Ovens Buyers Guide
The Ultimate Oven Buying Guide: Everything You Need to Know
Ovens are essential kitchen appliances designed for baking, grilling, heating, and roasting food using controlled heating. They come in various types, including gas, electric, multifunction, steam, and compact ovens. A good oven should heat up rapidly and distribute heat evenly for efficient cooking.
Electric vs. Gas Ovens
When choosing between electric and gas ovens, consider factors like upfront costs, cooking performance, ease of use, and energy efficiency. Electric ovens offer precise temperature control, even heat distribution, and easy cleaning, while gas ovens heat up quickly, offer immediate temperature changes, and have lower operating costs over time.
Gas Ovens
One of the main advantages of a gas oven is the maintenance cost. Gas is a cheaper power source than electricity making it cheaper to run altough it might be a more expensive upfront cost as gas oven can cost more than electric.
Gas ovens tend to heat up a lot quicker and can be easier to control temperature. Gas burners also release some moisture into the air when burning, which can help keep cakes and pies moist. Electric ovens produce drier heat, which helps roasted foods crisp up.
Electric Ovens
Electric ovens may cost mosre to run but they are usually a cheaper upfront cost. They cook using a dry even heat – great for baking and roasting. Most households will have a connection for an electric oven compared to gas where you have to have natural gas lines. Electric ovens are usually easily cleanable and maintanable with some having self cleaning functions
There are some cons too. Electric ovens tend to cook food slower than gas ovens and are slower to heat up and adjust temperature.
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Types of Oven: Finding the Perfect Fit
There are many different types of ovens you can choose from depending on your needs:
Convection Ovens
Utilize a fan to circulate air for even cooking and faster cooking times, ideal for baking and roasting.
Conventional Ovens
Use top and bottom heating elements without a fan, resulting in hotter and cooler areas, suitable for cooking multiple dishes simultaneously.
Multifunction Ovens
Offering the ultimate versatility, combination microwaves combine microwave, grill, and convection oven functions, allowing you to heat, roast, grill, and crisp your favourite dishes—all in one appliance.
Self-Cleaning Ovens
Feature pyrolytic cleaning technology, heating the oven to high temperatures to burn off food spills and grease for easy cleaning.
Steam Ovens
Use steam to cook food, preserving nutrients and moisture while offering faster cooking times compared to conventional ovens.
Compact Ovens
Smaller in size with multiple cooking modes, including conventional and microwave functions, ideal for saving space in smaller kitchens.
Single vs. Double Ovens
Choose between single or double ovens based on household size and cooking requirements. Single ovens are suitable for smaller households or kitchens, while double ovens offer two separate cooking areas for cooking multiple dishes simultaneously, making them ideal for larger families or those who entertain frequently.
Single Oven
Single ovens can usually be installed easily without major modifications to your kitchen. These ovens commonly have a smaller footprint, making them work for smaller spaces. Single ovens are typically on the lower end of the price point compared to double ovens.
Double Oven
Cook two dishes with different temperature settings at the same time. Cook multiple dishes with different techniques such as broiling in the top oven and toasting in the bottom oven. Keep food warm in the top oven while finishing baking dishes in the bottom oven.
Oven Fit and Size:
Consider whether a built-in or built-under oven suits your kitchen layout. Built-in ovens are installed at eye level for easy access and come in various sizes, while built-under ovens sit beneath the counter, conserving space. Measure your kitchen space carefully to ensure a proper fit. Built in ovens typically come in around 594mm - 600mm. Cookers and ranges can come in different sizes from slim 500mm ones to large range cookers 1100mm wide. These cookers slide in between kitchen cabinets so measure your space to ensure you get the correct fit.
Energy Label Explained
Oven energy labels work from the old energy rating system which ranges from A+++ - D. Be mindful that this differs from the new A - G grading system
Key Features to Consider: Making Cooking a Breeze
Temperature Probe
Some ovens come with a built in temperature probe so you can tell when your meat has reached the exact internal temperature you want. Perfect for Sunday roasts.
Digital Controls
Digital controls can help you set a more accurate temperature and timer setting to have more control over your cooking
Pre-set Programs
Simplify cooking with pre-set programs tailored to specific food types, taking the guesswork out of meal preparation. Simply select the type of meat, the weight and how you'd like it cooked and the oven takes care of the rest.
Steam Cooking
Some ovens come with a steam cooking feature which circulates “wet heat” in the form of steam to efficiently and deliciously cook a dish and adding extra mositure.
Self Cleaning
Self-cleaning ovens use high heat to help burn any residue or soil left behind in the oven and turn them into ashes which can be easily wiped away
Slide Away Doors
Slide away oven doors open and slide under the appliance giving you more space and easier access to the oven for large dishes.
Oven Brands: Trusted Partners
Explore aour range of microwave brands, ensuring compatibility with existing kitchen appliances:
Oven FAQs: Addressing Common Queries
Navigate common concerns with insightful answers: