“What’s the better option – an OTG, a microwave oven or a conventional oven”
So here are the different options you need to consider. All of them differ in cooking method, price, etc. Consider the space you have in your kitchen, your budget and what sort of use you have for your oven before zeroing in on one.
(a) Conventional ovens
Conventional ovens work on an electric element for cooking or a gas burner. In this type of oven, heat radiates up and pushes cold air down which can lead to uneven cooking or baking. However, this type of oven is very common and usually inbuilt in kitchens or come as part of the kitchen range.
(b) Convection ovens
Convection ovens cook food a bit differently. There’s a fan at the back that forces air circulation throughout the oven, cooking food more evenly. This also results in quicker heating and is said to consume less power. The cooking time will differ from that of a conventional oven.
(c) Microwave Ovens
These are the ‘ovens’ that most of you probably own. They are most popularly used for heating and defrosting and use radio waves for this. There are some microwave-oven-specific recipes that are best for baking in a microwave. If you try a normal recipe in the microwave, it may not work out well so don’t make that mistake.
(d) Microwave cum Convection Ovens
(e) Oven Toaster Grill (OTG) Oven
These use old-fashioned filament coils for heating and cooking (much like a geyser). Although they work fantastic for making toast and even grilling, baking in them doesn’t work out as best as in the other ovens. Before I moved to Singapore, I had an OTG in which I used to bake and although the food turned out just fine, sometimes, the crust used to dry out or the cake used to get unevenly cooked. I made these Triple Chocolate Fudge Brownies and my first No-Knead Bread in an OTG and although they tasted just fine, I am sure they would have come out much better in a convection oven.
**Disclaimer**
This post and information on it is based on my research. I claim to be no expert so if you find anything wrong or unclear, do drop a note.
Thats a really useful post. I have been experimenting with my oven as I was not sure if it was exactly a proper convection oven. However, ur post and links to other posts from it have helped clear my doubts 🙂
Thanks, Naga. Didn't know of Onida having microwave ovens:D..Now you know how ignorant I am when it comes to Ovens:P Will check it out when I go, I tried to find the IFB model, and couldn't at a few stores. Only Samsung, same price range. Will look for Onida next time I go:-)~Shreya
Very useful post nags 🙂
Shreya, you can definitely bake in that. You may also want to look at Onida Black Beauty. I have heard that works well too and you get a lot of variety in prices too.
Hi Naga, very useful post indeed! Especially for someone who has still not used a microwave and never baked:-) I so want a microwave, and also want to start baking. So, I am still confused whether to buy a microwave and an OTG or a microwave with convection + grill. I found this product:
http://www.ifbappliances.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10051&storeId=10001&productId=19509&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=11507&top_category=11506
and would love to buy it, if baking works in it! This has preheat facility as well. If anyone has used this product, please let me know if it will serve my purpose:-)
If you love baking i think you should go for a Convection oven. I had a combo and didn't like it and went again for a Convection. A very informative post.
Nags…such a useful post! It clears all my doubts abt the oven types.Didnt even know conventional and convection are 2 types 🙂
I own a OTG and all my bakes are with it and am totally satisfied with the outcome. But still there are some cases cakes turned out utter flop….the same ones I had baked so well in the previous days which had got me many appreciations. As a baby baker….to me the batter consistency also matters a lot, next comes the settings and the oven type.
My entry is still pending for MMKT……will try to send in atleast by this month end 🙂
Thanks Jeyashri!
That's great Sowmya, hope they find it useful!
this is a good post..many of my friends ask me about this..will direct them here:))
very useful post