Burning question about convection microwaves

Alumatube · 03-22-2007, 05:32 PM

Okay, I have searched and searched and can't find anything. Time to post!

For those of you who have convection microwaves--will they make cookies like a regular oven does? Crispy and nice, not semi-soggy?

Also, I found one post that says yes, but of you with the convection microwaves, have you noticed a taste difference in foods you would usually cook in the oven?

Anyone know what microwave was originally in the 1984 310 Limited MH?

We only have a cooktop and I really want an oven. People have recommended the convection micro, but they're pretty spendy and I am worried about the cooking results. I found in our old MH we used the oven AND the microwave.

Thanks so much!

Susan

overlander63 · 03-22-2007, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alumatube

We only have a cooktop and I really want an oven. People have recommended the convection micro, but they're pretty spendy and I am worried about the cooking results. I found in our old MH we used the oven AND the microwave.

Thanks so much!

Susan

I have seen stainless sheathed convection microwaves in Wally World for under $200, next time you go in there, maybe you could take a look--and a tape measure to make sure it will fit.

Silvertwinkie · 03-22-2007, 06:03 PM

Convections are great things to have. The main issue with them however is that if you boondock (remote camping without hookups), you'll need a generator to make it work. I'd love to have a convection oven, but I boondock more than I camp with electric hookups. Though I do have a small generator, I didn't want to lug around a big honking unit or two smaller units to do air conditioning, oven, etc, because to me that defeats the purpose IMHO of camping.

But, convections will do a better job than the standard RV stove/oven combos.

Alumatube · 03-22-2007, 06:48 PM

Thanks, Terry! I hope you are feeling better and are on the mend for good!

I was just in Wally World this afternoon, dang it. I will look next time I am there.

And SilverTwinkie, doesn't a regular microwave need a generator to run, too? Or can you run it off house battery power? We do have a big honking generator in the MH, so that's really not a problem, but it is nice to be able to cook without having to fire it up.

Thanks!

Susan

Can anyone tell me about cookies???

guy99 · 03-22-2007, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alumatube

...

Anyone know what microwave was originally in the 1984 310 Limited MH?
...

Susan

Our 1984 310 Limited had a convection/microwave. The microwave had such low power that it didn't cook microwave popcorn properly.

str8strm · 03-22-2007, 07:26 PM

But our convection oven does find with biscuits, nice and golden. About the same time cooking as in a convention oven. Also makes nice muffins.

Silvertwinkie · 03-22-2007, 07:57 PM

True, the microwave does need power to run, but when you boondock, at least in my case with a trailer, there is no generator built in. The convection in the newer trailers is in lieu of an acutal LP oven. I don't know if they make them where they offer both the standard LP oven and the convection/microwave. Which means in my case (and I'm sure others out there that have newer trailers) that you can't really cook when rustic camping (boondocking) with out a generator if you have plans to use an oven to cook and don't have the standard LP oven due to the convection option. I know a few folks with convection ovens and they've all said, they would never be without one. They cook very evenly.

Things could have changed since I got my 2004 Safari, but I haven't heard folks with new units say that they have both the convection/microwave and an LP oven. That's pretty much where I was going with my comments. You MoHo folks have it made.

lewster · 03-22-2007, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silvertwinkie

True, the microwave does need power to run, but when you boondock, at least in my case with a trailer, there is no generator built in. The convection in the newer trailers is in lieu of an acutal LP oven. I don't know if they make them where they offer both the standard LP oven and the convection/microwave. Which means in my case (and I'm sure others out there that have newer trailers) that you can't really cook when rustic camping (boondocking) with out a generator if you have plans to use an oven to cook and don't have the standard LP oven due to the convection option. I know a few folks with convection ovens and they've all said, they would never be without one. They cook very evenly.

Things could have changed since I got my 2004 Safari, but I haven't heard folks with new units say that they have both the convection/microwave and an LP oven. That's pretty much where I was going with my comments. You MoHo folks have it made.

That's pretty much the way the whole RV industry has gone. In the larger MoHos that I work on, you NEVER see an LP range with oven AND a convection micro. The combo alamost always involves an LP cook top with the conv/micro. OTOH, if the old standby LP oven is set up and callibrated properly (something that almost NO ONE knows how to do any more) they work just like a home oven. The convection feature sure does a great job though.

Ya just can't have it both ways!!

Druupy · 03-22-2007, 09:15 PM

It did take 2 times for the DW to get the hang of convection. it wasn't bad, just not perfect. The quality of food that comes out of the convection is better than normal. you have to think of a smoker. All the spice you sprinkle one the ouside of food, gets turned into aromatic smoke and gets resurculated over the whole contents of the oven, "good stuff Maynard."

The regular 'house food' does not compare to 'road food', and the convection is a large part of it.

she would rather have a convection oven in the house now, and no, we just can't unplug it and move it inside to try it out.

myoung · 03-22-2007, 08:23 PM

A convection oven is simply a regular oven with a fan that circulates the hot air. Thus, cooking times are somewhat reduced over conventional ovens.

We haven't cooked much in our AS convection oven, but at home we always use the convection fan when using the oven. It's a nice time saver and I can't say that we notice any difference in the cooked food that is produced. Perhaps more discerning palettes could notice the difference.

For what seems like the ultimate in convection-style ovens, check out the TurboChef at TurboChef Technologies | Speedcook Oven. Now that's an oven!!!

2airishuman · 03-22-2007, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alumatube

will they make cookies like a regular oven does? Crispy and nice, not semi-soggy? People have recommended the convection micro, but they're pretty spendy and I am worried about the cooking results.

hi alumatube...

as mike notes convection is just an electric element/fan combo...

so it will 'crisp' or brown, like any electric oven or toaster oven...

the microwave feature is like any other microwave...

the 'combo' feature lets one cook some foods with microwave and then crisp/brown with the convection...

i've used this for thawing/grilling meat and nuking/roasting veggies or browning casseroles...

pretty cool.

i've done pizza, cookies, bread, and grilled veggies and meat with the convection feature...

as for price the factory equipped micro/convection is under 300$ at wally world.

perhaps take a small toaster oven on a few trips and if used much consider the convection ovens...

cheers
2air'

DebbieT11 · 03-22-2007, 09:58 PM

Well, here's the depth of my *vast* knowledge of convec/micro cooking... I made a Jiffy brand yellow cake single layer in it, chose the cooking time/method according to the book, and it was faboo. Moist, lightly brown, and just yummy. But, I like cake, too!

It did take a bit less time, IIRC, instead of 21 minutes, I think it was 17 to bake one layer.

HTH!

Alumatube · 03-28-2007, 04:26 PM

Thanks so much, everyone, for the great answers! Now I know, yes, you can really bake in one of those things!

Susan