An oven is an essential tool to have in your cooking arsenal. It’s useful for much more than just baking cakes and is a must-have for roasting, grilling and toasting too. There are many different types available but the most common are toaster ovens (also called OTGs) and convection ovens. Let’s take a closer look at each to help you decide which one is best for you.
What is an OTG?
An OTG or an Oven Toaster Griller is a small oven that can usually fit on your countertop. With heating coils on the top and bottom and usually a wire rack in the centre, they’re designed for toasting, reheating or grilling small amounts of food at a time.
Pros
- They’re small and take up very little space so are ideal for smaller kitchens.
- Since they run at a low temperature they are useful for daily tasks like reheating.
- They’re usually economical and priced lower than convection ovens.
- The small size makes them energy efficient.
Cons
- The small capacity can limit the amount of food you can cook at one time.
- Since the heat only comes from the top and bottom, the cooking is sometimes uneven.
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What is a Convection Oven?
The main feature of a convection oven is that it cooks food using hot air and multiple racks. It has two or more metal elements that heat up and then a fan circulates and pushes the hot air to all corners and cooks the food that way.
Pros
- The biggest advantage of a convection oven is the fact that it cooks very evenly.
- It also has variable temperatures depending on where you place the dish in the oven to cook multiple items to cook simultaneously.
- Because they’re larger, cleaning the inside is usually easier.
- The fan distribution means they cook dishes faster.
Cons
- They’re very large and need to be specially fitted into your kitchen.
- They’re also expensive and require more upkeep.
The Bottom Line
Opt for an OTG if…
You live in a place with a small kitchen and not much room for extra appliances.
You’re looking to cook more diverse food but not in large quantities.
You want to improve your cooking range but are on a budget.
Opt for a Convection Oven if…
You’re routinely cooking for 4 or more people.
You love baking and will need space for multiple trays.
You have the space and the funds to go big.
We hope this has helped to clear up any doubts you have about your next appliance purchase!
