How to Choose an Oven That Meets Your Cooking Needs

Over the years, ovens have improved in terms of design and performance. For instance there are now ovens that have self-cleaning oven liners.

These lines make the oven’s interior hotter, which helps with cleaning. Certain models also come with a timer that can be set independent of cooking functions.

History

Since the beginning of time, humans have utilized fire as a way to stay warm and cook food. It wasn’t until the year 1490 that a purpose-built oven was built in France, made of bricks with grills on where cauldrons made of steel could be placed.

The new oven was a step up over the open flames that were used in a fireplace where cooking was conducted by using large metal pots which were hung over. However it was difficult to control the temperature. It would take a lot of time and refinement before a method was created to efficiently bake bread or roasting meat that could be eaten without becoming blackened during the process.

Ovens continued to improve throughout the ages. In the 1800s, large brick hearths with a brick oven were constructed, and metal cauldrons were placed above to cook. It took another two decades to get the first practical coal-fired ovens to be created in 1833. Then came the development of the first gas stoves with top burners and ovens inside.

British inventor James Sharp patented the first gas oven in 1826, which was a semi-successful one, and by 1920, they had become a staple kitchen appliance. Electric ovens appeared around 60 years later depending on the speed at which electricity was introduced to households.

In the US they’re called toaster ovens and in Britain they are known as a hob or cooker but the term ‘oven’ is more generally used to describe any oven that cooks with the use of a source other than an open flame or a metal cauldron. There are hundreds of types of ovens that are available today. You can find one to do anything you want, from baking to grilling to steaming.

There are plenty of options to meet all tastes and budgets regardless of whether you’re looking for wood-fired Aga or double walled oven. They’re not durable and may break down at any moment. That’s where we come in. If you require an oven repair or replacement part give us a call or get in touch online and we’ll be able to help you out.

Technology

Ovens are available in a range of different technologies. Many ovens have fan assisted. The fan circulates hot air evenly around the oven cavity, in addition to the oven element. This is especially useful when baking.

Some ovens can also be controlled remotely via an app. This is especially helpful for busy people or those who want to prepare dinner when you arrive home from work.

There are also multicooking technologies available that let you cook with traditional microwave, steam and conventional the same oven. You can get professional results faster, like perfectly roasted potatoes or even a whole chicken*. It can also help you cut down on your energy consumption by as much as 50%. This type of technology is often described as”multicooker”, but we prefer the term “multicooker” however we think that the term “gourmet” is an accurate description!

Energy efficiency

Ovens are a staple of most UK kitchens and are used on a daily basis for roasting, baking and even for making some of our favorite desserts. When it comes to choosing a new oven it’s important to find the right one that will meet all our cooking needs whilst being energy efficient too.

Due to the increasing price of electricity, it’s more important than ever before that you think about the amount your oven will cost to operate. It’s a great idea to look at the energy efficiency rating that is available on every product’s page. You want an oven that has an energy rating of A+ or higher, since this will help you keep your household costs down.

While you’re looking at the energy efficiency You should also think about what other features are available. If you’re looking to cut down on time cleaning the oven for example, choose a model that has self-cleaning features. This means the oven can get to temperatures of 400-500 degrees Celsius and then burn off any food spills which will help you avoid having to clean the oven on a regular basis.

Other useful functions to look out for are the child lock, which will stop children from operating the appliance and a minute minder, which allows you to set a predetermined duration to cook. Certain ovens can be controlled remotely with an app on your smartphone.

According to Uswitch the electric oven can cost around 17p per hour of use and it’s important to choose the right model for your home if you are looking to lower your energy costs. Other appliances, such as air fryers, slow cookers and microwaves also use significantly less energy than an oven.

Another way to cut down on energy consumption when cooking is to make sure that your oven is properly and properly insulated. You can do this by putting a reflective insulation sheet behind your cooker hood that will reflect the heat back into the oven cavity. This will reduce your energy bill, as it’ll mean that your oven isn’t having to work as hard to maintain a consistent temperature.

Cooking options

Depending on the frequency you cook and what recipes you enjoy Your oven could come with various functions that make it easier to prepare food. These include bread proofing settings that offer an ambiance that is warm and controlled to help dough rise and bottom heating settings to ensure gentle cooking and a consistent cooking. Some also provide rapid heat modes to reach temperatures faster and are ideal for those who are who are in a hurry.

Some ovens have a defrost function that uses low temperatures to slowly thaw frozen food items without cooking them, thereby saving time and money. Other options, such as the Interior Light feature lets you see your food while it’s baking, and the Reheat mode keeps hot food at the lower temperature to prevent drying out or overcooking.

It’s obvious that an oven is a very vital kitchen appliance. But if you want to get the most out of it, acquainting yourself with its functions can help you achieve delicious results every time.

For instance, if cooking a traditional roast, using the Conventional setting is recommended to ensure that the roast comes out well cooked and crisped. If you’re planning to grill meat in the Grill mode, it will yield juicy and flavorful steaks.

Ovens have a variety of accessories that are built-in including racks and trays. They also come with telescopic runs for shelves. There are also models with extra features such as a warming drawer or small steam ovens that offer an alternative to traditional baking, increasing the nutritional value and removing unhealthy additives.

Stand-alone ovens, on contrary, tend to contain fewer features and are available in smaller capacities. They’re generally smaller than cookers and have capacities of 30 to 40 litres, although some are larger. These may be better suitable for homes with a smaller amount of space, or that don’t use a lot of hob cooking. Some also have a variety of cooking options, including pizza stone which creates crisp crusts and a perforated tray for steaming vegetables.