Whether classically trained or self-taught, professional chefs will agree that a masterfully prepared dish begins with quality ingredients nurtured by culinary know-how. To get the job done right in a restaurant or similar setting, professional chefs need the right equipment as well, and one of the most vital pieces of culinary hardware that they rely on is an oven, but what types of Ovens do they use?
If it came down to one choice, the majority of professional chefs would opt for a convection oven because of the thermal control and evenness of cooking it provides. Because it heats more efficiently, a convection oven also reduces overall cooking time, which is a bonus in a busy restaurant setting.
There are a myriad of ways that professional chefs cook and prepare food, including on the stovetop, on a grill, or even using sous vide. But the workhorse of any commercial kitchen is an oven, and the pro’s choice is convection.Convection ovens remain a prioritized item for pro chefs, as they’re versatile and capable of cooking many dishes. We’ll explain more benefits ahead.
What Types of Ovens Does A Professional Chef Use?
When it comes to commercial ovens that are commonly used in the kitchen of a restaurant or similar setting, there are two main types:
Standard oven – also known as a conventional or radiant oven, this piece of equipment has been a staple in the food service (restaurants and eateries) and hospitality (hotels and lodging) industries for decades. A standard oven works by heating the interior of an enclosed chamber from the bottom of the unit, usually via an electric heating element or a gas burner.
Convection oven – in recent years, this type of oven has steadily grown in popularity not only in commercial kitchens but with professional chefs. From the outside, a convection oven looks very similar to a standard oven, but there is a world of difference on the inside, where an internal fan circulates the heat mass and distributes it evenly throughout the cooking chamber.
There are also more specialized ovens like salamanders and rotisseries, to name a few, but standard ovens and convection ovens are the most common by far.
As more and more professional chefs embrace the benefits and advantages of using one, the convection oven is quickly becoming the standard (if not highly sought) piece of hardware in commercial kitchens. Read on to learn why professional chefs prefer convection ovens over all others.
Why Do Professional Chefs Prefer Convection Ovens?
As many home cooks can attest, it is quite common for a standard oven to have one or more hot (or cold) spots, where the temperature is hotter in one spot than in other parts of the oven (e.g., the front or back, the top or bottom, or the left vs. the right). It is for this reason that a common practice with standard ovens is to open the door midway through cooking to rotate the food.
Uneven temperature zones in an oven can lead to inconsistent doneness, and for a professional chef, this can have disastrous consequences, not the least of which is potentially serving undercooked or raw food (such as meat) to a customer or guest.
Convection ovens solve the problem of thermal inconsistency by using an internal fan that circulates the hot air inside the chamber, resulting in an even distribution of heat throughout the oven. As a result, not only are hot or cold spots completely eliminated, there are additional culinary benefits offered by convection ovens that no other cooking appliance can offer:
Food is heated and cooked to the same level of doneness, regardless of where it is placed in a convection oven
Because hot air is continuously circulated throughout the chamber, more food can be placed in a convection oven without impacting heating efficiency or cooking time
Aside from cooking, browning occurs faster and more evenly
Roasting is more consistent (and the skin of poultry is crispier) because of the increased airflow around the food
Another important consideration in a commercial setting like a restaurant or a banquet hall is the amount of time it takes to prepare dishes, particularly when there are a large number of them that need to be served.
How Much Time is Saved By Using a Convection Oven
Time savings is where a convection oven truly flexes its muscle:
On average, a convection oven can reduce cooking times by as much as 25% compared to a standard oven
Reduced cooking times will result in lower utility costs (whether it is electricity or gas) which translates to decreased operating expenses for a commercial kitchen
Thus, there are not only culinary advantages to using a convection oven, such as enhanced evenness of cooking, but also practical benefits, like reduced cooking times, as well.
But as with many things in the culinary world, there are always exceptions to the general rule, and there is one major type of cooking for which chefs would be wise to think twice before using a convection oven.
Do All Professional Chefs Use Convection Ovens?
While on the surface, convection ovens may seem like the ultimate solution for all commercial kitchen challenges, there are instances where they provide less-than-ideal cooking conditions for certain dishes. In particular, there are certain baked items that may actually be best prepared in a standard oven instead of a convection oven. The main reasons for this are:
The force of the hot air being circulated by the internal fan of a convection oven can cause excessive browning (or even burning) on one side of items like muffins or cupcakes
Because of the circulation of hot air inside a convection oven, cakes can cook much more rapidly on the outside than on the inside, resulting in exteriors that are done but with interiors that are still raw batter
Delicate doughs or wet batters can be blown sideways by the force of the circulating hot air
The reduced cooking times of convection ovens can require closer monitoring of baked goods to ensure they do not burn
Fortunately, many convection ovens on the market today allow their circulation fans to be turned off (in other words, operate as a standard oven) or powered down for normal baking operations.
Conclusion
The convection oven is a bona fide gamechanger for professional chefs, whether they are in the kitchen of a quaint neighborhood bistro or overseeing dinner service for a large banquet. With the degree of thermal control and consistency that they provide, along with reduced cooking times, convection ovens are an absolute must for any commercial kitchen.
Also read: How Do You Get Stains Out Of Kitchen Towels?
SOURCES about Types of Ovens:
- https://chefstoys.com/blog/buyers-guide-to-commercial-ovens/
- https://www.ajmadison.com/learn/whats-the-difference-between-a-convection-oven-and-a-conventional-oven
- https://www.cnet.com/home/kitchen-and-household/appliance-science-the-circulating-physics-of-the-convection-oven/
- https://www.mashed.com/213486/the-real-difference-between-convection-and-conventional-ovens/
- https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/blog/2015/02/15/convection-conundrum
- https://www.amazon.com/Waring-Commercial-WCO500X-2-Sheet-Convection
