Recipe Adjustments For Convection Ovens

Here are some tips on how to make adjustments for convection oven cooking times. Print out our handy chart of adjusted temperatures and cooking times for specific foods like your Thanksgiving turkey, baking cookies, cakes and pastries. These tips will help you transition from regular to convection cooking.

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Article By: Barbara Bowman

Published by: Gourmet Sleuth
Last Updated: 04/07/2018

General Convection Oven Recipe Conversion Guidelines

There are three commonly accepted methods of converting recipes from conventional oven baking to convection oven baking.

Bake at the same conventional oven temperature but for a shorter period of time.
Bake for the same length of time as you would using a conventional oven but reduce the temperature by 25 degrees.
Bake for a slightly shorter period of time and a reduced temperature. This tends to be the most successful method for most ovens.

When Should Convection Cooking Be Used Rather Than Conventional Cooking

Foods cooked in a convection oven cook about 25% - 30% faster than a conventional oven as the hot air is forced around the food. Foods tend to have less moisture loss and fewer nutrients are destroyed in the cooking process.

One of the most important factors when determining which cooking method is most appropriate for your food is the type of dish or pan you are cooking in. If the cooking container blocks the flow of air around the food then there is no use in using convection cooking.

Convection Cooking Is Good For

Cookie sheets
Shallow pans

Convential Cooking Is Good For

Covered casseroles, pans or dishes
Deep roasting pans

More Convection Cooking Tips

Manufacturer Guidelines
Follow the recommendations from the manufacturer of the oven. Your oven typically shipped with a user guide. It is a good idea to familiarized yourself with the specifics for your own oven. If you don't have a user manual then try contacting the manufacture to obtain a copy. Many provide printable copies online.

Air Circulation
Air circulation is important. Don't cover racks with foil. Allow 1 to 1 1/2 inches around pans (also above and below pans for multi-rack baking).

Use Proper Pans
For maximum browning, use pans with low sides, and rimless cookie sheets. Many ovens come with special pans and racks that lift roasts so air flows all around. If possible, place the long sides of the pan parallel to the oven door.

Roasting Guidelines

Roast meats and poultry
Preheating is not necessary. Place meats on a rack in the roasting pan for better browning. Roasting time may be 20 to 30 percent less than in a conventional oven if temperatures aren't reduced. Some ovens offer a special roasting mode that provides top and/or bottom browning or an initial surge in heat in addition to the fan. These modes make it easy to get optimum results in a shorter time.

Small Roasts or Unstuffed Poultry
Do not reduce oven temperatures for small pieces, skinny roasts, or unstuffed poultry. In our tests, we roasted a 3 1/2-pound chicken at 375 |degrees~. In about an hour, about 20 percent less time than for conventional cooking, it was beautifully browned, with succulent flesh.

Dense Roasts & Stuffed Turkeys
For large, dense roasts and big stuffed turkeys, you may need to reduce the temperature 25 |degrees~ during part or all of the roasting time. When you lower the temperature, the meat may be juicier and shrink less, but it will take longer to cook.

Convection Cooking Charts

Method 1: Reduce temp by 25 to 30 degrees and bake per conventional recipe time

Conventional Oven Temp	Convection Less 25F	Convection Less 30F
225	200	195
250	225	220
275	250	245
300	275	270
325	300	295
350	325	320
375	350	345
400	375	370
425	400	395
450	425	420
475	450	445
500	475	470
525	500	495
550	525	520

Method 2: Bake at conventional oven temperature but reduce cooking time by 25%-30% less

Conventional Baking Time In minutes	25% Less Time	30% Less Time
10	8	7
15	11	10.5
20	15	14
25	19	17.5
30	23	21
35	26	24.5
40	30	28
45	34	31.5
50	38	35
55	41	38.5
60	45	42
65	49	45.5
70	53	49
75	56	52.5
80	60	56
85	64	59.5
90	68	63
95	71	66.5
100	75	70
105	79	73.5
110	83	77
115	86	80.5
120	90	84
125	94	87.5
130	98	91
135	101	94.5
140	105	98
145	109	101.5
150	113	105

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Tips For Cakes And Baking

Cakes, cookies, muffins, quick breads, yeast breads
A convection oven produces more even browning, slightly greater volume, and, sometimes, a lighter texture.

Reduce oven temperature 25 |degrees~ from conventional recipes. Preheat oven. Cooking time may be the same or 10 to 25 percent less than in conventional baking.

For most baked goods, temperature adjustment is critical to the texture: the moving hot air cooks the outside first and could solidify the structure before it has a chance to rise, producing a heavy, dense result.

Convection ovens are great for baking multiple pans of cookies at one time. A standard oven requires switching pans midway to achieve consistent browning and cooking time but because the convection oven provides circulating hot air; cookies bake evenly without changing pan positions, and in a slightly shorter time. Depending on your oven you may be able to fit four or five pans at one time.

Cakes
If your cake is very dense or large then you may need to reduce the temperature slightly more. At lower baking temperatures, you may not save any time; in fact, it may take longer than in a regular oven. With loaf-size cakes and quick breads, especially, there is little time saved. Yeast breads may bake faster.

Cake Baking Trouble Shooting
If the surface is well browned but hard and dry, and rising is uneven, reduce the oven temperature slightly more, and check earlier for doneness.

For pale color and low volume, increase temperature slightly. Check the manual; some ovens provide a setting that gives extra top or bottom browning suitable for some baked goods.

Barbara Bowman graduated with degree in Foods and Nutrition from San Jose State University. As CEO of GourmetSleuth.com she spends most waking hours writing, cooking, eating, gardening and traveling.

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When Should Convection Cooking Be Used Rather Than Conventional Cooking

More Convection Cooking Tips

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Method 1: Reduce temp by 25 to 30 degrees and bake per conventional recipe time

Method 2: Bake at conventional oven temperature but reduce cooking time by 25%-30% less

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When Should Convection Cooking Be Used Rather Than Conventional Cooking

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Method 1: Reduce temp by 25 to 30 degrees and bake per conventional recipe time

Method 2: Bake at conventional oven temperature but reduce cooking time by 25%-30% less

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