HOW DO OVENS WORK TO COOK FOOD?

Convection ovens use a built-in fan to circulate hot air and reduce moisture in the oven. The fan helps move heat throughout the oven, delivering consistent results, especially for batch cooking or cooking on multiple racks. The fan also reduces surface moisture which helps crisp and caramelize foods plus produce crispy baked goods with tender insides. Convection baking can help reduce hot or cold spots in your oven, so foods may cook faster without rotating dishes.

Some convection ovens feature a third element in the back of the oven cavity—in addition to the fan—this is known as true or European convection. Select KitchenAid^® ovens feature true convection, like the KitchenAid^® 30” Double Wall Oven with Even-Heat^™ True Convection. The true convection provides consistent heating and cooking in both ovens with a unique bow-tie shaped design and convection fan to help ensure there are no burnt edges or undercooked centers.

Gas stoves, ranges and ovens feature an open flame inside the oven—as well as on the stovetop—which can heat up quickly. They typically generate heat using propane or natural gas, which delivers a highly responsive open flame to the stovetop or cooktop for precision and control. Gas cooking appliances do require a dedicated gas line. One can easily be installed by a professional if you don’t already have one.

Many electric ranges, wall ovens and countertop ovens have two heating elements, a baking element at the bottom that provides heating for most settings and a broil element at the top that generates high temps for tasks like searing meats, melting cheese and toasting breads. Some ranges or stoves feature broilers in a drawer or cavity below the electric oven.

Electric heat is slightly drier than gas heat which makes it excellent for creating crisps crusts for bread and browning meats and vegetables. There are dual fuel ranges available that combine the best of both electric and gas cooking. KitchenAid^® dual fuel ranges bring the precision of a gas cooktop together with the drier heat of an electric oven.

An air fryer can be a standalone countertop appliance or part of an oven, countertop oven or range. An air fryer oven delivers crispy results quickly with the use of little to no oil. Similar to a convection oven, a fan circulates hot air rapidly around food in a perforated tray or basket. Because all the surface areas of the food are exposed to hot air, the food cooks to become crispy on all sides without having to be immersed in hot oil.

The KitchenAid^® Digital Countertop Oven with Air Fry makes it easy to create everything from french fries to delicate fish and more. The No-Flip Air Fry Basket eliminates the need to flip ingredients halfway through cooking.

A steam oven works by circulating steam instead of hot air through the oven cavity. It heats water in a reservoir and then disperses the steam throughout the oven to cook food in a humid environment. Because water conducts heat more effectively than air, steam ovens can cook foods quickly. This type of oven can be ideal for keeping vegetables, fish, meats and even leftovers moist.

Steam ovens are great for retaining foods’ moisture, but they won’t brown and crisp foods. The KitchenAid^® Smart Oven+ 30” Double Oven with Powered Attachments delivers the advantages of smart capabilities and hot air cooking along with the ability to cook with steam and more. The +Steamer Attachment can precisely steam-cook vegetables, entrees or even a complete dinner for four of salmon, potatoes and asparagus. The attachment can also be used with the Steam Assist mode to create a humid cooking environment ideal for certain baked goods, breads and roasts.

For deep cleaning, self-cleaning ovens use very high heat to turn food residue into ash without chemicals. The ash can be easily wiped away with a soft cloth. For lighter cleaning, some ovens feature a steam-clean setting as well. This uses water to soften hard soil particles and make cleaning easier.

Smart ovens are versatile appliances that can include digital features like voice control, remote monitoring and interchangeable attachments. They use an internet connection to help you control your oven from your smartphone through an app. In addition to remote control and monitoring, the app will typically provide information on how to cook and maintain your oven.

To add to the versatility and flexibility of smart cooking, the KitchenAid^® Smart Oven+ is always ready to create. You can remotely monitor and control your oven and attachments with the mobile app, and even use voice commands with an enabled device.¹

Grilling in the oven can replicate the flame-cooked flavor of outdoor grilling without having to step outside. Some ovens come with a grill setting. You can also use a grill pan or a broiler pan to grill meats, fish and vegetables in the oven. Make this umami-packed Grilled Romaine with Miso Butter in your Smart Oven+ with the Grill Attachment with minimal smoke, even heating and easy cleanup.

In addition to standalone air fryers, some ovens and countertop ovens come with an air fry setting that uses little to no oil to cook foods that are often deep fried—like chicken, onion rings and donuts. These Air Fry Pork and Shrimp Spring Rolls cook up to crispy perfection in a KitchenAid^® Dual Convection Countertop Oven with Air Fry.

Broiling cooks food quickly with direct heat from the top element, the closer your food is to the top heating element, the more quickly it will char or sear. These Caramelized Bananas with Nutella cook under the broiler in a couple of minutes. The caramelized bananas are then smothered in a decadent hazelnut cream sauce. Serve them with a quenelle of ice cream for an elegant dessert.

Baking browns surfaces and solidifies interiors of unstructured foods like doughs, batters and casseroles in dry heat at lower temperatures than broiling, roasting and grilling. The sweet, marshmallowy meringue shell for this Chocolate Pistachio Pavlova with Raspberry Cream bakes in the oven before it’s filled with whipped cream and berries for an impressive presentation.

Roasting uses dry heat at high temperatures to brown surfaces and create flavor in meats and vegetables. This light, delicious Asian Style Roasted Whole Fish is stuffed with aromatics, glazed with an Asian-inspired sauce and roasted in a 425º oven for 30-35 minutes.