Best Ovens
Best Overall Oven
Best Oven/Range Combo
Best Smart Oven
Best Duel Oven
Best Convection Oven
Best Rotisserie Oven
Why do I need an oven in the first place?
Ovens are a staple kitchen appliance. Contrary to popular belief, they are often neglected in homes and in the kitchen. This is likely because they are usually associated with baking.
Ovens have many uses
Ovens have a multi-purpose use. You can use them to bake, roast, warm, or cook.
Ovens are efficient
Apart from the delicious meals you can concoct in an oven, they have an ease of use that is crucial to any kitchen. By popping a single tray in the oven with all of your ingredients, you’re only left with a couple of dishes to clean in the end.
Ovens are also money-effective. They have a long life expectancy and the only maintenance that’s necessary is the occasional clean.
Ovens have an aesthetic purpose
The oven can be just the detail a kitchen needs to enhance its design and aesthetic appeal. Modern ovens come in all shapes and sizes. Whether your home has a contemporary or a traditional design, there’s an oven to make one gasp when stumbling upon your kitchen.
What makes a great oven
There are several features to look out for when choosing the best oven for you.
Gas or electric?
You should firstly check on whether or not installing a gas line is an option in your home. Electric ovens radiate a dry heat that is better for baking and roasting. Electric ovens also typically have fans to evenly distribute heat throughout the cooking process.
If you’re a true chef, gas ovens give you more control over the temperature, allowing you to adjust the heat more precisely. Gas ovens tend to heat much faster than electric ovens and subsequently have faster cook times. Due to the fast cook time, mind special care to the edges of your food.
Double or single?
Double ovens are exactly what they sound like. There are two ovens with independent heat sources that allow two different dishes to cook at the same time at different temperatures. Single ovens have a single heat source, allowing only as much as can fit in the oven to cook. Consider how much and what you cook when deciding on whether or not you need a double or single oven.
Price
Gas ovens tend to be much cheaper to maintain than electric ovens. There is also a price discrepancy between single and double ovens. Depending whether or not you would like your oven to also include a cooktop, you may want to invest in a more expensive oven. Countertop ovens and toaster ovens are usually cheapest.
Type
There are six features of an oven:
- Conventional: contains two heating elements.
- Convection: contains a fan that pushes around heat for faster and more even cooking.
- Microwave: uses radiation to cook.
- Steam: uses vapor to cook.
- Combination: has the ability to combine the above features.
- Wood oven: the most popular for cooking dishes like dough and pizza.
Size
This one goes without saying but you should be aware of your kitchen’s dimensions when choosing an oven. Measure the space where you will position the oven and double-check that it matches up with the oven’s specifications.
It’s all in the details
There are a few extra accessories you may want to consider along with your chosen best oven.
Oven gloves
Oven gloves are almost a necessity when it comes to shopping for an oven. They make cooking over heat safer and prevent your hands from burns. The best oven gloves are usually made from silicon for heat protection and extra grip to help when grabbing large and small dishes. Higher end options use aramid fibres for extra burn protection.
Oven cleaner
An oven cleaner is another essential. It’s important to give your oven a good clean every once in a while. Some ovens require more cleaning than others. There are a range of options on offer, from cleaners with natural ingredients to cleaners with ingredients for removing grime.
Best Overall Oven
As a midrange price option, this oven has an impressive variety of features. The cooktop of the oven has five different burners, one of which heats your food while you’re waiting to eat. The cooktops can change size depending on the pan you’re using to cook. Perhaps the highlight of the oven itself is its delay bake feature, so one can choose for their baking process to begin at a later time.
Self-cleaning feature
That’s right, this oven has a self-cleaning feature. Just turn it on and when you return to the kitchen later your oven will be spotless.
Best Oven/Range Combo
This is one of the heavy-duty options on our best list and the higher price is a testament to that. The oven has all the sought after modes including convection, bake, broil, defrost and light. The cooktop is gas with five high-performance burners.
Multiple dishes, fear not
There is plenty of room in the oven to cook up multiple things at once. It contains two racks with four positions for trays.
The details
This oven looks good in the kitchen. The heavy-duty stainless steel is a showstopper and the ergonomic knobs for controlling the temperature pop.
It also has some add ons should you wish to spice things up even more. There is a wok ring included for cooking up Asian stir frys. Invest a little extra and add the wall mount range hood to complete the look.
Best Smart Oven
Best Duel Oven
Air fryer convection toaster ovens are all the rage these days. They are great for the wings, fries, and nuggets enthusiasts. The toaster feature of the oven allows you to cook at low temperatures, making it suitable for proofing dough.
Delicious and guilt-free
It’s worth making an extra note on air frying. Frying with air over oil does really have health benefits. An added guilt-free bonus is the ease with which you can clean the oven. It has a nonstick interior and a dishwasher safe baking tray.
Best Convection Oven
Countertop ovens are great for the purposes of conserving energy. This oven keeps the kitchen cool and allows you to cook up anything from a pizza to a casserole or roast. It’s convection cook time is fast and has a 90-minute timer with an auto off setting.
Large interior
This convection oven is surprisingly big for a countertop oven. It contains two racks for good and has one of the largest interiors for its kind. In fact, it can fit as much as two pizzas or eighteen slices of bread.
Best Rotisserie Oven
This one’s key for the rotisserie chicken lovers. It has three simple settings: roast, sear, no heat rotation. All you have to do is choose your setting. The oven doesn’t discriminate. In other words, meat is not the only thing you can make. It comes with an all purpose basket that allows you to cook food such as fish and vegetables. To clean, simply wipe down a cloth and you’re good to go.
Seriously tasty
The self-basting rotation feature of this oven browns meat and locks in flavor. It melts unwanted grase away, making it the perfect oven for people on the keto diet where lean and juicy protein is key. Prep healthy meals at home in a mere matter of moments.
FAQs about Ovens
What kind of oven does a professional chef use?
Professional chefs typically use combination ovens in the kitchen. They tend to be large, heavy duty, and unnecessary for home kitchens. At home, chefs also tend to scale down their oven choice. They still love something a tad fancy to cook for their friends and family. Many chefs love having wood burning ovens in their home and at least two ovens with cooktops of up to 10 burners.
How often should I clean my oven?
This one depends on the type of oven you have. It also depends on how much you use your oven. Regular bakers and chefs should scrub down their oven every three months. Less avid chefs can probably do with a thorough clean every six months. Intermittent, brief cleans are always important between meals or messy cooking hauls.