Whether you have a new convection oven or just realized that your traditional oven has a “convection” function, these recipes are a definite must-try. I’ve been using my oven for years, and it wasn’t until a few months ago that I realized that it had a convection feature. It’s embarrassing, but, honestly, how was I supposed to know? Ever since I found out, I’ve not stopped using it! It is the most amazing thing that’s happened to my baking. The convection does wonders to all kinds of dishes, from appetizers to entrees to dessert. So, if you’re new to the convection oven game, and want to test its capabilities (but don’t know how), you’ve come to the right place.
What Is a Convection Oven?
A convection oven is similar to a traditional radiant or thermal oven in that heat is produced at the top or bottom surfaces. The difference is, the convection oven has an internal fan that continuously circulates the hot air throughout the oven chamber. So, where a traditional oven has hot and cold areas, the conventional oven has an evenly heated environment, resulting in evenly cooked goods, even if you fill up all the racks at the same time. The fan also speeds up the cooking and improves the chemical reactions in foods, yielding relatively superior results at a much shorter time span. With the convection oven, pie crusts are flakier, roasted chicken is juicier, and vegetables are more caramelized. So, to summarize, with a convection oven, you can cook more goods at a faster period, and expect excellent, evenly cooked dishes. If you don’t own one yet, what are you waiting for? Pro-tip: certain traditional ovens have a convection setting. Before deciding to get a convection oven, check first if your existing oven has said function.
What Are the Best Foods to Cook in a Convection Oven?
The question is, what foods can’t you cook in a convection oven? The short answer is, with a little trial and error, there’s absolutely nothing you can’t cook in a convection oven. If fool-proof cooking is what you want, here are some of the things the convection oven is exceptional at doing:
Roasting – whether it’s protein or veggies, you can count on the convection oven to take care of it. It’s very good at rendering fat from proteins and caramelizing veggies.Toasting – the convection oven has great browning capabilities. Count on it to toast bread, nuts, and seeds nicely and evenly.Baking large batches of cookies and muffins – If you’re having a bake sale soon, the convection oven will be your new best friend.
Feel free to use up all the racks in your convection oven, and not worry about goods that are perfectly cooked on one side, and burned or undercooked on the other.
Baking pies and pastries – the heat from the convection melts fats and creates steam much quicker, which gives your pie crusts and pastries a nice lift.Braising and cooking casseroles – or any recipe that calls for covering the dish with a lid or foil, for that matter. With the convection oven, you won’t need to worry about your food drying out while cooking.
Dishes to avoid:
The circulating hot air is not ideal for goods that need to set while cooking, such as:
Custards and soufflesQuick breads and cakesBasically, any good that starts out with a loose batter
Now that you know the basics, here are 11 convection oven recipes you definitely must try.
1. Roasted Red Potatoes
Roasted potatoes are a scrumptious side dish that goes perfectly with almost any entree. They’re not only delicious but hearty as well. Serve this with any dish for a truly satisfying meal. For this recipe, you’ll flavor the potatoes with minced garlic, olive oil, and salt. It seems basic, but the flavor combination will surprise you! It’ll blow away your tastebuds, for sure.
2. Oven Baked Sweet Potato Fries
They may not be as crispy as regular French fries, but when it comes to flavor, they’re the clear winner. If you love the addictive combination of sweet and salty, you’ll definitely fall for these fries. Seasoned not only with salt and pepper, but with smoked paprika as well, these spuds also pack a punch.
3. Roasted Vegetables
The thing I love about roasting vegetables is that it adds so much more flavor to the veggies. It releases the natural sugars, creating a sweet, almost caramelized outer crust. I’m also amazed by how the roasting time is the same for all veggies, whether it’s cauliflower and broccoli, potatoes and carrots, or Brussels sprouts and asparagus.
4. Smashed Potatoes
Think of smashed potatoes as the cross between mashed and roasted potatoes. Squashing the potatoes flat gives them a lovely texture – a large, crunchy outer surface and a thin, tender interior. You won’t need much to make these spuds taste immaculate – just a bit of salt and pepper is more than enough.
5. Garlic Herb Butter Roasted Chicken
Not sure what to make for dinner yet? This recipe is exactly what you need. This isn’t your average roasted chicken, folks. Besides the crisp skin and juicy meat, this chicken stands out for its flavor. After all, how can you go wrong with a combo of garlic, herbs, and butter? It doesn’t take a culinary whiz to know that it’s a recipe for success.
6. Veggie Pizza
Want to be a hit with your vegetarian friends? You can’t go wrong with pizza. For this recipe, you’ll make your own pizza crust. I mean, let’s be honest, nothing beats pizza crust made from scratch! Topped with bell peppers, baby corn, tomatoes, onion, and carrots, this pizza is as colorful as it is delicious.
7. Baked Chicken Nuggets
I’m obsessed with chicken nuggets. I’ve loved them as a kid, and I still love them as an adult. But now that I’m older, I’ve come to prefer this healthier, albeit just as delicious, version. Chicken nuggets are coated in breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese, and roasted until crispy and golden. The flavors and textures are on point, but since they’re not fried, I can enjoy them without the guilt.
8. French Fries
While nothing beats the goodness of the classic deep-fried French fries, it’s imperative as adults to make smarter food choices. With this oven-baked recipe, you can enjoy your favorite fries more regularly without sacrificing your health. Don’t worry, this recipe tells you everything you need to ensure that your fries will be just as crispy and delicious when baked.
9. Peanut Butter Cookies
These cookies are the ultimate peanut butter treats! Not only are they loaded with chopped peanut butter cups, but the batter itself is also flavored with peanut butter. I’m telling you, the peanut butter flavor is strong with these ones. Because you’ll cook these in the convection oven, you can double the batch and bake them all at once. Trust me, you’ll definitely want more.
10. Chocolate Chip Cookies
Want to make chocolate chip cookies that are just as thick, chunky, and decadent as Levain’s? This recipe has your name written all over it. This copycat recipe produces a pretty impressive replica of the famous Levain cookies. They’re bigger and taller than your average cookies, and they’re definitely more loaded with chocolate chunks. Yum.
11. Christmas Magic Bars
Christmas came early with these mouthwatering magic bars. With seven layers of awesomeness, these treats will give you extra Christmas cheer. These bars will satisfy that sweet tooth like no other. A buttery crust is loaded with cherries, coconut flakes, and chocolate chip cookies. They’re made extra sweet and ooey-gooey with sweetened condensed milk. Click on a star to rate it!
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