Convection Bake vs. Bake

So often I read recipes that sound wonderful but are incredibly labor-intensive, so I always ask myself how can I use my Convection oven to streamline the cooking process. After all maybe when the recipe was written Convection ovens were not available, or the recipe writer only wrote the recipe for the thermal bake mode.

Let’s look at a couple of recipes that illustrate how Convection can simplify food preparation so I can get you into my way of thinking.

Turkey Lasagna with Zucchini Noodles

Lasagna has the perfect combination of flavors, texture, a great sauce, and cheese! The recipe can be varied to taste but because there are several components to the recipe it does require some preparation. I know there are no-cook lasagna noodles available but using zucchini for the noodles eliminates the carbohydrates from the recipe, adds some nutrient value, and the slices can all be pre-cooked at one time using Convection.

Because both ground turkey and zucchini are fairly bland I like to add pesto to this lasagna for added flavor.

Once the zucchini is cooked and cool enough to handle now you can assemble the lasagna but, you will still have another 30 minutes or so to wait until the lasagna has heated through. So, not that much effort for a really delicious meal.

Zucchini Lasagna just out of the oven

Baked Eggplant Parmesan Casserole

This is another wonderful baked casserole that can seem daunting when reading the recipe especially if the recipe says to fry all those eggplant slices. That’s a lot of oil and a lot of frying.

Slice the eggplant, salt the slices, and set them aside on a rimmed baking sheet for an hour or so.
Now is a good time to make the sauce and to get the cheese organized then set up the dredging station for the eggplant.
Once the eggplant has been rinsed and patted dry, heat the oven and dredge the eggplant as directed in the recipe, first in flour, then egg, then finally in breadcrumbs.
Again you will need 2 – 3 rimmed baking sheets to bake the eggplant slices, but they can all be baked at one time using Convection or Convection Bake. No frying is necessary.
Once the eggplant slices are baked and cooled then it’s time to assemble the delicious casserole and back into the oven it goes.

Remember another nice aspect of cooking in Convection is that you can cook multiple foods at one time. So for example you can also bake a meatloaf or some chicken, roast some vegetables or fish, or bake a simple dessert such as a fruit cobbler while you have a casserole in the oven. That’s the beauty of convection cooking, all you have to do is the planning, shopping, and prep!

Stay tuned for my next post all about cooking complete meals in Convection.

Larissa, Your Convection Enthusiast

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This Baked Spaghetti recipe turns a box of pasta into a delicious dinner! Packed with ground beef, peppers and plenty of gooey cheese, it’s an easy dinner idea that everyone in the family loves.

Spaghetti and meat sauce is the ultimate quick and inexpensive family dinner. But eating the same ol’ spaghetti dish every week gets boring.

Today’s Baked Spaghetti recipe puts the excitement back in pasta night!

SAVE THIS EASY BAKED SPAGHETTI RECIPE TO YOUR FAVORITE PINTEREST BOARD!

Oven Baked Spaghetti

It takes just a little more effort to make this cheesy spaghetti recipe. But the results are AMAZING!

You only need 9 ingredients.
Peppers, onions, garlic and a little bit more Italian seasoning add pizzazz to jarred spaghetti sauce.
It’s covered in mozzarella cheese.
Easy to prepare and bakes in just 25 minutes!

How do you bake spaghetti?

For this baked spaghetti, start by cooking your pasta according to package directions. Cook it just until “al dente”–meaning it stays a bit firm when you bite into it. Drain the noodles and set them aside.

Next, sauté some peppers, onions and garlic in olive oil. Add ground beef and cook until brown. Now, open a jar of your favorite tomato sauce. Pour it into the pan, add the Italian seasoning, and let it heat on the stove until warm.

Gently toss the spaghetti with the sauce to combine. Transfer it to a baking dish, then sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Bake until hot and bubbly!

Serving Suggestions

Another thing I love about this easy spaghetti? It’s a complete meal all on its own.

Get your daily veggies in by serving it with a simple salad of mixed greens tossed with Homemade Italian Dressing or our favorite Strawberry Spinach Salad.These Easy Parmesan Bread Bites pair beautifully with baked spaghetti, too, as does a slice of two of my grandmother’s Homemade Italian Bread.

Speaking of Parmesan, cheese lovers will love this baked pasta even more with a little grated Parmesan on top!

Tips and Tricks for Baked Spaghetti

Feel free to mix up this recipe with other kinds of pasta shapes. Penne, linguine and shells are all great choices. You could even make it into some Baked Ziti!
Check your pasta frequently while boiling to ensure it doesn’t get overcooked . It shouldn’t be crunchy but should be slightly firmer than your typical cooked noodle because it will cook some more in the oven.
Lighten up your Baked Spaghetti by swapping ground turkey for the beef. Or make it vegetarian by leaving out the ground beef entirely or using a plant-based substitution.

Pasta Recipes

I’ll never turn down a steaming hot plate of pasta. Especially when it’s covered in gooey melted cheese!

This Chicken Mozzarella Pasta was so good I could have eaten it by the barrel full. Like baked spaghetti, this Spaghetti Pie puts a new twist on the familiar Spaghetti and Meatball dinner.

Here are a few more kid approved pasta recipes to add variety to your family meal planning.

Spaghetti and meat sauce is even better baked into a cheesy casserole! Try Baked Spaghetti next time you need an easy dinner that even picky eaters will love.

This Baked Spaghetti recipe turns a box of pasta into a delicious dinner! Packed with ground beef, peppers and plenty of gooey cheese, it’s an easy dinner idea that everyone in the family loves.

1 Large skillet
1 Large pot
1 8 X 8-inch baking dish
1 pair of tongs

use your favorite!
shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Prepare an 8 X 8-inch baking dish by spraying it generously with cooking spray.
Cook spaghetti to al dente based on the package directions, drain and set aside.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil.
Add the ground beef and cook until brown.
Stir in the spaghetti sauce, and Italian seasoning. Mix well, and cook until warm. Add the spaghetti to the skillet and toss gently to completely mix
Pour into the prepared baking dish.
Sprinkle with shredded mozzarella.
Bake for 25 minutes.

Did you make this recipe?

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These Pasta Chips are a viral trend on TikTok! These are worth the hype!! They are INSANELY DELICIOUS and make for quick and easy appetizer, snack, or meal!

Pasta that have been cooked then either deep fried, Ari fried, or oven baked-making them a crunchy and delicious snack, appetizer, or meal.

What pasta can I use to make these pasta chips?

You can use any short pasta such as farfalle, elbow noodles, penne, rigatoni, ziti, rotini, and if you’d like use gluten free pasta!

I also love using Fiber Gourmet Pasta! It’s one of my NEW favorite low point pasta! It’s Kosher, Vegan certified, non-GMO, and has zero artificial colors or flavoring-with only 17 net carbs vs. 41g, only 100 calories vs. 210 calories, & an astounding 25 gram of fiber vs. for a 2g serving of regular pasta. I’m telling you, it has the same great taste, texture but with more fiber, fewer calories, and 1/2 the points than regular pasta! You just can’t go wrong with the Fiber Gourmet Pasta- now it’s a little more expensive but it’s so worth it to me to and it may be worth it to you!! You can find it HERE on Amazon-which sells it in a 6-pack.

Another great option is the Barilla Plus pasta, which can be found at most grocery stores or HERE on Amazon in an 8 pack- its also high in protein and lower in points than most regular pasta.

What ingredients do I need to make these Pasta Chips?

Uncooked short pasta- farfalle, elbow noodles, penne, rigatoni, ziti, rotini, Fiber Gourmet pasta which is lower in points than regular pasta, if you have whole grain as a zero point food you can use whole grain for zero points or if you’re gluten free- use a gluten free pasta!
Dried Italian seasoning
Garlic powder
Kosher salt
Black pepper
Parmesan cheese-grated
Pinch of red chili flakes-optional

Or another seasoning such as:

Dry ranch mix
Rosemary, dried
Buffalo sauce

What kinds of dips can I dip these pasta chips in?

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

Add pasta and cook according to box directions until al dente.

Drain pasta and add to a large mixing bowl.

Spray the pasta with a generous amount of olive oil cooking spray and toss until pasta is well coated.

Add the grated Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, Kosher salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper, if desired.

Toss to combine.

Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees.

Arrange pasta in air fryer basket, covering the bottom of the basket in a single layer-DO NOT overlap.

(depending on the size of your air fryer you may need to air fry the pasts in a few batches)

Cook for 4 minutes on 400 degrees.

Toss and cook for another 4-5 minutes at 400 degrees. until you have reached your desired crispness.

Continue until all pasta chips have been made.

Serve pasta chips with this Zero Point Marinara Sauce or Homemade Skinny Alfredo Sauce, Cheese Dip, or Skinny Ranch Sauce.

8 oz uncooked short pasta- farfalle, elbow noodles, penne, rigatoni, ziti, rotini, Fiber Gourmet pasta which is lower in points than regular pasta, or if you’re gluten free- use a gluten free pasta!
1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
Pinch of red chili flakes-optional

Air Fryer Directions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Add pasta and cook according to box directions until al dente.
Drain pasta and add to a large mixing bowl.
Spray the pasta with a generous amount of olive oil cooking spray and toss until pasta is well coated.
Add in grated Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and crushed red pepper, if desired.
Toss to combine.
Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees.
Arrange pasta in air fryer basket, covering the bottom of the basket in a single layer-DO NOT overlap. (Depending on the size of your air fryer you may need to air fry the pasts in a few batches.)
Cook for 4 minutes on 400 degrees.
Toss and cook for another 4-5 minutes at 400 degrees F. until you have reached your desired crispness.
Continue until all pasta chips have been made.
Serve pasta chips with this Zero Point Marinara Sauce or Homemade Skinny Alfredo Sauce, Cheese Dip, or Skinny Ranch Sauce.

Oven Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Add pasta and cook according to box directions until al dente.
Drain pasta and add to a large mixing bowl.
Spray the pasta with a generous amount of olive oil cooking spray and toss until pasta is well coated.
Add in grated Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and crushed red pepper, if desired.
Toss to combine.
Arrange the pasta in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.
Remove from oven.
Serve pasta chips with this Zero Point Marinara Sauce or Homemade Skinny Alfredo Sauce, Cheese Dip, or Skinny Ranch Sauce.

Makes 4 (1 cup cooked or 2 oz. dry) servings

6 Points® per serving* the point value may vary depending on what kind of pasta you use.

How do I track this recipe in my WW app?

Click the link below to go to the recipe builder. You’ll first need to sign into your WW account and then the recipe builder will upload. Be sure to edit the recipe with any ingredients that you use that are different. The recipe builder is the most accurate way to create, obtain, and track the Points®

*The recipe builder link only works for WW members located in the United States. If you are located outside of the United States, you’ll need to access the WW app manually to create the recipe in the recipe builder.

1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
Pinch of red chili flakes-optional

Instructions

Smartpoints: GREEN: 4 smartpoints per serving if using Fiber Gourmet pasta, 6 smartpoints per serving if using Barilla Plus Penne, or 7 smartpoints per serving if using Barilla Farfalle BLUE: 4 smartpoints per serving if using Fiber Gourmet pasta, 6 smartpoints per serving if using Barilla Plus Penne, or 7 smartpoints per serving if using Barilla Farfalle PURPLE: 1 smartpoint per serving if using whole grain pasta

Yield

4
Amount Per Serving: 3g 1g 22g

Do not use the WW nutritional calculator to calculate points. The nutritional calculator does take zero point food ingredients into consideration and will not be accurate.
Personal Point values and nutritional information are estimated and calculated using the brand of ingredients listed in the recipe. PersonalPoints values may vary depending on the brand of ingredients used and depending on your customized zero point foods list.
To accurately calculate the Personal Point value on a recipe you will need to enter the ingredients in the WW app recipe builder by going to the top bar in your WW App and selecting “My Foods” then when you are in my foods select “Recipes” then click “Create” in top corner, this is where you will build the recipe, give it a name, select how many servings it makes and then add all ingredients.

We’re sharing two simple techniques you can use for both baking and cooking recipes.

Photo: Getty Images

You’ve probably heard a lot of talk about convection ovens, most of it good, and maybe you’re thinking of getting one or maybe you’re moving into a home that has one and you’re wondering how convection will work for you. Just how is convection bake different to regular bake, and would you be able to make your favorite recipes if you had a convection oven?

What Is Convection Cooking?

Convection ovens can roast or bake just about anything. They can be gas or electric, and they have fans that circulate hot air continuously throughout the oven to create a dry atmosphere that enables food to more evenly than with regular (thermal) ovens. They also cook food faster: when hot air is blowing onto food, as opposed to merely surrounding it, the food tends to cook more quickly.

The even cooking produced by a convection oven is especially useful for baked goods, but it also helps to create juicy, well-browned meat and poultry. And because the air circulates efficiently, more of the oven space can be used than with a regular oven. Convection ovens are available as an option in stoves, wall ovens, and in countertop ovens.

How to Adapt Recipes for a Convection Oven

A convection oven will cook faster and more evenly than a regular oven, so what does that mean for the recipes you love to make? You will need to adapt them for convection baking but you may well find that the results are better than when you used a regular oven.

There are two simple ways to adapt any recipe written for a regular oven to work for a convection oven: either reduce the temperature by about 25 degrees, or cut the cooking time by 25 percent, says our former associate food editor Riley Wofford. Both tactics are possible because of the appliance’s supercharged efficiency and speed. Riley prefers the former option for baking and the latter for dishes that take an hour or more to cook, like a pot roast or whole chicken, since the amount of time saved is that much greater.

Try it a few times. You just might become a fan.

If you’ve purchased a new oven or range in the past several decades, chances are you have a convection setting―and chances are you’ve never used it. As with other special features touted by appliance manufacturers, the feature seems highly appealing until you realize you have no idea if or how you should be using it. Understandably so: Convection cooking is rarely mentioned in recipes or cookbooks. If you’ve ever wondered what exactly is a convection oven and whether or not using the setting makes a difference in your final product, this should help clear things up.

What is convection?

Activating the convection setting on your oven kicks on an interior fan and exhaust system that circulates hot air around your food. This causes the heat inside the oven to be drier and more evenly distributed, so dishes cooked with convection will cook about 25 percent faster than those on your oven’s conventional bake setting. In addition to saving time, this makes convection cooking slightly more energy-efficient. Also, for this reason, most appliance manufacturers recommend reducing a recipe’s temperature by 25 F when cooking with convection (check your oven’s manual) to avoid burning your food.

Convection cooking also helps promote browning for roasted meats, poultry, baked potatoes, meatballs, sheet pan vegetables, and so on. “Thanks to the delivery of steady heat and even air circulation, ‘hot spots’ do not exist in the oven in convection cooking,” explains Nancy Schneider, a home economist for Miele. “Rotating trays essentially becomes a thing of the past, and the constant flow of air allows for the heat in the cavity of the oven to blanket the food and cook it more quickly than conventional ovens. The exterior of a roast will have perfectly even browning while the interior will remain tender.”

Fun fact: Air fryers are actually just mini convection ovens. Just like your full-size oven, the convection fan inside air fryers circulates hot air around the fryer basket, which is what gives your cauliflower or sweet potato fries that fried-like crispness. Now you know!

When shouldn’t you use convection?

Though the convection setting is a great option when you’re roasting, we’re less impressed with the results when baking desserts and other delicate dishes. Because the fan blows air around the inside of the oven, moist foods prone to shifting or splattering (like quick breads, custards, and other baked goods) can come out dry and unevenly baked. Sometimes cookies or cakes will show a “sand drift” pattern from the moving air. Use the regular setting for these types of treats. Their shorter bake times make the time-saving aspect of the convection setting less enticing, anyway.

The main difference between bake and convection bake is in how heat is distributed. With convection bake, an air circulation system distributes air inside the oven cavity. With a conventional oven, two heating elements heat air inside the cavity without the use of a fan to circulate the hot air.

Depending on the model, some convection ovens utilize a third heating element in addition to the fan called true convection that can help some foods cook faster than traditional thermal bake settings.

If you have a convection oven or wall oven with convection bake settings, like this model by KitchenAid brand, understanding how different baking cycles work and when to use them can help you achieve the ideal cooking environment for different dishes. Read on to compare convection vs. regular bake and learn when to use convection bake for your recipe.

WHAT IS CONVECTION BAKE?

With true convection baking, your oven is able to help maintain optimal temperatures as you cook. The fan used in convection baking helps evenly distribute hot air to help remove excess moisture from the surface of foods and help ensure consistent results across dishes when cooking on multiple racks.

HOW DO CONVECTION OVENS WORK?

Convection ovens work by using a fan and exhaust system to circulate air distributed from the heating element throughout the oven cavity. On most convection oven models, convection settings can be turned on or off, giving you the flexibility to cook with conventional thermal settings when you like.

Some convection ovens, like this True Convection range model from KitchenAid brand, feature a third heating element that can help foods cook faster compared to its traditional thermal-bake cycle.

Unlike convection bake, regular bake cycles allow the oven to operate like a conventional, thermal oven. Conventional ovens lack the air distribution system used by convection ovens, distributing heat instead via the active one of two heating elements.

WHAT IS CONVECTION BAKE USED FOR?

Convection bake is best used for recipes that could benefit from the even heat distribution of hot air circulated throughout the oven via the fan and exhaust system. This heating method makes convection baking particularly useful for baking multiple batches of cookies or dishes on multiple racks.

When you use convection baking settings, you can elevate your roasted meals by achieving crispy, flavorful skins on meats or delicious caramelization on vegetables.

WHEN SHOULD I USE CONVECTION BAKE VS. BAKE TO COOK?

In addition to even baking, convection bake settings can help you achieve the ideal environment for cooking specific recipes. Convection settings can fulfill most baking needs and can be used to cook a wide range of foods, including meats, vegetables, casseroles, cookies, pies and more.

Use convection bake to achieve light and flaky baked goods or cook through layered casseroles and pasta bakes. You can also use convection baking to provide the dry environment needed to start experimenting with recipes involving dehydrated or toasted ingredients.

Certain baked goods, however, are best cooked using conventional oven settings. Avoid convection baking foods like cakes, quick breads, custards and other delicate desserts and pastries.

DOES A CONVECTION OVEN COOK FASTER?

Because of the radiant heat produced by conventional oven heating elements, dishes may cook faster or slower depending on their location inside the oven. With a convection oven, the circulated air throughout the oven cavity helps deliver consistent heating to dishes regardless of their placement.

Convection baking also reduces the likelihood of hot or cold spots in your dishes. As a result, your food may cook faster without the need to rotate dishes or adjust cook times to accommodate uneven heat distribution of regular bake cycles.

IS CONVECTION BAKE GOOD FOR PIZZA AND OTHER HOMEMADE RECIPES?

The even baking and heat distribution of a convection oven provides the ideal environment for making a variety of dishes, including homemade pizza and oven-baked ribs. With convection baking, hot air is delivered to each area of the pizza for even cooking across the pie.

On most conventional ovens, heat is usually distributed by the bottom heating element, leaving the crust without targeted heat. With convection baking, you may achieve a crispier crust thanks to the circulated hot air inside the oven cavity. Experiment with the many cooking possibilities of convection bake for other homemade recipes like baked desserts or golden, fluffy loaves of sourdough bread.

SHOP KITCHENAID® OVENS

KitchenAid® ranges and wall ovens with Even-Heat™ True Convection combine powerful convection cooking technology with intuitive design to help you achieve consistently delicious results. Browse the full collection of ranges and wall ovens by KitchenAid brand to discover the appliance that’s right for your kitchen.

LEARN MORE ABOUT KITCHENAID® OVENS

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