Microwave Is Your Worst Enemy. 9 Ways To Defeat It

What's cooking?
Fitting out a new home? Renovating your kitchen? The oven is something
You'll want to be happy with. Whether you go the entire (slow-cooked) hog
With a wide or double oven, or decide on a little toaster oven -- which
Definitely won't fit an entire hog -- there are lots of brands and features to
choose from.
Kitchen essential: use our expert reviews to find out which ovens grill,
roast and bake the best.

For a sleek and stylish oven with all the fancy functions and attributes and
Self-cleaning capability, you can pay anything from approximately $1500 to as
If, on the other hand, you are only going to
Use basic functions and aren't fussed on all the extras, you can buy a wellperforming
oven for under $1000. It really depends on how much you're
Willing to part with and how much you love to cook. CHOICE tests new


Gas or electric -- what is the latest option?
The great majority of wall ovens sold these days are electrical; they make up
Well over 85% of sales and there are always new models and brands
coming onto the market. Our wall oven reviews focus only on electrical
ovens.
Gas oven
Doesn't dry food out as much as electrical, so ideal for roasts, casseroles
And heavy cakes that require moisture.
Ovens, such as mix steam convection types, will give them a run
for their money.


Unless it has an internal grill, there is no direct heat from the top so it won't
Be as great for browning or crisping.
Doesn't distribute the heat as evenly as electric unless it has a fan.
If it has digital controls or an electric grill you'll need an electrical outlet
nearby.
There isn't nearly as much choice among brands and models for gas
ovens.
Electric oven
The most popular type of oven -- over 85% of models sold are electrical.
Most are multifunction, so you can do more with a variety of cooking
modes.
optimise different cooking, baking and grilling needs.
Size
Which size oven will best suit your home? There are a few distinct
standard sizes. Your kitchen design will dictate how much distance is
available. Are you restricted to a 60cm oven (the most common size, and

The aim to upgrade in size to a 70cm, 90cm or even a double oven?
Single ovens
A single oven is typically 60cm, and is the standard found in most houses. If
You have a huge family, do plenty of entertaining or just enjoy the look of a larger
Oven, 70cm to 90cm models can be a much better choice and certainly they make
a statement in your kitchen. Keep in mind that simplicity of use is particularly
Important when it comes to larger ovens - they have big trays which can be
Awkward and heavy to lift and remove when they are full of food and
Their big accessories can be tricky to clean on your kitchen sink.
Double ovens
A double oven is basically two distinct ovens, each with its own set of
Functions, piled one on top of the other.
Entertainers or massive families who like to bake.
You to bake and grill unique dishes at the same time or bake two things
That require different functions and temperatures.
Our guide to buying a double oven.
11/2 ovens

Based on who you speak to. They provide similar versatility to a true
Double oven, however their secondary oven will have limited functions
And just one shelf.
What about the internal size?
Ovens of any width may not always be as spacious as you may expect.
So it's a good idea to get the internal dimensions and assess them
Against some of your bigger baking trays and dishes to be certain they'll fit.
Wall vs free-standing
Wall ovens
A wall mount gives you more flexibility with your kitchen design -- the oven
Doesn't need to go under your cooktop and it can either match in a wall or beneath
a bench. You can also install it in your height so you aren't bending or
squatting. There's much more information in our guide to purchasing a wall oven.
Free-standing ovens
If your present vertical stove has given up the ghost, replacing it with an
Equivalent is a cost-effective alternative. We discuss what to look for in
Our guide to buying a free-standing electric cooker.
Other types of ovens and features
Self-cleaning ovens
An oven that cleans itself -- a dream come true! There are two types:
PYROLYTIC
The oven locks itself and heats up to around 500°C, converting food
Residue to ash, which you simply wipe away as it cools.
CATALYTIC LINERS
These line the side and/or back walls of the oven and operate by absorbing
fat splatters. You Have to frequently heat the oven to 250°C for an hour to
Burn off the splatters and wash them with a damp cloth when cool. You'll
Need to replace these periodically.
Toaster ovens
A toaster oven or benchtop oven is a compact alternative to a full-sized
oven. They can bake, roast, grill and toast, and some even have a hotplate
on top. All this at a fraction of the price of a full-sized oven, along with
Why not use a toaster oven all the time?
Well, they can be useful for small cooking tasks like cheese on toast and
Handy when space is a problem (like in a caravan) but they don't have
drawbacks.
Steam ovens
Steam ovens claim to make healthier food than conventional ovens
Because fewer nutrients are missing. They are not as versatile as a traditional
Oven, and you will find cheaper ways of steaming food.
Capable of browning foods, so you'll need to grill or fry before or after
Steaming to achieve browning.
Combination steam and convection ovens
These are the latest designs to infiltrate the showroom. As their name
Suggests they combine the advantages of steam cooking with all the
Requirements of a multifunction convection oven. A 'true' mix steam
Oven has typical multifunctional baking, mix steam/convection and
steam-only settings. Our evaluation of combi-steam ovens and steam ovens

Another, and often cheaper, alternative is a typical multifunction electric oven
With an added moisture function. These simply inject bursts of steam into
The oven during regular baking to help retain moisture. See our test of wall
Ovens for two such models.
Light ovens
Take an ordinary combination convection/grill/microwave oven and add a
halogen lamp. Despite the title, this type of oven doesn't cook using just
Light -- the light's most important purpose is to help rehydrate and heating.
The essentials of any oven
Now You Know which type of oven you want, make sure it has the
following:
A smokeless (or anti-spatter) grill tray, with a perforated plate rather than a
Simple wire rack; this helps prevent the collected fat from spitting and flaring
up
two oven shelves

At a minimum, it must offer these cooking modes:

top and bottom elements
fan-forced
grill.
Installation
Some ovens could be plugged into a power point, while others are
hardwired. It pays to understand how your Current oven is connected, and what
Its power rating is (look for a tag inside, usually on the frame near the
Door hinges) so that you know if the new one can just slot into place, or if
An electrician will probably be needed to do the wiring.
In most cases, where you are replacing like with like, the Present oven circuit
will be fine. But always check with the provider or retailer about the
Installation requirements for the new model. Large ovens and ranges in
Particular may require a circuit with more capacity, so you may need to factor
In the cost of an electrician to upgrade the circuit or set up a new one. Note
A sales assistant in an appliance retailer might not know much about the
Electrical requirements of oven installation, but you can ask them to check