Ovens

When it comes to choosing an Oven in today's market, there are a lot more options to consider than you might initially think. Consider the fuel source: a Gas or an Electric Oven?

What about form factor? Do you want a Built-In Oven that blends in with a kitchen's cabinet design and saves space? This option is great for those who have a particular layout and aesthetic in mind when building their dream kitchen, with appliances to match like a Steam Oven or a Built-In Microwave Oven. You might prefer combining your Cooktop and Oven into a single, versatile Freestanding Oven, also loved for their aesthetic appeal despite taking up floor space, like a popular Smeg Freestanding Oven.

There are also tonnes of features to consider. Smart Ovens that have built-in Wi-Fi like many Miele Ovens can be controlled remotely via an app on your Mobile Phone. Pyrolytic Ovens have a self-cleaning feature, while Double Ovens have two separately heated compartments for twice the cooking.

First consider the size you need. There are two aspects to Oven size: the physical size and the usable litre capacity. The size will tell you the dimensions of the Oven for an accurate idea of what space it will need in the kitchen for a smooth Installation, while the usable litre capacity tells how much space is inside the Oven compartment.

Consider what you want to be able to cook and how many people are being fed. The most common Built-in Oven size is 60cm and the usable capacity can vary depending on the cavity design. A 90cm model like some Westinghouse Ovens offer is less common in Built-In models, with the majority of this size and up to massive 150cm sizes from brands like Ilve being Freestanding Ovens. If you have a larger family or love to entertain, then you may want to consider a larger Oven size or even a Double Oven.

Although it may be tempting to buy the largest capacity Oven you can it's worth keeping cleaning in mind, as larger Ovens mean larger trays which may be a little more awkward to clean. There's also aesthetics to consider from dark stainless, stainless steel, white, red or black options as endless as they are exciting!

Regularly cleaning an Oven ensures it cooks efficiently and saves on more difficult and intensive cleaning in the long term. For best results, try to clean Ovens while they're still warm but not hot to wipe fats and food away before they get baked on. Aim to do this at least once a month to avoid cooking in a smoky, underperforming Oven with a door panel that can’t clearly be seen through.

Check out our range of Oven Cleaning products that will help with tough, baked on grime. Always use gloves, a face mask, a long sleeve shirt (or extended sleeve gloves), eye protection and keep the area well ventilated when using Oven Cleaner.

For fuss free cleaning, consider an Oven with a Pyrolytic setting. Pyrolytic Ovens can effectively clean themselves by running an ultra hot cleaning cycle reaching up to 500°C (with the door automatically locking for safety) to burn off baked on fats and residues, leaving a fine ash behind that is easy to wipe away after.

If both gas and electric connections are available in your home, you may be wondering which type of fuel source to consider when purchasing a new Oven. Whilst there is no clear ‘best’ when it comes to choosing between a Gas or Electric Oven, there are some clear differences to consider that will come down to personal cooking preferences.

Gas Ovens heat faster saving time on pre-heating and in the long term they tend to cost less to run. When it comes to actual cooking, gas releases water and heat when it burns which makes a Gas Oven an excellent choice for roasting meats, baking cakes and other dishes that want to retain moisture. Gas Ovens have basic cooking functions such as bake, grill and fan forced.

Most Ovens today are Electric Ovens which tend to be cheaper to buy but more costly to run. They provide a more even and stable dry heat that makes them great for baking breads and pizzas. They also tend to come with a wider variety of cooking functions and features.