Kitchen Ovens explained - 1
different types available and what you can expect.
Choosing the correct oven to satisfy your needs can be a daunting task, Whether you require gas or electric,
basic or multifunction, here are some things to consider.
Use this page in combination with KITCHEN OVEN SYMBOLS to understand how the functions
can help in your choice.
Important decision making will include EU ENERGY RATINGS, to buy the most efficient products and save money on your electricity too. Efficient appliances are also more environmentally friendly, reducing your impact on global warming and help reduce carbon emissions.
The fuel - advantages and disadvantages:
Your local fuel supplies may well decide the type of cooker you want for you, but the first thing to consider is whether you want electric or gas. Some ranges have a combination of both known as dual fuel, e.g. gas hob and electric oven.
Electric:
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• The price range for electric ovens starts lower than gas.
• Electric ovens have seen the most technological progress.
• Electric ovens are easier to turn on and they allow better control of the oven temperature.
• There is more choice of colours and designs with electric ovens, this gives far more input into the kitchen design.
• Many of the electric ovens are multifunction, providing a combination of functions.
• Electric ovens are far more versatile than a gas oven.
Gas:
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• Gas ovens are normally far more expensive to purchase than electric.
• There are only a few brands of gas oven on the market, giving you far less choice.
• Compared against a basic conventional electric oven, gas ovens don′t dry food out as much, so they′re can be ideal for roasts, casseroles and heavy cakes that require moisture.
• Gas ovens are naturally hotter at the top and cooler at the bottom, food will need to be rotated from a higher or lower shelf to get even cooking and browning.
• However, it does mean you can cook several different foods at once. For example, after a roast has been in the oven for some time, you can move it to a lower shelf, turn the heat up, and use the top shelf to roast the potatoes.
• There′s no direct heat from the top in a gas oven from the grill (unless it has an internal grill) so it is limited for foods that need browning or crisping on top.
• Some areas of the country are affected by gas pressure due to the inefficient volume of gas supplied; at peak times (weekends, holidays etc) cooking temperatures can vary as there is more demand for gas.
• Remember a gas oven will have electronic controls, so you′ll still need an electrical supply nearby.
We have explained some of the oven functions below, how many, and what type depends on the model chosen, this can vary immensely with different manufacturers.
Oven Style and available space :
Decide whether you′re going for a slot-in cooker or range (which doesn′t need a housing unit), or separate built-In appliances, i.e. a hob and a single oven or a hob and a double oven. Built-in or built-under both ovens will require a housing unit and the hob will need worktop to insert it in to.
If you decide on a slot-in cooker they are usually between 500 and 600mm in width, and do as they say - slot-in, normally using wheels, to a gap between the base units. To future prove your kitchen, always allow 600mm if the space is available, as there are more ovens to choose from in this ′standard′ size, and it ensures you have the right size for any future upgrade. Most slot-in cookers have a separate grill compartment. Whether they′re at eye-level or part of the oven itself, good grills are variable and spread heat widely and evenly across the grill pan.
Built-In or built-under Oven space:
• Built-In or built-under ovens are available in heights of 600mm, 720mm or 900mm. Widths are normally 600mm, but there are some wide ovens at 600mm high x 900mm wide used for built-under housings available within the specialist ranges.
• A 900mm high double oven will fit into a 900mm high x 600mm wide housing and are intended to be fitted in a tall or mid-height column kitchen unit at a comfortable height to work with. With double ovens, often the main oven has a fan and the smaller oven is conventional although with top-end models, both models have a fan. The grill is normally in the smaller oven.
• A 720mm high built-under double oven will fit between two units with metal support runners or into a 720mm high x 600mm wide housing unit, it will give you two ovens, but you will lose some capacity compared to a full 900mm high appliance, the more limited space under the worktop reduces the oven height to approximately 75% of the normal double oven found in a tall housing, but it will give more capacity than the standard 600mm high oven and will have the grill separated from the main oven.
• A 600mm high single oven will fit into a 600mm high x 600mm wide built-under the work surface housing unit, and can be built into a tall or midi housing unit. The grill will be in the main oven only as there is no other choice.
• You might find that the option of a microwave or combination microwave oven fitted over a 600mm high single oven into a tall housing, provides a greater cooking flexibility as it will also free up space on the worktop, but the lower oven will have to be reduced in height, to give a suitable working height to the microwave, which should be at a maximum of face level in height.
Oven Types -
What′s the difference between a cooker and an oven?
A cooker is made up of a minimum of one oven space, will have a set of either gas or electric hobs on top, and will always be freestanding. An oven is the same as a cooker oven but without the hob above and will always be built in. As ovens are built in units the hob is a separate item and is inserted into a worktop, whether over the oven or along a base run.
Kitchen Range Cookers:
There are many styles of ranges available. The best style of range suitable for your kitchen will depend on the kitchen design required.
Ranges can be all electric, all gas or dual fuel (gas hob and electric oven).
• The cooker for use in small flats or for giant appliances for large families non stop cooking.
• Freestanding ranges have finished sides and the controls on the backsplash or front face.
• Electric ranges are available in sealed coil element hobs or ceramic glass radiant surfaces.
• Gas ranges are available with open or sealed burners. Parts including pan supports can be lifted off and cleaned easily in the sink or dishwasher.
• Gas tops can often be supplied to the combination required for your own use e.g. Wok burners, fish burner (oval shape for a fish kettle), BBQ, griddles and more.
Please contact us to discuss your requirements.