The Complete Guide to Purchasing a Built-In Oven: Things to Consider: Taking your kitchen to the next level is a very serious step. Deciding on the oven is most probably going to be the most serious choice that you will have in this whole process.

A built-in oven can be just the perfect addition to your design and bring style as well as functionality. When purchasing a built-in oven, you will need to be able to talk yourself into believing that you are getting the best for your requirements, price, and design.

Between the new single oven and the newest built-in oven with higher capacity, there are a number of major features to consider when making an informed purchase. This is a guide that will outline the key features to consider when you buy built in oven.

Why Buy a Built-In Oven?

Let’s just quickly go through the reasons you’d need an in-built oven before we move forward. In-built ovens, compared to stand-alone ovens, which reside on your counter space, neatly slot into your cabinets.

Your kitchen now presents itself as sleek and finished a look. They use up less footprint space, leave you with greater freedom for your kitchen designs, and come in various sizes and models so you can select to suit your needs.

Among some of the biggest advantages of built-in ovens are:

Aesthetic Value: Built-in ovens provide a clean, seamless look that can be harmonized with contemporary interior design for the kitchen.

Space-Saving: As a built-in oven fills the space that otherwise might be occupied by an open range or stovetop, a built-in oven can provide added counter space.

Convenience: They are generally fitted at eye level. Therefore, it is convenient to reach and view your food without bending.

Having determined that a built-in oven is the perfect option, let us see what to look for when buying one.

1. Size and Capacity

Your integrated oven’s capacity and size are most important in integrating it into your kitchen and meeting your cooking needs. Take measurements of the area where you will be installing the oven in your kitchen before you actually go out and purchase.

Size Options:

Single Ovens: Perfect for small kitchens or for individuals who don’t require a lot of space to prepare meals. Single ovens are usually 24 inches to 30 inches in width.

Double Ovens: Suitable for large families or serious chefs who cook a tremendous quantity of food at one time. The double oven contains two cooking compartments, therefore different food can be cooked at the same time at different temperatures. Double ovens are 30 inches wide and wider.

Standard built-in ovens are 2.0 to 5.0 cubic feet, varying by model and oven size. The higher-capacity ovens would be perfect for heavy-duty households or entertainers.

2. Oven Type: Electric or Gas

The second significant decision is whether a gas or electric built-in oven would be ideal. Both have their pros and cons, so the final decision is your cooking lifestyle and kitchen design.

Electric Built-In Ovens: Electric stoves are more powerful and easier to clean. They also provide more uniform heat control, which may be significant if you are cooking at precise temperatures. If you have an electric stove already or you do not have a gas hook-up option available, you may prefer an electric oven.

Gas Built-In Ovens: If you enjoy the quick reaction of gas cooking to heat and control, then perhaps a gas oven is your best bet. But it’ll have to be hardwired into a gas source and possibly more maintenance than an electric one.

3. Cooking Functions

Modern built-in ovens come with all the different cooking modes available to simplify cooking for you. Some of the options you will likely have are:

Basic Cooking Functions:

Convection Cooking: Convection stoves employ a fan to blow hot air, which helps in uniform cooking and shortens the cooking time by half. This is extremely useful during roasting and baking.

Some other luxury features can be:

Steam Cooking: Ideal for healthier meals, steam ovens maintain food moistness and nutritional content.

Grill/Broil: Grill/broil feature is required to get a crispy outside on foods like casseroles or to sear meat.

Defrost: There is a defrost function with frozen food where you can thaw food safely and efficiently before cooking.

4. Controls and User Interface

How easy the oven is to use actually can make a significant difference in your cooking experience. Remember the following regarding controls:

Digital vs. Mechanical Controls: Digital controls are more precise and often include extra features like timers and automatic temperature control. Mechanical dials are simpler but not as easy to become highly accurate with.

Smart Technology: Some newer models come with built-in Wi-Fi, and you can even control your oven remotely using a smartphone app.

Self-Cleaning: Most of the in-built ovens found in today’s market are equipped with self-cleaning features that employ high heat to caramelize food residue, thereby making it easy to clean. Others employ catalytic or pyrolytic cleaners.

Touchscreen: Some built-in ovens have a touchscreen menu that allows simple, intuitive changes to cooking modes and settings to be made easily. These can be slimline but are quite an acquired taste.

Knobs and Buttons: These are the traditional ways of operating the oven and can be a more acceptable option for the likes of those who enjoy getting their hands dirty.

5. Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency is something that is much required, not only for the world but also for your pocket. Look for ovens with high-energy ratings, which will translate into lower operating costs.

Energy-Efficient Models: Ensure that the oven is Energy Star certified or comes with some other efficiency quality certification. Convection ovens, for instance, would likely consume less power compared to conventional ovens because they heat food more evenly and quickly.

6. Design and Finish

Because a built-in oven will be included in your kitchen plan, choosing the ideal finish and design is critical. Most built-in ovens are available in the following finishes:

Stainless Steel: An up-to-date option for up-to-date kitchens. Stainless steel is easy to maintain, long-lasting, and smooth-looking.

Black or White: Classic options that might somehow fit with certain kitchen designs, particularly in more classic or retro-style kitchens.

Glass: Some ovens have a reflective glass finish, a very modern and minimalist look.

Make sure that your oven finish matches the rest of your kitchen cabinets and appliances to get a uniform look.

7. Safety Features

Safety must never be sacrificed when buying a built-in oven, especially for families with children or pets. Some of the most critical safety features to watch for are:

Cool Touch Doors: The feature prevents the external door of the oven from getting heated up while usage and also limits burn accidents.

Child Lock: The majority of new ovens feature a child lock to avoid accidental injuries to children.

Auto Shut-Off: There are ovens with auto shut-off facilities that, after a certain period of inactivity, automatically switch off the oven to prevent heating up and wastage of energy.

Conclusion: Choosing the Right Built-In Oven

When buying an integrated oven, you must consider the size, model, cooking function, style, and safety features. These are all involved in cooking altogether, from the preparation of meals to simple cleaning.

Looking for a built in top oven? Glen Appliances has a line of built-in oven models available. Glen Appliances ovens possess the latest in technology, even greater energy efficiency, and intelligent designs, all in a product that is fabulous for any kitchen.

Looking for a top-of-the-line built-in oven or a complete double oven? Glen Appliances has it in stock to meet your requirements and design aesthetics. Ready to cook at your best? Visit Glen Appliances today to see what’s in store!