When buying an oven for your kitchen you need to choose an oven that will suit, you, your family and your lifestyle.
Think about how often you cook.
What you cook.
When you cook.
The size of your family. Do you entertain?
Here we explain all the different types and functions of an oven for your kitchen.
Single Ovens
Single ovens are available in a number of features, options and prices.
Single ovens are great to place under a cooktop because they can eliminate the seams in cabinetry and allow the kickboard to run continuously throughout the kitchen.
You can place a single oven in the wall or under the bench. By placing the oven in the wall, it will save you from bending to remove the dishes from the oven.
Also as a wall oven, you can place a microwave above the oven to give you extra cooking options.
Ovens are generally 60 cm or 90 cm in size
Double Wall Ovens
Double wall ovens are two equal sized ovens.
The big advantage is one centralised cooking area.
However, any other cooking product such as a microwave or steam oven, have to be placed elsewhere (you could put a warming drawer underneath).
Three options for a double wall oven:
Stand alone ovens
These ovens stand by themselves and include a cooktop with the other.
They are generally 60 cm or 90 cm, although you can get them smaller if space is an issue
Gas verse electric
Almost all the wall or under bench ovens are now electric.
Electric provides more consistent heat.
Although all manufacturers produce electrical wall ovens, only a few manufacture a competitive gas wall oven.
Fan forced.
Fan forced employees a fan and heating element in the rear of the other, and results in more even temperatures.
This is not to be confused with fan assisted where there is only the fan at the rear of the other and the heat comes from the top and bottom elements
Shelves
Most ovens will have 5 to 6 shelf positions.
The better ovens will have telescopic runners. The runners give greater strength to the oven racks. Allowing for easier and safer handling of your dishes.
An oven tray is generally included with your oven.
Some ovens come with a rotisserie which allows for cooking of those special dishes.
Defrosting.
With this mode, the area is circulating without any element being turned on. Only the fan is in operation.
This is useful slow defrosting or thawing of frozen food.
Fan and bottom element
The bottom element and fan operate simultaneously. Used for baking slow especially for preserving fruit and vegetables.
Use the first shelf position from the bottom and shallow rather than deep baking trays to allow the warm air to circulate around the upper side of the dish as well
Fan forced and bottom element
The bottom element and the hotair fan operate simultaneously. This is particularly for making pizza.
Also ideal for moist or heavy pastry, fruit cakes made of leavened dough, short pastry or cheesecakes.
Fan forced.
Fan forced is where the element and the fan at the rear of the other operate simultaneously.
The fan at the back wall causes the hot air to circulate constantly around a roast or pastry.
This operation is appropriate for roasting meat and making pastry on several shelves simultaneously. Cooking temperature should be set lower than conventional cooking modes
Full Grill and Fan
The grill and fan are activated simultaneously. It is appropriate for grilling meat and large chunks of meat or poultry on one shelf level.
Also appropriate for cooking food au gratin or browning.
Half Grill
The half Grill is appropriate for grilling smaller quantities, such as toasted sandwiches, sausages or simply to toast bread.
Full Grill
The full grill is best for grilling.
This operation mode is appropriate for cooking smaller chunks of meat, steak or chops.
Conventional.
The elements on top and bottom of the other radiate heat uniformly and evenly into the oven interior.
Pastry and meat can only be cooked on one short level only
How to buy
We are a firm believer in buying another message or cooking requirements and size of your family.
If you only plan to use your oven for standard cooking of roasts and cakes then extra functions will not be required
If you do like to cook than the extra functions will allow you to get the most from your oven.
Conclusion
Choose an oven that suits you and your family.
Don't over by for functions and extras that you will not use.
Select the oven size theat will cater for you and your family and size of your kitchen
Enjoy your cooking
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