Find The Right Oven For Your Kitchen

Your oven is the appliance you use to bake favorite recipes and make the perfect meal for your family and friends. However, it can be difficult to decide on the perfect oven during a kitchen remodel or when building a home.

There are a lot of considerations when choosing an oven, including: the price, size, type, color and appearance. Choosing the right oven can make a big difference in the success of your kitchen and home remodel in the long-term. Here are some things to think about when selecting the best kitchen oven for your needs: 

Kitchen Oven Buying Considerations

• How much are you looking to spend? 
• What is the size of your kitchen? 
• Do you have a gas or electric stove? 
• What color do you want? 
• What type of oven are you looking for? 

Kitchen Oven Buying Guide

• Size: Of course, the oven size you choose will largely depend on finding the right oven for your kitchen. how much space you have available in your kitchen. Most ovens are between 27 and 30 inches wide, so think about the size that would work best for your kitchen design. Look at the interior oven cavity space as well as the exterior measurements to make sure it will accommodate your most commonly used pans and baking sheets. 

• Wall Oven or Range: You’ll need to decide whether you want to install a wall oven or if you want a range unit that combines the oven and cooktop.  Wall ovens usually have less cubic space than range ovens, so take that into consideration when choosing the size. Depending on their placement, wall ovens are often more convenient for inserting and taking out food because you may not have to bend over as much.  In addition, having a separate cooktop opens up space below for cabinets. However, you may want a range unit if you have limited space in the kitchen. You’ll also need to consider the "landing space" on either side of a potential range placement or near a wall oven for placing hot items.

• Double oven or single? If you choose a wall oven, you’ll have the option of installing double ovens. What is a double oven?  It’s simply, two wall ovens that have independent heat and feature controls that enable you to cook different dishes at different temperatures when needed. Of course, double ovens will take up some cabinet and counter top space, so keep that in mind.  The main benefit of double ovens is that you can bake or broil separate dishes at different temperatures simultaneously.  Another benefit is the additional cooking space that you gain. Both of these advantages can be particularly helpful if you have a large family or if you often cook for large numbers of people (think about holiday meals). Consider how much you cook and how often you actually need two ovens to decide if the extra expense of double ovens would be worth it for you.

•  Cleaning? Few people enjoy cleaning ovens, but opting out of the self-cleaning feature can save some money. However, because self-cleaning ovens often have more insulation, they tend to keep the heat in better which may save on energy costs, potentially helping to offset the added expense. 

•  Color? Stainless steel ovens have been all the rage for several years, and before that black ovens were very popular. White or ivory ovens are common choices, especially for kitchens with light-colored cabinets, and decades ago, avocado green and harvest gold were stylish oven and appliance color selections. Metallic finishes, like gold and copper, are gaining in popularity today. When considering the color choice for your oven, it’s usually best to coordinate the color with those of your other kitchen appliances such as the refrigerator, cooktop and dishwasher.  Also, think about your kitchen cabinet finishes as well as your countertop, backsplash and floor colors. If you have an open kitchen plan, think about complementing the colors in adjoining rooms, too. 

• Gas or electric? If you’re renovating or remodeling, think about the existing power connection and whether installing a gas line is an option.  Wall ovens are generally electric, but ranges come in both electric and gas models. According to Consumerenergycenter.org, electric ovens are usually less expensive to purchase and gas ovens are usually less expensive to operate.

•  Type? There are six basic oven types that feature different cooking methods – conventional, convection, microwave, steam, combination and wood ovens. Conventional ovens usually have two heating elements, and convection ovens have a fan that circulates heat for faster, more even cooking.  Microwave ovens use radiation to cook food, and steam ovens use vapor that comes from a water tank. Combination ovens have the convenience of combining convection features with microwave, conventional, or steam heat in a single unit.  Wood ovens, particularly for cooking pizza, are becoming more popular additions for high-end kitchens.

•  Location? If you choose a wall oven or double ovens, you’ll have to decide where to place the ovens in the kitchen.  First, consider practicality. You’ll need a handy space near the ovens for setting down hot foods, so having ample counter space nearby is a necessity. Also consider the proximity of other kitchen appliances to the oven to minimize the steps you need to take as you’re cooking.  Kitchen island ovens are becoming more popular, and placing double ovens side-by-side horizontally instead of stacking them vertically is another trendy design idea.

•  Price? As with any kitchen appliance, there is a wide range of oven prices depending on the features, brand and region of the country. Typically, a basic single wall oven with manual cleaning starts around $700.  Prices for double wall ovens with features like convection cooking climb to around $3,500. Basic ranges can cost as little as $350 and those with added features can run $2,000 and more.  Keep in mind that ranges include a cook top, too.  If you choose wall ovens, you still have the cook top expense to calculate.

Whatever type of oven you choose for your kitchen, remember to read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully and always operate it as recommended.  Clean any spills or food residue as quickly as possible, and use an oven thermometer occasionally to make sure the oven is heating accurately. Inspect the oven gasket periodically to check for signs of wear and tear to help ensure that heat is staying inside your oven where it belongs.  With a little care and proper use, your kitchen oven can serve you and your family for years to come. 

Was this helpful? Well, once you've found your perfect oven you'll more than likely want to know what to do when things go awry. Bookmark our oven maitenance guide for reference for when the unexpected occurs.