Advantage of Convection Vs. Micro Ovens

Microwave Ovens

• Microwave ovens were invented in 1946 by Dr. Percy Spencer, an engineer working for the Raytheon Company. He discovered that microwaves, a type of electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength of 2450 MHz, between visible light and radio waves, had the ability to heat up substances put in their path. He found that food bombarded by these waves cooked quickly, due to the waves causing the molecules of the food to vibrate rapidly, causing friction and producing heat. Modern microwave ovens use this same principle. They use a device called a magnetron to project the microwaves into an enclosed space, where food is placed.

Advantages of Microwave Ovens

• Microwave ovens are good for heating foods quickly. Almost any food may be cooked much quicker in a microwave than in any other type of oven. They are efficient, and the oven itself does not get hot. When used properly, they will not burn foods unless they have a high sugar content or are severely overcooked.

Convection Ovens

• Convection ovens use gas burners or electric elements for heat, and use a fan to circulate air around the food in the oven enclosure. Convection ovens rely on the principle of convection to heat food. Convection is the direct transfer of heat from one substance to another. Air is a good insulator but a poor conductor of heat. By continuously circulating the air, heat is more efficiently transferred to the food than in a standard oven.

Advantages of Convection Ovens

• Convection ovens cook food less quickly than microwave ovens, but give improved food quality in many types of cooking. Microwaves are not suitable for roasting, baking or other applications that require browning of foods. Convection ovens are designed to give superior quality to these types of foods. Meats and baked goods especially are more likely to have better results when cooked in a convection oven. Microwave ovens are not suited to these types of foods. Convection ovens generally are much larger than microwave ovens, and allow cooking of more than one dish at a time, although some counter-top models are no bigger than an average microwave oven. Metal pans may not be used in microwaves, but convection ovens do not have this restriction.

Disadvantages of Convection Ovens

• They tend to be more expensive than similarly equipped standard ovens. Of course convection ovens get very hot, making burns a concern for the careless cook. Convection ovens do not cook as quickly as microwave ovens. And of course, convection ovens do not do as good a job cooking popcorn.