What to look for in a new oven

The central feature of all kitchens, the oven, is essentially the kitchen's raison d'être. Given this fact, the importance of finding the right oven cannot be overstated. If you're in the market for an oven that produces rewarding and satisfying cooking results (as opposed to frustration and additional expense), Kitchen Improvements offers some handy hints.

Ranges and stovetops: Oven options

There are several types (or combinations) of oven to consider, depending on your cooking needs, space available and the design and strength of your kitchen.

The first option is a separate oven and stovetop, which has the advantage of being flexible in terms of space. Ranges, on the other hand, are a combination of oven and stovetop and are a practical option if you have the necessary room.

Ovens may be wall mounted or rest on the floor, again depending on the dimensions of your kitchen and your requirements.

Oven size vs. kitchen dimensions: What fits?

It seems obvious, but if your new oven won't fit through the kitchen door (or, worse still, the external doors of your house), and if small adjustments can't be made to accommodate it (such as removing the thin wooden strips along the side of doors), then it's quite likely that you will be disappointed with the oven post-installation (should you be able to finally get it into the kitchen). It's a wise move to measure doorways before setting off to inspect ovens at the store.

The space that your new oven is expected to fit into will need to be calculated also. Accurately measure the depth, height and width and take the measurements with you (as well as a tape measure), to ensure that your new oven fits.

The weight of the oven should also be taken into consideration, particularly if it's wall mounted. Ask an expert to inspect your home if in doubt. It's worth noting though - reinforcements to support weighty appliances can be extremely costly.

Considering oven features

When deciding on the type of oven that suits your exact requirements, it's worth considering the following features:

• Door: Consider an oven with a side opening door rather than a downward opening one, as the side opening door will allow the cook to get closer to the oven, placing less pressure on the back, arms and shoulders and improving safety when removing heavy or hot food items
• Elements: These should be thicker rather than thinner, as thicker elements produce better, more even heat, and last longer
• Capacity: The capacity (otherwise known as the "cavity") of an oven should be measured. Naturally, the less room in the oven, the less flexible cooking options will be. Some ovens are large but have small cavities and thus can prepare less food
• Fan forced convection or standard: Fan forced ovens cook food faster, but can produce unpredictable hot spots. Also, temperatures can be harder to accurately set, as fan forced ovens get hotter quicker than their conventional counterparts
• Racks: Ensure that these are thick enough to resist bending or sagging when asked to cope with a heavy roasting dish, or other heavy items
• Control Panel: These may be digital or analogue. Analogue control panels have switches, digital ones have press pads. A switch style control panel may lack some accuracy in heat settings and can be out by up to 15%. If you need temperature to be exact, double check with a thermometer.

They say that a bad workman blames their tools, but getting your oven choice correct can truly give culinary results a huge boost. Considering the above tips before making your purchase should ensure a smooth and enjoyable cooking experience.