Maytag Gas Built-In Single Wall Oven

An oven is arguably one of the most useful kitchen appliances, cooking everything from meat to cakes and anything in between. When it comes time to buy a new oven, there are a number of different types on the market as well as numerous different features. Although some differences are merely stylistic for aesthetic purposes, others have actually qualitative and quantitative differences that will provide convenience, better results, and may save you money in the long run. That’s why it pays to be informed before shopping for a new oven. Here are some of the pros and cons of the basic items out there to help make your decision less heated.

The first decision to make is between a gas or electric oven. Here are some of the pros and cons of each:

Gas Ovens
A gas oven is only an option if a natural gas or propane line is easily available in the area in which you live. Although gas ranges are highly recommended (link to Ranges or ovenranges), gas ovens are not as popular as electric ones, since their sensors are less accurate. Nonetheless, gas ovens heat food more evenly, so there is less chance of uneven results such as burning whatever is on the bottom rack before the item on the top rack has finished. The moister heat of gas is also desirable for such things as baking bread, cakes, and roasts. Finally, gas is cheaper to run than electricity, costing as much as 50% less to operate which could lead to a huge savings over time.

Electric Ovens
Although there are plenty of people who swear by gas ovens alone, electric ovens are definitely the preferred type of oven according to professional consensus. Therefore anyone who prefers the superior quality of a gas range but wants the advantage of an electric oven, can purchase a dual range with gas stovetops together with an electric oven. Electric ovens provide a more accurate heat, since their built-in sensors are designed to react to even a one degree drop in temperature, whereas gas ovens only start reheating once the temperature drops by ten degrees. A down side of electric ovens is that in most models the main heating element is a coil, in the very bottom of the oven, to introduce heat into the chamber. This means that heat tends to concentrate towards the bottom, so dishes can easily get burned on the bottom. An easy solution is to simply place items on a middle to upper rack, greatly avoiding this problem.

The next decision to make is what type of oven style you are looking for. This decision is purely aesthetic and will not affect the functioning of your oven.

Slide in/Free Standing Ovens
Slide in ovens and free standing ovens are the most traditional type of oven with the range built above the oven. Simply slide them between two cabinets or next to a wall. As long as you have an empty space in your kitchen, no additional renovation is necessary. Whereas freestanding ranges have the controls on a raised backsplash, slide-in ranges have them on the front section of the range. Both have finished sides.

Drop in/Built-in Ovens
Drop in, or built-in ovens require some custom cabinetry. Built-in or wall ovens are separate from the stovetop or range and are built directly into an opening in a cabinet and therefore don’t have finished sides. Drop in ovens are essentially the same as built-in ovens except that they have a stovetop built onto the unit. Unlike a slide-in range that rests between two cabinets, drop in ovens rest between three cabinets: one on both sides and a third underneath, which serves as a pedestal, lifting the stove off the floor. A stovetop is then attached to an empty countertop. The main advantage of drop in or built in ovens is that they raise the unit off the floor, making it more accessible without having to bend down. The other advantage is that many people prefer the sleek, modern look of a built-in which is why 90% of new homes have a built-in ovens, making them a popular choice when renovating your kitchen.

Some additional features and factors to consider when making your decision are:

KitchenAid Built-In Double Wall Oven

Double Ovens
Today, some ovens come equipped with a second smaller oven in place of the broiler. This not only gives you the option to cook two different types of items simultaneously, but it is also a great money-saving feature. Since most people rarely fill their large ovens to maximum capacity, all the energy it takes to heat the entire oven is wasted. A smaller oven is a great option for people cooking smaller amounts at one time, requiring much less energy to cook single items.\

Self Cleaning Ovens
For anyone purchasing an electric oven, it is well-advised to make sure it includes a self-cleaning option as most models do nowadays. In addition to the obvious benefit of easy cleaning, self-cleaning models have additional insulation to be able to handle the 500 degree heat during cleaning cycles. This makes them more efficient, cutting down cooking time and energy costs and making for more even cooking. Nonetheless, frequently using the self cleaning option will end up using more energy than you will save from the extra insulation. The two main types of self cleaning ovens are pyrolytic and catalytic lined ovens. Although they both burn off the dirt inside the oven, catalytic lining does so at half the heat and can leave the presence of some dirt after the cycle.

Convection Ovens
Many experts today recommend buying a range with a convection oven. Made with a built-in fan and extra heating element in certain models, convection ovens are designed to continually circulate hot air around the food, distributing heat more evenly to cut down cooking time and temperatures by as much as 30%, saving a third on energy costs. The added heat from the circulating air speeds up chemical reactions that take place when food cooks, creating a superior result, leading to flakier pie crust, juicier meat, and vegetables that are crispier on the outside, and moister on the inside.

Oven Size
Most standard slide-in or free standing ovens are 36 inches wide by 36 inches tall, although they are available anywhere from 20 inches wide in a compact model to as big as 48 or 60 inches in a professional residential range. Built-in ovens range from 20 to 30 inches wide.

Additional Features
• A window in the door and a light in the chamber will save you energy since you don’t have to open the door to check on progress, also leading to more even rising.
• A built-in timer can be very helpful, saving you from burning your food.
• An internal temperature meat probe is essential when roasting beef or lamb, which requires a certain precise temperature to be medium rare. Simply insert the built in thermometer into your roast and the oven will let you know precisely when it is fully cooked.
• Multiple removable racks, half racks and adjustable rack positions give you additional flexibility for large dishes or roasts, allowing you to cook something else on the other side simultaneously.
• Automatic shut-off shuts off the oven after 12 hours so there’s no need to worry about accidentally leaving it on while you’re out of town.
• A turnspit feature provides you with a built-in rotisserie for anyone who loves roasted meat.
• Pizza function allows for slightly better tasting pizza for all those homemade pizza fans out there.

We hope this information will help to take some of the heat off of you so that you can find the right oven without getting cooked. Anyone who loves cooking and can afford a professional convection oven made by Wolf or Viking will enjoy the additional or larger oven fans for faster baking and maximum stovetop power, however if you aren’t a cooking fan, you probably won’t ever need it.

Although when most of us were growing up there were either gas or electric ranges, nowadays there are a few more choices on the market including various types of electric heating elements, dual fuel oven ranges, and a brand new futuristic technology that is finally hitting the stores in America known as induction ranges. Let’s highlight some of the pros and cons of each option:

Bosch 500 Series Free Standing Gas Range - HGS305US

Electric Ovens:

Electric ovens and ranges are still the most popular choice in America with over 50% choosing them over the other options. Electric ranges offer a very low heat option, something that is not always possible with most gas ovens. There are a number of different types of elements available on the market today: regular coil burners, solid disk elements, smooth top, and halogen elements. Standard coil burners are generally available in the least expensive models and anyone who’s ever had one knows that they are difficult to clean. In smooth top electric ranges, radiant elements are placed under glass, making for a totally smooth working surface for easy cleaning. The disadvantage of solid disk elements and smooth top is that they take longer to heat up and therefore use up more electricity in the process. Halogen elements are more efficient than conventional electric coil elements. Electric ovens are reported to cook food more evenly than gas ovens, since their built-in sensors are designed to react to even a one degree drop in temperature, whereas gas ovens only start reheating once the temperature drops by ten degrees. Nonetheless, many house owners report not noticing much of a difference between gas and electric when it comes to ovens.

Gas Ovens:

Gas stovetops are still the preferred choice amongst professional chefs and food connoisseurs. They begin heating up food instantly and are more accurate, so that you can achieve the exact flame you desire. Some fancier models even have special burners for faster, higher heat as well as others for very low flames.

More importantly, however, gas ranges cost less than half as much to operate as their electric counterparts. Even though gas ovens may be slightly more expensive to purchase, they will save you hundreds of dollars over the life of the oven, making it well worth the initial difference. It should be noted that models possessing an automatic pilot light use 30 percent more gas than an oven with an electronic ignition instead, making the savings much more insignificant.

This being said, it should be noted that gas is only an option in homes equipped with a propane or natural gas line. Installation of a new line may be fairly expensive, making long term savings more minimal. Furthermore, one must always remember that gas stoves do come with some risk, as low as it may be. Leaving on an unlit burner can be hazardous if windows are closed and possession of flammable liquids could be dangerous in the vicinity of the kitchen. Models with pilot lights are also more dangerous than electric ignitions since the flame could blow out without you knowing, releasing gas into the room.

Dual Fuel:

Although more expensive than both electric and gas ovens, dual fuel gas and electric ranges are the best of both worlds, since you get the immediate response of gas burners and the even heat of an electric oven. These are becoming more and more popular each year.

Induction Ranges:

Induction ranges are definitely the wave of the future, using electro-magnetic fields to transfer heat directly to the pots and pans without the need of gas flames or electric coils. Since the heat goes straight into the cooking vessel without the need to first convert the energy into heat as found by conventional cooking methods, induction cooking saves a lot of energy. The stove top directly besides the burner stays almost completely cool, not to mention the rest of the kitchen!  In fact, gas and electric ranges only use 40% of the required energy to cook, with the remaining 60% going out into the air, whereas 84% percent of the energy used in induction goes directly into the food, with the rest going into the electrical process and not wasted heat.

At this point the biggest down side to induction ranges is that they are not so readily available in America, and are therefore more expensive, although more and more stores are selling them every day. Furthermore, induction cooking only works with iron or steel vessels. This includes most quality cookware, but aluminum and copper non-stick surfaces are out of the picture at present, although research is underway to eventually include all metals.

Bosch Induction Cooktop in an Island.

Convection Ovens:

Many experts recommend buying a range with a convection oven. Made with a built-in fan and extra heating element in electric ovens, convection ovens are designed to continually circulate hot air around the food, distributing heat more evenly to cut down cooking time and temperatures by as much as 30%, saving a third on energy costs.

Most oven models come with self cleaning features nowadays which cut down on costs because of the higher insulation level. Nonetheless, frequently using the self cleaning option will end up using more energy than you will save.

Double Oven

Today, some ovens come equipped with a second, smaller oven in place of the broiler. This gives you the option to cook two different types of items simultaneously, but it is also a great money-saving feature for people cooking smaller amounts at one time. Since people rarely fill their large ovens to maximum capacity, all the energy it takes to heat the entire oven is wasted. A smaller oven is a great option, requiring much less energy to cook single items. Additional options include drawer warmers, which have the capacity to keep food warm, until its time to eat.

Styles

Oven styles include freestanding ovens, drop-in ranges, slide-in ranges, and built-in ovens. A freestanding range has finished sides and a raised backsplash. Slide-in ranges have controls on the front section of the range and basically look like a built-in with a seamless finish. A drop-in range will have unfinished sides and rests on a slightly raised platform. Built-in ovens are the most expensive, and can be inserted into a raised wall for easy accessibility. A separate range can then be placed on a nearby counter.

We hope this helps you make the best decision for you and your family. Whether you go with an electric, gas, dual, or induction range, your choice should bring you much ease and comfort and many delicious and nutritious meals. Should you have any additional questions, feel free to contact one of our knowledgeable affiliated appliance retailers. You can call anytime, just please don’t call us late for dinner!