What type of oven uses a fan to circulate heat?

A convection oven is designed to circulate heated air using a fan, which helps to maintain a consistent temperature throughout the oven. This movement of air allows for more even cooking and browning of food, leading to more efficient and quicker cooking times compared to other types of ovens. The fan distributes heat more evenly, preventing hot and cold spots that can commonly occur in conventional ovens where heat is emitted from the top and bottom elements without air circulation.

In contrast, conventional ovens rely on radiant heat without a fan and can therefore sometimes result in uneven cooking if the food is not rotated or positioned correctly. Induction ovens utilize magnetic fields to directly heat pots and pans rather than heating the air, thus operating quite differently from convection ovens. Toaster ovens, while they may have a fan in some models, primarily function on the principle of radiant heat, similar to a conventional oven but on a smaller scale. The unique feature of the convection oven makes it particularly effective for baked goods, roasted meats, and a variety of dishes that benefit from uniform heat distribution.