To bake cakes, most people will choose to buy an oven right away. However, ovens often have quite high prices and large sizes, so not everyone can afford to buy one. Therefore, in the Kitchen Tips section, TasteVN will suggest what kind of oven you should buy for baking cakes! And some suitable ovens for baking cakes right away!
1 Convection Oven
When it comes to baking, the “companion” that every kitchen must have is an oven. However, built-in ovens can be quite large and are only suitable for kitchens under construction, so you might consider purchasing a convection oven for your “baking endeavors”!
Advantages of a Convection Oven in Baking
- The power of a convection oven often reaches up to 1850W with a convection fan mode and a combination of upper and lower heating elements, helping the cake to cook evenly and faster.
- The control panel is easy to operate with different temperature settings and functions, allowing you to bake various types of cakes such as: cupcakes, muffins, cookies, sponge cake,…
- Convection ovens usually have a fairly large capacity, so you can bake many cakes at once.
Disadvantages of a Convection Oven in Baking
- Although a convection oven can be placed in various positions in the kitchen, it can be cumbersome when dealing with the power source and the oven’s electrical cord.
- Not all convection ovens have baking functions, so make sure to check with the seller carefully.
- The convection oven relies on the power supply, so if the electricity is unstable, fluctuating, or if there is a power outage, you won’t be able to bake effectively.
2 Microwave Oven
If you are already familiar with the functions of a microwave oven for defrosting, reheating, and cooking food, then let TasteVN reveal another function that not everyone knows about: baking.
Advantages of the microwave in baking
- Helps save costs as you only need a microwave to both bake and cook food.
- The microwave with 2 grilling racks helps cakes cook quickly, soft, and fluffy just like an oven.
- When using a microwave to bake, you will save time on preheating like with other types of ovens.
- Easy to clean and maintain, suitable for those who are busy, as well as for those who do not frequently bake or cook, the microwave is a great choice!
Disadvantages of the microwave in baking
- The oven’s capacity is quite small, especially the base/tray of the microwave, so you won’t be able to bake many cakes at once.
- Although the microwave can bake, not every type of cake can be made in the microwave.
- Only microwaves with 2 grilling compartments or convection microwaves bake cakes well. So be sure to check the functions before purchasing.
- It’s hard to observe the cake during baking, especially since baking with a microwave can easily dry out, so you should check every 1-2 minutes.
3 Air fryer
In recent years, air fryers have become popular and are loved by many families, especially for their ability to reduce oil in dishes. However, have you heard about the baking capabilities of air fryers? Let’s take a look at a few advantages with TasteVN.
Advantages of air fryers in baking
- The air fryer has a compact design, so it does not take up too much space in small kitchens.
- The pot and frying basket are coated with a non-stick layer, especially the removable frying basket makes cleaning easier.
- With a high power of up to 1700W and a convection fan that distributes heat evenly throughout the fryer, cakes cook evenly.
- The control panel is automatic, easy to use, and integrates many convenient functions.
Disadvantages of air fryers in baking
- Air fryers usually do not have a glass door like ovens or microwaves, making it difficult to adjust the baking time accurately, which can easily lead to burning or drying out the cake.
- Limited to certain types of cakes; however, for sponge cake or tart, cookies, you can use the air fryer for baking.
- Most air fryers are made from familiar materials, so their lifespan is not high, and the performance of the fryer may decrease after a long time.
4 Which oven should you buy for baking? Comparison table of different types of ovens
| Criteria | Convection oven | Microwave oven | Air fryer |
| Capacity | 30 – 80 liters | 17 – 34 liters | 2 – 11 liters |
| Power | 1300 – 2000W | 600 – 1200W | 1300 – 1700W |
| Special functions | Has top and bottom baking mode for even cooking, preventing dryness. | Convection baking helps distribute heat evenly, baking quickly. | Uses heating elements and a cooling fan to shorten baking time. |
| Can observe baking | Yes | Yes | No |
| Quality of baked goods | Soft, fluffy, evenly baked | Soft, tasty but not as good as using an oven | Easily burnt or dried out if timing is not monitored correctly |
| Suitable for baking types of cakes | Diverse baking, suitable for many types of cakes | Limited to a few types of cakes (macaron, layered crepe cake,…) | Limited to a few types of cakes (savory pastries |
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Hopefully, with the above article, you have learned what other than an oven can be used to what oven to use for baking? And you have a better understanding of some advantages and disadvantages of box ovens, microwave ovens, and air fryers to make baking easier! Read more interesting and useful information in the Kitchen Tips section of TasteVN!
