How to choose an oven - tips and tricks

It would seem that such a simple task as choosing an oven is actually much more complicated than it seems at first glance. The selection of a suitable model is carried out according to many parameters, some of which must be taken into account, and some may not be useful. In this case, first you need to determine the necessary functionality, and then compare the device models, their characteristics and price.

Heating method - gas or electricity

This is the first and main choice that will have to be made. Mainly, which oven to choose depends on where it will be used, as well as gas and electricity prices in a particular region. That is, you need to know what opportunities and communications your premises have. Additionally, it is necessary to take into account the functionality of the devices - electric ovens in this regard are significantly ahead of gas-powered devices. It also happens that you just don’t want to relearn, because the hand is already “full” for working with a certain type of device.

Features of gas ovens

Gas ovens can work both on natural and on liquefied gas.

Most often they have only one burner, which is located below. Some models have a grill at the top, but there are very few. This part complicates the design and requires additional thermal insulation - the gas from the nozzles of the grill does not exit down, but sideways and upward, giving off almost half the heat to the oven body.

Such devices do not have automatic temperature control - you need to get used to each oven separately. If you often have to cook dishes that require a certain temperature, then for a gas oven you will have to buy a thermometer. For the same reason, such devices are rather poor in functionality - automation simply cannot afford to perform precise manipulations with mechanical gas flow regulators.

Also, with frequent use, it is advisable to bring a good extract to the oven - when the stove is working, carbon monoxide will accumulate in the air, which can cause headaches.

The main advantages of gas ovens are efficiency in use and the possibility of use in places where there is no electricity - this is an ideal option for a summer residence where you can connect a gas cylinder and do cooking.

Electric ovens

In addition to the relative high cost of operation and the impossibility of autonomous use, these devices have no shortcomings. Heating elements can be located on top, bottom and side, which allows you to evenly cook the cooked dishes. Maintaining the desired temperature occurs by turning the heating elements on and off, which is freely implemented even in budget models. The lack of open fire means better fire safety and enhanced functionality, including, for example, convection heating, which is quite difficult to implement in gas stoves.

The most functional models are equipped with a steam generator and magnetron, which allows you to combine an oven, a double boiler and a microwave in one case.

Given that in an average family two use the oven three times a week, the cost of electricity is unlikely to increase significantly.Together with the wide possibilities and ease of use, this makes electric ovens the undisputed market leader, gradually replacing gas-powered models.

Built-in or freestanding

All ovens can be divided into built-in, which are installed inside the kitchen cabinets and freestanding. Which one to purchase depends on the availability of free space and kitchen furniture, in which the oven is built in. It should also be borne in mind that freestanding ovens are located mainly on the floor, and built-in ovens can be raised to the required height.

Recessed can be not only electric, but also gas models.

Otherwise, there are no significant differences, but in any case, you must understand that the oven is very hot during operation. Freestanding models should be located at least 10 cm from the wall, and for built-in models provide good ventilation. Ignoring these simple requirements will at best lead to delamination of the kitchen furniture, and at worst to a fire.

Rules for embedding the oven.

Dependent and independent ovens

Ovens that are paired with a hob are called dependent.

Independents are only an oven without additional modules.

The main choice for this parameter comes down to design issues and ease of management. The fact is that the dependent devices are either sold paired with a hob or they can be selected from products of the same manufacturer. Independents, in turn, are always installed separately and have their own controls.

The main advantage of dependent ovens is the cost - to purchase a set is always cheaper than two devices separately. The disadvantages in some cases are just the common control panel: if it fails, then both devices will stop working. In addition, the control unit of dependent devices is significantly larger than that of an individual. Also, the dependent oven and hob must be located next door.

Accordingly, the advantage of independent ovens is greater freedom of location and the ability to choose a hob of any manufacturer for them, which is sometimes even preferable in terms of kitchen design.

Modes of heating gas and electric ovens

This is a clear advantage with electric ovens. If gas ones can only be heated from below, and in models with a grill from below and above, then electric, in addition to heating dishes from all sides, allows you to use the following modes:

When deciding how to choose a good oven, it is recommended to pay attention to the presence of these modes, but whether they will be in demand is up to you.

Culinary functionality - what gas and electric ovens “know”

The main task of any oven is to create and maintain within itself a certain temperature, necessary for preparing a dish. When they “learned” how to cope with this task perfectly, the manufacturers began to add additional functions to the ovens that accelerate, simplify and improve the cooking process. Most of them are sold only in electric ovens, but there are useful little things in gas devices.

Functions of gas ovens

The mechanical way of adjusting the flame does not allow creating any significant automation of cooking in gas ovens, so you don’t have to think about automatic cooking programs - everything is set manually and requires constant attention.

The desired temperature is set in the furnace “by eye”, and if accuracy is required, then you will additionally have to buy a thermometer for the ovens, although if the model is not budget, then it is usually equipped with it initially. In this case, the temperature is set by the test method - first the stove warms up, and if the fire is set incorrectly, then it is reduced or added.

Additionally, gas ovens can heat the cooked dish in a convective way. This is achieved by placing inside the fan casing, which will blow hot food into the cooking dish. It should be borne in mind that models equipped with such a device are more expensive to manufacture - they need to make special burners, the flame of which is protected from drafts, and also equip the stove with additional protection, which either turns on the flame in case of its extinction or completely shuts off the gas supply.

Functions of Electric Ovens

Due to the absence of an open flame that can go out from the draft, and the presence of electronic control, electric ovens in terms of culinary functionality give a great head start to their gas counterparts.

The first advantage is the ability to automate the cooking process, since the electric heating elements can be switched on and off according to a predetermined program. This allows you not only to turn the oven on or off at the right time, but to write down whole recipes that are designed not only for different dishes, but also for different types of meat and fish.

The same property is used to set and maintain the desired temperature - a special sensor turns off the power when the air inside the furnace warms up, and turns it on when it cools.

Since the upper and lower tena are often equivalent in power, this allows you to cook at least two dishes at the same time, placing them in the chamber at different levels. If you turn on only the top heater, then the dish itself is not baked from the inside, and a delicious crust is fried on top.

The absence of an open flame gives more opportunities for the use in convection heating in electric ovens. This is realized with the help of one or several fans, which will blow the cooking dish with hot air and ensure its uniform heating.

There are models with two independent conveyors that allow you to cook two different dishes at the same time, at different levels without mixing their smells.

The design of the oven allows you to equip it with a magnetron without any special difficulties, which allows you to add a microwave mode to the list of functions when the cooked foods are warmed up from the inside.

In devices of the "elite" class, special attention is paid to cooking methods while preserving the maximum amount of nutrients in it.Such models are equipped with a steam generator and an additional container for water - when you turn on the appropriate mode, the oven is used as a double boiler.

Accessories for expanding functionality

In addition to the modes and functions that were originally built into the oven itself, there are additional accessories with which the device can be equipped from the factory (with a corresponding increase in the cost of the device), or they can always be purchased separately if necessary and possible installation.

Skewer. They can be equipped with both electric and gas oven. An indispensable thing for lovers of barbecue and barbecue - it allows you to evenly bake from all sides even large pieces of meat or a whole chicken (depending on the size of the oven). You can refuse a skewer if the stove is equipped with a convective heating function - the result of using both methods is approximately the same.

Thermal probe. An original way to control the temperature at which cooking occurs. A temperature sensor measures the degree of heating, not of air in the oven, but of the cooking dish itself. It is placed in a thin stainless steel rod, which pierces, for example, the prepared meat. The probe can be built into the oven initially, and then this is essentially just another sensor from which data is read. In this case, a wired and wireless connection method is used, and the received information is displayed. Also, the probe can be purchased separately, and it is not necessary to be tied to one manufacturer, but in this case, full compatibility with the selected furnace model cannot be guaranteed.

Separate thermometers. Not all cabinets, especially gas budget ones, can show the temperature inside the heating chamber, therefore, mechanical thermometers are used together with them, which are purchased separately (or come as a bonus from the store). They show the temperature by expanding the spring, on which an arrow is fixed, which displays the level of heating of the oven on the scale. The only inconvenience of their use is that you have to first remove the thermometer from the stove, and then get the dish itself.

Built-in alarm - It's good when he has a loud and nasty sound. If in furnaces with an electronic control type, in addition to a timer, there can also be sensors that respond to the smell of burning and turn off the oven, devices with a gas type of heating cannot boast of such. If you forget about the cooking dish and don’t hear the alarm clock, the prospect of ordering pizza from a restaurant increases every second.

Oven Cleaning Methods

When deciding how to choose an oven, special attention should be paid to possible methods of keeping it clean, because even with the most careful handling, each oven periodically needs to be cleaned. In order to spend as little time as possible on this process in the future, it is worth considering in advance by what methods it will be cleaned of dirt and grease:

Traditional way - water, detergent, sponge, and a lot of patience. It is applied to gas and electric ovens.

Hydrolysis cleaning - In general, the same traditional method of cleaning, but initially a baking sheet with water is put in the oven, which turns into steam and softens all the dirt accumulated on the walls of the furnace. Some of it may even drain onto a baking sheet, but the rest will be much easier to clean. Steam is not scary for gas burners, electric heaters are sealed, so the method can be used in both types of furnaces. It is advisable to allow the devices to dry well after the procedure.

Pyrolysis method - quite simple in itself, but its use is allowed only if the oven, gas or electric, has the corresponding material of the walls of the chamber. It consists in calcining an empty chamber to such a temperature when the dirt simply burns by itself. When the oven cools down to about 50-60 degrees, it remains to walk along the walls with a damp cloth.

Catalytic method - somewhat similar to the previous one, but heating is performed at lower temperatures. This is possible in ovens of any type, the walls of which are coated with special enamel containing a catalyst - when heated, it is released and breaks down the fat accumulated on the surface. Cooking usually occurs at temperatures of 180-250 degrees, and the catalyst is released when heated from 300, so it is guaranteed not to get into food. Under the action of the catalyst, the fat becomes loose and is easily erased with a sponge. The only minus of the method is that the catalyst is exhausted after 5-8 years of operation of the stove, but the panels with enamel can be replaced.

Oven door

There are three types of oven door, depending on the opening mechanism. The door can be hinged, hinged and retractable.

A hinged door is the most common option, but it is not always convenient, especially in small kitchens. On the other hand, such a door allows you to put a baking sheet on it before installing it in the oven or immediately after the extraction, sometimes it is very convenient.

The hinged door opens to the right or left. It is convenient when the oven is not installed on the floor, but is built into the cabinet at chest level.

The sliding door involves such a design in which the baking sheets are fixed on it and are advanced with it. When using such a system, you do not have to put your hands in the hot interior of the oven.

Most oven doors have double glazing. But there are models with three or even four glasses. The more glass at the door, the better heat insulation the oven has. This affects both cooking time and safety since the risk of burns is reduced. Therefore, the rule that works here is the more, the better.

Control system selection

All gas ovens are regulated mechanically - on the control panel there are knobs and switches that control the gas supply and the inclusion of the necessary modes.

Electric furnaces, depending on the cost of the model are controlled electromechanically or electronically. In the first case, these are several rotary controllers that are not mechanically connected to anything, but only close the contacts that control the inclusion of modes. One of the regulators sets the operating temperature, the second - heating mode, the third is a timer that either turns off the power to the oven or gives an audible signal to finish cooking. Depending on the functionality of the regulators, there may be more, but these three will be present in any case.

Fully electronic control is implemented on buttons or sensors. Next to them is always a display on which all information about the included program is displayed, as well as information from sensors is displayed on it. TOP models are equipped with a touch screen, on which information is displayed in the same way as on a smartphone or tablet - if the display is small, then this is not a sign of a small number of functions - the information on the screen can be turned over like the menu in the same smartphone.

Often in furnaces combined control is installed, when all the exact functions are set by the sensor, and the main ones by mechanical regulators.

The electromechanical type of control is considered the most reliable - in fact, there is nothing to break in it, unlike touch screens, which have a small margin of safety, plus a high probability of failure when exposed to temperatures above 70 degrees.

Oven dimensions and net volume

According to the external dimensions, ovens are conventionally standard, compact or narrow.
Standard full-size ovens are made 60-90 cm wide, about 60 cm high and 50-55 cm deep. Moreover, the useful volume is in the range of 55-68 liters, which is more than enough to prepare a meal for a large family.

Compact devices from full-size ones have a lower height - about 45 cm, and narrow ones have the same size in width. The volume of such ovens is up to 45 liters.

This is far from all sizes, for example, there are mini-ovens with 5-15 liters of usable volume.In any case, when buying, you need to focus on the availability of free space in the kitchen, and choose a place for the stove so that it has free access, and its doors open freely.

Baking sheets and equipment

The number and size of baking sheets that come with the stove are not standard - each manufacturer can complete them in their own way. This point must be clarified upon purchase, so that, if necessary, buy the desired baking sheet. Mandatory is the presence of at least two whole baking sheets (of the same or different depths) and a grating for baking.

Some manufacturers directly “out of the box” offer enameled baking sheets, either with a coating providing a non-stick effect or preventing metal deformation when exposed to high temperatures. Sometimes a glass pan is also included in the package - this may be a bonus when buying an elite model of the oven.

Modern oven models have at least one set of telescopic rails. They prevent the baking sheet from turning over when it is removed from the oven, and some models also protect the back wall of the oven from shock when loading. It’s also just convenient - the pan moves along the “telescopes” much more easily than along standard guides. When choosing a stove, it is strongly recommended to pay attention to this accessory and its quantity. It can be one, rearranged to any level or separate for all guides at once. If there are no “telescopes” or few of them, then it is necessary to clarify the possibility of their acquisition and installation separately.

Telescopic guides.

Telescopic rails mounted in the oven.

Security systems

Since the oven is an elevated temperature zone, in order to choose the right oven, you need to pay attention not only to the quality of cooking, but also to the presence of various protective devices in the device. This issue is especially relevant if the family has small children.

Cooling system

Since the oven is often built into furniture, it is very important that its external walls remain at an acceptable temperature. To do this, a hood is fed to it, and in places of contact with furniture, sensors are installed that turn off the device when a dangerous temperature occurs on the walls. A burn prevention system is also important, which controls the temperature of the oven door. There are no big tricks here - it just uses from two to four glasses, the space between which a separate fan blows with cold air, which is usually taken from under the bottom of the cabinet.

Lighting

It would seem that this function is far from safety issues, but given that furnaces equipped with high-quality lighting do not have to be opened and closed once again, it significantly reduces the likelihood of a burn, especially if the stove is budgetary and is not equipped with a door cooling system.

Locks

Their quantity and purpose vary depending on the type of oven. A gas-powered device must have a gas-control system that shuts off the supply valve when the flame is extinguished. In furnaces with electronic touch control, there is a mandatory lock on the screen from accidental clicks, preventing the child from changing the program. If a catalytic cleaning method is used in the device, then the oven doors should be blocked from accidental opening during its operation. The same protection can be installed during normal operation.

Oven manufacturers

It’s impossible to definitely choose the best manufacturer, since there are leaders in the production of certain types of equipment or in a separate price category.If an oven of the middle or upper price segment is purchased, it is recommended to pay attention not even to the manufacturer itself, but to the presence of its service centers in the region.

The most famous brands most often found in stores:

These are by no means all well-known manufacturers - you can also look at brands such as Hansa, Beko, Indesit, Kuppersberg, Fornelli, Maunfeld, Ardesia, Hotpoint-Ariston and others that do not appear on this list, but produce ovens of decent quality.

Video. How to choose an oven

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