The Top Infrared Convection Ovens for Faster, More Efficient Cooking

Cooking delicious meals for yourself or your family is one of life’s great joys. But it can also be time-consuming and inefficient using traditional ovens. That’s why more and more home cooks are upgrading to infrared convection ovens. These state-of-the-art appliances combine infrared heat and convection heating to cook food incredibly fast without sacrificing quality and flavor.

In this blog, we’ll cover everything you need to know about infrared convection ovens. First, we’ll explain the technology and benefits. Then we’ll review the top 5 models on the market today based on performance, features, and budget. We’ll also give tips for how to select the right oven for your needs and answer frequently asked questions. Let’s get cooking!

What Is an Infrared Convection Oven?

An infrared convection oven uses two key technologies to cook food faster than a traditional oven:

Infrared heat relies on light waves and electromagnetic energy to directly heat the food, similar to how the sun warms your skin. This allows for very fast cooking times with less preheat time required.

Convection heating uses fans to circulate hot air around the interior cavity, allowing food to cook evenly from all sides. The combination of infrared and convection means your meals are ready up to 40% faster!

Benefits of infrared convection ovens include:

• Faster preheat and cooking – Cut down total oven time.
• Precision cooking – Infrared heat provides more control and consistency.
• Energy efficient – Uses less electricity compared to a standard oven.
• Moist and tender results – Food doesn’t dry out.
• Consistent browning – No more cold or hot spots.

Now let’s look at the top infrared convection oven models on the market and see how they compare.

The Top 5 Infrared Convection Ovens

1. Breville BOV800XL Smart Oven

The Breville BOV800XL is a versatile large-capacity option perfect for families or cooks who like to entertain. With 1800W of power and smart IQ element technology, it preheatsultra-fast and adapts heat intensity across 5 quartz elements for precision cooking results.

Key features:

• 6 quart capacity
• 9 preset cooking functions (bake, roast, broil, etc.)
• Compatible with pans up to 13 inches
• Interior light for monitoring cooking
• Non-stick cavity coating

Pros: Large capacity, incredibly fast preheat, adjustable wattage settings, fits a whole chicken or pizza easily.

Cons: Expensive, bulky size.

Best for: Those wanting a powerful, full-size infrared convection oven. Excellent for baking, roasting, broiling.

2. Panasonic NB-G110P Flash Xpress

The Panasonic Flash Xpress is a compact personal oven that uses double infrared heating to cook small meals super fast. At just 1300W, it’s ideal for speed and efficiency in small kitchens.

Key features:

• 0.5 cubic ft capacity
• 4 menu cook settings
• See-through door to monitor food
• Removable crumb tray for easy cleaning

Pros: Very fast cooking and preheating, small footprint saves space, easy to use presets.

Cons: Low capacity unsuitable for large meals, limited functionality.

Best for: Singles, dorms, offices. Ideal for quick snacks, frozen foods, and reheating leftovers.

3. Oster TSSTTVDGXL-SHP Extra Large Digital Countertop Oven

The Oster Extra Large Oven uses both infrared and traditional convection heating to deliver versatility. The spacious 16-inch interior accommodates whole chickens, hams, and 14-inch pizzas with room to spare.

Key features:

• Two rack positions
• Digital controls with auto shut-off
• Clear glass door to watch cooking
• Convection baking setting

Pros: Roomy capacity for large quantities, convection mode crisps and browns.

Cons: Slow preheat, temperature accuracy issues reported.

Best for: Families wanting a budget extra-large oven for baking, roasting big batches of food.

4. Cuisinart CSO-300N1 Steam & Convection Oven

The Cuisinart Steam & Convection Oven is unique in offering steam cooking, dry heat, and convection modes all in one appliance. Steam helps retain moisture and nutrients when cooking foods like seafood or veggies.

Key features:

• 0.6 cubic ft capacity
• LCD display and dial controls
• Comes with water reservoir, drip tray, food probe
• Stainless steel interior

Pros: Ability to steam cook, even heat distribution from convection.

Cons: Small water reservoir requires frequent refilling, more parts make cleaning difficult.

Best for: Cooks wanting the combined convenience of steam and convection cooking. Great for fish, veggies, and reheating leftovers without drying them out.

5. Wolf Countertop Oven BOWOTF242C

The Wolf Countertop Oven is a luxury top-of-the-line model designed for serious home chefs. With combination infrared and convection heating, the 5 cubic ft oven delivers restaurant-quality results fast.

Key features:

• 10 cooking modes
• Full-color touchscreen
• Temperature probe included
• Double oven glass doors
• Stainless steel construction

Pros: Commercial-grade oven heats with incredible precision. Intuitive touchscreen controls. Durable quality build.

Cons: Extremely expensive. Requires professional installation.

Best for: Passionate home cooks wanting a professional workhorse oven. Perfect for those who bake frequently or entertain large groups. Also great for flush-mounted installation in outdoor kitchens.

How to Choose the Right Infrared Convection Oven

Now that you’re familiar with the top infrared convection oven options, let’s discuss what to consider when selecting the best one for your cooking needs and lifestyle:

• Size and Capacity – Infrared ovens range from under 1 cubic ft to over 5 cubic ft capacity. Measure your available counter space and cooking needs to choose appropriately. Compact ovens work well for small households, while larger families benefit from 4+ cubic ft models.
• Wattage Power – Look for models rated from 1300W to 1800W for fast cooking times. Higher wattage equals faster preheat.
• Heating Technologies – Infrared only? Convection only? Or combination models that leverage both? Combination ovens will give the fastest, most consistent cooking results.
• Cooking Functions – The more presets, the better! Common functions include bake, broil, roast, pizza, cookies, leftovers, Keep Warm, and defrost.
• Controls – Digital LCDs allow more precision and settings. But dials offer simplicity for those not needing tons of options.
• Interior – Stainless steel interiors are easiest to clean. Non-stick coatings are a nice bonus.
• Racks – Standard ovens include 1 or 2 racks. Larger models may have 3 racks for more cooking flexibility.
• Extra Features – Look for interior lights, temperature probes, timers, delay start, and warming functionality.
• Budget – Personal infrared ovens start under $100. Full-size stainless steel ovens run $500+. Commercial-grade models are $1000+.
• Reviews – Read feedback from real customers to uncover potential issues for each model, like inaccurate temperature displays.
• Brand Reputation – Stick with reputable kitchen brands known for performance and quality construction.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is infrared cooking different than a traditional oven?

Infrared uses light waves to directly heat food, cooking much faster with less preheat time required. Traditional ovens rely solely on slowly heating air.

Which is better – infrared or convection heating?

Infrared excels at speed. Convection promotes more even browning. Combined infrared + convection ovens provide the fastest, best results.

What kinds of food work best in an infrared oven?

Infrared shines at cooking proteins like meat and poultry. It’s also great for broiling, toasting, and frozen foods. Convection mode excels at baking cookies, cakes, roasting veggies.

Can you roast a whole chicken or turkey in a compact infrared oven?

You’ll need at least 1.5 cubic ft capacity to accommodate a 5lb chicken or 10lb turkey. Check the interior dimensions before purchasing.

Is infrared radiation from these ovens safe?

Yes, infrared light is on the non-ionizing and safe end of the electromagnetic spectrum. All ovens sold meet FDA safety standards.

Why are some infrared ovens so expensive?

Commercial-grade infrared ovens boast exceptional materials like stainless steel and advanced heating elements that enable restaurant-level results. Durability and performance commands a premium price.

How does an infrared oven compare to an air fryer or toaster oven?

Infrared ovens preheat and cook faster thanks to the direct heat technology. Air fryers use convection like infrared ovens but have much smaller capacities optimized for frying foods, not baking or roasting.

We hope this guide gives you the important facts on infrared convection ovens! Let us know if you have any other questions. The bottom line is that infrared ovens provide a fast, convenient way to cook incredibly delicious meals with less wait time. Consider your cooking needs and kitchen setup to pick the perfect model. Your taste buds will thank you.