subject: Complete Guide to Getting an Oven For Your Kitchen [print this page] Complete Guide to Getting an Oven For Your Kitchen
The oven is arguably the most critical kitchen appliance, so make the correct selection with our professional ideas.
Ovens are an important piece of kitchen kit, so make certain your cooker can stand the heat, be it a chic, built-in oven or a conventional range-style model.
How to acquire a range cooker
Range and range-style cookers are a versatile selection for larger kitchens, but prior to you get, it's critical to fully grasp the difference between them.
A standard range continually radiates heat into its ovens and hob plates, so it's generally ready to use, and in some cases can offer heating and hot water for the household. On the other hand, a range-style cooker operates like a conventional oven, so it won't heat your house and you turn every single oven and hob on and off as you use it.
Range-style cookers offer a multitude of functions for the keen cook, such as massive-capacity ovens, up to six hob burners, grill plates and a fish kettle. They come as normal gas and electric models, but for even higher flexibility, contemplate a dual-fuel alternative that presents a gas hob combined with electric ovens.
How to acquire a multi function oven
What is it?
With heating elements at the top and bottom, plus a grill and fan, these ovens cover a selection of cooking choices. Some even have functions for pizzas, defrosting, and (on top-finish models) steaming.
Pros
Cooks food in the most appropriate way, eg conventional for cakes, fan grilling for a roast. Will please old-school chefs, while the automatic programme technology will appeal to busy cooks.
Cons
Some supply a thoughts-blowing list of settings, from rotisserie to maintain-warm, so you could feel you're paying for functions you won't use.
What's new?
Top-of-the-range multifunction ovens can select the best cooking sequence for your food via 'intelligent' automatic programming technology, eg defrosting meat and then cooking it or cooking and then crisping the top of a dish.
How to get a fan oven
What is it?
Also known as convection ovens, these have a fan (or two) set into the rear wall and surrounded by
a heating element. Several have a grill and a defrost setting, too.
Pros
They heat up speedily and assure an even cooking temperature throughout. As fan ovens can minimize cooking time by around 10 per cent, they save energy and supply good worth.
Cons
Convection cooking can dry food out, especially cakes.
How to purchase a steam oven
What is it?
Typically featuring a removable, integral water tank (even though some are plumbed in), steam ovens use water vapour to cook food - quick. Pressurised models cook at 1000?sC larger than conventional ovens.
Pros
A speedy, healthy way to cook, as steaming seals in flavour and vitamins.
Cons
Steam-only ovens can't brown or crisp food. Pressurised models can be too effective for fish and desserts.
What's new?
Steam cooking is becoming well-known as an alternative in combi-microwaves, multifunction and compact ovens. So what started as a specialist item is moving into the mainstream.
How to buy a double oven
What is it?
Double ovens are created up of two separate cavities - normally a conventional oven and grill above (with a 30-35l capacity) combined with a multifunction or fan oven below (with a 45-70l capacity).
Pros
Every oven functions independently so they can be used together at diverse temperatures, or alone to cook small meals economically. The joint capacity is higher than that of a regular 50-60l oven.
Cons
If you have two ovens, you're probably to use each of them, which will boost your fuel fees.
How to buy a microwave oven
What is it?
As well as standard defrost and reheat settings, constructed-in microwaves typically have a tendency to incorporate a grill and convection oven.
Pros
Most combi models are compact and, as they let you to use the functions independently or together, they're flexible, too.
Cons
You might want to stock up on microwave-secure cookware.
What's new?
Once the shameful secret hidden in the corner of the kitchen, microwaves are now among the sexiest built-in ovens about.
