Although an oven is an appliance with a great lifespan (between 15 and 20 years) at some point in your life you have to replace it with a new one, and then, due to lack of habit, numerous doubts arise about which are the important parameters to look at.
The first step when buying an oven is to decide where is it going to be located in the kitchen, since normally the space we have dedicated to this appliance is conditioned by a gap in the kitchen cabinets.
Taking the measurements of that space will mean that we start with a specific base, and that we choose one that will fit in that previously delimited area. The most common measures They are 60 centimeters wide, 60 high and 57 deep.
Although it is lazy, it is super important to measure well so as not to get surprises when fitting it into the assigned slot which, on the other hand, usually has standard measurements in most real estate developments. If you don’t have space, tabletop ovens are ideal.
Associated with these dimensions, it is important to look at the internal capacity, the most common among 50 and 60 liters of useful volume. This is important if you prepare recipes with large pots or dishes.
As for its structure, you also have to look carefully at the type of door opening: some swing downwards, and others swing to the left and right. Likewise, the form of take out the trayss can vary between having removable rails or rails that do not move and trays that are pulled out. We must select the model that is most comfortable for us.
Choose the type of oven
However, this is not the only thing you need to know, as it is important to choose the type of oven to buy: wood, coal, gas or electric (the latter the most common in homes).
Conventional electric ovens are The most common in Spanish houses. These have a resistance at the top and another at the bottom, and this is how they heat the air.
The conventional ones also include the multifunction ones, which also have grill and fan to generate convection, and are ideal for preparing recipes with large pieces, such as lamb legs and whole roast chickens.
Although there are other types of oven (such as those that, for example, incorporate a microwave), the majority opts for these two types of models, although what is truly decisive when choosing an oven is budget: They range from 130 euros, with simple models without screens, up to models five, six and seven times more expensive with much more advanced functions.
Consumption and cleaning
The power and consumption of the oven are not less: the higher the power, the more consumption (it is an equation that does not fail), but you have to check its energy efficiency also and prioritize A+ models so as not to see an increase in the electricity bill, as long as the oven is used constantly.
As for cleaning, there is also quite a variety to choose from. There are models of catalytic self-cleaning, whose panels break down fat; There are pyrolytic models that reduce dirt to ashes by increasing the interior temperature (they are more expensive), and aqualysis ovens in which cleaning is done using steam (and which can be done manually by boiling water in an oven-safe pot. inside).
The functions and features of the oven are important, but that will depend on the use we usually give it. It is not worth taking an oven with a dozen functions that will be underused, but review which ones are most commonly used and choose based on these, for example cooking and gratin.
An interesting feature is the timer: If you are one of those who does not control the times or who tends to forget to turn off the oven, this function will be very important for you. This prevents the food from burning and always being cooked to perfection (although, if you don’t remove the tray when cooking is finished, it will be too dry).
Photo | Freepik and Alexeyzhilkin/Freepik
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