Is Fan Oven Good For Pizza? Oxtail Cooking Tips

Ovens are such a blessing as you can cook nice crispy-based pizza anytime you want. But the problem arises when you are newly introduced to a fan oven or a convection oven. Well, I admit that regular ovens are easy to use and most of us are used to their settings.

But why are convection ovens getting popular? Are they worth the hype? Is a fan oven good for pizza?

Yes, a fan oven aka a convection oven works like a boss for cooking pizza. It’s because it uses a fan inside which circulates hot air evenly so your food isn’t under or overcooked. Also, these ovens work faster which means they’re more energy efficient as well.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. Keep reading to know more about regular and convection ovens and why the second option is getting more popular. We’ll also share how you can use a fan oven to get your pizza cooked anytime and the necessary tips and tricks.

So, let’s get started.

What Makes A Fan Oven Different From A Conventional Oven?

The main difference between a conventional oven and a convection oven is the heat distribution. The heat source of a conventional oven is the bottom part inside the oven. For this, it can’t ensure the same heat distribution throughout the food inside your oven.

There are some other differences given in the table below.

Comparison Factors	Conventional Oven	Fan Oven/Convection Oven
Heat Source	Bottom heating element	Both top and Bottom heating elements, plus a fan
Cooking Time Required	Longer cooking time	Shorter cooking time
Heat Distribution	Uneven heat distribution, hotter at the top	Even heat distribution due to the fan circulating hot air
Energy Efficiency	Less energy efficient as heat can escape	More energy efficient as circulating air reduces cooking time
Pizza Quality	Chance of getting unevenly cooked pizza	More consistent and evenly cooked pizza with a crispy crust

How Does A Fan Oven Work When Cooking Pizza?

Afan oven or convection oven comes with a fan surrounding the dish you cook. The hot air from the fan circulates and ensures even heat distribution inside the oven.

Since the heat distribution is more even compared to a conventional oven, a fan oven works faster and uses less energy to get the cooking done.

Also, one of the most significant issues of a regular oven is that there’s a high chance that your pizza can come out undercooked (especially on the top). To deal with the problem, you’ll need to constantly turn the pan a couple of times so the heat can distribute all over the pizza.

The hot airflow of a fan pizza helps your pizza get a crisp bottom crust. But sometimes it can dry out your pizza so, it’s a must to adjust your cooking time and ingredients accordingly.

Is Fan Oven Good For Fresh and Frozen Pizza?

Yes, a fan oven is good for both fresh and frozen pizzas. It’s because fan ovens ensure even heat distribution, crispy crust, faster cooking, temperature control, and reduced hotspots.

When you cook a frozen pizza in a fan oven, you’ll need to adjust the recommended cooking time and temperature. And, when baking fresh pizza in a fan oven, you may need to experiment with the cooking temperature and cooking time to get the desired results as different pizza recipes and doughs will require different settings.

How to Use a Fan Oven to Cook Pizza?

To be honest, it can be a bit difficult for you to operate a fan oven if you’re used to dealing with regular ovens all years of your life. But once things are familiar to you (which takes 2-3 times of use), it will be a child’s play for you.

Here’s a step-by-step process of how you can cook one or multiple pizzas in a fan oven.

Step 1: Preheat The Oven

Set 500℉ temperature to preheat your oven and do it before 20-30 minutes of baking the pizza. A perfectly pre-heated oven is the artist of making a crispy crust pizza every pizza lover dreams of.

Step 2: Put Your Pizza In The Oven

Most fan ovens come with either a pizza stone, a pan, or a screen so you can place your pizza on it. If your oven doesn’t have any of these, you can use a cookie sheet or directly place your pizza on the oven rack.

Step 3: Set The Cooking Time

Now, put the pizza in your oven and bake it for anywhere from 12 to 20 minutes. The cooking time will also depend on the size of your pizza, the thickness of its crust, and the amount of toppings you’ve added to it.

Step 4:  Remove The Pizza

Use your vision to notice the melted and bubbling cheese and the crispy crust of your pizza. Once you can notice these, you can remove them from the oven. Give it enough time to get cool and then enjoy the delicacy!

What Are the Disadvantages of A Fan Oven?

Just like any other thing in the world, a fan oven also doesn’t come with benefits only. It also has a few potential drawbacks you should know before buying one. Here are the drawbacks of a fan oven.

• Since the fan of a convection oven can cause the moisture of your pizza to evaporate more quickly, it can dry out your pizza. 
• The fan can create noise which can be annoying for some people.
• The initial cost of a fan oven is higher than a regular oven.
• Since fan ovens cook your food faster, you must have a close look at the cooking process or there’s a chance of overcooking the food.

However, all of the issues can be solved if you just be careful throughout the cooking period. And, if your budget is limited, it’s best to go for a regular oven over a fan oven.

Last Thoughts

By now, you’ve got a clear answer to the question- ‘is a fan oven-good for pizza?’. Cooking pizza in a fan oven is always a clever idea especially if you want to cook multiple pizzas at once. The even distribution, less cooking time, and overall pizza quality will surprise you if this is your first time trying it.

Happy cooking! 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a fan oven better for pizza?

Yes, a fan oven performs better for pizza compared to a regular oven. Regular ovens take longer to get the cooking done, they consume more energy, and they can leave some portion of your pizza undercooked. Although a fan oven costs higher than a conventional oven, you’ll get better overall results from it.

Which oven mode is best for pizza?

The answer depends on the type of result you want. For example, you can use ‘Bake Mode’ for a regular, standard pizza but go for ‘Convection Roast Mode’ if you want more brown cheese on your pizza. Similarly, the ‘Convection Bake Mode’ will offer you more crispier bottom on your pizza.

Worth mentioning that using regular ‘Bake Mode’ works better for a thicker crust pizza and the ‘Convection Bake Mode’ works perfectly for thinner crust pizzas.

When should you not use an oven fan?

For long and slow cooking or delicate baking, it’s best to use a regular oven instead of a fan oven.  For example, cakes, custards, soufflés, and other delicate baked goods will be the best version of them when you use a regular oven. However, you can simply turn off the fan in your convection oven and use conventional Bake Mode when cooking those foods.