SHOP VENTRAY

Oven

5 Benefits of Owning a Countertop Convection Oven

5 BENEFITS OF OWNING A COUNTERTOP CONVECTION OVEN

Countertop convection ovens are the perfect appliances that will make your life easier. Having a convection oven on your countertop will bring many advantages to your kitchen. That is why more and more families would like to purchase one. Some people who already own an electric range may think this countertop convection oven has no purpose. However, whether you use it as an oven or as a complement to conventional ovens will have tons of benefits for your cooking. Here you can see why a countertop convection oven will charm you and is great for meal preparation.

1. Great for small spaces

Countertop convection ovens are much smaller than conventional ovens and take less space. Besides, if you need to bring your oven from one place to another, having a countertop convection oven will make things easy for you, thanks to its compact, portable, and lightweight features. Great for small apartments, campers, student dormitories, or simply a kitchen with limited space.

2. Food cooks great

Countertop convection ovens circulate hot air, ensuring a consistent temperature throughout the oven cavity. This hot air blowing directly over the food helps shorten cooking and waiting times and helps render fat and brown skin faster and retain juice inside. Countertop convection ovens make home-cooked meals healthier as the food retains its essential nutrients better than in conventional ovens. Besides, they are also perfect for cooking multiple dishes with different cooking requirements at the same time.

3. A variety of cooking presets

The newer countertop convection ovens are versatile and capable. They can roast, broil, bake, toast, as well as air frying, rotisserie, and dehydrating. An example of these newer countertop convection ovens includes VENTRAY Mini Oven Master. This oven owns 12 cooking functions – bread, cake, dehydrate, fries, wings, chicken, fish, steak, shrimp, donut, cookies, and pizza to make your daily meals richer and healthier.

4. Quick-preheating & Energy efficient

Countertop convection ovens are usually smaller. They do not produce as much heat as traditional ovens while reaching the same temperature in a shorter period of time. A countertop convection oven that heats up faster and cooks your food in less time consumes less energy, saving a bit on your energy bills each month.

5. Easy to clean

Cleaning a countertop convection oven is as easy as wiping it down with a damp cloth or sponge. To keep your countertop convection oven clean, we will recommend you remove the crumbs on the crumb tray and give a clean wipe after each time your use it.

Difference between a countertop convection oven and a conventional oven

Countertop convection ovens and conventional ovens both cook foods using a heating element that raises the preset temperature. Here are some differences between the two cooking appliances:

  • Cooking efficiency: Compared with a conventional oven, food cooked in a countertop convection oven will cook about 25 percent faster, thanks to the constant hot air circulation. Besides, it will take more time for a conventional oven to preheat.

 

  • Heating method: Countertop ovens have a fan and exhaust system to circulate hot air around their cavity. Conventional ovens have upper and lower heating elements that enable you to adjust the temperature.

 

  • Heat distribution: The in-built convection heating system of the countertop convection system can circulate hot air to ensure foods cooks more evenly. Cooking with conventional ovens, you might have “hot spots” to lead to uneven cooking.

 

  • Moisture: The flowing hot air in a countertop convection oven reduces the amount of moisture in the oven to help create crispy coasting on foods. In a conventional oven, using more fat or turning the pan a few times during cooking can help increase browning.

 

  • Oven capacity: The hot air circulation of a countertop convection oven makes it possible to put multiple baking sheets in the oven at once when baking cookies. When cooking foods in a conventional oven, you will need to switch the pans midway through cooking because of uneven heating.

Do I need to preheat my countertop convection oven?

Yes, you’d better preheat your countertop convection and start with a hot oven or a hot pan. Electric ovens and the best countertop convection oven should take about 10 to 15 minutes to preheat. And some newer countertop convection ovens have a fast preheat feature. These ovens can preheat in 5 to 10 minutes.

Common mistakes when cooking with a countertop convection oven

You are dedicating so much space on your countertop to an appliance that can toast, bake, broil, air frying, rotisserie, and dehydrate. Make it worth the lost space by using your countertop convection oven in the right way. Getting to know some common mistakes you may be making can help you cook more efficiently and safely with a versatile countertop convection oven.

  • Neglecting to read the manual – When you start to use your countertop convection oven, first things first, go through the safety tips in the guidance manual and know if there is any limitation you should keep in mind.

 

  • Ignoring the crumb catcher – Bits, pieces, and piled-up grease in the crumb tray can overheat and catch on fire, which can pose a big threat to you and your family.

 

  • Not knowing the convection rules – It is better to check your food frequently since different models may have different cooking speeds. And be sure to lower the temperature by 25 degrees if your oven does not do as much automatically. Thus, take a little experimentation, and you will know how quickly your convection oven cooks.

 

  • Forgetting to unplug the countertop convection oven – Get into a habit of unplugging your appliances when not in use and stop yanking the cord, or there is a risk of terrible accidents.

How to best clean a countertop convection oven?

When you have the cleaning things (like a sponge, soft cloth, mild liquid soap for soapy water, non-abrasive cleaner, etc.) that will help you during the process, it is time to unplug the countertop convection oven and let it cool down. After that, take out the racks and anything removable.

  • Cleaning the interior: Wipe up and down the interior walls of your countertop convection oven with a damp sponge, make sure that you avoid the heating elements. It should be a simple process if the interior walls are not very greasy.

 

  • Cleaning the heating element: Clean the heating elements gently with a moist sponge and allow the heating elements to air dry completely before using them.

 

  • Cleaning the ceiling: Cleaning the ceiling might be difficult due to its hard-to-remove sticky grease or crumbs. Do your best and use the things you have prepared to help you out.

 

  • Cleaning the exterior: Wipe down the outside of your countertop convection oven with a moistened sponge or cloth. Make sure that you clean the control panels as well.

 

  • Cleaning removable parts: Soak these parts like racks, pans, or anything you had inside the countertop convection oven and was removable. After that, clean the grease off of these parts with a sponge.

Countertop convection ovens are compact, and they are great as a stand-alone in a small kitchen or as a complement to traditional ovens. It is hard to find a reason why you would not want to have a countertop convection oven in your kitchen. If you are looking for a countertop convection oven, VENTRAY Mini Oven Master will be the right one for your kitchen to help you cook a wide variety of foods to perfection. cooking results, multiple cooking presets, easy-to-operate panel controls, easy-to-clean interior, versatile cooking accessories, and affordable price point make it your right choice.

Related Articles

How to Cook with Countertop Convection Ovens？

HOW TO COOK WITH A COUNTERTOP CONVECTION OVEN

Countertop convection ovens known for their faster cooking times, evenly cooked food, and improved energy efficiency can undoubtedly offer beautifully golden-brown pastries, perfectly crisp cookies, evenly roasted chickens, delightfully caramelized vegetables, and more for your daily meals. That is why they continue to gain popularity with home cooks. If you have a countertop convection oven, take full advantage of the convection setting functions. However, if you are a new one to cook with countertop convection ovens or cooking from a traditional recipe, some time and/or temperature adjustment may be needed. Here is everything you should know about cooking with a countertop convection oven.

Understanding how a countertop convection oven works

A countertop convection oven cooks food by constantly circulating hot air throughout the oven cavity to help maintain optimal temperatures on the surfaces of the food, resulting in fast and even cooking. Countertop convection ovens can save energy since they make the most use of the heat provided and cook food quickly. If your current kitchen full-sized built-in wall or range oven doesn’t have convection capabilities, a countertop convection oven can bring this cooking technology to your kitchen without needing to replace your existing appliances.

Most countertop convection ovens like VENTRAY Mini Oven Master have a convection setting that activates convection heating functions. The convection setting can be turned on or off. When the convection setting is on, you can utilize the benefits of your convection oven to cook your meals. When the convection setting is off, you can only use your countertop convection oven like a conventional oven.

Cooking tips

Cooking with a convection oven can seem a little complex at first but is easy to master with some simple tips below.

1. Adjust the recipe

When using a countertop convection oven, you do not have to use a high cooking temperature, thanks to its efficient heating technology. Experiment with your favorite recipes by lowering the temperature by at least 25 degrees or shortening the time (10 to 15 percent for cookies and up to 30 percent less for large roasts), or both from the recipe’s recommended setting.

2. Frequently check the food

It is best to check on the dish a few minutes before the end of its cooking time. Don’t rely too much on your set cooking time, especially if you are new to using a countertop convection oven. There is a learning curve with convection oven cooking, so do not be discouraged if your first attempt is not perfect. Since most recipes are written with a conventional oven in mind, you will have to test and check dishes frequently until you find the sweet spot.

3. Allow for air circulation

Countertop convection ovens circulate hot air for even cooking. Stick to low-sided pans or sheets, use rimless baking sheets, and do not cover the racks with foil. These will ensure maximum air distribution around the food. Besides, do not overcrowd the oven when baking or cooking by using multiple racks.

The fastest and easiest way to cook with your countertop convection oven is to follow the presets. VENTRAY Mini Oven Master, as one of the newer countertop convection models, offers 12 cooking presets – bread, cake, dehydrates, fries, wings, chicken, fish, steak, shrimp, donuts, cookies, and pizza to meet your daily cooking needs.

What can you cook in a countertop convection oven?

The hot air consistently circulating in the countertop convection oven will give you fast and even cooking results. You can cook pretty much any conventional recipe with a countertop convection oven after a little experimentation. Here are some foods that will do well in the countertop convection oven:

  • Roasting meat like chicken – You will get better browning and delicious crispy outside while staying juicy on the inside because the meat will not be in the oven as long. 

 

  • Baking cookies and brownies – You can put at least two cookie sheets in a countertop convection oven at once and have an evener baking thanks to the convection setting.

 

  • Baking pastries, pies, and tarts – Using a countertop convection oven, you will get a faster, lower temp, more even baking, and crispier pie crust.

 

  • Baking bread – The convection setting will yield lovely and crusty bread. Try to use a convection setting for bread and decide how it works in your oven.

 

  • Roasting vegetables, toasting nuts and seeds, and dehydrating fruit and jerky – The fan and exhaust system in countertop convection ovens can move the hot air around and out, taking moisture away much more quickly, producing caramelized veggies.

Can you bake a cake in a countertop convection oven?

Foods like cakes, quick breads, custards, and souffles (or anything made from loose batter) do not quite do well in countertop convection ovens, since the blowing air from a countertop convection oven can create lopsided, rippled, and dry results. You can use a conventional oven or turn off the convection setting on the countertop convection oven to make them.

Countertop convection oven VS Conventional oven

A conventional oven has two heating elements that heat the air inside the oven to cook food. One founded on the bottom is used for most cooking and baking. The other on the top is mostly used for broiling.

Cooking with conventional ovens, you might have “hot spots” to lead to uneven cooking because it has no convection setting to circulate the air in the oven like a countertop convection oven.

Why use a countertop convection oven?

A countertop convection oven is a versatile appliance that can cook almost anything in less time than with a conventional oven. Let’s have a closer look at some of the top reasons to invest in one.

  • Cooks faster – If you are tired of waiting for dinner to get done, a countertop convection oven cooking your food by circulating hot air around your food can help you get your meals on the table faster.

 

  • Cooks more evenly – With a countertop convection oven, you will get more even cooking rather than uneven “hot spots” cooked by conventional ovens, thanks to its continuous hot air circulation.

 

  • Idea for browning – The exhaust system of a countertop convection oven can reduce the amount of moisture in the oven for browning and crispy cooking results when you roast things like vegetables or meat.

If you want more cooking options in your kitchen or if your oven lacks a convection setting, it is worth owning a countertop convection oven like VENTRAY Mini Oven Master to help bridge the gaps. If you want some delicious countertop convection oven recipes to try out, browse our oven recipes here!

Our Recipes

The Best Countertop Convection Oven for Small Kitchens

THE BEST COUNTERTOP CONVECTION OVEN FOR SMALL KITCHENS

Do you want an appliance that helps you get a family meal on the table faster and with less fuss and that offers a more satisfying and delicious end result? If you are struggling to prepare a hearty dinner for your family and guests in your kitchen now, a countertop convection oven will come in handy.

However, with so many countertop convection ovens available on the market, it is hard to decide which one will fit your needs. And that is why you can find the best countertop convection oven inside this post.

What is a countertop convection oven?

A countertop convection oven is a small and versatile kitchen appliance that looks like a large microwave. It can be placed on the top of your counter. Countertop models, like big convection ovens, use hot air to blow around for food to cook it evenly and quickly. A countertop oven uses electricity, not gas or pellets like a traditional oven, is much more portable than your full-sized built-in traditional oven and is a lot cheaper.

More and more people are turning away from their traditional ovens and microwaves since they want healthier foods cooked fast without compromising taste or quality. Countertop convection ovens make cooking easier so that everyone can enjoy delicious home-cooked meals every day with their family.

What to consider when choosing the best countertop convection oven

Countertop models of convection ovens come in many sizes and with a wide range of features and cooking settings. Some are simple, and others like VENTRAY Mini Oven Master are 12-in-1 cooking models with presets and accessories that allow you to cook various meals.

1. Size

Countertop ovens differ in size. If you have limited room in your kitchen, consider where you want to place the countertop convection oven and check how much space you can use to accommodate a countertop convection oven.

2. Capacity

When choosing to buy a countertop convection oven, consider the size of your family and how often you cook since these appliances vary in storage capacity. Some countertop convection ovens have the capacity to hold 6 slices of bread.

3. Setting

There is a wide variety of settings on countertop convection ovens. Some simple countertop convection ovens may roast, broil, bake, and toast, but other newer countertop convection ovens offer various cooking presets. Take VENTRAY Mini Oven Master as an example. This oven owns 12 cooking functions – bread, cake, dehydrates, fries, wings, chicken, fish, steak, shrimp, donuts, cookies, and pizza to satisfy your daily cooking needs.

4. Additional features

The best countertop oven may come with extra accessories such as a fry basket, baking rack, baking tray, rotisserie fork, rotary grill basket, and cookbooks. Other useful oven features like timers, automatic shutoff, LED touch control panel with a digital display, time and temperature control, and interior light will make your cooking easier and more convenient.

How to use a countertop convection oven?

If you are familiar with using standard ovens or microwaves, the operation of countertop convection ovens is similar. The fastest and easiest way to start using your convection oven is to follow the presets.

However, if you want to try out different recipes, here are some tips for first-timers. Since
most recipes are made for conventional ovens, you need to adjust the temperature and cooking time to accommodate your countertop convection oven.

Try to lower the temperature by around 25 degrees from the recipe’s suggested setting. As for the cooking time, you can multiply the cooking time by 0.75. For example, if a recipe calls for 40 minutes, adjust to 30 minutes instead.

How does a countertop convection oven work?

A countertop convection oven uses convection heating technology that circulates hot air around the oven to help cook food faster and more evenly and produce a crispy result. Cooking with a convection oven sitting on your countertop can make home-cooked meals easier and healthier without compromising on taste or quality.

What is the difference between countertop convection oven and conventional oven?

A countertop convection oven has a fan and exhaust system to circulate hot air around the cavity of the oven to cook foods evenly and quickly and reduce the amount of moisture in the oven to help good crisp and brown on the outside and stay juicy on the inside. Most countertop convection ovens like VENTRAY Mini Oven Master have a convection setting that activates convection heating functions. The convection setting can be turned on or off. When the convection setting is on, you can utilize the benefits of your convection oven to cook your meals. When the convection setting is off, you can only use your countertop convection oven like a conventional oven.

A conventional oven has two heating elements. The heating elements at the bottom are used for most cooking and baking. And the heating elements at the top are mostly used for broiling. Conventional ovens do not have a convection fan to circulate hot air so that the placement of the dishes can cause the dishes to cook faster or slower.

Is air fryer same as countertop convection oven?

Air fryers work the same way as countertop convection ovens do – based on convection heating technology, circulating hot air around the food until it is cooked through on the inside and crispy on the outside.

An air fryer is a cylindrical kitchen appliance with a removable cooking basket, and you cannot see inside it. Because of its small size, the cooking areas of an air fryer are smaller and will heat up faster.

A countertop convection oven is a rectangular box with a door in front, typically with a glass see-through window so that you can see inside. Countertop convection ovens have more space suitable for larger households or batch cooking, but they cannot duplicate the crispness of a deep fryer as air fryers do.

VENTRAY is a quality brand specialized in a wide range of premium appliances for cooking. If you are looking for a countertop convection oven – VENTRAY Mini Oven Master will be the best countertop convection oven for your small kitchen. Its compact size, durability, large capacity, fast and even cooking results, multiple cooking presets, easy-to-operate panel controls, easy-to-clean interior, versatile cooking accessories, and affordable price point make it your right choice.

Our Recipes

How to Choose the Best Countertop Oven?

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST COUNTERTOP OVEN?

If you love to cook your favorite foods and would like to prepare large or complex meals for your family or friends but do not have room for all the necessary appliances in your kitchen, adding a countertop oven will be sure to give you a big help. Countertop ovens are small and can be placed on the countertop to fit in even the smallest kitchens. They have a good appearance and affordability and can bring far greater versatility and capability than other traditional kitchen appliances. That is why countertop ovens have become so popular that more and more people have chosen to purchase a countertop oven for baking, roasting, toasting, crisping, and any other type of cooking over the traditional oven in recent years.

However, with so many models available, it can be a struggle for you to choose the right one among them. Consider the following factors rather than check out some countertop oven reviews to get an idea of the items that are highest rated among customers only will help you find the best countertop oven.

Size

Countertop ovens can vary in size. In most kitchens, space may be limited. Measure the countertop to check how much space you can use to accommodate a countertop oven. If you would like to place the countertop oven under the kitchen cabinet, measure the distance between the top of the counter and the bottom of the cabinet.

If you plan to relocate the oven frequently, ensure that the countertop oven you prefer is small and light enough to move.

Capacity

The interior space of the countertop oven is an important factor for some people who wish to prepare large food items. Some compact and mighty countertop ovens, VENTRAY Mini Oven Master is a fine example among them, have the capacity to hold a 12-in pizza.

The capacity of the countertop oven should accommodate its intended purpose. Ask yourself what you will be using the oven for before deciding on the best countertop oven to purchase.

Setting

A simple countertop oven may roast, broil, bake, and toast. As technology constantly changes, newer countertop oven models boast air frying, rotisserie, and dehydrating modes, too. It is worth spending a little more time on those extra presets to efficiently and conveniently cook creative and delicious foods.

Knowing functions and settings will help you get the best results the oven can offer and ensure your safety. Of course, they will help you cook the food as you want it and make your life easier.

Convection setting

Convection heating can circulate hot air throughout the cavity of the oven for even and fast cooking. Most countertop ovens like VENTRAY Mini Oven Master have a convection setting that activates convection heating functions. The convection setting can be turned on or off. When the convection setting is on, you can take advantage of the benefits of convection cooking. When the convection setting is off, you can only use your countertop oven as a conventional oven.

Additional features

The more settings a countertop oven has, the more likely it will come with extra accessories like a fry basket, baking rack, baking tray, rotisserie fork, rotary grill basket, and cookbooks. Other useful oven features like timers, automatic shutoff, LED touch control panel with a digital display, time and temperature control, and interior light will make your cooking easier and more convenient.

Countertop oven VS Built-in wall oven

Countertop ovens are generally less expensive than built-in wall ovens. They are compact and portable and often come with extra functions like air frying, browning, roasting, toasting, and rotisserie. Thanks to their versatility and capability, many people use countertop ovens as second ovens in addition to their full-size ovens. Wall-mounted ovens, as full-size ovens, can be more expensive and can cook large dishes and meals.

Countertop oven VS Range oven

Countertop ovens and range ovens differ in size and installation. Besides, the main difference between the two is that a countertop oven does not have an integrated cooktop. The burners or heating elements on the top of the kitchen range oven can be used for searing, sauteing, boiling, and other stovetop functions. The structure of the countertop oven is much simpler than the range oven. A countertop oven is just the oven cavity made for baking, roasting, toasting, air frying, and more.

Countertop oven VS Toaster oven

A countertop oven is usually larger and can essentially replace a conventional oven for many households to cook a wide range of recipes thanks to its versatility and capability. A toaster oven is usually a bit smaller and has a simple design with heating elements that respond quickly, ideal for making morning toast in a hurry or heating an occasional meal.

Countertop convection oven VS Air fryer

Both air fryers and countertop convection ovens use convection heating technology to reach fast and even cooking results, but they differ in size, appearance, and frying capability.

  • Appearance: A countertop convection oven is a rectangular box with a door in front, typically with a glass see-through window so that you can see inside. An air fryer is a cylindrical kitchen appliance with a removable cooking basket, and you cannot see inside it.

 

  • Size: Countertop convection ovens are typically larger than air fryers. These two appliances can be both placed on the countertop to save your kitchen space.

 

  • Frying capabilities: Many air fryers have limited capacity, so they are not well-suited for larger households or batch cooking. Countertop convection ovens have more space, but they cannot duplicate the crispness of a deep fryer as air fryers do.

Countertop oven VS Conventional oven

Countertop ovens feature easy to clean, simple to use, and versatile, compact, and portable to make life simpler. Here are some reasons why countertop oven has become more and more popular in recent years:

  • Takes up less space than a full-sized conventional oven

 

  • Preheats quickly so you do not have to heat the entire oven when preparing smaller meals

 

  • Completes everyday tasks quickly with selected preset cooking models

 

  • Adds extra functions such as air frying, rotisserie, and dehydrating your current conventional oven may not have such as air frying, rotisserie, and dehydrating

Can a countertop oven replace a regular oven?

Sometimes countertop ovens like the one from Ventray can let you do as much as a regular oven thanks to their robust features and settings. However, they have limited capacity to accommodate multiple dishes or large meals. Many countertop ovens own features found on regular full-sized ovens like convection heating, multiple racks, preset cooking functions, interior lights, and non-stick interiors. Whether replacing your full-size regular oven with a countertop oven or not depends on what and how much you want to make.

It is good to make a wise choice before purchasing kitchen appliances. Based on the tips above and your actual needs, you can select a countertop oven like VENTRAY Mini Oven Master that fits perfectly into your kitchen and meets all of your cooking needs.

Our Recipes

Follow Us @ventraykitchen