---
title: "Fan oven: what it means in cooking — Tiny Plates"
description: "A fan oven blows hot air around the food so it cooks faster and browns more evenly. Turn the temperature down about 20°C (25°F) when you use one."
url: "https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/fan-oven"
---

# Fan oven

A fan oven blows hot air around the food so it cooks faster and browns more evenly. Turn the temperature down about 20°C (25°F) when you use one.

Also called Convection oven, Fan-assisted oven, Fan-forced oven, Varmluft, Umluft.

A fan oven has a fan at the back that moves hot air around the oven. It is the British name. Americans call it a convection oven, Australians a fan-forced oven, Swedes _varmluft_ and Germans _Umluft_. Because moving air carries heat to the food faster, a fan oven cooks hotter than its dial says compared to an oven with [top and bottom heat](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/top-and-bottom-heat).

## Why it works

Still air around food acts as a thin insulating layer. A fan blows that layer away, so heat moves into the food faster and the oven is more even from shelf to shelf. That is why you can [bake](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/bake) several trays of cookies at once, and why a fan helps when you [roast](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/roast) potatoes or chicken skin until crisp. An [air fryer](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/air-fryer) is a small, strong fan oven.

## How to use it

Most recipes give the temperature for a conventional oven. When you use the fan setting, lower it:

| Conventional  | Fan           |
| ------------- | ------------- |
| 160°C (325°F) | 140°C (300°F) |
| 180°C (350°F) | 160°C (325°F) |
| 200°C (400°F) | 180°C (375°F) |
| 220°C (425°F) | 200°C (400°F) |

The general rule is about 20°C lower in Celsius, or 25°F lower in Fahrenheit. The two rules do not match exactly, so each column uses its own rule, and the °F values are not exact conversions of the °C values. Some recipes write both, such as "180°C, 160°C fan". If a recipe only says "160°C fan", it has already been adjusted. Many ovens sold in the US lower the temperature for you on the convection setting, so check your manual.

Start checking for doneness a little earlier than the recipe says, about 5 to 10 minutes early for a 45 minute bake.

## Common mistakes

* Using the conventional temperature with the fan on. Cakes dome and crack, and the outside is done before the middle.
* Using the fan for delicate bakes such as soufflés, custards and some sponges. The moving air can make them rise unevenly or form a skin. Use top and bottom heat for those.
* Covering the fan with foil or a tray, which blocks the air flow.

## In recipes

Look for "180°C (160°C fan)", "fan 160", "convection bake 325°F" and "gas mark 4" for the same heat. "Fan grill" or "convection broil" means the top heater with the fan on.

## Related terms

* [Top and bottom heatTop and bottom heat is the classic oven setting where the top and bottom elements heat still air, with no fan. Best for cakes, bread and custards.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/top-and-bottom-heat)
* [Celsius and FahrenheitMost of the world cooks in degrees Celsius and the US cooks in Fahrenheit. Here is how to convert, with a table of common oven temperatures.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/celsius-and-fahrenheit)
* [Gas markGas mark is the oven scale on British gas cookers, from ¼ to 9\. Here is the full table in Celsius and Fahrenheit and what each mark is for.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/gas-mark)
* [BakeBaking cooks food with dry, hot air in an enclosed oven. It is how bread, cakes, cookies and casseroles go from raw to set, risen and browned.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/bake)
* [RoastRoasting cooks meat or vegetables uncovered in a hot oven, so dry heat browns the outside and concentrates flavor while the inside cooks through.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/roast)
* [Air fryerAn air fryer is a small countertop oven that blows very hot air around food to crisp it with little oil. See how to use one and convert oven recipes.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/air-fryer)

[More in measurements](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/category/measurements)[Every term from A to Z](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary)