Gas or electric?

When selecting an oven, the first decision is the type of connection. While gas ovens were once a classic choice, they are now somewhat rare. Although cost-effective and easy to maintain, gas models tend to be less functional. They lack extensive programs and additional features, have a limited range of heating modes, and struggle with precise temperature control and maintaining low temperatures. Uneven heating in the working chamber is common, requiring culinary skill for optimal results. Moreover, gas ovens necessitate a house with gas supply and professional installation by a certified technician.

Hence, even with a gas supply available, many users opt for electric models. Their easy connectivity eliminates the need for a technician, making them a preferred choice, especially for beginners. Electric ovens are praised for their predictability, offering precise heating settings, uniform heating across the chamber, and versatile functions like microwave, steamer, and auto shut-off. However, they come with some drawbacks, such as higher cost, increased electricity consumption, and the need for high-quality electrical wiring to handle the load.

Dimensions and capacity of the chamber

When it comes to dimensions, the most important thing to consider is the needs and possibilities of the kitchen. If space is critical, choose compact models with a height of no more than 50 cm or narrow ovens with an elongated shape and a width of up to 45 cm. Full-sized devices with a height and width of about 60 cm are considered to be the standard. For large families and spacious kitchens, manufacturers offer enlarged ovens that are 90 cm wide or even larger. These can cook a lot of food at once (e.g. a whole turkey or leg of lamb), but they require a lot of space to fit in.

The capacity of the inner chamber directly depends on the dimensions of the oven: the more compact the appliance, the smaller its capacity. Narrow and compact ovens have a capacity of up to 50 – 55 L, standard ones – about 60 L (this should be enough for a family of 2 – 4 people). Capacious models boast a capacity of more than 70 – 75 L.

Gorenje Advanced BPSAX 6747 A08 BG capacious oven with a volume of 77 L.

Before buying, assess your kitchen size, determine the optimal installation location, and consider your cooking needs. In a spacious kitchen, avoid unnecessarily wide or oversized ovens if you cook infrequently and in small quantities. Conversely, don't limit yourself to compact models; some are designed for minimal use, like a single pizza pan, which may not suffice for unexpected guests or a growing family. Strike a balance based on your specific circumstances.

Important! Ovens can be either dependent or independent of the hob. Independent ovens are completely separate appliances with their own settings and can be placed wherever you want. Dependent ovens require placement under the hob and are designed in the same style as the hob. They share a common control panel, so if the control system breaks down, both the oven and the hob will fail.
Compact ovens

Cooking modes and capabilities

When selecting an oven, the available settings play a crucial role, influencing the diversity of dishes you can cook. More modes, functions, and programs generally mean a more extensive menu, though this often comes with a higher cost. Temperature conditions form the foundation, with a broader range and more temperature settings offering better versatility. For instance, a minimum temperature of 30 degrees is handy for defrosting and reheating, while a maximum of 250 degrees is typical, although some models can reach 280 – 300 degrees for specific recipes. Opting for devices with a wide range of temperature settings allows for easy selection based on dish characteristics, with electric ovens typically offering more flexibility, as mentioned earlier.

In addition to the temperature range, the oven may have other equally useful functions:

Convection is a common feature that doesn't significantly impact the device's price. It entails a built-in fan circulating hot air in the working chamber, ensuring even baking on all sides. Convection alone, without heating, is effective for defrosting. This function is especially beneficial for gas ovens, addressing their challenge of uneven heating. Advanced convection types include double, featuring two fans, and convection with a heater to warm the circulating air.

Double convection oven.

The grill provides increased heat supply from the top of the chamber and is well suited for roasting: meat, fish, vegetables and other products get an appetizing crust and resemble fried foods, only with less oil. Grills are gas, infrared and electric, but the last option is the most practical and therefore common.

Oven with grill.

Microwave is a combination function that allows the oven to serve as a microwave oven. While it affects the price, it saves kitchen space by consolidating two devices into one. Microwave radiation enables the reheating of prepared food, and when combined with oven heating, significantly accelerates the cooking process.

Ovens with microwave

The steamer is another feature that expands the oven's capabilities and allows it to replace the traditional steamer. For this purpose, the oven has a special program and a reservoir for water, which turns into steam during the cooking process. This way you will get healthier and lower calorie dishes without a lot of oil and fat. The built-in steamer also affects the cost of the equipment, but there is also a budget alternative — models with the ability to steam cook. They lack special programs and sensors that control operation, but their design allows you to pour water into the tray and cook healthy steamed dishes.

Samsung Dual Cook NV7B5660XAK oven with double convection, double chamber and built-in steamer.

If the kitchen has enough free space for installation, separate microwave ovens and built-in steamers are available.

A spit is a rotating rod that ensures even roasting of various foods like kebab, whole chicken, and vegetables. Operating alongside a grill, its functions somewhat overlap with convection. If you're indifferent to whether the meat is roasted on a spit or a baking sheet, it's more practical and versatile to opt for models combining grill and convection.

Automatic programmes make cooking easier by eliminating the need to manually select the optimal settings. These are programs for specific dishes and processes that have preset parameters to achieve the ideal result. You don’t have to personally control the operation of the oven and be afraid that the dish will burn or remain raw. Modern models offer dozens of automatic programmes, so the choice of recipes is quite extensive. Since auto-cooking modes do not allow you to change settings, it will be useful to have custom programme, which will save the parameters you set for future use.

Ovens with cooking programmes

Defrosting is a program that uses a low temperature to defrost food. In this case, gentle action is important, which ensures gradual defrosting and prevents baking.

Important! Most of these functions can only be found in electric ovens. The functionality of gas devices is limited: usually among them you can find convection, grill and rotating spit — that’s probably all.

Oven cleaning methods

The downside of cooking delicious dishes in the oven is drops of oil, dried pieces of food, smudges and other contaminants. Cleaning all this manually is still a pleasure, so manufacturers have come up with several ways to improve the lives of users.

Steam cleaning is the simplest and most cost-effective method that does not require special equipment. You need to pour water into a container or tray and start the self-cleaning program, after which the resulting steam will soften the dirt for easier removal. This method cannot be called automatic, since it is only a preliminary step and still requires manual cleaning of the chamber.

Cleaning the oven with steam.

Catalytic cleaning entails coating the inner walls of the chamber, typically the back and sides, with a material that breaks down fats during cooking. The advantage lies in its self-cleaning nature, saving time and energy. However, it may struggle with older and stubborn stains, potentially requiring manual cleaning. Additionally, the catalytic coating wears out over time, necessitating the replacement of panels.

Pyrolysis is considered the most effective cleaning method, as it burns all contaminants at a very high temperature (about 500 degrees or even more). And all that is required of the owner is to then wipe off the soot and ash with a rag, without using detergents, simply and quickly. But keep in mind that the cleaning process takes several hours, and this will affect your utility bills.

Some manufacturers combine several methods for more effective cleaning. Read more about the advantages and disadvantages of all these methods in our material.

Ovens with pyrolytic cleaning

What else to pay attention to

Control. The type of oven control doesn't impact its functionality but can enhance user convenience. Options include push-buttons, rotare knobs, touch controls, pop out knobs, and combinations of these. Mechanical buttons and switches are familiar, especially for older users. Pop out knobs are less messy and easier to clean. Modern touch controls allow precise temperature settings with a few clicks, offering an aesthetically pleasing and easy-to-clean smooth glass panel. Touch controls often include a display, either regular LCD or TFT, capable of showing not only text and numbers but also images. While more convenient, the presence of a display and touch controls can affect the equipment's price.

Advanced smart ovens that can be controlled remotely via the Internet deserve special attention. Usually, a proprietary application is provided for this, which is installed on a smartphone or tablet. This is very convenient: for example, you can start the cooking process on the way home so that a hot lunch or dinner is waiting for you when you arrive. Or control cooking remotely by changing the temperature and modes in the application. You can also receive alerts about problems.

Safety. When talking about ovens, we must not forget about safety, because they are a powerful source of heat. Gas models are usually equipped with a gas control system, which turns off the gas supply when the flame dies out and thus prevents its leakage. Electric ovens may use automatic switch-off if the device has been operating for some time without owner intervention or has reached a critical temperature.

To protect yourself from burns, choose appliances with multiple glasses on the door. The required minimum is double glazed door, but there are models with three or even more glasses. Such doors practically do not heat up and better retain heat inside the chamber, which means they contribute to faster cooking. In addition, the risk of getting burned is reduced by telescopic rails, which make it easier to pull out the baking tray and eliminate the need to reach deep into the hot chamber. If there are small family members in the house, the child lock feature will not be superfluous. It locks the door to prevent a child from accidentally opening it and getting burned.

Energy efficiency. Electric ovens can be energy-intensive, impacting your utility bills. To avoid unnecessary costs, check the energy consumption class, clearly stated in the specifications. The most economical appliances belong to class A, which may have additional pluses like A+, A++. The more pluses, the lower the electricity consumption. Classes B, C, and beyond signify decreasing energy efficiency. This indicator is also relevant for gas ovens with supplementary electrically powered components, such as a grill.

Useful features. Finally, we’ll talk about features that do not significantly affect the performance and efficiency of the oven, but can be useful. First of all, this is a timer that will control the cooking duration. There are advanced models that, at the end of the set time, not only sound a signal, but also turn off the heating.

Ovens with door closer

The automatic door closer will ensure that the door closes softly and will ensure that it does not remain ajar, releasing heat. This feature, firstly, extends the life of the door, and secondly, increases energy efficiency.

For spacious ovens with a large capacity, a double chamber is relevant, which allows you to simultaneously cook several different dishes. For example, Samsung has a separate Dual Cook series, which includes similar models.

Samsung Dual Cook NV75T9879CD oven with double chamber.

Manufacturers can also add a temperature probe to the equipment — a special device that measures the temperature not in the chamber or on the surface of the product, but directly inside it. This is especially true when cooking steaks and breads to determine their degree of doneness. Simple thermosensors measure the temperature inside the dish and display the results on the display, while more advanced ones turn off the oven heating when the set value is reached. If there are automatic programs, they can independently select the optimal temperature inside the dish.

Oven with temperature probe.

There are even models with a built-in video camera, which films what is happening inside the oven and transmits the video using Wi-Fi. It allows you to accurately control the process without disturbing the temperature when the door is opened. But, rather, such an addition will be really important for culinary bloggers — the camera will help capture the cooking process in detail and get beautiful shots. Otherwise, it's probably not worth overpaying for.

To summarize, an oven is one of the essential kitchen appliances for many people, and given that it can last a dozen years or more, the choice should be taken seriously. There is no single formula that determines which oven is better and which is worse - it all depends on your needs and the possibilities of the kitchen. First of all, decide on the required capacity, dimensions and type of connection. If you need a budget and easy-to-use oven, especially for a country house - consider the gas ovens. Inexpensive electric ovens are suitable for more convenient everyday use. And if you need a multifunctional device for complex tasks and professional-level recipes, it is better to choose a more expensive electric model with advanced features. As far as the number of programmes and additional equipment is concerned, depend on your preferences and, of course, on your budget.