How to Choose a Built-In Oven

When purchasing an oven, whether built-in or freestanding, it's best to consider not only the baking process, but the cleaning process and other amenities as well.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Product Brochures
• Measuring Tapes

1. Measure the area where the oven will go in your kitchen. (For a built-in oven, measure the hole, not the door, which will be bigger than the oven itself; most wall ovens are 24, 27 or 30 inches wide. Be sure to measure the height as well, especially if you are considering putting in a double oven.)

2. Decide whether you want a gas or an electric oven.

3. Decide whether you want a convection oven, which includes a fan that circulates the heat evenly within the oven and cooks food more quickly and evenly.

4. Choose either a self-cleaning or a standard oven. A self-cleaning model may be worth the extra cash; not only do you save time and effort, but the cycle generally costs only a dollar per cleaning - less than a can of EZ-Off.

5. Look for other cleaning features such as a removable door, a removable oven bottom, a tilting electric element and digital controls.

6. Try moving the shelves around. They should be easy to adjust and sturdy. Will they hold a 20-pound turkey without bending?

7. Turn on the fan - is it noisy?

8. Make sure there is a light in the oven and that you can see inside when it's on.

9. Look at other special features such as controls that automatically start or turn off the oven in your absence, digital control panels, LED displays, digital timers, even-baking features, high and low broiler or double-broiler settings, storage drawers, meat probes and available colors.

10. Discuss the warranty, what it covers and whether or not it is included in the oven price.

Tips & Warnings

• If buying a stand-alone range unit, be sure that the cooktop that comes with the oven is easy to clean and operate as well.
• A convection oven generally costs a few hundred dollars more than a standard oven, but it costs less to operate and saves energy by cooking foods faster.
• Unless you can install the oven yourself, you may have to pay extra for installation.

on 11/22/2005 If the oven has removable doors, these may have to be grasped from the side. If so, don't place a side of the oven housing hard against a wall, but allow at least 100mm to get your hand in.

on 11/22/2005 Generally if you have more layers of glass in your oven door, the oven will run more efficiently and the door will be cooler to touch (especially important for under bench ovens). To see how many layers you have, press your finger to the door, pointing to one side. How many reflections do you see (not including your finger)? Two reflections indicates a double-glazed door.

on 11/22/2005 How about an oven door that opens to the side, instead of to the front?
I use a wheelchair and it is dangerous to use wall ovens.
I think that even for people without special needs, a side door would help prevent burns and/or back trouble.