Korean Job Discussion Forums

[legalquestions]

I don't have a gas range/oven combo so I am thinking about buying a countertop convection oven so I can make biscuits, pizzas, breads, baked sweet potatoes, etc.

A couple of questions: why do the prices vary so much here? I mean, lower end models for 70,000 won and upper end models for 500,000. What is the difference? Maybe the more expensive models also have microwave capabilities?

Also, what things have you cooked in your convection ovens, or regular ovens for that matter? Please share!

Finally, where can I buy shortening here? coarse corn meal? self rising flour? wheat flour?

[sojourner1]

I'm making thin crust pizzas in my regular gas oven with pepperoni from Australia bought at Emart. It's the best stuff in the East, not to brag.

I got a big bag of apples last weekend and made apple pie and apple crisp.
I've made biscuits and gravy, but don't have the sausage I'd like to have.

I seen those convection ovens at Emart for 400 to 500 while a western gas oven is 750 to 1000. The ovens for 400 to 500 are baking ovens while the cheap ones are toaster ovens. Toaster ovens are not convection, meaning having circulating hot air to evenly and thoroughly bake a pie, pizza, or bread. Cheap toaster ovens are great for toasting bagels, warming up Dominos pizza, and maybe biscuits, but are not for real baking as the bottom will burn first before the top and center gets done and then their size is usually too small.

You might look in a Homeplus store or even Costco to see if you get a better deal on an electric convection oven than you would at Emart.

There's no course cornmeal to speak of to my knowledge, but white flour is widely available due to Koreans breaking bread and baking cakes. Only the white flour variety is to be found to my knowledge while I always ate whole wheat bread and bagels at home. I haven't seen any whole wheat flour or bran either. I seen cake mixes (self rising flour) in Homeplus, but baking powder is readily available everywhere. You can also find little clear packets of yeast that look like small tan balls for about 400 won. Cinnamon was not widely available 1.5 year ago, but today Emart and even smaller grocers are carrying it as it's getting used in bakery goods more so now. Many things we take for granted are new here or haven't yet been introduced due to trade and logistical barriers in place to protect the domestic economy interests, but all that is slowly changing where more variety is coming about.

[blackjack]

Those 400-500,000 ovens have very good door seals which help keep the temp constant. They are normally bigger, have cool touch surfaces and look better, however they are expensive for what you get. The advantage over a full size gas oven is it is easier to install, don't have to modify the kitchen and easier to take with you to a different appartment

The toaster oven size 50-150,000 normally don't have very good door seals, meaning it is harder to maintain temps, some have fans, mine cooks pizzas, roasts and cookies pretty well, I wouldn't try to cook a souffle (sp?) in it tho.

[bangbayed]

The toaster size ovens also rotisserie a pretty mean chicken too. I've got on that sells for around 90,000 new and the smell of roasted chicken in the house is worth it alone. Also grills fish and roasts potatoes pretty good too.

Not much of a baker, so I can't give you much info if that's what you want to do.

[Ya-ta Boy]

[Yesterday]

[blackjack]

[blackjack]

and here is an example of a convection oven that is also a microwave.

http://products.howstuffworks.com/sharp-carousel-r-1880ls-over-the-range-convection-microwave-review.htm

[Yesterday]

[sistersarah]

[Socks]

[sistersarah]

[blackjack]

[blackjack]

Socks I tried this google idea of yours

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=opera&rls=en-GB&hs=Qm0&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=Microwave+/+Oven+/+Convection+oven+/+Convection+oven+/+Conventional+oven+/+Convection+microwave&spell=1

and

Sanyo EM-C6786V Microwave Oven with Convection and Grill Review ...


Large Sanyo Convection Oven/Microwave
18 Sep 2008 ... Large Sanyo Convection Oven/Microwave (Antrim, NH) ... It works like a conventional oven, or just a microwave or a combination of both. ...

[Bigfeet]

Well, going from memory:

A microwave oven uses short-wave energy to cook the food directly.

A convection oven blows hot air around to cook the food faster and more evenly than a conventional oven.

A conventional oven heats the air and the hot air cooks the food.

I don't know what the difference in terminology is.