Freestanding Ovens

A Freestanding Oven combines an Oven and Cooktop into a single freestanding appliance. Freestanding Ovens are also much easier to install than Built-in Ovens, making them an economical all in one solution for a new combo Oven and Cooktop. Fuels for the Freestanding Cooker come in every possible combination, with Freestanding Gas or Electric Ovens housing Gas, Ceramic or Induction Cooktops.

Some of the best Cookers have larger usable capacities for Cooking over other Ovens of comparable size, making them great for larger meals without sacrificing additional kitchen space. They can also have tonnes of cooking functions to help expand your cooking repertoire for variety.

Of course in some instances like when considering a new preferred kitchen layout, a Built-in Oven may be the best option as it can be built directly into new cabinetry, and can be installed to suit your height while bending over or crouching is necessary to access a Freestanding Oven when cooking or cleaning.

Factors such as running costs and desired cooking outcomes are important considerations when choosing between a Freestanding Gas oven or Freestanding Electric Oven.

Gas Ovens can be more expensive to buy and install but because they heat up quickly they cut down on preheating time and have lower running costs long term. When gas burns it produces water plus heat almost like a natural Steam Oven, making it an excellent choice for roasting succulent meats and baking moist cakes.

Electric Ovens are the most common and tend to be cheaper to buy but more expensive to run. They provide a more even, dry heat great for things like bread and pizza. They are also easier to install by not requiring gas plumbing and tend to come with a wider variety of features, but can require their own dedicated connection for power as opposed to a power point.

For Cooktops, Electric is cheaper to run than Gas with Induction Cooktops being the most energy efficient. Induction is also the safest, easiest to clean and offers precise heat. Gas Cooktops are highly responsive to quick heat changes and loved for high flame stirfries along with flexibility for different cooking styles, such as direct fire roasting a capsicum or lighting a pan of brandy for a flambe (be safe out there). Look for Freestanding Oven units that combine the Cooktop and Oven type and fuel source that you want.

Essentials to consider for the oven could include fan forced and fan assist settings, while something like pizza or fan grill modes might not be as important. Some of the newer Cookers from Westinghouse for example have nifty functions like Air Fry for enjoying fried foods without excessive oil, mimicking the heavy convection a benchtop Air Fryer produces. Unused features can be an unnecessary extra cost so when looking at various Oven features it’s always worth asking if you'll use the function before buying.

If heavy duty cleaning isn't for you, keep an eye out for Ovens with self-cleaning features. This could either be self clean catalytic liners for absorbing fat spatters which can then be burned off or just wiped down, Pyrolytic cycles that run to extreme heats of up to 500°C to burn off baked on fats, sugars and food leaving only ash that can we wiped away, or a vapour clean function that helps dislodge residue by steam generated from water inside the cavity.

Also check what trays and shelving come with the oven. A smokeless grill tray with a perforated plate to prevent spattering, a baking tray and two shelves will be enough for most cooking tasks.

Start with the size and checking the space's measurements then work within the budget from there. 900mm Freestanding Oven are a popular choice, containing a higher usable Oven capacity with around five burners on the cooktop compared to 600mm or 540mm Ovens with just four burners, and the latter usually only having one Oven cooking mode. If space isn’t a constraint, then consider how much cooking you’re likely to do and what functions you need every day, week, month and year.

Decide on a Cooktop preference: Gas is available on various sizes, while Induction tends to only be found in the 900mm range from brands like Smeg or Fisher & Paykel. For serious cooks there are 120cm and even 150cm Freestanding Cookers from brands like Smeg.

Also if you already have a Rangehood prepared then it’s best to shop for Ovens in the same size, as Rangehoods work best to remove steam, grease and odours when they're the same size as the Cooktop they are above.

Freestanding Ovens come in a variety of designs and finishes to suit any kitchen's theme, such as black, stainless steel, white or even statement pieces in burnt orange, olive green, white enamel and more.