Buying an oven is not as simple as it once was. Ovens have become more complex over
the years, and there are more options than ever to consider before buying a new
oven.
Ovens come in various styles. Some are individual units, built into the wall of
the kitchen. Others are combination units, with a stovetop and oven together as
a freestanding piece. Still others function in combination with a microwave. Internal
grills are often also included with ovens.
Besides considering which style of oven is most ideal, a buyer should look into
the various features available with the different sorts of ovens. From the fuel
source used to the type of lights and controls on the unit, there are many details
to be considered. Ultimately, there are a large number of very good ovens on the
market today, and it is up to the buyer to choose the best fit for his or her kitchen.
Oven Styles
Ranges (Freestanding)
A range is a traditional stove/oven combination. It takes up less bench space than
a built-in unit because the oven is always below the stove. For kitchens with limited
space, a freestanding range will probably be a better fit. It is important, with
a freestanding oven, to make sure that it is properly installed. Some ranges will
need a wall bracket to ensure proper installation.
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Wall Ovens
(Built-in)
Wall ovens are made for use with a separate cook top unit, with the oven being built
into its own place. A wall oven is a great way to save space and provide flexibility
in kitchen layout, and is especially convenient for kitchens where more than one
person needs to be working at the same time. A wall oven can also be placed at a
more convenient height than a standard oven in a range. However, an oven that is
separate from the stove will require more bench space than an upright, freestanding
range, depending on how it is laid out.
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Some people use a wall oven in addition to a range, as a second oven. Some wall
ovens come combined with a microwave. The combination wall oven and microwave is
heated by electricity, and so must be built into a place where there is a power
supply available.
Countertop
For very small kitchens, or perhaps for a second oven, a small countertop unit might
be preferable. For a countertop unit, a buyer could choose a convection oven, with
or without rotisserie, or a toaster oven. These units are fairly small, but many
of the new models are much better than most buyers first imagine.
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Double Ovens
A double oven is two distinct ovens, each with its own door. Usually the two ovens
are stacked one upon the other, though they can be side by side in a single unit.
These large units are very versatile, allowing the user to grill one thing while
baking another, or to cook two different things at the same time, each at a different
temperature. They are useful for big families, or for users who entertain often.
Double ovens can, however, be quite costly. It might be cheaper for a user to install
two separate single units, if there are enough power outlets available in the kitchen.
Extra-Wide Ovens
If kitchen space permits, an extra-wide oven is excellent for cooking in large quantities.
Extra-wide ovens come as single or double ovens, and there are also both freestanding
and built-in models available.
Oven Features to Consider
Electric or Gas?
In the past, older models of electric ovens were known to take significantly longer
than gas ovens to cook. However, oven technology has advanced to make this no longer
a consideration, as the cooking time is not much different between gas and electric
ovens. Electric ovens start at a much lower price than gas, and so are worth considering.
In addition, most electric ovens are multifunction. They offer users the choice
to use top or bottom elements, or a combination between the two. In addition, electric
ovens have a grill function, and often offer a choice of using a rear element as
well. Any of these choices can be used alone or in combination with other options.
With all of these various means of heating the food, electric ovens tend to be more
versatile than gas ovens. Electric ovens are more common than gas ovens, and so
it is easier to find a good fit for the user's needs when purchasing an electric
oven.
Gas ovens, on the other hand, don't dry food out as much as electric ovens do, except
those that are fan-assisted (convection ovens). Dishes that require an amount of
moisture will cook better in a gas oven. Gas ovens are made in such a way that they
are hotter at the top than at the bottom, meaning that the food will need to be
rotated in order to get an even browning of the food. (If the oven is fan-assisted,
this is not the case.) Rotating the food is especially necessary if the user is
using more than one shelf at a time. This uneven allocation of heat, though, does
make an ideal situation for cooking several different foods at a time, even foods
that require different cooking temperatures.
Many gas ovens also offer top broiling by use of an internal grill. This is an additional
feature in some models, though, and not the norm for gas ovens. Without the internal
grill, a gas oven will not be as good as an electric oven for browning foods across
the top. If your gas oven does have an internal grill, it will need an electrical
outlet in close proximity so that the grill can be powered.
Some new advances in oven technology include the light and steam ovens. Light ovens
are a combination oven and microwave unit, with an additional halogen lamp to assist
in heating the food. The purpose of the lamp is to reduce cooking time.
The steam oven is meant to cook food using a healthier method than conventional
ovens. The idea is that fewer nutrients are lost in steaming than in baking or grilling.
However, the steam oven does not brown food, so that if the user wants his or her
food browned, it will still require frying or grilling. Steam ovens are also not
as versatile as other oven types.
Standard or Convection?
Standard ovens heat food using two elements, one on top and one on bottom. Convection
ovens, which are more expensive, use a fan to circulate the heat around the interior
of the oven. This provides for more even browning when baking in the convection
oven. In addition, it seals the juices into meats better than a standard oven does,
preventing the meat from drying out. Convection ovens are often incorporated into
gas models, and sometimes into electric models.
Oven Capacity
Electric ovens come in sizes of either 27 or 30 inches, while gas ovens come sized
24, 27, or 30 inches. It is important to measure available cabinet space before
choosing an oven. A proper fit is essential for safe usage of your new oven.
When choosing a suitable oven capacity size, it is important to consider both the
space available in the kitchen and the largest capacity that the user expects to
need.
Self-Cleaning Ovens
For many buyers, finding an oven that is self-cleaning is one of the most important
considerations. A self-cleaning oven cleans the oven cavity without the need for
scrubbing, saving time and hard work for the user. When set to cleaning mode, the
oven locks automatically and heats the interior to 500 degrees, turning any residue
into ash that can be easily wiped away. Some models allow the user to choose the
duration of the cleaning, which is more convenient than waiting for an extended
cleaning period, during which your oven will not be available for use.
Electronic Touch Pads
Electronic touch pads on the oven's control panel are easy to use, making the operation
of the oven a simple matter. Touch pads are also easier to clean than knobs or dials,
which often have places where grease and food from the stovetop can hide or get
stuck.
Multiple Rack Positions
The ability to position the oven's racks allows the user to make best use of the
oven's capacity. The buyer should look for an oven that has racks with safety stops.
This will prevent the shelf from inadvertently being pulled out too quickly, which
can be both messy and dangerous.
Door Types
Frameless glass doors look stylish, and they easily blend into most kitchens' built-in
cabinets. In addition, this allows a large viewing area so that the user can easily
see inside the oven.
Additional Features
Many ovens come with small 'extras' to make cooking more convenient for the user.
Some of these features include extra shelves, removable doors, preprogrammed cooking,
quick preheat, timers, internet controls, defrost, and different sorts of lighting
options. It is a good idea, when buying an oven, to confirm that the light bulb
is easy to replace.
There are a few units that offer users a side opening door. There are not many models
available with this feature, but it is convenient because the user does not need
to reach across an open oven door to place the food into the oven. This can be an
especially useful feature for users who are wheelchair-bound.
Price Range
The difference in price between the most expensive and least expensive ovens can
be quite large.
Ranges
Ranges can be found for as cheap as $300. Hotpoint, Summit, GE, and Sunbeam all
manufacture units that sell for prices between $300 and $400.
Maytag sells several ranges for around $1,500. Various options are available for
this price range, including electric ovens, gas ovens, convection ovens, and even
a range with a double oven.
Prices for self-cleaning ovens very quickly get more expensive. Five Star has several
self-cleaning models that sell for around $3,500.
AGA's multifunction ovens sell for over $4,000, and there are several models available
in this price range.
Ranges with full-sized double ovens sell for prices over $7,000. Dacor's stainless
steel model, which includes a double oven and 8 stove burners, sells for nearly
$12,000.
Wall Ovens
Frigidaire manufactures both gas and electric wall ovens in the price range between
$500 and $1,000. Summit has electric built-in ovens for just below $500.
There are several models of built-in ovens in the $1,000 price range that include
a large variety of options, including double ovens, convection ovens, and combination
oven and microwave units.
Most of the built-in self-cleaning ovens are priced between $2,000 and $4,000. Almost
all of the built-in ovens priced over $5,000 are double ovens.
Countertop
Countertop convection ovens with rotisserie sell for prices between $100 and $150.
Toaster ovens can be found for much lower prices, but are less versatile.
Double Ovens
Double ovens begin at prices of over $1,000. GE has a built-in model for just over
$1,000, though most other units are priced from $1,500 and up. Double ovens that
are part of a range can cost as much as $12,000.
Steam Ovens
Sharp's steam oven sells for just over $1,100. Gaggenau sells a built-in unit for
$4,800. Most of the other steam ovens range somewhere between these two prices,
hovering mostly within the $2,000 price range.
There are several industrial style steam ovens. Prices can be very high, reaching
even $30,000 and above.
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