Buying an oven will be one of your biggest kitchen purchases; it’s worth getting clued up on all the different types by reading our oven reviews and getting to grips with our buying guide.
It’s the kind of appliance that you don’t want anything going wrong with as it will be both tricky and expensive to fix. Make sure you know exactly what you are getting yourself into when you make your decisions and always be clear on warranty periods.
To help you buy the best oven for your needs, we’ll be covering fuel, function and design. Check out our reviews below for inspiration.
Our Top Oven Picks
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Best Ovens
Thanks to a large 71 litre capacity and a second chamber at 34 litres, this is an oven perfect for those family meal times where everything needs to be ready at the same time. CircoTherm technology means you can roast and bake at once. So, you can get the Sunday beef done at the same time as the apple pie for dessert and not have to worry about your timings too much. You get telescopic rails too, so not only do you have free reign over the positioning of each shelf but you also can ensure bringing the food out is safe too. An EasyClean lining makes the chores easier too. Simply wipe away any spills once they have cooled, rather than scrubbing or chipping away at them which could cause a lot of damage. This is because it breaks down even the stickiest of food stains. It controls temperature really well, and is easily adjustable to a fine tee so you get the perfect results. If you are after something easy to use and control, then the host of 5* reviews show it is one of the most popular out there. Heats up fast, packed with functions, so easy to control and very roomy. We don't know what else anyone could possible want. Stoves is a brand to be reckoned with when it comes to large kitchen appliances. This double oven is one of their latest offerings, and it excels at everything. Cleaning is easy as you just have to wipe it with a cloth thanks to the linings, and the minute minder will buzz when your feast is ready so you can always stay on top of the job. The main oven is a conventional cook, so it circulated air evenly. This creates perfectly cooked dishes. Then there is a grill in the second chamber where you can crisp the top of any al forno dishes. Having two ovens is great for those busy meal times, or if you want to bake pudding while the fish fingers are getting ready. Both are nice and spacious, and it is an attractive bit of kit too – and for the name, it is a pretty good price. A brilliant all rounder A built-under double setup like this offers great value for money when trying to pack as much as you can into a small kitchen space. Not only that, but it is modern and cleanly-designed too without being too in-your-face. The top compartment is reserved for smaller dishes and grilling, while the bottom of this double is perfect for roasting joints or larger oven dishes. The larger cavity is fan operated so the heat spreads well and quickly. Great for ensuring your food is safe and cooked to a tee. If you’re making cookies and anything else which requires heat to rise, the smaller cavity is perfect. When you need to grill to add a golden finish to your oven baked dishes, just turn the dial and you’ll be ready to switch everything over in seconds. If you set the electronic programmable timer, it will turn off the oven when it is done. You can rest easy knowing that you won’t overcook everything if you lose track of time while watching TV. Designed to fit in an eye-level unit, it won’t suit every home. But if this is what you’re after then the price, energy rating, usability and extra little functions are great. If Jamie Oliver approves then what’s not to like? Hotpoint DD2544CIX Electric Double product manual Great for everyday cooking, this is a good double oven that takes a while to get the hang of but won't let you down when done. Packed with all of the cooking functions you could ever wish for in an oven, this Bosch model will make all of your kitchen dreams come true. It is large in size, able to hold over 70 L at once, so there will be no issues trying to fit everything in. There are 13 functions, taking you from conventional heat and full and half-width grilling to a dedicated pizza setting, hold warm and defrost. A unique function is 4D Hot Air, designed to provide equal amounts across all four shelves thanks to the alternating fan. This allows you to cook different dishes at the same time, but provide excellent results. The touch control and LED display screen brings a bit of modernity, not only looking sleek in your home but also being much easier to clean than those with dials and switches. Talking of cleaning, the EcoClean Direct catalytic coating of the chamber will reduce the need for any hard scrubbing every month, as every time the oven is on it works to remove the dirt build-up. Just wipe the door and bottom of the oven, and the coating replaces itself. For safety, the door is soft open, and there is a childproof lock. A residual heat indicator will also tell you whether the oven is still a bit hot so that you can keep the kids out of the kitchen in the meantime. It is pricey for a single cooking appliance, but the sheer number of features, safety considerations and the overall look makes it a very worthy purchase in our eyes. It takes a while to become familiar with, so any initial frustrations with the turn dial and settings will subside. Despite the slight niggles with the lack of user friendliness at first, once you get in the swing it is a great option and will see you through cooking well. Thanks to two cooking chambers and a powerful main electric fan option, you can cook to your hearts content whether you like to be experimental or you throw everything together and see how it goes. Withing this chamber, you also get a grill which is ideal for bacon and cheese on toast or crisping up the Hotpot. And we loved the Circulaire option, which pushes the hot air into every corner of the chamber to cook the contents evenly. It does this without transferring any flavours or smells, so you can cook a range of dishes in one compartment without the risk of it all coming out tasting the same. It is all coated with an enamel interior. This stops any grease and grime sticking in the first place, so you just need to give it a quick wipe every so often. It is pricey, but it is also stylish and from a huge name in the cooking world so you’re paying that bit more for a quality item. Top marks for design and overall ease of use, and the food is cooked perfectly too You’d be forgiven for thinking that a single cavity oven can only accommodate one temperature at any one time. However, Samsung have answered all of your prayers with this fancy futuristic combination oven. Thanks to the unique dual cook feature, you can actually use the main cavity at different temperatures. And at the same time. Upper and lower cooking zones will help you independently cook various dishes, with different time requirements too. Or, just use it as a standard single oven for those larger dishes. You won’t struggle to fit everything in, thanks to the very generous 75L capacity. Pyrolytic cleaning technology will heat up any burnt on grease and grime so you can give it a simple wipe rather than needing to chip away at it for hours. We love how this Samsung uses the latest technology to give you a solid and practical setup that delivers on quality and usability. As a bonus, the shelves were incredibly easy to slide in and out even with heavy items on top which will reduce the risk of any spillages or burns. Samsung Dual Cook NV75K5571RS user manual Brilliant functions and clever use of technology makes this a winner for us. Going for a double convection oven is a great way to maximise kitchen space. And this Zanussi number gives you over a 100 litres of space (can’t argue with that). The fan ensures heat is distributed evenly and thoroughly, resulting in proper and even cooking. Because there are two chambers, you have plenty of room to cook the largest of meals all year round. Hate cleaning your oven every so often? We all do, especially after some grilling or after a slight spillage. Thankfully, with this oven, the catalytic StayClean oven lining means you don’t have to grab your Marigolds. Just give it a wipe every week and it will remain looking like new. If you have little ones running round then the auto-stop anti-tip shelves and heatproof glass door will keep them safe and prevent any accidents. It looks stylish, has heaps of settings and is quality. Just beware that as it is a double oven, if it is placed very high it may become difficult to view the controls. Zanussi ZOD35712XK EU product manual One of the best currently on the market, fantastic build quality and value for money. What makes the NEFF N70 B57CR22N0B Electric Single Oven one of the best ovens out there is not only the quality of heating but also its innovative technology and design. It is no surprise that this oven is worthy for the likes of The Great British Bake Off. CircoTherm technology gives a constant circulating heat throughout each shelf, allowing the food to cook evenly no matter which rack it is on. The 2.5 inch TFT display featuring NEFF’s ShiftControl is an efficient and futuristic way to scroll through the oven’s 12 heat settings. So no more pushing on unresponsive tactile buttons. The oven features 71 litres of space which is more than enough room to whip up a roast large enough for most large families. Also, think of the time you will save on that Roast Beef and Yorkshire pudding! The CircoTherm feature also prevents flavours from mixing within the oven, so go ahead and bake your mains and desserts together without any regret. Last but not least, NEFF has built this all rounder with immaculate design. In addition to the sleek stainless steel, the Slide&Hide door folds away neatly beneath the oven allowing you to reach your perfectly roasted potatoes without awkwardly bending over the oven door. This simple yet revolutionary design makes the oven stand out above the rest. NEFF N70 Slide&Hide B57CR22N0B User Manual The combination of design, technology, heating options, and energy efficiency earns this oven as our top rated electric oven on the market. You will no regret going with this model. From the Jamie Oliver Hotpoint partnership comes this built in electric single oven. It is ideal for cooking all of your favourite meals with minimal effort. This model sports a programmable timer which can be set to automatically shut off the oven when the food is ready. No more burnt chips or dried out chicken, without you lifting a finger. The pyrolytic self-cleaning setting reduces leftover food and grease to ash, allowing you to simply wipe it away. Great for anyone who wants to cut out harsh chemicals and elbow grease. Cooking options are aplenty, with options for roasting meat, baking sweet goods and grilling some perfect bacon. Multiflow technology guarantees that no matter the setting, the hot air will reach every corner of the oven so your food is cooked just the way you like it and, most importantly, safely. You only get one wire tray, and the fan setting seems a little noisier than most alternatives, especially others in the range. But we will simply say that it is easy to put up with as you get high performance in return. Hotpoint Class 4 SA4844PIX user manual An excellent and well priced choice for those who enjoy cooking a wide range of mealsNEFF U1ACE5HN0B Electric Double Oven
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Stoves BI900G Built In Double Oven
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Hotpoint Class 2 DD2544CIX
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Bosch Serie 8 HBG634BS1B Electric Oven
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SMEG Cucina DUSF400S Built Under Double Oven
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Samsung Dual Cook NV75K5571RS
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Zanussi ZOD35802XK
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NEFF N70 B57CR22N0B Electric Single Oven
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Hotpoint Class 4 SA4844PIX
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Help and Resources
Oven Buying Guide
We’ve recommended some great deals from across the UK’s biggest and most trustworthy brands, but before you commit to your big purchase, you may want to shop around further. If this sounds like you, feel free to use our buying guide to help you make the right decision.
Different Types Of Oven
Ovens are separated out into many subcategories that you may find confusing at first. The main categories you need to know are fuel and function, followed by design and dimensions.
Initially, you will have to make a choice between an oven that is fuelled by electricity or fuelled by gas.
Then you will have to make some decisions on what cooking functions you’d like best, and what sort of oven design will fit in with your existing kitchen design (built-in or standalone).
You will also have to consider how much space you have to devote to your oven, and how you will manage the installation process. Often you’ll need professional and qualified engineers to do the fitting – it’s not something you should be attempting on your own without any professional assistance.
Gas vs. electric ovens
- A gas oven is fuelled by gas, whereas an electric oven will be plugged into your main electricity supply
- Gas ovens and hobs are often seen as a more ‘authentic’ way of cooking, but electric ovens are increasingly the norm as they offer a more consistent temperature
- With gas, you may struggle to get a completely even cooking temperature inside, though gas ranges and hobs are favoured by the country’s top chefs as the best
- Gas ovens are slightly cheaper to run than electric ovens
- Electric ovens may be conventional electric ovens, or fan assisted ones. Fan assisted ones are usually preferable, as they keep energy costs and preheating times down
- Both electric and gas ovens will have different cooking functions like grill, fan, etc.
Oven Functions
Different types offer different cooking functions. The oven type is the general category of oven, like conventional electric or fan-assisted electric. These types will then be broken down into functions like fan-assisted grill, electric grill, fan oven, fan-assisted gas oven, etc.
A function determines how the oven heats up and will influence your cooking results. Most setups offer a number of functions, with fan ovens and grills becoming increasingly standard. The benefit of fan-assisted cooking is a more economical way of cooking and a more even bake.
A combination oven has many different types of functions, like fan, electric grill, microwave etc. A combination oven may have the edge over a single function oven as it allows you to be more versatile. Most standard ovens these days come with a variety of oven functions, but only ones that offer microwaves are generally called combination ovens. This can be a great option, but you might have to trade off some oven power. Read our microwave and combination oven reviews here.
Different Oven Designs: Built In VS. Freestanding
A built in oven means that you can integrate your oven with the rest of you kitchen design, either fitting it under a worktop or at sitting it in a special eye-level cabinet. It depends really what you think looks best in your kitchen, but fitting an oven in an eye-level cabinet means that you will need to set your hob on a separate part of the kitchen worktop.
A standalone model is also a good option as it will make for less work during installation and is a popular choice in managed properties as it offers an easy ‘all in one’ solution. An oven range is pretty much always standalone, as it’s such a big bit of kitchen kit.
Designs also vary in terms of colour and design. A classic white enamel oven is joined by black, stainless steel and even mirrored glass ovens. It’s possible to have coloured and quirky ovens too, with red and cream being popular appliance colour choices.
Luxury vs. Basic
Luxury ovens come with an impressive array of features like pre-programmable cooking programmes, self-cleaning pyrolytic lining and even integrated pizza and flatbread features. A luxury oven from one of the best brands will look a lot more high end and will be finished off to a higher standard. More expensive choices are made from better materials and have longer warranty periods.
On the other hand, a basic oven is often good enough for standard kitchens and cooking, and you may not need all the bells and whistles that a fancy one offers. A budget oven can be a good purchase, but make sure you read lots of reviews before making a purchase decision. (Here are our reviews of cheap ovens).
Replacing an appliance is time-consuming and expensive, so it’s often best to aim for mid range ovens and cookers, and to sign up for any warranty periods. You don’t want anything going wrong with your appliance, as it will be a huge hassle to fix.
Single vs. Double
A single oven has one cavity, whereas a double oven will have two. Often double ovens have a main cavity that will roughly be the same size as a standard single oven, with a smaller oven sitting on top that will double up as grill.
A double is best if you’re planning on doing lots of complex cooking, or prefer a bit more space for your family meals. Often shared houses will have double setups.
Energy Efficient Ovens
Being more efficient with the energy you use is better for the environment, and best of all better for your purse strings. All cookers are rated on a universal EU energy efficiency scale, with A+++ being the highest energy efficiency standard. An energy scale like this makes it easy for you to tell at a glance how energy efficient your appliance is.
The Energy Saving Trust recommends that you look for A rated ovens as a “new A+ rated electric oven will consume 40 percent less energy than a B rated one”. Read more about energy efficient appliances on Energy Saving Trust’s website.
How To Choose The Right Oven
Deciding on what is best for you depends on your kitchen objectives and habits. Some people review ovens from a very functional perspective, others need a little more from their cookers in terms of design and brand.
Consider the following when purchasing:
- What’s your budget like? Don’t forget to factor in insurance and installation. Remember that scrimping now may not pay off in the long run
- Do you need a double or single?
- Have you measured your oven cavity? What dimensions are you going to need? (Not all ovens are the same size)
- Do you know how much oven space you actually need? (Remember, oven cavities are always measured in litres)
- What sort of features and programmes are you likely to need on a regular basis? Does it make sense to pay extra for them?
- How important is quality and design to you? What about the brand?
- Do you need any extra safety features?
- Have you read enough reviews to make your decision?
Compare oven ranges at different retailers – you’ll be surprised at the differences in pricing.
Kitchen Appliance Buying Best Tips
Here are our best tips for buying a kitchen appliance:
- Plan carefully before you make your appliance purchase by reading appliance reviews on different websites
- Beware of financing plans, they may be more costly in the long run as you’ll have to pay interest
- Shop around and don’t commit too soon – there may be a better model out there
- Make sure you are clear on what your priorities are in terms of safety, usability, price and design
- Look for a competitive warranty package
- Utilise combination deals for ovens and hobs wherever you can
- Don’t get blinded by a fancy brand, dig deeper and look at product specification and reviews to get a real picture of the best appliance for you.
Oven Care & Installation
Most ovens need to be installed by a professional and licensed engineer. You are dealing with complex parts of your home like the main gas or electricity supply and you really don’t want to mess either of those things up.
- If you don’t follow correct installation procedures, your insurance won’t be valid
- A wrongly installed oven is highly dangerous
- We’ve collated a lot of the manuals in our reviews so you can get the best out of your purchase, but don’t attempt to install your oven on your own
Ovens can be some of the dirtiest and hardest to clean appliances in our kitchens. Left to their own devices, they quickly become caked in dirt and grime. It’s important to stay on top of cleaning to best extend the lifetime and value of your appliance. Click here for our guide to cleaning appliances.
You will want to have frequent mini cleans, as well as deep cleans and scrubs. You won’t always need to resort to harsh chemical cleaners either, there are plenty of natural ways to remove grime and grease.
FAQS
What’s The Difference Between An Oven And A Cooker?
These words are sometimes used interchangeably, but technically cookers would include the top hotplate known as the hob. An oven is strictly speaking just the oven cavity used for cooking.
What Is A Built-In Oven?
A built-in oven is one which can be fitted under a kitchen surface, or integrated into an existing wall design as part of a custom cabinet. Sometimes built-ins are known as wall ovens because they sit in the wall.
Is Gas Better Than Electric?
Not necessarily, but gas is sometimes preferred because it provides a faster and potentially more ‘authentic’ cooking experience. This is because you can easily control the flames on the hob and it can get up to temperature quicker. A gas setup may actually be slightly more unreliable than an electric one, though.
Are All Ovens A Standard Size?
No, they come in many shapes and sizes and vary based on the brand and design. Dimensions are usually given in centimetres, with an internal capacity given in litres. The best ways to get a feel for an oven is to know your current oven’s size and compare that, or go and see some models in a showroom.
Which Ovens Do Chefs Use?
Chefs use huge ranges in commercial kitchens. These are often custom built, and tend to combine gas tops with electric ovens to combine speed with even cooking. We have reviewed some of the best for home use on Appliance Reviewer.
Which Ovens Are Best For Baking?
Baking benefits from an even temperature to encourage an even bake. An electric fan setup is probably the easiest and best for bakers to get to grips with. Gas setups are good because gas lets off some moisture, but again you might struggle to get a consistent temperature. There are a few models out there which excel for bakers, and it is a top selling point.
Who Services And Installs Ovens?
It depends whether it’s an electric or gas oven, but generally it will either be a gas engineer or an electrical engineer. Often when you buy your oven, you will be given details on who to call for installation. Alternatively, you can find someone online. Make sure that you use someone reputable and certified, as an installation gone wrong will be extremely costly.
When Do Ovens Go On Sale?
In store
New models are typically released in September and October so older cookers get discounted at that time of year to make space for new shiny cookers. There are also usually some of the best deals to be had around January. If someone has a monthly sales quota, you might get a better deal at the end of the month. Weekends can be bad if you’re going to buy in store as they will be busy and rushed.
Online
You are more likely to find the best online deals all year round, as online selling tends to be a little less seasonal. It’s still probably worth shopping in late Autumn and early winter though if you’re looking for good deals on older cookers. Use online review websites and money saving websites to help you compare big brand cookers.
Why Are Ovens So Expensive?
Getting one that works well and is safe to use is a feat of engineering. You are paying for the materials, but also the design and testing of prototypes. Simple enamel ovens and cookers will be cheaper than nice stainless steel or coloured ones.
