“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.
Hi Nags
This is a very useful Post. I’m in Kerala
I am in the same confusion. I want to buy an oven
for all my baking needs, not just cakes but also for
Lean dough breads.could u pls suggest which one is best, conventional (gas) or convection electric.
Thanks in advance.
go for a convection oven, that’s best in my opinion
Hi Nags,
Indeed an insightful write up, especially for someone like me,who is going t o set up a new kitchen. I went through all the comments, but still have a few queries regarding what would be the most suitable for me. I have a small kitchen. Also, I bake quite often, I also take a few orders here and there. Very few, but they do trickle in. I love baking for myself and my family, and bake a lot. Currently I have a microwave, convection oven, which serves my purpose right, but it is very small in size, and i feel it bakes more on one side, resulting in a little uneven browning of stuff. I wanted a bigger one, which could lessen my effort of baking small batches of cookies or cupcakes, and could bake a bit bigger batches.
Please suggest, whether i should take just a bigger microwave convection oven, or take separate ones, a microwave and an oven. I have a 2 year old, so I don’t think i can do way with the microwave too.
Kindly suggest, it would be helpful!
Thanks,
Ravijot
A larger microwave convection oven should work for your purposes and also saves space. I recommend going to a retailer and checking out all options, prices before deciding. Ultimately it’s up to you of course
Hi iam from India,planning to start a vry small bakery, kindly suggest what type of oven to buy and the capacity of the oven.probably I might bake 2 -3 cake, some 100-150 cookies and 10-15 breads that’s all….pls help
hi , i am laitis from kerala
i am planning to buy an oven, i mainly want to cook south indian recipies ( both veg and non veg), fried rice and cakes.so can u please suggest the type of oven for me
regards
laitis
Hi, I bought a convection oven recently and I have trouble baking with it! My oven has an option to turn on/off the fan. I baked muffins yesterday and it turned out to be burnt on the outside and uncooked inside. Do you know if I need to follow the recipe for the temperature and timing, or do I have to adjust accordingly? because i am using a dark pan to bake, do i have to lower the temperature and reduce the baking time? and do i need to turn on the fan? i am really worried about my future baking 🙁 please help me!!
-Fei
Debaleena, i am really not an expert in this. but i think looking at your usage, go for a conventional table top oven that does only baking. OTG in my experience doesn't work too well and most of my friends who have a convection cum microwave find it ok to use although its not as good as conventional ovens.
i am not familiar with brands and models available in the market so please go to a good electronic store and weigh in the options.
Hi I am completely confused with which oven I need to buy and whether I should buy a convection microwave or an OTG.My main purpose is as follows-
Grilling/roasting/Broiling non veg (chicken, fish, beef etc)and vegetables.
Browning
baking cakes and cookies and pies.
As you can see I am looking mainly to cook non Indian recipes after getting inspired from Top chef and master-chef Australia programme.Pl
let me know whether I should go for a convection microwave or an OTG
or both.
As you are an expert in this field I
am really looking forward to your answer. I am going through the net
but have been receiving contradictory opinions.
I will decide my option based on your answer . Kindly help. Pl give the
make and model number too.
REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR REPLY
Thanks
Debaleena
91 9845473102
Hey Nags,
Thanks. It is nice and cute .
this is what i have, but smaller size
http://www.delonghi.com/sg_en/products/aov-842/
Nags,
could you pls tell me the model and features of your oven?