Baking is a delightful and rewarding activity, but if you’ve just started, it can feel a bit overwhelming. There are so many different types of ovens and baking equipment out there that it can be confusing to know where to start. If you’re considering baking at home, an OTG (Oven Toaster Griller) convection oven is one of the best appliances to begin with.
In this beginner’s guide, we will walk you through everything that you’d love to know about baking with an OTG convection oven, a wonderful appliance for beginners and pros alike. So go ahead!
What is an OTG Convection Oven?
Let us first inform you about an OTG oven and then proceed to baking in your OTG oven. An OTG oven is a home daily-use appliance to toast, grill, and bake. It is on the basis of a bottom and top heat source of the oven so the heat could pass through, and a fan (in convection ovens) to provide air flow for uniform cooking.
In fact, an OTG oven is the one that gets more and even heat because it has a fan. So, it’s always a good idea to bake because it gets your baking product perfectly done and golden brown in color.
Why Use an OTG Oven While Baking
The OTG oven, while baking, is a boon for home baking. The reason is:
- Uniform Heat Distribution: Since the oven can be used in convection mode, it warms up by circulating hot air inside it, offering uniform heat distribution. Thus, cakes, cookies, and bread receive uniform baking.
- Temperature Control: OTG convection ovens also ensure appropriate temperature control levels, which prove useful in the event of baking a delicate food. Abnormally baked and charred crusts are absent.
- Versatility: OTG oven is not for baking alone. Whether it’s grilling vegetables or toasting bread, it’s the solution to all of them in your kitchen.
- Energy Efficient: OTG ovens use less power than the traditional larger ovens; therefore a cost-effective appliance for home bakers.
Key Features of an OTG Oven
Now, let us discuss the features of an OTG oven that make it a good choice for baking.
- Convection Fan: The oven is equipped with an internal fan, which circulates air within the oven and distributes the heat uniformly throughout the food. This prevents food from being cooked unevenly on the two sides, and thus, your baked goods turn out just right.
- Multi Rack Positions: All the OTG ovens come with multiple rack positions so that you can bake several trays simultaneously. It is of great help if you are baking cookies or cakes in bulk.
- Timer and Auto Shut-Off: Oven’s built-in timer will never lead you to overcook your meal. Auto shut-off feature is safe and hassle-free as it shuts down the oven the moment your baking time is achieved.
- Adjustable Temperature Controls: Some baked food is cooked at specific temperatures. OTG oven provides you with the comfort of temperature adjustment based on your recipe needs.
How to Make Use of Your OTG Oven When Baking
If you would love to be taught how to use your OTG oven in baking, then the guide that follows will get you through no hassle at all.
1. Preheat the Oven
Preheat your OTG oven before you bake. Preheating is used to heat the oven up to the specified temperature before putting in your dough or batter. Preheating is an exceedingly crucial step for ensuring equal cooking.
Preheat the oven to the recommended temperature (your recipe) and allow the oven 10-15 minutes warming time before baking.
2. Utilize proper materials of bakeware
Selecting proper bakeware is extremely crucial while using an OTG oven for baking. Select bakeware that will suit your oven size. Metal pans or glassware bakeware can be used in any OTG oven. Never use the above, which are not heatproof. Grease the pans heavily or use parchment paper for non-stick purpose to bake cookies or cake.
3. Select Proper Bake Setting
Preheat your OTG oven in “Bake” mode (if your oven has it) or “Convection” mode for uniform heating. Convection mode is also beneficial since the moving hot air in the oven ensures evenly risen baked and cooked food.
4. Keep an Eye on Your Food While Baking
While the OTG oven cooks evenly, it is pleasant to take a peek at your baked good in progress. To determine if baked goods are done, test with a toothpick or cake tester. Insert the toothpick or cake tester into the center of a cake or muffin; when you pull it out, if clean, your baked good is done.
5. Cooling Time
Once baked, allow your treats to cool on a wire rack. This prevents the development of moisture, thus making your baked food crunchy outside and soft inside.
Tips for Successful Baking with Your OTG Convection Oven
- Do Not Overcrowd the Oven: Leave sufficient space around your bakeware so circulating hot air can pass. Overcrowd the oven to achieve unevenly baked food.
- Rotate Your Bakeware: Halfway through baking time, if baking in over one tray, rotate them. This will allow all trays to get equal heat.
- Know Your Oven: Convection OTG ovens will also be a bit different. Get to know your oven and adjust your baking time and temperature accordingly.
- Invest in Quality Bakeware: Use the best quality pans and baking sheets to get the best output. Non-stick bakeware is also very helpful when baking cookies and cakes.
- Don’t Keep Opening the Oven Door: Never keep opening the oven door again and again while baking because it lowers the temperature and gives uneven outputs.
Common Baking Recipes to Try
With this activity done on working with an OTG oven, now try some simple and delicious recipes:
- Chocolate Chip Cookies: Your favorite cookies also turn out equally good with the OTG oven by giving a golden brown crunchy exterior and soft interior.
- Banana Bread: The consistent heat given in the OTG oven gives banana bread perfectly baked from inside to outside with crispy exterior but soft interior within.
- Cupcakes: Chocolate, vanilla, or however your imagination calls for it, cupcakes are the easiest place to begin experimenting with OTG oven for baking. Even the baking and rising of bread dough would not be so intimidating in convection mode either.
- Pizza: Enjoy homemade pizza in OTG’s crispy crust in the OTG oven. Finish crispiest with grill mode.
Why Glen Appliances Is Your Best Bet for OTG Ovens
It is sheer bliss and an amazing experience to be able to bake with an OTG convection oven. With a suitable oven, say that of Glen Appliances, your baking is easier and fun. Glen Appliances has become a brand name that rings a bell with great, long-lasting products to assist cook and bake for all. Their OTG ovens include the best quality features like even heating, temperature control variable, and ultimate strength pre-installed, which positions them perfectly to be used not only by novice bakers but even by professional bakers.
Hence, whether you’re baking plain cake or bread, Glen Appliances’ OTG ovens have everything you require. Head over to Glen Appliances now and buy your ideal OTG oven to bake what you crave the most.