Electric oven

An electric or gas oven is one of the best assistants of every housewife in preparing delicious food. No casserole, cake or dish in a pot will work without an oven. Today, a woman can choose which oven is best to install in her kitchen: electric or gas. It is about these two types of “kitchen queen” that will be discussed in this article.

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Which oven is better: electric or gas?

If you want to save on the cost of the oven and do not have excessive requirements regarding its functionality, we recommend choosing an oven that runs on gas. It will definitely suit you more. Its price is lower than the cost of electric. And the ability to work from a gas cylinder allows you to install the oven even in the country or in a country house.

Electric ovens are the best options for housewives who want more from the oven than performing basic functions. The safety of using an electric furnace is higher than a gas one. The only significant drawback of electric ovens is the high power consumption.

With the regular use of this technique, electricity bills will significantly hit the family budget. In all other respects, such kitchen equipment is significantly superior to gas ovens.

The advantages of an electric oven:

• Heating elements are installed in different parts of the device. Due to this, the dish warms up well and cooks evenly.
• Wide range of operating temperatures. In the oven you can bake at temperatures from +30 to +300 degrees.
• Ability to control temperature. The error is only 5 degrees.
• In the electric oven you can cook several dishes at the same time. The main thing is that the volume of the device allows you to do this.

Important! You can easily choose the right model if you need a built-in electric oven that will meet your requirements in terms of size, design, and technical characteristics. No less interesting is the species range of the separate standing equipment, which, as a rule, is distinguished by a large volume, power, but it is precisely due to this that it is not suitable for every house.

And also, to save both electricity consumption and space in the kitchen, we suggest you familiarize yourself with an overview of such an option as tabletop oven.

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Types of Electric Ovens

According to the criterion of the degree of interaction of the oven with the hob, they are divided into two types:

• Addicted. Such equipment is only sold complete with a hob. The control panel is common and is located on the oven.

Important! If the hob breaks, it is impossible to use the oven.

• Standalone. Such ovens can be placed in any corner of the kitchen. They are independent of the hob and have their own control panel. As a rule, their functionality is much smaller, as well as volume and power parameters.

Important! If the size of the kitchen is small, then to save space, an independent version of the oven is more suitable. And it will be easier for you to choose a suitable model of this type of equipment if you use our rating of freestanding electric ovens.

Depending on the set of functions, electric ovens are divided as follows:

• Static Such a kitchen technique performs only the main functions in the preparation of food. The number of programs does not exceed four - include heating of various types and grills.
• Multifunctional. Such an oven has many different options. Their number can reach 12. The cost of such equipment, of course, is an order of magnitude higher.

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How to choose an electric oven?

In stores, eyes just run away from beautiful and functional ovens. How to choose an oven to cook with pleasure for a single year? What is worth paying attention to among the large number of listed parameters? Let us dwell on this in more detail.

Power

Such household appliances have a truly wide power range: from 1 to 4 kW. The maximum value of the cooking temperature directly depends on this parameter. Its rate can reach 500 degrees Celsius. Although this temperature is rarely popular, since almost all dishes are cooked at 200-250 degrees.

Important! The optimal value of power for the oven will be 2-3 kW, which is quite enough for most consumers.

Dimensions

The standard dimensions for electric ovens are 60x60x55 cm. For small kitchens, manufacturers make ovens with heights of 40 and 50 cm.

Important! The most convenient option for a kitchen oven will be a device with standard parameters. If the size of the kitchen allows you to install a similar thing, then thinking about options is simply unnecessary.

Working volume

In most cases, a full-size built-in electric oven has a volume exceeding 50 liters. This is more than enough to cook any dishes. But there is a kitchen appliance with half size with a volume of 20-30 liters. Such ovens are acquired in cases where a full-sized oven does not fit in the kitchen.

Cleaning method

There are different methods for cleaning modern ovens.

Traditional way

We have known from childhood how to clean the oven, which consists in washing the camera with a rag, sponge and detergent. The inner surface of the oven in this case is covered with ordinary enamel, although some manufacturers in the instructions call this coating “easy-to-clean enamel”.

Important! Do not use metal scrapers and brushes to clean the surfaces of the oven. Liquids containing acids, such as vinegar or lemon juice, have a detrimental effect on the coating of ovens.

Catalytic method

If such a cleaning method is indicated in the product description, this means that the camera is really covered not with ordinary enamel, but with a special substance. It has small pores that contribute to the process of decomposition of fat and its removal directly during cooking.

Important! The effectiveness of this method is not too high. Most likely, to completely clean the oven, you will need all the equipment used in the traditional method.

Hydrolysis method

Such cleaning is as follows: water is poured into the pan and inserted into the oven, which is heated. Under the influence of steam, all impurities and grease drain into the drip tray.

Important! Some electric ovens are equipped with grease filters. With their help, fat and odors are absorbed, and thus, pollution does not get on the fan.

Pyrolysis method

This method of cleaning significantly saves time and facilitates the work of the hostess. When the pyrolysis cleaning mode is activated, the oven heats up briefly to a temperature above 300 degrees. Fat and food debris that has accumulated on the walls of the chamber quickly burn out. After opening the oven and cooling the surfaces of its walls, you just need to remove the ashes with a rag.

Important! The cost of equipment with a pyrolysis cleaning method significantly exceeds the price of an oven with conventional and catalytic enamel.

Type of control

There is a tendency in choosing such a characteristic: the more expensive the equipment, the more electrified the control. It can be carried out using mechanical pens or a touch panel. A combined type of control is also common.

Important! As an auxiliary element on the panel, there can be an integrated display that shows the temperature, the selected operating mode, time and other useful information.

Useful features

Do not chase after a lot of options on electric ovens. As experience shows, most housewives after acquiring multi-functional ovens do not even know half of the icons on the touch panel and use only familiar and familiar modes. If you still pick up just such a model, our review will help you “What do the icons on the oven mean?”.

Decide on the functions of the oven you need and select built-in electric ovenwhich will be used by you to the maximum.

Modern ovens may have the following additional useful features.

Double boiler

Everyone knows that when cooking in this mode, it preserves the maximum amount of vitamins and nutrients in food.

Thermal probe

A device with which you can measure the temperature inside the cooking product.

Grill

This mode is used for cooking dishes with a delicious crispy crust.

Timer

A very useful option for busy people. With its help, the operation of the oven ceases on its own after a specified time. Thus, burnt dishes for housewives with such ovens become a myth.

Blowing the walls with cold air

A similar feature is built into high-end models only. It helps protect nearby furniture from overheating.

Convection

With this option, you can cook simultaneously on two or three levels of the oven at once. The fan integrated in the oven evenly distributes the temperature inside the chamber. A useful detail in some convection ovens is the ability to control the flow rate of heated air.

Important! For more information about this popular function and its capabilities when cooking various dishes, read our article. “Convection in the oven - what is it?”.

Skewer

If you are a lover of juicy kebabs or chicken, baked on a spit, then you just need a similar function of the oven. At home, it will allow you to cook meat that you used to cook only on the street.

Auto Programs

This mode represents the algorithms for preparing various dishes previously stored in the memory of the device. Thus, the cooking process for the user is greatly simplified. To prepare a delicious dish, you just need to choose a program with its name and indicate the weight of the product. Next - the electric oven itself will determine what to do and which modes to use. After the cooking process is completed, the device automatically shuts off.

Important! Expensive oven models provide the user with the ability to independently add, in addition to existing ones, new cooking programs.

Separator

Such a device helps save energy while cooking various dishes in the oven. It is made of a special material with low thermal conductivity. By setting this segment, you are making two from one oven, and you can cook completely different dishes at the same time, for example, fish and dessert.

Important! Also, the separator is very useful if the amount of food is small. Thus, only half the oven can be used. If the dish is voluminous, for example, a large turkey, then the separation element is easily cleaned, and you can use the entire oven for its intended purpose.

Microwave mode

In addition to their direct duties, ovens with a similar regime can be used as microwave ovens. Such functionality of an electric oven significantly saves the kitchen space, since you immediately get two appliances in one.

Important! All information about such a combined system is described in the publication. "Microwave Oven«.

Wifi

Recently, more and more manufacturers began to install a wireless function in household appliances. Such an option in ovens will allow you to control the cooking process and control it, being in another room or even outside the house. Via smartphone or tablet, you can turn on the oven, activate the necessary modes and programs, and turn off its operation.

Security

As you know, household appliances can cause a lot of harm if used improperly. Modern kitchen appliances have a considerable set of functions that make its operation more safe and enjoyable:

• Heat resistant oven door. A very useful thing for families with small children. Modern ovens in most cases are made with similar doors. This prevents burns, even when in close contact with the door during cooking.
• Retractable trolley. A similar device in the oven allows the baking sheet to move forward while opening the door. This makes it safer to inspect food for cooking, pouring sauce on it and stirring.
• Door lock. A similar function allows you to lock the oven door. Thus, curious children will not be able to open it in the process of cooking.

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Which company built-in electric ovens are best?

Recognized leaders among electric ovens - both built-in and stand-alone, are models of Austrian, German and Swedish brands that can be assembled in our homeland.

These are Bosh, Electrolux, Siemens, Hotpoint-Ariston.

If you are looking for the best value for money, then pay attention to the models of the brands Gorenje, Beko, Zanussi.

Little-known brands such as Saturn, Ariete, DEX, Mirta, Vimar are unverified technology in this area.

Important! Give preference to trusted and well-known brands. Do not save on the oven, its cost will pay off over time.

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How to choose a gas oven?

Similarly with electric appliances, gas ovens can be of two types:

• Classical It has only two heating modes with natural air circulation in the working space of the oven.
• Multifunctional. This technique is characterized by the presence of many heating options. It is usually equipped with a fan, which produces forced circulation of heated air.

What else you need to know:

1. Almost all modern built-in gas ovens have electric ignition. For manual operation, the ignition button must be pressed during gas supply.
2. If the ignition system is fully automated, then a spark appears immediately after turning the control knob to the operating position.
3. Convection gas ovens are equipped with hollow burners.
4. In the event that the air flow from the fan blows out the flame of the burner, then automatically ignites and ignites the flame again. The gas control function works in a similar way. Even in non-convection ovens this option will be very useful.
5. Gas ovens with convection function allow you to cook more delicious food. At the same time, cooking time is significantly reduced.

Important! Cooking time in a gas oven with a fan is reduced by an average of 30%.

6. Such a gas kitchen appliance, as mentioned above, does not have such wide functionality in comparison with electric ovens. For example, a gas oven does not have auto-cooking programs and cannot be used as a microwave oven.But nevertheless, its functions are quite enough to cook a variety of delicious food.

Important! If you are considering such an option to buy equipment, read our oven connection instructions.

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Useful Tips

Before buying your chosen oven, pay attention to the following nuances:

• Check the energy class of the selected electric kitchen appliances. It’s better to overpay a little, but choose an oven with the lowest level of electrical consumption. Such a purchase will ultimately be more economical.
• The hob and oven must be of the same manufacturer.
• When buying, be sure to find out about the presence in the city of a branded service center for the repair and maintenance of selected equipment.
• Pay attention to the warranty period and the availability of all documents related to the purchase.

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Stock footage

Now you know the basic criteria for choosing ovens. It will also be useful to find out reviews about a particular model of a particular brand before buying. High-quality kitchen appliances - gas or electric, in any case will facilitate your work in cooking.