Answer :
Final answer:
A conventional oven is also known as a standard oven, which operates by surrounding food with hot air to cook it, and can reach temperatures from 160 °C to 325 °C. Conventional ovens are distinct from microwave ovens and toaster ovens and have a variety of settings for cooking processes like baking and roasting.
Explanation:
A conventional oven is also known as a standard oven. This type of oven is commonly found in households and is used for a variety of baking and cooking tasks. Unlike microwave ovens, which use microwave radiation to heat food, or toaster ovens, which are smaller and more compact, a conventional oven heats food by surrounding it with hot air. This hot air is either generated by electric elements or by gas burners. Oven temperature controls allow users to bake, roast, and broil at a range of temperatures.
Conventional ovens often provide optimal temperatures for baking dishes or roasting meats. They can reach maximum temperatures from 160 °C to 325 °C, which are suitable for a variety of cooking processes, and many have settings such as furnace or range modes. For dishes that require a very high temperature, such as creating a crust on ceramics, a muffle furnace might be necessary, as it can reach temperatures up to 1700 °C.
In terms of energy efficiency and cost, cooking a potato in a conventional oven might take about 1 hour, whereas in a microwave oven, it might take only about 12 minutes. However, when calculating the cost of cooking, the power consumption of the appliance should be considered. For example, a typical microwave oven might use 1,100 W of electric power. When deciding which appliance is more cost-effective, one needs to take into account the electricity rates and the duration of usage.