Wall ovens give your kitchen a customized, high-end appearance thanks to their flexible placement options and also serve as companions to separate kitchen cooktops. Their height level makes it easier to observe food while it’s cooking as well as retrieving contents without the strain of bending over. Typical oven sizes are 24, 27, and 30 inches in addition to the 36 inch “pro style”.
While they typically aren’t budget-friendly to purchase or install, some wall oven/cooktop combinations do cost less than ultra high-end ranges. While basic models are available, spending more gains you larger capacities, higher-end finishes, and more special features.
When choosing a wall oven, it’s important to first know your needs, budget, and most importantly your installation measurements. Once you’ve established your household’s needs and installation requirements, it’s easier to find the best models which fall within your budget range.
Wall Oven Types
Electric Ovens
These ovens use electrical heating elements as opposed to gas and often include multiple special features. They generally provide consistent temperatures and even cooking results versus gas ovens. Because of their popularity, a wide variety of electric ovens are available, ranging from affordable to high-end units.
Gas Ovens
Gas ovens generally aren’t as desirable due to their reputation of having less consistent temperatures which may result in uneven cooking results. While this might not always be noticeable when cooking the average meal, cooking which requires additional precision might suffer. If you have gas hookups, be prepared for a smaller selection of ovens to choose from with most options being predominantly lower-end models.
Convection Ovens
These units use a fan to circulate a balanced amount of hot air throughout the oven so food cooks faster and more evenly. A regular oven simply adds a fan to the conventional setup of a heating element at both the top and the bottom. Other ovens have what is called “true convection” which adds a third element near the fan; this creates an even more uniform temperature throughout the oven, perfect for tasks such as delicate baking. Convection capability is available with both gas and electric ovens.
Oven Capacity
Manufacturers continue to find ways to get more and more capacity out of oven spaces, resulting in a wider range of options. Although wall ovens often have small capacities, this can be made up for with the installation of double wall ovens. Ovens with exceptionally large capacities do tend to cost more, and some people may find this added size unnecessary if they already have a double wall ovens setup.
As a general guideline, two to three cubic feet is perfect for one or two people, three to four cubic feet is good for three to four people, and four or more cubic feet of space is recommended for households with four or more individuals. Of course, there is room for variation based on your intended usage.
Oven Features
As with many modern appliances, wall ovens come with many features and customization options.
Since features vary widely from oven to oven, the most important thing is ensuring the controls and basic settings are easy to use.
Oven Racks
Look for an oven with multiple racks which are sturdy and adjustable. Some high-end models have racks designed to effortlessly glide out to reduce the risk of spills or dropping food.
Safety Features
Many ovens offer safety features such as automatic shut off or a door lock for households with children.
Additional Options
Most ovens have multiple settings and options such as self-cleaning, ceramic or enamel coating, steam cleaning, delayed start, bread proofing, and much more.