How to Choose the Best Wall Oven
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The wall oven fits in harmoniously with the kitchen, in a cabinet or under a work surface. The wall oven is, therefore, above all, an aesthetic choice. But, unlike its freestanding counterpart, it helps to optimize space.
The wall oven is popular with cooking enthusiasts, novices and the experienced. But choosing a built-in wall oven is not easy. There are many models with more or fewer features, available at different prices. This article serves to guide you to choose a wall oven that suits your needs and budget.
The first decision to make will be the type of wall oven you are going to buy.
It is considered as the classic ovens. The air inside the cavity is heated by 2 resistances: the vault resistance (top) and the sole resistance (bottom). Air flows freely from top to bottom. These ovens are very easy to use. They offer efficient cooking for all your traditional dishes. However, they require preheating to heat the walls and increase the overall temperature of the oven.
Convection ovens are equipped with an additional circular resistance that will accompany the fan turbine at the bottom of the oven. Thus, the heat will spread uniformly throughout the cavity through the turbine.
Air circulation ovens work in the same way as natural convection ovens. The only difference is the addition of a ventilation turbine which will allow the air in the cavity to be stirred to provide more even cooking of the food.
These ones heat food with steam rather than by the radiation of one or more resistors. The resulting cooking is often smoother and evener. The cooking temperature is moderate, between 40 and 100°C. This limits the destruction of vitamins and minerals while retaining the original taste of the food. This cooking is not reserved for vegetables. However, it can be used to cook meat or fish. The cooking time is usually longer, but the texture of the food will be more tender.
These ovens users combine the precision and uniformity of the circulating heat with the smoothness and quality of steam-cooking.
You will not always have the option of equipping yourself with a wall gas oven. This depends on where you live, the regulations in force or even your facilities. In fact, to have this type of oven in your kitchen, you will need two things:
In addition, you should also know that electric ovens tend to be energy-consuming. In fact, there are two things to watch out for:
The capacity of an oven depends above all on usage and available space. A wall oven compatible with standard niche furniture has an average volume of between 50 and 80 liters. This capacity is generally sufficient for a family of two to six people.
There are, however, larger capacity ovens. But beware, they are only compatible with specific built-in niches around 90 cm wide. Remember to check the outside dimensions of the oven.
Compact wall ovens also exist. Their cavity displays a volume of between 38 and 45 liters. They fit into niches 45 cm high identical to those used for built-in microwave ovens.
You will often use the door of your wall oven. You will find below the different options that can be compatible with your lifestyle and make things easier for you.
When buying an electric wall oven, be sure to check its energy label. You will find in the label its energy rating. This is usually between A+++ and D. Preferably choose an oven with a good energy rating. The latter will allow you to make real energy savings over time, even if the device is more expensive to buy.
On this same label, also look at the kWh/cycle. This gives you an indication of the kWh per operating cycle, regardless of the cooking mode used.
Another important point is the lighting. This is essential to monitor the cooking of dishes properly. It can be placed at the top of the cavity, in the vault or at the side walls. Ensure that it is not dangling when the door is open.
The bulb can be incandescent, halogen or LED. Note that some models incorporate a lighting system in the door. For optimal lighting, remember that you’ll have to clean the protective glass regularly.
The glass door offers the possibility of monitoring the cooking of dishes through the glass, without touching the oven. Some are completely transparent; others are screen printed, making them more opaque. So-called “mirror” doors can be of aesthetic interest but sometimes limit interior visibility.
You have to regularly clean the interior and exterior windows to maintain good visibility of the interior of the cavity.
There are several security features you should watch out for when selecting your wall oven. These include:
There are different automatic cleaning modes available in wall ovens. Do consider this feature if necessary for your needs. Each has different characteristics:
There are many other functions you can look out for in a built-in wall oven. Although you might not use all of these features, keep in mind that these features are important. It makes a wall oven to be easier when using:
Choosing a wall oven doesn’t have to be a headache! The price does not always reflect the quality of the wall oven, which is why this guide is important. If you use your oven occasionally, you don’t have to choose a model with many features. The models with pyrolysis cleaning systems are the most effective, but also the most expensive.
A wall oven is used almost every day: so check its electrical consumption. Check the space and cabinet you have for the installation. Choose a door opening adapted to the space and layout of your kitchen. Consider the safety features, especially if you have curious kids around.
With these points put into consideration, you are going to get your money’s worth!
This post was last modified on March 4, 2021 12:35 am