas oven with a built-in fan that accelerates the cooking process by circulating the hot air within the oven. All ovens rely on the movement of air within the oven, as well as on heat radiated from the oven’s inside walls, for the transmission of heat to the food to be cooked. Without a fan, though, this convection process is very slow; in addition, ovens can develop hot and cold spots that result in parts of the food being overdone or underdone.

In a fan oven, the circulating air keeps the temperature throughout the oven uniform and all food surfaces are cooked with an equal heat. Some microwave ovens also are equipped with fans, but these fans are only used when the oven itself is being used in “browning” mode. This is a setting of some advanced microwave ovens in which conventional electric heating elements are used to brown food, something that cannot reliably be achieved with a microwave alone.

Commercial fan ovens are often used in bakeries.
Commercial fan ovens are often used in bakeries.

A fan oven offers a number of advantages over a conventional oven. The first major advantage is that preheating is generally unnecessary with a fan oven because the rapid transfer of heat brings the oven to cooking temperature very quickly, leading to significant energy savings. Recipes and owner’s manuals should be consulted, however, because some foods, like breads and Yorkshire pudding, require preheating even in a fan oven.

A fan oven, or a convection oven, circulates heat throughout the oven using a fan for more even cooking.
A fan oven, or a convection oven, circulates heat throughout the oven using a fan for more even cooking.

Another advantage of a fan oven is that it cooks more quickly, allowing food to be cooked at lower temperatures, which leads to additional energy savings. As a general rule, cooking temperatures can be reduced by about 25 ° Fahrenheit (13.9 ° Celsius) and cooking time can be reduced by about 20 to 25%; beyond these guidelines, users must experiment. The problem of hot spots that sometimes exists in a conventional oven is largely eliminated in fan ovens, and food is not only cooked faster, but more evenly as well.

Fan ovens are found in both residential and commercial applications. Although they cost more than conventional ovens, the savings in time and energy that can be realized in a residential setting can be significant, depending on the how frequently the oven is used. In a commercial setting, a fan oven produces significant savings of energy and time; the time saved can be used to increase production, making the fan oven a distinctly valuable piece of equipment in a commercial kitchen or a bakery.

Discussion Comments

Spotiche5

@raynbow- I also have cooked using both types of ovens, and I really don't think that the time difference to prepare meals is great enough to justify the cost.

Ocelot60

@raynbow- I have used both conventional and convection ovens, and to be honest, I prefer a standard, electric conventional oven. Not only is this type of oven less expensive, it is also less complicated to use in my opinion.

You mentioned that you don't cook very often. In that case, do yourself a favor and save some money on an inexpensive conventional oven.

Raynbow

I don't cook a lot but I like the idea of faster cooking times. Is the cost of a convection or fan oven really worth it for the convenience?

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • Commercial fan ovens are often used in bakeries.
      By: Deklofenak
      Commercial fan ovens are often used in bakeries.
    • A fan oven, or a convection oven, circulates heat throughout the oven using a fan for more even cooking.
      By: Evgeny Korshenkov
      A fan oven, or a convection oven, circulates heat throughout the oven using a fan for more even cooking.