What Is The Main Difference Between Microwaves VS Convection Microwaves?

Last Updated on August 8, 2023 By Emma W. Thomas

Microwaves emit microwave radiation to heat food quickly and evenly. Convection microwaves, additionally, feature a heating element and fan to circulate hot air, browning, and crisping food. This dual technology combines microwave speed with oven-like cooking capabilities.

Difference Between Microwave VS Convection Microwave

Convection Microwave	Normal Microwave
Cooks food much faster	It can take more time depending upon the recipe.
It directly heats the food	It heats up the area first.
It can be expensive based on the features	It can be less expensive with basic features
Uses much energy to heat the food which is not good for everyday	Uses less energy to heat the food. Hence, it can be used daily.

Cooking Time Differences Between Microwave Vs Convection Microwave

Serial	Item	Cooking Time for Microwave	Cooking Time For Convection Oven
1	Baked Potato	45 Minutes	35 Minutes
2	Roasted Turkey	3.75 hrs	2.75 hrs
3	Cookies	12 Minutes	9 Minutes
4	Cheese Cake	45 Minutes	35 Minutes
5	Roasted Veg	55 Minutes	40 Minutes

Which One Is Better? A Microwave Or Convection Microwave?

With a standard microwave oven, the heating is definitely faster, but cooking it is a bit slow. 

For a convection microwave oven, the heating is much faster with higher temperatures than normal. The cooking system is much more efficient, and you can cook all kinds of food way faster. 

So, a convection microwave is much better than any standard microwave. 

Is Convection Microwave Good For Health Than An Average Microwave?

A microwave oven heats the food from the inside out and, the quality of cooking is better. A convection microwave uses very high power to cook food or heat food faster, which may not be suitable for health. 

From that perspective, though Microwave uses less energy to cook food or heat, it is better for health. 

Can We Use A Convection Microwave As A Regular Microwave Oven?

The convection microwave oven has a hot fan technique that heats the whole area inside to cook the food. You can use a convection microwave to roast and bake things quickly with a standard microwave. 

Heating Elements of Microwave Oven & Convection Microwaves

The heating elements in a microwave oven are responsible for cooking food. They are made from metal alloys that heat when electricity is applied, and they can vary in size, shape, and voltage. The most commonly used metals are nickel-chromium-iron alloy and copper-nickel alloys.

Microwaves are a type of electromagnetic radiation, which means they are produced by the movement of electric charges. They are created in the magnetron which is located inside the microwave oven. From there, microwaves are directed out through an opening at the top of the unit where they are reflected off the metal walls and then directed into your food.

One of the key components of microwaves is the heating element. The heating element in a convection microwave heats up the air which circulates throughout the oven.

When Should We Not Use A Convection Oven?

If the food that you are cooking, if does not demand to be cooked in a convection oven, then you should not use it. To determine whether a convection oven is required or not, you need to understand the full recipe first. In a regular microwave oven, the hot air helps to form the crust or the upper layer on the cake, biscuits, or cookies counterproductive for the desired result. 

Cons of a convection microwave oven

There are many disadvantages to a convection microwave. They are as follows: 

• In some convection microwaves, the hot fan can make a loud noise than any standard microwave. 
• A convection oven can be more expensive than a normal one. The more features you get, the more expensive it is. 
• The hot fan can sometimes blow the foil around, coming in between your food. 
• The food can get burned if the cooking time cannot be appropriately adjusted. 
• Baked food may not get a good rise. 

See More: Why Do Microwave Ovens Get Hot On The Inside And Outside?

Cons Of A Microwave Oven

We have talked about the disadvantages of the convection microwave. Now, we are going to talk about the disadvantages of the Microwave.

• You should not stand in front of the Microwave for a long time. Microwaves give out some heat radiations that are not good for health. 
• The plastic cookware set used in the Microwave is equally harmful.
• Microwave-cooked food can have some nutrients in them but mostly, the taste changes. 

Is Microwave Good For Everyday Food?

Generally, food should be heated to 82C (179F) so that all the harmful germs can die. Bacteria or germs can come back every time the food cools down. So, you should not reheat the food again. The high temperature for heating food can have some risks. So, better heat the food at a low temperature to not be harmful to everyday food. 

Can We Use Aluminum Foil In A Convection Oven?

You can cover the convection oven tray with aluminum foil. They do not touch the wall of the oven if carefully covered the pan. You can consider cooking with aluminum foil safe if the oven cavity is taken care of. 

How Long Can We Cook In A Convection Oven?

You can bake bread, and cake, and cook other sweet dishes under 25°F. Do not forget to keep the time intact. For example, if you are baking bread at 325°F which requires an hour in a standard microwave oven, then a convection oven, the temperature should be set to 300°F for an hour. 

See more: How Much Voltage Do A Microwave Oven Transformer Draw

How Long Can We Cook In A Microwave Oven?

You can cook most of the microwave food and take 1/3 to 1/4 times more than a convection microwave oven. The more food you take to cook, the more time taking it will be. 

Is Cooking Meat Faster In A Convection Oven?

In the most convection oven, meat takes at least 30 percent quicker than in a standard microwave oven. The meat cooks faster and more evenly in a convection microwave. It makes the meat more juicer and fills with moisture. 

Cooking meat in a regular microwave may take more time, and the result may not be as tasty as the convection microwave. 

The Advantages Of Cooking Food In A Convection Oven

• Food cooked in the convection microwave is much smooth and tasty
• It takes less time than expected and cooks perfectly.
• You can cook for 1 or 2 dishes at a time. 
• You can put the dishes in any place.

Bottom Line

Both Microwave and convection microwave is the same but has a borderline difference. If you do not want many features in your Microwave, you can definitely go for the regular one. But if you have a zeal for cooking and want to have most of the food at home, having a convection microwave will be the best. Both the Microwave, either regular or convection, are acceptable as per your needs. Once you understand the perfect timing for any particular recipe, it is going to be incredible.

References:

https://ovenspot.com/microwave-vs-convection-oven/
https://www.whirlpool.com/blog/kitchen/microwave-vs-convection-oven.html