About oven

Kinds of oven:

• broiler — an oven or part of a stove used for broiling
• Dutch oven — n oven consisting of a metal box for cooking in front of a fire
• gas oven — a domestic oven fueled by gas
• kiln — a large oven for firing or burning or drying such things as porcelain or bricks
• rotisserie — an oven or broiler equipped with a rotating spit on which meat cooks as it turns

Types of oven

Electric

Electric ovens are powered by electricity and offer a variety of functions including top, bottom, rear and grill elements.

Pros

• More versatile than gas due to the multi-functions
• Lower price range than gas ovens

Cons

• Some say they take longer to heat than gas

Gas

You must have access to a natural gas outlet to install a gas oven. A gas oven can have electronic controls and electric grill.

Pros

Easy to heat up

Cons

Dangerous when often blown by the wind

Built-in

Built-in ovens are built-in to the wall or under the bench.

Pros

• Provide location flexibility – built-in ovens don't have to sit under the cooktop
• Can be positioned at a height to suit you

Cons

• Some built-in ovens take up more bench space than freestanding ovens

Freestanding

As the name suggests, freestanding ovens are appliances in their own right that don't need a bench or wall to operate.

Pros

• Take up no bench space
• Can be situated anywhere in the kitchen – they don't depend on a bench or wall for support

Cons

• May not be suitable for some small kitchens where floor space is precious

Double oven

A double oven is two separate ovens sitting either on top or alongside one another, but operating as one.

Pros

• Great for cooking lots of different foods (for example, baking a cake in one and grilling meat in the other)

Cons

• Expensive
• Use more energy than a single oven

Extra wide

Most oven manufacturers make extra-wide ovens, which are available built-in or freestanding.

Pros

• They look stylish
• Perfect for batch cooking and cooking for large families

Cons

• Expensive

Microwave oven

A microwave oven uses microwave radiation to cook food. They are available as a freestanding unit to be placed on benchtop or shelf.

Pros

• Cooks food at a much faster speed than regular ovens
• Least expensive oven option
• Take up little space
• Useful tool in addition to a regular oven

Cons

• The quality of cooking is not as high as with regular ovens
• Not suitable for cooking large portions

What is a multifunction oven?

This simply means that the oven has more than one function, in fact, all of the functions you will require to suit your cooking needs.

These functions vary between models. The oven shelves are numbered 1-5 and are counted from the base of the oven. This positioning is only a guide for fan forced cooking.

Cleaning

The smooth enamel baked at the highest temperatures will be the easiest to clean. Pyrolytic cleaning ovens and catalytic liners are also available but attention to care instruction is important for best efficiency of operation.

Ask about the cleaning features of ovens, they are many and varied from removable grill reflector plates, to lift-up hobs on upright ovens and easy clean black enamel gas burner rings. Look for these features they will make a huge difference in maintaining the appearance of your new purchase.

Safety Features to look for:-

1. Check for smooth finish to the appliance - no sharp corners or sharp metal edges.

2. Avoid accidents by ensuring the racks don’t drop down when pulled forward and that they have rear stoppers to prevent them sliding straight out.

Ask the Manufacturer or Retailer for any general or technical information regarding the appliance of your choice. Today’s appliance buyers are discerning and their enquiries are welcomed.

Also consider the warranty conditions and the Service and Spare Parts availability.