Lab Technique · Entry 27 of 42
Conductive / Radiant Heat Transfer
Transferring heat via direct contact or radiation rather than convection.
How it works in the lab
Chemists choose heat transfer modes deliberately: a metal block or sand bath conducts heat directly into a vessel with tight contact, a heating mantle radiates infrared energy into glass, and convection ovens rely on moving air. Conductive paths give fast, local heating with strong temperature gradients, while radiant sources heat surfaces without contact, which matters for heat-sensitive setups. Knowing the mode predicts where hot spots will form and how fast the load will actually reach temperature.
Research Findings
A basic thermodynamics distinction used throughout process chemistry.
Skills you gain in the lab and kitchen
- Choosing pans and surfaces for heat conduction
- Using rack position to control radiant exposure
- Predicting hot spots from transfer mode
- Preheating surfaces before baking
- Comparing conduction, radiation, and convection
How it shows up in baking
Baking stones conduct heat directly into the bread base for a crisp crust, broilers cook by radiation from above, and conventional ovens rely on circulating hot air. A dark pan absorbs radiant heat faster and browns bottoms sooner than a shiny one. Bakers learn that changing the pan, rack position, or heat mode changes the transfer mode and therefore the result.
Recipes that demonstrate this technique
Each card shows exactly where the technique appears inside that recipe's method.
Naan
Slapping dough onto a very hot surface (tandoor wall or hot pan) for near-instant, direct high-heat cooking.
Roti
Cooking thin dough directly on a hot dry griddle, relying entirely on conductive heat.
Sangak
Baking dough directly on hot stones, combining intense radiant and conductive heat.
Bánh Mì Bread
Injecting steam into the oven during baking, which affects crust formation through humidity-controlled heat transfer.
Bungeoppang
Cooking batter inside a fish-shaped hot iron mold, shaping and cooking simultaneously through direct contact heat.