Oven Buying Guide

An essential part of every modern kitchen, a good kitchen oven should give you and your family years of well-cooked food. But with a number of different brands and types on the market, working out which oven to buy can seem like a daunting task. This Oven Buying Guide should give you the information you need to make a more informed choice.

1. Sizes and Types of Ovens

Bigger may not always be better, particularly if you have a smaller kitchen and need an oven to fit in with the available space. There are typically four types of oven: built-in single, built-in double, built-under and freestanding ovens.

Built-In Single Oven

A built-in single model oven needs to go in an oven housing, whether this is at eye level or under the worktop. Single multifunction ovens usually have a grill included, which saves space but means you can't use the grill and oven functions at the same time.

A combination oven and microwave gives you two essential appliances in one so you can save space in a small kitchen, or use the microwave oven as a second oven to cook or keep food warm when entertaining.

SHOP BUILT-IN SINGLE OVENS Single Oven

Built-In Double Oven

As with the built-in single models, these need to be installed in an oven housing, although they boast a bigger capacity than their counterparts. They will require more space, but have either a separate smaller grill oven included or two large oven cavities, making them ideal for people who are cooking big meals.

SHOP BUILT-IN DOUBLE OVENS Double Oven

Built Under Oven

Unlike built-in appliances, built-under ovens are designed to fit into the space between two cupboard units. They are either fitted with brackets or are freestanding, and are double cavity.

SHOP BUILT UNDER OVENS Built Under Oven

Freestanding Oven

Generally this type of oven is less expensive than built-ins. They are simpler to install and easier to switch out if you are thinking of switching or upgrading, although appearance is not as integrated as with built-in appliances.

SHOP FREESTANDING OVENS Freestanding Oven

2. Oven Capacity

Capacity is often a factor many people find important when looking for what oven to buy. The capacity is the usable size of an oven's cavity measured in litres, enabling you to estimate how much food can be cooked in one sitting. Obviously, built-in single models tend to have the smallest capacity, while built-in doubles and built-under options are larger. Also consider the number of shelves available, as a 50-litre oven with three shelves can cook more food than a 60-litre oven with only two.

3. Fuel Type

Like cooktops, there are two types of fuel for ovens, each with different benefits. The one that's right for you depends on your budget, what you like to make, and how you like to cook.

Gas Ovens

Cook with more moisture in the air than electric ovens

Better for roasts, cakes and casseroles

Usually more expensive to buy and install

Generally cheaper to run than electric ovens

Can be expensive to install if your kitchen doesn't already have a gas connection

Don't cook food evenly if there's no fan (because the flame is at the back)

Won't brown or crisp as well as an electric oven if there's no grill at the top

Like a gas cooktop, a gas oven gives you instant flame and temperature control

There are not as many gas oven brands and models to choose from as electric ovens

Electric Ovens

Cook with drier air than gas ovens

Better for baking bread and pizzas

A more popular choice than gas ovens

Cheaper to buy and install than gas ovens

More expensive to run than gas ovens

Need pre-heating but many of today’s models pre-heat very quickly

Heats more evenly than gas, especially with the assistance of a fan

Has lots of different cooking modes to help you get the best results

Are becoming much more efficient thanks to technological advances

Some have steam technology that creates moist air for perfect roasts and cakes

Both gas and electric ovens can be a conventional oven or a convection (fan-assisted) oven.

Conventional Ovens

Once the heat enters the oven it starts spreading around but not evenly, so if food isn't rotated into different positions it cooks unevenly.

Fan Ovens

A fan at the back of the oven forces the hot air all around the oven so food cooks faster than in a conventional oven and more evenly (without needing to be rotated around).

4. Self-Cleaning Features

Some ovens come with a self-cleaning feature that can save a lot of elbow grease if your appliance gets a lot of use!

Pyrolytic Ovens

What is a pyrolytic oven? It's an oven with a special pyrolytic cleaning cycle that burns away any food spills and fat splatters and turns them into a fine ash. The ash is then is simply wiped away with a cloth once the cycle has finished (it usually takes about three hours). The heat can be intense and uses energy, but it saves you so much time and energy and will probably be cheaper than buying oven cleaning fluids.

Ovens with Catalytic Lin

Catalytic oven liners break down the grease in any food spilt in the oven, making it easier to clean. They may need replacing after some time and can be ruined if you spill water on them.

5. Layout and Budget

Choosing a layout when deciding what a good oven to buy is will depend on your budget, space and preferences. A built-in model has more flexibility, as it can be fitted at any height to prevent bending and squatting to use.

It also doesn't have to be put under the cooktop. However, buying a separate oven and cooktop may take up more space and will cost more. Double ovens are better if you want to cook large quantities of food at the same time, but they may not be suitable for smaller kitchens or tight budgets.

6. Oven Doors

Most oven doors drop down, but some models do offer side opening or hinged doors. There are also ovens that have doors that fold away underneath the oven. Ultimately, you choice is likely to come down to convenience and layout - if a drop-down door is going to cause problems when opening you may want to consider other options. Also think about material, with glass doors making it much easier to check on the progress of food than a stainless steel alternative.

7. Controls and Settings

Ovens have a number of controls and settings that, while designed to make your life easier, may seem confusing at first. Always check the instruction manual to gain a better understanding of your appliance, but here is a list of common settings on ovens.

Defrosting - often the oven fan without heat

Fanned oven heat - the fan helps to circulate heat around the oven

Grill

Grill and fan combination

Upper and lower heating elements - heat spreads through convection rather than being moved by the fan

Steam setting – keeps the oven at the perfect humidity for food that’s bronzed and crunchy on the outside and juicy and tender inside. Think crisp, succulent roasts.

Baking setting – regulates the oven moisture levels for perfect, fluffy cakes and muffins and crunchy biscuits.