Which oven to use?

strawb_shortcake

Probably a question I should have asked months ago, but better late than never. 

I have a double oven, one larger fan oven and a smaller conventional oven. The conventional oven rarely gets used only when cooking for more than usual. As it's so seldom used; it tends to be forgotten. 
I have recently taken to having baked oats for breakfast, I'm conscious that this is probably a bit wasteful on energy. So whilst I decide on an alternative breakfast which oven should I be using? Or is it going to be a negligible difference? 

I have the fan oven for around 30 minutes, would assume the conventional would take around 40 minutes? 

I don't have an airfryer or microwave - nor a smart meter which may or may not help??

TY

mmmmikey

Not really sure but I'd hazzard a guess that the fan oven will be cheaper to run even though it's bigger for a few reasons:

(a) you typically cook at a lower temperature in a fan oven - e.g. 160C instead of 180C

(b) it takes less time to warm up

(c) really not sure of this but when I've had double ovens in the past I've always struggled to get the small oven really hot for things like Yorkshire puddings which I've put down to the small oven being less well insulated

(.....and baked oats for breakfast sounds like a great weekend treat and change from the daily porridge, on my list to try )

matelodave

To answer your question, there's probably not a lot in it between the fan and top oven but @mmmmikey is probably about right

According to some recipes baked oats in an air fryer take around 10-12 minutes, so I guess that you could save even more energy with an air fryer than your 30 mins or so in a fan oven, depending on how many you cook at a time.

That would not only save you around 60% in energy costs but also 60% in cooking time.

We haven't used either of our ovens since we got an airfryer nearly a year ago, we've certainly saved a bit of energy as most stuff takes less time to cook (around 20-30% less on average), its energy rating is around half that of the oven, and it doesn't really need preheating like a big oven. Its more convenient and easier to clean.

TBH I was a bit sceptical when my wife bought it, but I'm definitely a convert, especially if there are only a couple of you. We can easily do a full roast dinner in it although I guess it wouldn't be quite as good for a large family. As in most things its horse for courses

Krakkkers

Is baked oats a flapjack?

debitcardmayhem

Krakkkers said:

Is baked oats a flapjack?

I would probably liken them to muffins, but it depends on recipe/regional variations.

strawb_shortcake

Thanks all, I suspected that the smaller oven wouldn't make much difference. 

R.e. the baked oats, yes more of a muffin. 

I use 40g oats, 1 egg, vanilla essence, 1tsp sweetener, fat free yoghurt and frozen blueberries mix together and bake for around 30 minutes

Alnat1

Pour a blueberry yoghurt on to some granola and save cooking anything 

km1500

i recommenf getting a cheap airfryer

matelodave

annabanana82 said:

Thanks all, I suspected that the smaller oven wouldn't make much difference. 

R.e. the baked oats, yes more of a muffin. 

I use 40g oats, 1 egg, vanilla essence, 1tsp sweetener, fat free yoghurt and frozen blueberries mix together and bake for around 30 minutes

so that's 30 minutes of oven use for one muffin like cake or does that make several days worth 

strawb_shortcake

Yes just the one rather shamefully, not having a microwave or anything I can't warm them up later in the week if I batch cook. 

I think it may be time to invest in an airfryer.
I'm getting fussier with breakfasts, I used to have fresh berries and yoghurt but that was getting really expensive, baked oats are cheaper but very wasteful in terms of energy use.

strawb_shortcake

Yes just the one rather shamefully, not having a microwave or anything I can't warm them up later in the week if I batch cook. 

I think it may be time to invest in an airfryer.
I'm getting fussier with breakfasts, I used to have fresh berries and yoghurt but that was getting really expensive, baked oats are cheaper but very wasteful in terms of energy use.