Choosing a Wall Oven
Wall ovens come in a variety of sizes, styles and features. Whether you’re buying a wall oven for the first time or replacing an older appliance, it’s important to know what type will best suit your cooking needs. In general, there are four types of wall ovens: self-cleaning; single- or double-oven configurations; gas or electric models; and whether they have convection capabilities. Each style has its own pros and cons that should be carefully considered before purchasing one.
Considerations When Choosing a Wall Oven
Cost Range
Wall ovens aren’t cheap, and can cost anywhere from $500 to $3,000 or more. For the best performance and most features, plan on spending at least $1,000. If you’re simply looking for an affordable option that gets the job done, aim for below $500.
Size
Before purchasing a wall oven, measure your available space carefully. Most standard-sized wall ovens accommodate four to seven standard (12-inch wide) cooking racks; however there are double versions which can hold twice as many. If you frequently cook with large roasting pans or sheet trays, opt for a double wall oven with five racks per side instead of just the usual four .
Single Versus Double Oven
Many wall ovens come equipped with two compartments instead of just one. These appliances offer more cooking options because they allow you to bake different foods at different temperatures in each compartment simultaneously.
An added bonus is that you won’t have to heat up an extra oven just to bake a cake or roast vegetables. Two-compartment ovens tend to be slightly more expensive than single oven models, but they can be worth it if baking multiple dishes at different temperatures is important to you.
Self-Clean Versus Manual Clean
Most wall ovens are either self-cleaning (heated by electricity) or manual (heated by gas). A self-cleaning oven uses electric heating elements strategically placed within the interior walls of the appliance for quick and even heating of the air surrounding food during this cleaning mode.
This process involves high-temperature, pressurized steam that leaves surfaces sparkling clean. Some designs use infrared lights instead of steam for fast results. The downside to a self-cleaning oven is that it runs on electricity, so you’ll need to factor in the additional costs of running this appliance when deciding whether or not it’s worth the purchase .
Manual wall ovens don’t necessarily require fuel. They rely on hot air and steam produced by natural gas or propane for their self-cleaning mode. Natural gas and propane both burn cleaner than electric, which can help minimize smoke and odors in your home when cleaning your oven.
Gas models tend to be more expensive than electric models because they’re less common; however, prices will vary depending on where you live. If cooking with an open flame doesn’t appeal to you, consider purchasing a manual wall oven with a built-in fan that reduces the amount of hot air required to produce steam .
Fuel Type
The choice between gas and electric ovens largely depends on personal preference. While many homeowners prefer natural gas because it’s more environmentally friendly, electric wall ovens are less expensive to purchase, run cooler (reducing the risk of fire) and use less energy than their gas counterparts. Before you decide which type is right for you, consider your cooking habits.
If you cook with a lot of meat or other fatty foods, for example, an electric model will operate at higher temperatures than a natural gas wall oven. This can help remove grease from foods more quickly. To avoid unpleasant odors during your next self-cleaning cycle, choose an electric model that includes a built-in fan.
Convection
Once you’ve settled on the basic type of wall oven you’d like to purchase, consider if convection is right for your cooking needs. Convection ovens cook not only with the heat from their primary electric or gas elements, but also with hot air blown around by a fan.
The result: food cooks more quickly and evenly than in traditional wall ovens. If you often find yourself rushing to get dinner ready before everyone arrives, consider purchasing a convection wall oven. You may even find that some models feature both self-cleaning and convection capabilities .
Ease-of-Use Features
A variety of control options available on modern wall ovens can make cooking easier for you. Some models come equipped with a built-in temperature probe, which lets you set the correct temperature for your food and monitor its progress remotely. Touchpad controls make it easy to navigate through oven modes; some even let you customize settings like how often the oven beeps or chimes when an alarm goes off. If your kitchen is short on space, choose a wall oven that has reversible doors. This way, no matter where you place your oven in relation to surrounding cabinets and work surfaces, you’ll have access to the door.
Controls and Settings
Most modern wall ovens give you control over not only heat but also other cooking factors like time and moisture levels Many include preprogrammed settings that use an algorithm to calculate the optimal cooking parameters based on the food you’re preparing.
For example, if you’re baking a casserole, your oven may use its heat sensor to keep track of how quickly the dish’s temperature is rising. If it senses that your meal is taking too long to cook, it will automatically switch from bake mode to broil or another high-temperature setting.
