The Flavorwave oven is a countertop appliance that uses a combination of infrared heat and convection technology to cook food quickly and evenly. With its unique design and cooking method, many people wonder if the Flavorwave can be considered a type of convection oven. In this article, we’ll take a close look at how the Flavorwave works and compare it to standard convection ovens to determine if it fits into that category.
What is a Flavorwave Oven?
The Flavorwave oven was first released in 2009 by the company TurboChef. It consists of a small, square unit with a glass door and touchscreen control panel. Inside there are two main components:
- Infrared halogen heating lamps above and below the food
- A convection fan to circulate hot air
Here is how the Flavorwave cooks food:
- The infrared halogen lamps heat up instantly when turned on. They emit radiant heat that cooks the top and bottom of food.
- The convection fan distributes the heat evenly around the interior, creating a consistent temperature.
- The combination of direct infrared heat and swirling convection airflow cooks food very rapidly.
The Flavorwave can cook most foods in just a fraction of the normal time. For example, a 12-inch frozen pizza bakes in only 5 minutes! The infrared heat sears the top and bottom crust while the convection fan browns and crisps the cheese and toppings.
What is a Convection Oven?
A standard convection oven has heating elements in the bottom, top, or back of the unit. It also has a fan that circulates hot air throughout the interior. Here is how convection ovens work:
- The heating element comes on and preheats the empty oven.
- Hot air flows and circulates throughout the oven due to the convection fan.
- The constant motion of hot air around the food cooks it fast and evenly.
Convection ovens can cook foods up to 25% faster compared to conventional ovens. The moving air helps transfer heat more efficiently to the surface of food. This browns exterior surfaces while cooking the inside at the same time.
Similarities Between the Flavorwave and Convection Ovens
There are a few key ways in which the Flavorwave oven functions similarly to a convection oven:
Use of Convection Cooking
Both appliances utilize internal fans to circulate hot air and create a convection environment inside the unit. This allows food to cook rapidly and evenly.
Consistent Interior Temperatures
The convection fans in both ovens work to eliminate hot or cold spots by distributing a consistent temperature throughout the interior. This provides optimal cooking conditions.
Faster Cooking Times
Cooking with convection heat shortens cooking durations compared to conventional ovens. Foods cook in a fraction of the usual time in both the Flavorwave and standard convection ovens.
Crisp Exteriors
The circulating hot air creates a perfect environment for browning and crisping the outside of foods. Both ovens can achieve crunchy, golden exteriors on items like pizza, fries, or chicken wings.
Differences Between the Flavorwave and Convection Ovens
While the Flavorwave utilizes some convection heating, there are also a few notable differences:
Infrared Halogen Lamps
The Flavorwave has both upper and lower halogen lamps that emit intense infrared radiation. This allows for very rapid searing and browning directly on food surfaces.
Hybrid Cooking Method
The combination of infrared halogen lamps and convection heating gives the Flavorwave a unique cooking method. It sears and browns with halogen lamps while cooking the interior of foods with convection airflow.
Smaller Interior Size
With only 1.0 cubic feet of cooking space, the Flavorwave has a much more compact interior than a full-size convection oven. This significantly limits capacity.
Fewer Features and Functions
While convection ovens often have various cooking modes and settings, the Flavorwave only operates one way with its hybrid infrared-convection system.
Faster Preheating
The Flavorwave preheats in just a few seconds thanks to its infrared halogen lamps, while convection ovens can take several minutes to fully preheat.
Table Comparing Flavorwave and Convection Ovens
| Point of Comparison | Flavorwave Oven | Convection Oven |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking Technology | Infrared halogen lamps + convection fan | Heating element + convection fan |
| Typical Interior Size | 1.0 cubic feet | 4+ cubic feet |
| Cooking Time Reduction | 70-80% faster | 25% faster |
| Browning and Crisping | Direct infrared searing | Hot air convection |
| Preheat Time | Few seconds | Several minutes |
| Cooking Features | Limited, single cooking mode | Various modes and settings |
Conclusion
Based on this comparison, it’s clear the Flavorwave has some similarities to convection ovens but also differs in a few significant ways. The combination of rapid-heating halogen lamps and convection airflow allows it to cook extremely fast. However, the Flavorwave lacks the full features and capacity of a real convection oven.
Flavorwave Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Very fast cooking times
- Delivers crisp, browned exterior
- Convection heat cooks food evenly
- Preheats in just seconds
- Small footprint saves counter space
Cons:
- Limited 1 cubic foot capacity
- Fewer modes and settings than real ovens
- Can only fit small items or single servings
- High price for performance
While the Flavorwave utilizes convection cooking, the addition of infrared halogen lamps gives it a unique dual cooking method. The use of radiant infrared heat to rapidly sear food surfaces distinguishes it from traditional convection ovens. Its small size and limited functionality also prevent it from fully taking the place of a full oven.
The Flavorwave is best for:
- Quickly cooking small, single-portion foods
- Getting crispy textures on pizza, fries, nuggets, etc.
- People with small kitchens lacking space for a big oven
While the Flavorwave performs well for small tasks, traditional full-size convection ovens are still better for larger meals, bigger families, and those wanting more cooking functionality. The Flavorwave borrows some convection technology but isn’t a complete replacement for a convection oven.