Ovens... Where to start?
Discussion
As a person of a female persuasion I probably should know all of this stuff. I need a new 'built under' electric single oven as our current one is dropping to bits. Trouble is I've been shopping around and haven't got the foggiest idea what I should be looking out for. So what brands/ features should I be looking for? I'm only looking to spend £300 tops and would like it if it lasts more than a couple of years.
BTW gas isn't an option due to cost.
BTW gas isn't an option due to cost.
I only have one piece of advice - make sure the heating element is at the back of the oven where the fan is. I once had a fan oven with the fan at the back and the heating element was also the grill - at the top. Everything, without fail, got nuked on the top and was undercooked at the bottom.
voicey said:
I only have one piece of advice - make sure the heating element is at the back of the oven where the fan is. I once had a fan oven with the fan at the back and the heating element was also the grill - at the top. Everything, without fail, got nuked on the top and was undercooked at the bottom.
Normally there's a bottom element under the oven too. On some you can select either or both.Single oven or double - I prefer a double myself as just using the small one is more energy efficient for cooking something small, or I can have the yorkshire puds in the top oven at a higher temperature than stuff in the bottom oven, or use the grill and oven at the same time.
Grill - My Stoves has one of those grill elements where you can have part of it on or the whole thing, but can't vary the power, it's a pain the arse and I'd always go for one with a variable power grill in future.
Timer - I've been known to leave bread to rise in the oven and have the oven programmed to turn on in the early hours of the morning, but that's all I've ever used that feature for.
Easy clean - Most have interiors that supposedly clean themselves if you crank up the temperature, not perfect but it gets rid of a fair bit of crap.
Minimum temperature - Some meats are great cooked at a low temperature for ages, quite a few ovens don't go that low.
Grill - My Stoves has one of those grill elements where you can have part of it on or the whole thing, but can't vary the power, it's a pain the arse and I'd always go for one with a variable power grill in future.
Timer - I've been known to leave bread to rise in the oven and have the oven programmed to turn on in the early hours of the morning, but that's all I've ever used that feature for.
Easy clean - Most have interiors that supposedly clean themselves if you crank up the temperature, not perfect but it gets rid of a fair bit of crap.
Minimum temperature - Some meats are great cooked at a low temperature for ages, quite a few ovens don't go that low.
dave_s13 said:
Have a look at Ikea. They come with a 5 year warranty as standard.
That's where we have bought our in built double oven from anyway.
Same as John Lewis's, and remember to continue the insurance when it comes up for renewal. Paid nearly £600 for a cooker, nearly didn't renew the policy, but the OH said I should.That's where we have bought our in built double oven from anyway.
A week later, a jar of preserved apples in some sort of oil, which had been sitting on the worktop for years, suddenly cracked, no probs cleaned the oil up.
A few days later, the OH turned on the oven, started smoking, turns out the oil had penetrated the insulating stuff around the oven, un-repairable.
Called the insurers, quick visit by insurance chappie, cheque in the post a few days later for £600.
Vipers said:
dave_s13 said:
Have a look at Ikea. They come with a 5 year warranty as standard.
That's where we have bought our in built double oven from anyway.
Same as John Lewis's, and remember to continue the insurance when it comes up for renewal. Paid nearly £600 for a cooker, nearly didn't renew the policy, but the OH said I should.That's where we have bought our in built double oven from anyway.
A week later, a jar of preserved apples in some sort of oil, which had been sitting on the worktop for years, suddenly cracked, no probs cleaned the oil up.
A few days later, the OH turned on the oven, started smoking, turns out the oil had penetrated the insulating stuff around the oven, un-repairable.
Called the insurers, quick visit by insurance chappie, cheque in the post a few days later for £600.
just for reference we have bought one of these
http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/8015621...
It's actually a rebranded Electrolux and for £399 seems like bloody good value to me!!
Ikea appliances are actually rebranded Elextrolux, Whirlpool, Zanussi btw.
Edited by dave_s13 on Monday 22 November 16:31
'Er indoors swears by the cooking tray support being fixed to the side hinged door, the casserole whatever swings out with the door and is much easier to stir, baste or lift out. There's conventional shelves inside the oven too, take them out and you can swing a 20 pound turkey effortlessly.
Neff, or Miele if you have stacks of cash.
Better to buy a low-range expensive brand than a high-range cheap brand. Very few people use the extra features of the high-range machines but lots do complain about poor cooking or the fact that they pack up within a couple of years (and start looking scruffy much sooner.)
If it's under the worktop, you're right to buy a single oven; the under-the-worktop doubles have so little cooking volume that you simply can't fit larger dishes/cuts of meat in.
Oli.
Better to buy a low-range expensive brand than a high-range cheap brand. Very few people use the extra features of the high-range machines but lots do complain about poor cooking or the fact that they pack up within a couple of years (and start looking scruffy much sooner.)
If it's under the worktop, you're right to buy a single oven; the under-the-worktop doubles have so little cooking volume that you simply can't fit larger dishes/cuts of meat in.
Oli.
Practical head on, do you need timed activation? self clean or any other fancy features like that? as a great oven that cooks perfectly but is a pain for the Sunday roast because you can't put everything in and set the timer. Basicly look through the listings on the net to find the features you want then see what ticks those boxes.
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